Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT. "I don't understand. Why is Dr Briar searching the folly?" said Sienna as they got into their beds that night. They had decided to get some sleep before setting off at midnight when everyone else in the school would be in bed. "I mean, how did she guess there's a piece of the map there?" "I don't know," said Lyra, pulling her red-spotted duvet cover up to her chin. "You didn't say anything when you were helping her, did you, Evie?" "Evie wouldn't," said Ivy loyally. Evie felt uncomfortable. "I didn't say anything but it might have been my fault that she guessed about the folly." Her friends looked at her as she confessed. "I bumped into Dr Briar that time I went to the library and she saw me taking out the book on follies. She must have decided that I was interested in the school folly. I'm really sorry I wasn't more careful." She glanced up, wondering if the others were going to be cross with her, but they all just shrugged. "It's not your fault. There's no way you could have known Dr Briar was going to be in the library as well," said Ivy. "Or that she'd realise why you had a book on follies." "And if you hadn't borrowed that book, we might never have known about the folly ourselves," Sienna pointed out. "I'm glad you went to the library that day," said Lyra. Evie felt a rush of relief. "If it's anyone's fault, it's mine and Sienna's," Lyra went on. "We were the ones who were shouting about treasure. I bet Sam told Dr Briar about it and that made her suspicious. I reckon she was listening in when we were talking about going to the folly. Remember there was that noise outside our door? It could have been her." "Or Sam," added Sienna. "You've definitely not got anything to feel bad about, Evie," said Ivy,

第八章。“我不明白。 布瑞尔博士为什么要搜查这些愚蠢的东西？”那天晚上他们上床睡觉时，西耶娜问道。 他们决定在午夜出发前睡一会儿，那时学校里的其他人都已经上床睡觉了。 “我是说，她怎么猜到那里有一块地图呢？”“我不知道。”莱拉说，把她那红点的羽绒被拉到下巴。 “你帮她的时候什么也没说，是吗，伊维？”“艾薇不会的，”艾薇忠实地说。 艾薇感到很不舒服。“我什么也没说，但她猜到了这件蠢事，可能是我的错。” 她坦白的时候，朋友们都看着她。 “我去图书馆的时候碰到了布瑞尔博士，她看见我在拿一本关于愚蠢的书。 她一定是认为我对学校的蠢事感兴趣了。 我真的很抱歉我没有多加小心。” 她抬头看了一眼，不知道其他人会不会生她的气，但他们都只是耸耸肩。 “这不是你的错。你不可能知道布赖尔博士也会在图书馆，”艾薇说。 “或者她会明白你为什么有一本关于愚蠢的书。” “如果你没有借那本书，我们自己可能永远不会知道这件蠢事，”西耶娜指出。 “我很高兴你那天去了图书馆。”莱拉说。 伊薇感到一阵轻松。 “如果是谁的错，那也是我和西耶娜的错。”莱拉接着说。 “是我们在喊宝藏。 我打赌山姆告诉布瑞尔医生了，这让她起了疑心。 我想我们谈论要去参加舞会时她在偷听。 记得我们门外的那个声音吗？ 可能是她。”“或者萨姆，”西耶娜补充道。 “你绝对没有什么好难过的，艾薇，”艾薇说，

smiling at her. "If it hadn't been for you, we'd never have found the secret button at the folly." "Or the one that opened the staircase to the hidden room," said Lyra. "I only found those buttons by falling over," said Evie. "It's a very special talent, Evie," Sienna said. "I'd call it unique," Lyra joined in with a grin. "Definitely!" chuckled Ivy. Evie saw the warmth in her friends' eyes and the knot of anxiety in her chest loosened. For the first time she started to believe that the rest of her dorm really didn't care that she was always having accidents and that maybe they did like her just the way she was. "You're so clever, Evie," Ivy said, yawning as she turned off the light. "We wouldn't know nearly as much as we do now if we didn't have you." I wish Sunshine felt the same, Evie thought as she snuggled down In bed. Sunshine had been fine with her when they'd been riding out to the tower but she'd been quiet on the way home and when they got back she'd seemed keen for Evie to leave her. Evie remembered all the times in the last week when Sunshine had wanted her to go away. I wish she liked me more, she thought sadly, but I bet she wishes she had another partner. She comforted herself by remembering what her friends had just said. I love being in Ruby dorm, thought Evie happily, and with a smile she fell asleep. At midnight the girls got out of their beds, dressed and crept down the stairs. Evie was glad of her warm coat as she stepped outside. The night was chilly. Unseen creatures rustled and squeaked from the bushes and somewhere nearby, an owl hooted. Evie glanced back and saw a shadow move behind one of the upper windows where the staff bedrooms were. Her heart leapt into her throat. Was someone there, watching them? But no. When she looked again, the shadows behind the window were still. "Come on!" Ivy grabbed her hand and they ran silently across the dew- soaked grass to the stables, Ivy's grip tightening on Evie's whenever Evie's feet tripped on a tuft of grass. Entering the stables, Evie's cheeks tingled with the sudden warmth. She went quickly to Sunshine's stall, treading softly so as not to disturb the

对她微笑。“要不是你，我们永远也找不到那个秘密按钮。” “或者是打开通往密室的楼梯的那个。”莱拉说。 “我是摔倒才找到那些按钮的，”艾薇说。 “这是一种非常特殊的才能，伊维，”西耶娜说。 “我认为这是独一无二的。”莱拉笑着说。 “当然！”艾薇笑着说。 伊维看到了朋友们眼中的温暖，她胸中焦虑的结松开了。 她第一次开始相信，宿舍里的其他人真的不在乎她总是出事故，也许他们只是喜欢她本来的样子。 “你真聪明，艾薇，”艾薇说着，打着哈欠关了灯。 “如果没有你，我们就不会知道这么多。” 我希望阳光也有同样的感觉，伊薇依偎在床上想。 他们骑马去塔楼的时候，阳光对她很好，但回家的路上她一直很安静，当他们回来的时候，她似乎很想让伊维离开她。 伊薇还记得上个星期，阳光一直想让她离开。 我希望她更喜欢我，她悲伤地想，但我敢打赌她希望她有另一个伴侣。 她回忆起朋友们刚才说的话来安慰自己。 “我喜欢住在鲁比的宿舍里，”伊薇高兴地想，然后笑着睡着了。 午夜时分，姑娘们下了床，穿好衣服，蹑手蹑脚地走下楼梯。 出门时，伊薇很高兴有一件暖和的外套。 夜很冷。看不见的生物在灌木丛中沙沙作响，发出吱吱的声音，附近的某个地方，一只猫头鹰在叫。 伊薇回头看了一眼，看见楼上的一扇窗户后面有个影子在动，那是教工卧室。 她的心都跳到嗓子眼儿了。 有人在那里监视他们吗？ 但是没有。当她再看的时候，窗户后面的影子还是静止的。 “来吧!”艾薇抓住她的手，他们默默地跑过露水浸透的草地，向马厩跑去。每当艾薇的脚踩在一丛草上时，艾薇就紧紧抓住艾薇的手。 走进马厩，突如其来的温暖让伊薇的脸颊发麻。 她快步走到“阳光”的摊位前，脚步很轻，以免惊动

other unicorns, snuffling and snoring in their sleep. Sunshine was awake, her dark eyes full of anxiety. "We're still going then?" she asked Evie. "Yes." Evie sensed her unicorn's reluctance. "Why? Don't you want to?" Sunshine looked awkward. "I do. It's just…" She trailed off. Evie braced herself, sure that Sunshine was worried she was going to embarrass them in some way tonight. "What is it, Sunshine? Please tell me what's bothering you." Sunshine glanced at her through her eyelashes. "I'm… I'm scared of the dark, Evie!" Evie blinked. Of all the things she had been expecting Sunshine to say, it wasn't that. Hiding her surprise, she stroked Sunshine's cheek. "Really? But why?" "I always have been." Sunshine shuddered. "The copse was bad enough

其他独角兽，在睡梦中抽鼻子和打鼾。 阳光醒了，她的黑眼睛里充满了焦虑。 “那我们还去吗？”她问伊维。 “是的。”伊薇感觉到她的独角兽的不情愿。 “为什么?你不想去吗？”阳光看起来很尴尬。 “我做的。只是……”她压低声音说。 伊维鼓起勇气，确信阳光是担心她今晚会以某种方式让他们难堪。 “怎么了，阳光？”请告诉我你在烦恼什么。” 阳光透过她的睫毛瞥了她一眼。 “我……我怕黑，伊维！”艾维眨了眨眼睛。 在她期待阳光说的所有事情中，她没想到会是这样。 为了掩饰她的惊讶，她抚摸着阳光的脸颊。 “真的吗?但是为什么呢?”“我一直都是。” 阳光战栗。“森林已经够糟的了

by day; it's going to be even more scary at night." "But Lyra's got a torch, so we'll have light,' said Evie gently. "And we'll all be together. Nothing will happen to you." As she reassured her, she felt a rush of relief. So this was why Sunshine had been quiet on the way home. It wasn't because she had been worried about Evie embarrassing her; it was because she'd been feeling scared about going back in the dark. "I'm really glad you told me," she said softly as Sunshine nuzzled her hands. "Thanks for not laughing at me, Evie," Sunshine said gratefully. "I didn't want to say anything because I was worried that you'd think I was stupid." "I'd never think that," said Evie, stroking her. Sunshine blew softly at Evie's face. "I'm really glad that you're my partner, Evie. Look, there's something I need to tell you—" "Are you two ready?" interrupted Lyra, looking into Sunshine's stable. "We haven't got much time," she added. Evie sent Sunshine an apologetic look. "Tell me later," she whispered. They followed the others outside and, mounting their unicorns, they set

白天;到了晚上就更可怕了。” “但是莱拉有手电筒，所以我们会有光的。” “我们会在一起的。 你不会有事的。” 当她安慰她时，她感到一阵解脱。 这就是为什么阳光在回家的路上一直很安静。 这并不是因为她担心伊维会让她难堪；那是因为她一直害怕在黑暗中回去。 “我真的很高兴你告诉我，”她温柔地说，阳光抚摸着她的手。 “谢谢你没有嘲笑我，伊维，”阳光感激地说。 “我什么都不想说，因为我担心你会认为我很蠢。” “我从来没有那样想过，”伊维抚摸着她说。 阳光轻轻地照在伊薇的脸上。 “我真的很高兴你是我的搭档，伊维。 听着，我有件事要告诉你们——”“你们俩准备好了吗？”莱拉看着阳光的马厩，打断了他的话。 “我们的时间不多了，”她补充说。 伊薇给了阳光一个道歉的眼神。 “以后再告诉我。”她低声说。 他们跟在其他人后面，骑上独角兽，出发了

off at a gallop. When they reached Spiny Copse, they stopped. A bat swooped past chasing a moth as Lyra shone her powerful torch down the path. Sienna gulped. "What if we see that ghost thing again?" "It wasn't a ghost," said Lyra firmly. "So what was it? It certainly sounded spooky. Whooooo," said Sienna, mimicking the sound. "I don't know what it was, but I promise you it wasn't a ghost," said Lyra, and she rode Misty into the trees. Evie felt Sunshine hesitate and stroked her neck. "Don't be scared," she whispered. "Just focus on the light of the torch." Sunshine nuzzled her leg before trotting after the others. To Evie's relief they reached the clearing with no ghostly encounters. When they got there, they saw that Dr Briar had secured the tower's wooden door with a sturdy new padlock. "Hopefully we won't need to use the door," said Lyra. "Where's that button, Evie? Let's press it and see what happens." Evie slipped off Sunshine and crouched by the bench. Her fingers found the round indentation underneath it. "Here goes!" She pushed it in. There was a creaking, rumbling sound and part of the outer wall of the tower juddered slowly back. "Oh, wow! There's a secret space between the tower's inner and outer walls," said Lyra, jumping off Misty and going over. "A cavity!" exclaimed Sienna. "Just like the riddle said." The space inside was as black as ink. Evie felt very impressed as she peered inside. Ms Evergreen must have been a brilliant engineer to have constructed such a thing. "I'm going in," said Lyra excitedly. They all followed– unicorns too. "Everyone look for the map!" Evie's eyes followed the beam of the torch as Lyra shone it around. The cavity ran all round the outside of the tower. High above them was a window with no glass. It had a wide, thick window ledge and there was something bulky on it, but it was impossible to see what it was in the darkness. "Lyra, shine your torch up there," she said.

疾驰而去。当他们到达刺丛时，他们停了下来。 一只蝙蝠追着一只飞蛾飞过，莱拉用强力火把照着小路。 黄土一饮而尽。“如果我们再看到那个鬼怎么办？”“那不是鬼。”莱拉坚定地说。 “那是什么呢？”这听起来确实令人毛骨悚然。 呜呜呜，”西耶娜模仿着声音说。 “我不知道那是什么，但我向你保证那不是鬼。”莱拉说着骑着米斯蒂走进树林。 伊薇感到阳光在犹豫，便抚摸着她的脖子。 “别害怕，”她小声说。 “把注意力集中在火炬的光芒上。” 阳光用鼻子蹭了蹭她的腿，然后跟在其他人后面小跑。 让伊维松了一口气的是，他们到达了空地，没有遇到幽灵。 当他们到达那里时，他们看到布瑞尔博士已经用一把结实的新挂锁锁住了塔楼的木门。 “希望我们不用走这扇门。”莱拉说。 “那个按钮在哪儿，伊薇？” 让我们按下它，看看会发生什么。” 伊薇从阳光身上滑下来，蹲在长凳旁。 她的手指找到了下面那个圆形的凹痕。 “遵命!”她把它推了进去。 一声嘎吱嘎吱的隆隆声，塔楼的一部分外墙慢慢地颤抖着向后退去。 “哦,哇!在塔楼的内墙和外墙之间有一个秘密空间。”莱拉说着，从米斯蒂身上跳下来，走了过去。 “一个洞！”西耶娜叫道。 “就像谜语说的那样。” 里面的空间像墨水一样黑。 当艾薇往里面看的时候，她感到非常感动。 Evergreen女士一定是一位杰出的工程师，才能建造出这样的东西。 “我要进去了。”莱拉兴奋地说。 它们全都跟着——独角兽也一样。 “大家都去找地图！”莱拉把火炬照了一圈，伊维的眼睛跟着火光。 空洞环绕着塔的外面。 在他们头顶的高处有一扇没有玻璃的窗户。 它有一个又宽又厚的窗台，上面有个笨重的东西，但在黑暗中看不清那是什么。 “莱拉，把你的手电照上去。”她说。

Lyra did so and Evie saw a large nest of twigs. Four spectre owlets with fluffy grey baby feathers that glowed in the moonlight peered over the top, their large round eyes glowing in the torch beam. Just then there was a hooting noise– "WHOOOO-OOOO"– and the mother owl flew in through the window, the feathers on her silvery wings shimmering. She landed on the nest and peered down curiously at the girls. Evie burst out laughing. "I think we've just found our ghost!" "It was a spectre owl!" said Ivy, her face a picture of relief. "They glow in the moonlight." Sienna heaved a sigh. "Phew!" "I wonder if Ms Evergreen encouraged spectre owls to nest here all those years ago," said Evie. "To make people think the folly was haunted." Lyra swept her torch away from the nest so as not to disturb the owls any longer and they continued to explore round the wall.

莱拉照做了，伊维看到了一个大树枝窝。 四只长着毛茸茸的灰色小羽毛的幽灵猫头鹰在月光下闪闪发光，它们的大眼睛在火炬的光线下闪闪发光。 就在这时，一声“呜——呜”——猫头鹰妈妈从窗口飞了进来，银色翅膀上的羽毛闪闪发光。 她落在鸟巢上，好奇地向下凝视着女孩们。 伊薇突然大笑起来。“我想我们刚刚找到了我们的鬼魂！”“那是一只幽灵猫头鹰！”艾薇说，脸上露出如释重负的表情。 “它们在月光下发光。” 西耶娜叹了口气。“唷!”“我想知道长荣女士是不是在很多年前鼓励幽灵猫头鹰在这里筑巢，”艾薇说。 “为了让人们认为这愚蠢的东西闹鬼。” 莱拉把火把从巢边扫开，以免再惊动猫头鹰，它们继续在围墙周围探索。