Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

第六章

Ms Nettles dropped to her knees and began to frantically search the floor. "Whatever do you think you're doing?" she demanded. "I'm sorry," Isabel stuttered, wondering why the teacher was crouching on the floor– and how much trouble she was going to be in. "I didn't mean to damage the book. There were beetles in it when I picked it up. They've nibbled holes in the paper." Ms Nettles' glasses were rattling so hard that Isabel expected them to slide right off her nose. She pointed a bony finger at Isabel. "Stay exactly where you are," she ordered as she continued to search the floor. "Hester, Horatio, where are you, my lovelies? Come to Mummy." For a moment Isabel thought the teacher had gone mad. It was only when Ms Nettles found the two beetles and slipped them carefully

荨麻女士跪了下来，开始疯狂地在地板上搜寻。 “你以为你在干什么？”她质问道。 “对不起，”伊莎贝尔结结巴巴地说，不知道老师为什么蹲在地板上，也不知道她会遇到多大的麻烦。 “我不是有意要损坏这本书的。 我捡起来的时候里面有甲虫。 它们在纸上咬了几个洞。” 纳特尔斯女士的眼镜响得太厉害了，伊莎贝尔以为它会从她的鼻子上滑下来。 她用瘦骨嶙峋的手指着伊莎贝尔。 “待在原地不动，”她命令道，同时继续在地板上搜寻。 “海丝特，荷瑞修，你们在哪儿，我的宝贝们？” 到妈妈这儿来。”有那么一会儿，伊莎贝尔以为老师疯了。 直到奈特尔斯女士发现了两只甲虫，小心翼翼地把它们滑了出去

inside a small box that Isabel realised what she was doing. "They're your beetles?" she breathed. "Yes! I collect them but these two escaped when I was cleaning out their tank. If I ever catch you stamping on a beetle, then you will be out of this school faster than you can say unicorn," said Ms Nettles. "Hester and Horatio are the only two book beetles in my extensive beetle collection. They are also my favourites." Ms Nettles collected beetles. Weird! For a wild moment, Isabel wondered if Ms Nettles might be the person trying to harm the lake. She was certainly odd enough. But that was a crazy idea. Why would a teacher do that? "Your work here is done. I'll finish off. Go and wash your hands ready for dinner." Isabel was only too pleased to leave. "Thank you, Ms Nettles. Please could I have that book back though? I want to show it to Ms Primrose." "No," snapped Ms Nettles. "Ms Primrose is

在一个小盒子里，伊莎贝尔意识到她在做什么。 “它们是你的甲虫？”她喘着气说。 “是啊!我收集它们，但这两只在我清理水箱时逃跑了。 如果哪天我抓到你踩甲虫，你就会被开除，连‘独角兽’这个词都不会说。” “海丝特和荷瑞修是我大量甲虫收藏中仅有的两只书甲虫。 它们也是我的最爱。” 奈特尔斯女士收集甲虫。 奇怪!有那么一瞬间，伊莎贝尔疯狂地想知道内特尔斯女士是否就是那个试图破坏湖泊的人。 她确实够古怪的。 但这是一个疯狂的想法。 为什么老师要这么做？ “你在这里的工作已经完成了。我要结束了。 去洗洗手，准备吃饭。” 伊莎贝尔非常高兴离开。 “谢谢你，荨麻女士。我能要回那本书吗？ 我想给樱草花女士看看。” “不，”荨麻女士厉声说。樱草花女士是

in a meeting and is far too busy to see you. I will deal with the damaged book." "But this is important. There's a way of stopping the rain…" Ms Nettles wouldn't listen. She tucked the book under her arm as she chivvied Isabel out of her study. "Go!" she said, glaring down her nose. "If I hear any more of this nonsense about rain, you'll be in detention for the rest of the year. Is that clear?" "Yes, Miss," sighed Isabel. Ms Nettles pulled a key from her pocket and locked the door. There was nothing Isabel could do but to go.

在开会，忙得没时间见你。 我来处理这本损坏的书。” “但这很重要。有一种方法可以让雨停下来……”荨麻女士不听。 她把书夹在腋下，把伊莎贝尔赶出书房。 “去吧！”她说，朝下瞪着鼻子。 “如果我再听到什么下雨之类的废话，你今年就得关禁闭。 明白了吗？”“是的，小姐，”伊莎贝尔叹了口气。 荨麻女士从口袋里掏出一把钥匙，锁上了门。 伊莎贝尔除了离开，别无他法。

On her way to the dining room, Isabel stopped to gaze at the rain coming down faster and faster outside. How could everything have gone so badly wrong? Six short months ago she'd stood in the hall bursting with excitement at the thought of meeting her unicorn. Now the academy might close before the year was over.

在去餐厅的路上，伊莎贝尔停下来凝视着外面越下越大的雨。 怎么一切都变得如此糟糕呢？ 短短六个月前，她站在大厅里，一想到要见到她的独角兽，就激动不已。 现在，学院可能会在今年结束前关闭。

Isabel wondered if everyone would be made to start the year again or only the pupils and unicorns that still had to find their magic and bond. That would mean Scarlett and Sophia and Ava wouldn't come back and she'd be left with people like Valentina. No, that couldn't happen! Isabel walked over to the rainbow-coloured glass doors of the Great Hall and slipped inside. She wandered across to the magical map. It was a model of Unicorn Island surrounded by a magical force field that hummed softly. Isabel held out a finger and touched it curiously. "Ow!" she winced as it gave her a small electric shock. The map had the power to take people anywhere on the island but students were only allowed to use it with Ms Primrose's permission. Staying clear of the force field, Isabel stared at the coastline. What if rain seeds were to blame for the rain? What if someone had hidden some on one of the island's coasts?

伊莎贝尔不知道是要让每个人都重新开始新的一年，还是只有学生和独角兽还需要寻找自己的魔力和纽带。 那就意味着思嘉、索菲亚和艾娃不会回来了，她就只能和瓦伦蒂娜这样的人在一起了。 不，那是不可能的！伊莎贝尔走到礼堂彩虹色的玻璃门前，溜了进去。 她走到那张神奇的地图前。 这是一个独角兽岛的模型，被一个轻轻地嗡嗡作响的魔法力场包围着。 伊莎贝尔伸出一根手指，好奇地摸了摸。 “噢！”她畏缩了一下，因为她受到了轻微的电击。 这张地图可以把人们带到岛上的任何地方，但学生们只有在得到普里姆罗斯女士的许可后才能使用。 伊莎贝尔避开力场，盯着海岸线。 如果下雨的原因是雨水的种子呢？ 如果有人在岛上的某个海岸藏了一些呢？