57 Homeward Bound

57 Homeward Bound "Once again, the city of Chroma is in your debt," said Mrs M to the children the next morning as they stood by Peanut's sketch of a door. "Not only do the citizens have their Spire back, but we've found where Mr White has been storing all of the art equipment that he confiscated over the years. A mountain of creative tools is once again at our disposal! I think it's fair to say that we will be rediscovering our creative mojo over the next days, weeks, months and years as they are redistributed. And that is, in no small part, down to you three." Peanut, Little-Bit and Rockwell looked across at the crayon fence. Teams of people were already working hard with their recently reclaimed paints, repairing the hole and returning it

57 踏上归途 “克鲁马城又一次欠了你们人情啦，”第二天清晨，M夫人对站在花生画的门草图旁的孩子们说道。 “市民们不光夺回了尖塔，我们还找到了怀特先生这些年来藏匿所有没收画材的地点。 堆积如山的创作工具又重新回到了我们手中！ 可以说，在重新分发这些工具的过程中，未来数日、数周、数月甚至数年里，我们都会慢慢找回创作的活力。 这一切，很大程度上都离不开你们三个。” 花生、小点点和罗克韦尔望向了蜡笔围栏的方向。 成群的工人已经用上刚失而复得的颜料，忙着修补破洞，要把这里

to its original, multicoloured glory. Just beyond, they caught a glimpse of the Rainbow Lake, which seemed to be getting lower by the minute. Mr M followed their gaze. "I know. Not good, is it?" he said. "Don't worry, we'll work out how White is draining it and do our best to retrieve the missing magical water. At least we know that some of it is in that swimming pool that you found at the top of the Spire. We just need to work out what he's done with the rest." Another reason for us to find him as quickly as possible," said Mrs M. "Has Alan still not said anything?" said Rockwell. "Not yet," said the woman. "But he will. We are using a classic persuasion technique. He looks like a man who enjoys his food, so we've put him on a porridge-only diet until he talks. Meanwhile, I have been doing some cooking in the cell next door. The smell of a full English breakfast this morning almost broke him. I'm planning on baking a loaf of bread later, and making a Victoria sponge this afternoon. Trust me, it's only a matter of time. "There are some people who want to say goodbye before you go," said Jonathan Higginbottom. "I hope that's OK?" The children looked up at the Spire, just as Table Guy led a procession of saluting superheroes in a fly-past. As the last one (Wonder Walrus) disappeared around the tower and headed back towards Superhero Heights, Mr M clapped his hands,

恢复它原本色彩斑斓的模样。 再往远处，他们瞥到了彩虹湖，湖面正一刻不停地往下降。 M先生顺着他们的目光看去。 “我知道。 情况不太妙，对不对？” 他说道。 “别担心，我们会查出怀特抽干湖水的方法，尽全力找回消失的魔法水。 至少我们确认，有一部分水就在你们在尖塔顶发现的那个游泳池里。 我们只要弄清楚剩下的水被他弄到哪去了就行了。” “这也是我们要尽快找到他的另一个原因，”M夫人说道。“艾伦还是什么都没说吗？”罗克韦尔问道。 “还没有，”这位女士答道。 “但他很快就会说了。 我们在用一种经典的说服办法。 他看着就像是个贪吃的人，所以我们只给他喝粥，直到他开口说话为止。 这段时间，我一直在隔壁牢房做饭。 今天早上一整份英式早餐的香味，差点就攻破他的心理防线了。 我打算晚点儿烤一条面包，下午再做一个维多利亚海绵蛋糕。 相信我，他开口只是时间问题。 “你们出发前，有不少人想来道别，”乔纳森·希金博顿说道。 “我想你们不会介意吧？” 孩子们抬头望向尖塔，正好桌子哥领着一队超级英雄列队飞过，向他们致敬。 当最后一位英雄（奇迹海象）绕过塔楼消失不见，返回超级英雄高地后，M先生拍了拍手，

and long, rainbow-striped flags unfurled from every window. "Ahhh," sighed Peanut. "It's so good to see colour returning to the city." The children said goodbye to a very licky Doodle, then walked over to the door that Peanut had drawn. They waved to the Markmakers and Jonathan Higginbottom as Little-Bit pulled it open. "I do hope your mum and brother are OK," said Mrs M. "Me too," said Peanut. And with that, they walked through the door.

一道道长长的彩虹条纹旗帜从每一扇窗户展开。 “啊——”花生感叹道。 “看到城市重新恢复色彩，真的太开心了。” 孩子们和总爱舔人的杜德尔道了别，朝花生画的那扇门走去。 小点点拉开门的时候，他们向创笔团和乔纳森·希金博顿挥了挥手。 “真心希望你的妈妈和哥哥都平安，”M夫人说道。 “我也是，”花生说道。 说完，他们就走进了门里。