26 The Speech

26 The Speech The crowds around the lake had really started to amass. So had the decorations. The sky was full of balloons and kites, and hundreds of citizens held colourful banners proclaiming their love of Chroma. Folks from all twelve districts had made the journey to the centre of the city to witness this historic moment— the refilling of the Rainbow Lake. This restoration of colour and creativity was, everyone agreed, the perfect way to mark the end of Mr White's tyrannical reign. A vast number of RAZERs, now under the supervision of 67, were lined up behind the cheering crowd on all four sides, forming a robotic border around the festivities. Some people still eyed the machines suspiciously, but most were beginning

26 演讲 湖边的人群已经越聚越多了 庆典装饰也同样布置了满满当当 天空飘满了气球和风筝，数百位市民举着彩色横幅，诉说着他们对克罗玛的热爱 十二个区的人们都赶来了市中心，见证这个历史性的时刻——彩虹湖重新蓄水 所有人都同意，重启色彩与创造力，正是纪念怀特先生暴政终结最完美的方式 大量镭泽机器人现在由67号监管，它们在欢呼人群的四边后方排开，为这场庆典围起了一道机器人警戒线 还有些人依旧对这些机器心存疑虑，但大多数人已经开始

to get used to their new role, which was, they'd been told, to keep the citizens of Chroma safe. For some reason, the sight of the RAZERs reminded Peanut of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, which she'd been to watch when she was little. She supposed that the robots were destined to fulfil a ceremonial role from now on, just like those guards. This made sense because, whether people liked it or not, the RAZERs were now a part of Chroma's history. Anyway, Peanut rather liked the way that they were being repurposed as a force for good. Even the enormous Big Xs were playing a part in the revelry. All twelve were lined up on the far bank, again just behind the crowds. Mr White had once used them in his plan to mono Chroma, but now one of them had even been painted in bright rainbow colours. Suddenly, a microphone crackled into life, and a voice very familiar to Peanut began to boom out of the huge speakers. "CITIZENS OF CHROMA," said Mrs M, who was standing with her husband and Doodle on a raised platform on the far side of the lake, "TODAY IS THE DAY." Her opening line was greeted by deafening cheers, which drew from her a warm smile that lit up the huge screens broadcasting the speech. "WE HAVE SPENT MANY, MANY YEARS," she continued, "DREAMING OF A TIME WHEN THE

习惯它们的新身份了，大家都说，它们现在的职责就是保护克罗玛市民的安全 不知为什么，看到这些镭泽机器人，花生想起了小时候去看过的白金汉宫换岗仪式 她觉得这些机器人从今往后就像那些卫兵一样，注定要承担礼仪职责了 这也合情合理，不管人们喜不喜欢，镭泽现在已经是克罗玛历史的一部分了 不管怎么说，花生挺喜欢它们改做善事、发挥新作用的样子 连巨型的X机器人都参与到了这场狂欢里 十二个X机器人全部在对岸排开，同样站在人群的后方 怀特先生曾经用它们实现给克罗玛去色彩的计划，可现在其中一个已经被刷上了鲜亮的彩虹色 突然，麦克风滋啦一声响了，一个花生非常熟悉的声音从大喇叭里隆隆传出来 “克罗玛的市民们！”M夫人站在湖对岸的高台之上，身边是她的丈夫和杜杜，她开口道，“今天就是我们期盼的日子。” 她的开场迎来了震耳欲聋的欢呼，她也露出了温暖的笑容，这笑容照亮了直播演讲的超大屏幕 “我们已经度过了许许多多个年头，”她继续说道，“一直梦想着有这么一天，我们

ILLUSTRATED CITY- OUR CITY- WILL BE RETURNED TO US. MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THAT DAY." Peanut smiled. Who knew that Mrs M was such a great public speaker? "OUR INKWELLS RAN DRY, OUR PAINTBRUSHES STIFFENED, AND OUR PENCILS WERE BLUNTED, BUT WE HELD ON TO HOPE AND TRUSTED THAT ONE DAY OUR PALETTES WOULD BE WET WITH COLOUR ONCE AGAIN. MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THAT DAY." More cheers.

这座绘彩之城——我们的家园——会重新回到我们手中 我的朋友们，今天就是这一天。” 花生笑了 谁能想到M夫人居然这么擅长公开演讲呀！ “我们的墨水瓶干了，画笔硬了，铅笔也钝了，但我们一直抱着希望，相信终有一天，我们的调色盘会重新沾满色彩， 我的朋友们，今天就是这一天。” 欢呼声再次响起，比刚才更响亮了

"THEY WHITEWASHED OUR WALLS, THEY MONO- ED OUR MEADOWS, AND THEY LOWERED OUR LAKE. BUT ONE THING THAT MR WHITE AND HIS CRONIES HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO IS ERASE THE RAINBOWS THAT LIT UP OUR HEARTS THEN, AND CONTINUE TO LIGHT UP OUR HEARTS NOW." Even louder cheers. "WE KNEW THAT A DAY OF RECKONING WOULD COME FOR WHITE. AND, MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THAT DAY!"

“他们把我们的墙壁刷白，把我们的草地变成单色，还抽干了我们的湖水， 但有一件事，怀特先生和他的走狗们永远做不到：那就是抹去曾经点亮我们内心、如今依旧照亮我们心房的彩虹。” 欢呼声变得更加震天动地 “我们知道，怀特迎来清算的那一天终会到来， 而我的朋友们，今天就是这一天！”

The cheers from the crowds now were so loud that Peanut picked up Little Tail and quickly drew herself and Little-Bit some ear defenders. Once the noise began to die down, Mrs M continued. "WE, THE RESISTANCE, FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE PERPETRATORS OF THESE HEINOUS ACTS AGAINST US, AGAINST CHROMA, AND AGAINST ALL CREATIVITY, SHOULD BE HERE TO BEAR WITNESS TO THEIR FAILURE. WE WANT THEM TO SEE IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES." She gestured to her left. "PLEASE BRING THE PRISONERS FORWARD." From behind the platform, Mr Stone and Alan were led to the edge of the lake by two RAZERs. Their hands were tied behind their backs. Stone, still wearing the fedora and black suit, looked confused and terrified. Alan, on the other hand, looked very relaxed. In fact, Peanut thought she saw him smiling.

人群的欢呼现在实在太吵了，花生抱起小尾巴，飞快地给自己和小比特画了隔音耳罩 等喧闹渐渐平息下来，M夫人继续演讲 “我们反抗军认为，非常重要的一点是：这些犯下针对我们、针对克罗玛、针对所有创造力滔天恶行的罪人，必须亲自到场见证他们的失败， 我们要让他们亲眼看看这一切。” 她向自己的左侧做了个手势 “请把犯人带上来。” 从平台后方，两个镭泽机器人把斯通先生和艾伦押到了湖边 他们的双手被反绑在身后 斯通还戴着费多拉礼帽、穿着黑西装，满脸都是困惑和恐惧 反过来，艾伦看起来却十分轻松 事实上，花生好像看到他正在微笑

"What is it with that guy?" she said under her breath. "MR WHITE AND ALAN," said Mrs M over the speakers, "WE HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE TO SHOW YOU THAT, DESPITE YOUR EFFORTS, CREATIVITY CAN NEVER BE DESTROYED. YOU CAN'T KEEP ART DOWN. IT WILL ALWAYS RISE TO THE SURFACE. AND YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHILE YOU SPEND THE REST OF YOUR DAYS IN PRISON. IN FACT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE UP PAINTING. IT MIGHT HELP TO PASS THE TIME." The crowd went even more wild. The atmosphere was electric. "AND NOW CITIZENS OF CHROMA, FOR THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR..." She turned to her husband, who looked to 67 before nodding. "...IT'S TIME TO LET THE WATER FLOW!" Mrs M held up a small remote control and theatrically pressed one of its buttons. Water of all different hues started to pour out of spouts in the Rainbow Lake's wall, and it began to fill up. As the surface of the water rose, the crowd started to chant the same word in unison, over and over. "CHROMA! CHROMA! CHROMA!"

“这家伙到底怎么回事？”她小声嘀咕道 “怀特先生和艾伦，”M夫人透过喇叭说道，“我们把你们带到这里，就是要告诉你们，哪怕你们费尽心机，创造力也永远不可能被消灭， 艺术永远不可能被打倒 它总会重新浮出水面 你们在监狱里度过余生的时候，有大把的时间好好想清楚这件事 说不准，你们还可以学学画画呢 说不定能帮你们打发时间。” 人群变得更加沸腾了 现场的气氛热烈得像要触电 “好了，克罗玛的市民们，接下来就是你们所有人期盼已久的时刻……” 她转向自己的丈夫，丈夫看向67号，随后点了点头 “……现在，开闸放水！” M夫人举起一个小小的遥控器，夸张地按下了其中一个按钮 各色各样的水从彩虹湖坝的出水口喷涌而出，湖泊开始慢慢被填满 随着湖面渐渐升高，人群开始齐声反复喊着同一个词，一遍又一遍 “克罗玛！ 克罗玛！ 克罗玛！”