Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE Layla could hardly bear to watch the leaves falling into Sparkle Lake as the flash flies swarmed over the trees. She ran to the lake and began to fish fallen leaves from the water. It didn't take long for her friends to catch on and soon they were all helping. It was an endless task. The wet leaves were as slippery as wriggly fish and almost impossible to grab. When Layla did manage to scoop some between her hands they slid through her fingers as she put them on the bank. A thundering of hooves announced the

第五章蕾拉几乎看不下去树叶落在闪闪湖上，而闪光的苍蝇成群地从树上飞过。 她跑到湖边，开始从水中捞起落叶。 没过多久，她的朋友们就明白了，很快他们都来帮忙了。 这是一项没完没了的任务。湿漉漉的叶子像扭动的鱼一样滑，几乎不可能抓住。 当Layla设法用双手舀起一些时，当她把它们放在河岸上时，它们从她的手指间滑落。 一阵雷鸣般的马蹄声宣布

arrival of Ava riding back from the stables with Star and Thyme. Other pupils had also seen what was happening and come outside. "Stand back!" commanded Ms Nettles. Everyone shuffled back, clearing an area for Star and Thyme. They trotted to the nearest tree. CRACK! In unison, the unicorns struck the ground with their hooves. Purple, green and gold sparks spiralled up, twisting round the branches of the trees. The branches shuddered. CRACK! More sparks, a rich sweet smell, and this time tiny buds shot from the tips of the branches. The buds unfurled like fingers into fresh new leaves. A cheer rang up from the students. CRACK! CRACK! Star and Thyme stamped their hooves repeatedly. Sparks flew, the trees made popping noises and the air was heavy with the magical smell of burnt sugar.

艾娃带着星和百里香从马厩骑马回来。 其他学生也看到了发生的事情，纷纷跑了出来。 “退后！”荨麻女士命令道。 每个人都拖着脚步后退，为Star和百里香腾出一块地方。 他们小跑到最近的一棵树旁。 裂缝!独角兽们齐声用蹄子敲打着地面。 紫色、绿色和金色的火花盘旋而上，缠绕在树枝上。 树枝在颤抖。裂缝!更多的火花，一股浓郁的香味，这次从树枝的尖端冒出了小芽。 花蕾像手指一样展开，长出了新叶。 学生们响起了欢呼声。 裂缝!裂缝!星和百里香不停地跺着蹄子。 火花四溅，树木发出噼里啪啦的响声，空气中弥漫着烧焦糖的神奇气味。

Star and Thyme moved between the trees, stamping their hooves as they worked their magic in a crackling, popping shower of coloured sparkles. Over the top of the noise came a volley of sneezes. "Poor Ms Nettles!" Layla thought the teacher was being very brave, sticking to Thyme's side even though the new leaves were

星星和百里香在树林间穿梭，在噼啪作响、噼啪作响的彩色火花中跺着蹄子施展魔法。 一阵喷嚏声盖过了喧闹声。 “可怜的荨麻女士！”蕾拉觉得老师很勇敢，尽管新叶在她身边，她还是坚持在她身边

playing havoc with her hay fever. Ms Nettles' nose was red and tears streamed from her eyes. "The flies are multiplying!" exclaimed Olivia. "They're spoiling the new leaves." Layla watched in horror as a gigantic swarm of flash flies arrived in a glittering ball of turquoise and pink. Their red eyes flashed as they descended on the new leaves to suck out the goodness. "Look at the lake," said Sophia. The rainbow-coloured water of Sparkle Lake was now a sorry sight, its surface covered in dead, brown leaves. Star and Thyme battled on, stamping their hooves, channelling their magic to grow new leaves faster and faster. Magic sparked and whizzed in the air, endlessly replacing the falling leaves until Ms Nettles called for Star and Thyme to stand down. "It's no good," she told the unicorns. "If anything, the magic is making the situation

让她的花粉热肆虐。 荨麻女士的鼻子红了，眼泪从她的眼睛里流出来。 “苍蝇在繁殖！”奥利维亚叫道。 “它们在糟蹋新叶。” 蕾拉惊恐地看着一大群闪光的苍蝇飞过来，形成一个绿松石和粉红色的闪闪发光的球。 它们的红眼睛闪着光，落在新叶上，吮吸着叶子里的汁液。 “看那个湖，”索菲亚说。 闪闪湖的彩虹色的水现在是一个令人遗憾的景象，它的表面覆盖着枯黄的叶子。 星和百里香继续战斗，跺着他们的蹄子，用他们的魔法让新叶长得越来越快。 魔法在空中闪烁着，不停地替换着落叶，直到荨麻女士叫星星和百里香停下来。 “这样不行，”她对独角兽说。 “如果有什么不同的话，那就是魔法在创造局面

worse by creating more leaves for the flash flies to feast on." "We really need Ms Primrose," said Jake, a dark-haired boy from Amber dorm. "If only she was here," agreed Layla. "Oh, why did this happen just after she went away?" Olivia let out a squeak then clapped her hand over her mouth. "Olivia dear, what is it?" asked Ms Rosemary in concern. "Errrm…" Olivia started to stutter but she was saved from answering by Ms Nettles. "Everyone, back indoors immediately," she commanded. "There's nothing more to be done here. Go and get ready for breakfast while we teachers try to come up with a plan." "What's up, Olivia?" asked Sophia as they headed back to school. Olivia glanced around. "Not now, later." As soon as they got back to the dorm, Olivia shut the door.

更糟糕的是，它为闪电蝇创造了更多的树叶。” “我们真的需要樱草花老师，”安布尔宿舍的黑发男孩杰克说。 “要是她在这里就好了，”莱拉同意道。 “哦，为什么她刚走就发生了这件事？”奥利维亚发出一声尖叫，然后用手捂住嘴。 “亲爱的奥利维亚，怎么了？”罗斯玛丽女士关切地问。 “呃……”奥利维亚开始结结巴巴地说，但她没有回答，是奈特尔斯女士救了她。 “所有人，马上回到屋里，”她命令道。 “这里没有什么可做的了。 去准备早餐吧，我们老师在想办法。” “怎么了，奥利维亚？”她们回学校的路上，索菲亚问。 奥利维亚环顾四周。“现在不行，以后再说。” 他们一回到宿舍，奥利维亚就把门关上了。

"So what is it?" Scarlett asked her. "Don't you see?" said Olivia. "I bet Ms Nettles caused the infestation of flash flies! She's mad on beetles so why not flies? She waited until Ms Primrose got called away and then somehow brought those flies here. I saw her climbing that tree yesterday. I bet she was planting a spell in it to attract them!" "Yes," breathed Isabel. "It has to be more

“那是什么呢？”思嘉问她。 “你还不明白吗？”奥利维亚说。 “我敢打赌，荨麻女士一定引起了闪光蝇的侵扰！”她喜欢甲虫，为什么不喜欢苍蝇呢？ 她一直等到樱草花女士被叫走，然后不知怎么地把那些苍蝇带来了。 我昨天看见她在爬那棵树。 我敢说她一定是在里面施了一个咒语来吸引它们！”“是的，”伊莎贝尔轻声说。 “它必须更多