12 Stone

12 Stone Mr Stone was dressed in his usual black suit, black shirt and black tie (with very, very, very dark grey polka dots). On his head was a dazzling white fedora, pulled down low over his brow. He stopped and turned towards the group. His eyes narrowed, then he smiled widely, revealing a set of perfectly even, white teeth. "Milton, did you organise this?" said Mum, grinning. "Oh, of course you did! It's because it's Leo's eighteenth birthday tomorrow, isn't it? How KIND of you! And to think, when I mentioned it last week, you pretended to ignore me. Oh, thank you! Thank you so much. What a lovely surprise. Children,

12 斯通先生 斯通先生像往常一样，穿着黑西装、黑衬衫、黑领带，领带上印着非常、非常、非常深的灰色圆点。 他头上戴了一顶亮得晃眼的白色费多拉帽，帽檐压得很低，遮住了额头。 他停下脚步，转向这群人。 他眯起眼睛，接着大大笑开，露出一口整齐匀称的洁白牙齿。 "弥尔顿，这是你安排的对不对？"妈妈笑着问道。 "哦，肯定是你安排的！ 这都是因为明天是利奥的十八岁生日，对不对？ 你真是太贴心了！ 想想哦，上周我提这件事的时候，你还假装没听见呢。 哦，太谢谢你了！ 真的太感谢了。 这真是个太棒的惊喜。 孩子们,

say "thank you" to Mr Stone for flying you over to Italy. Aren't we all lucky?" Mr Stone's smile slipped slightly, and Peanut thought she could see confusion in his eyes. Or maybe it was a flash of anger. Whatever the emotion, it was only there for a split second. His teeth soon reappeared and normal, slimy service was resumed. He turned to face the children. "Hello, Tracey's offspring. It's delightful to see all, er, four of you," he said, his voice positively dripping with smarm. "Especially you, Pernilla. We are old friends, after all." A wild fury was beginning to boil in the pit of Peanut's stomach, not least because he'd called her by her hated given name, Pernilla. "I must say," he continued, "what a wonderful treat it is to see you here." He looked directly at Peanut. "As your mother said, it's just as I planned."

快对斯通先生说谢谢，谢谢他包机带你们来意大利。 咱们大家是不是都特别幸运呀？" 斯通先生的笑容微微僵住了，花生觉得自己在他眼里看到了困惑。 也有可能那是一闪而过的怒火。 不管那是什么情绪，都只出现了一刹那。 很快他又露出了笑容，恢复了那副惯有的假惺惺的样子。 他转过身面向孩子们。 "你们好啊，特蕾西的孩子们。 真高兴见到你们，呃，你们四个，"他说道，语气里满是虚情假意。 "尤其是你，佩妮拉。 毕竟我们可是老朋友呀。" 花生的心底涌起一股滔天怒火，更别说他还喊了自己最讨厌的本名佩妮拉。 "我得说，"他继续说道，"能在这里见到你，可真是太愉快了。" 他直直地看向花生。 "就像你妈妈说的，这一切全都是我的安排。"

A shiver ran down Peanut's spine as Stone's smile widened. She grabbed her mother's hand and pulled her to one side. "Mum, are you OK?" she whispered. "Has he hurt you?" "Hurt me?" asked Mum with a perplexed expression on her face. "Seriously, Peanut, I'm starting to get a bit worried about you. Why on earth would you think Mr Stone is trying to hurt me?" But before Peanut could answer, Nerys appeared at Mum's shoulder. "Hello, my lovelies. So sorry to interrupt. Er, Peanut, do you think I could have a quick word with you?" She opened her eyes wide and flicked her head to one side in a come-with-me- right-now kind of way. Peanut smiled at Mum, let go of her hand and followed Nerys to the far side of the room. Once there, the woman began speaking very quickly. "I don't know how you got here so fast," said Nerys, her voice urgent and shaky, "but thank goodness you did. Now, I know this will sound silly, but you have to believe me. I think that Mr Stone..." she swallowed loudly, "has taken us HOSTAGE." She glanced anxiously over to where the man in the white fedora was standing. And I don't even know why! Please, please will you help us? I'm so scared that something awful is going to happen."

斯通笑得更开怀了，一股寒意却爬上了花生的脊背。 她抓住妈妈的手，把她拉到了一边。 "妈妈，你没事吧？" 她小声问道。 "他伤害你了吗？" "伤害我？"妈妈满脸困惑地问道。 "说真的，花生，我都开始有点担心你了。 你怎么会觉得斯通先生想要伤害我呢？" 可花生还没来得及回答，内里斯就出现在了妈妈身后。 "嗨，我亲爱的宝贝们。 很抱歉打扰一下。 呃，花生，我能跟你说两句话吗？" 她睁大双眼，把头往旁边一偏，那模样就是在说赶紧跟我走。 花生对妈妈笑了笑，松开她的手，跟着内里斯走到了房间的另一头。 一到那边，内里斯就飞快地说了起来。 "我不知道你怎么来得这么快，"内里斯的声音急切又发颤，"但谢天谢地你来了。 我知道这听起来很荒唐，但你一定要相信我。 我觉得斯通先生……" 她用力咽了口唾沫，"他把我们劫为人质了。" 她焦虑地瞥了一眼那个戴白色费多拉帽的男人站的位置。 我甚至都不知道他为什么要这么做！ 求你了，求你一定要帮帮我们好吗？ 我好害怕会有可怕的事情发生。"