33 The Suspicions of Rockwell Riley

33 The Suspicions of Rockwell Riley The storeroom was empty. Rockwell figured that Peanut, Little-Bit and Doodle were long gone, due to the time difference between Chroma and the real world. In fact, he'd worked out that it must be the next morning in the Illustrated City, considering he had been in his bedroom for about twenty minutes. He assumed that his friends would be making their way down to the Rainbow Lake any minute now, along with the rest of the Resistance. The festivities were due to begin. Gingerly, he stepped into the corridor. Rockwell had decided that he would try his best to stay out of sight. After

33 罗克韦尔·莱利的疑心 储藏室空无一人。 罗克韦尔推断，因为克罗玛和现实世界存在时差，皮纳特、小不点和嘟嘟早就离开了。 事实上，他推算出现在插画城应该已经是第二天早晨了，毕竟他已经在自己卧室待了大约二十分钟。 他认为朋友们随时都会和反抗军的其他成员一起动身赶往彩虹湖。 庆典马上就要开始了。 他小心翼翼地踏进走廊。 罗克韦尔已经打定主意，要尽量躲起来不被人发现。 毕

all, if he was going to prove that 67 wasn't who they said they were, he would need to gather the evidence in secret to make his case. As he tiptoed past the control room, Rockwell heard voices up ahead. He froze. "So, are we all ready to head down to the lake? The citizens are already starting to gather and it's all getting rather jolly. Millicent is holding the lift for us. It was Mr Markmaker. "Oh, I think we can do better than the lift," said another familiar voice. It was Peanut's. A pang of sadness hit Rockwell as he heard how cheerful Peanut sounded. She's obviously not at all upset about me leaving, he thought. After all," she continued, "a special ceremony like this deserves a special entrance. Then came the sound of footsteps getting louder. Rockwell realised that everybody was walking straight towards him. Quickly, he ran back and dived through the control-room door, closing it behind him. A few seconds later, he heard the excited crowd walk past. Peanut was saying something about paragliding, and, it seemed, was trying to talk her mother into jumping out of a window and floating down to the Rainbow Lake. Little-Bit and Leo were discussing a cake that evidently tasted of liver

竟，要是他想证明67并非大家所说的那样，就得秘密搜集证据来坐实自己的猜想。 当他踮着脚经过控制室时，罗克韦尔听到前方传来说话声。 他当场僵住了。 "那么，我们都准备好去湖边了吗？ 居民们已经开始集合，气氛越来越热闹了。 米利森特在电梯那儿等我们呢。 说话的是马克梅克先生。 "哦，我们比坐电梯方便，"另一个熟悉的声音说道。 这是皮纳特的声音。 听到皮纳特语气这么欢快，罗克韦尔心头一阵难过。 她肯定一点都不难过我离开，他想。 "毕竟，"她继续说道，"这么特别的仪式，当然该配特别的入场方式。 接着传来了越来越近的脚步声。 罗克韦尔意识到所有人正径直朝他走来。 他赶紧往回跑，冲进控制室，反手关上了门。 几秒钟后，他听到兴奋的人群从门外走过。 皮纳特在说滑翔伞的事，似乎还在劝妈妈从窗户跳下去，飘去彩虹湖。 小不点和利奥在讨论一块蛋糕，那块蛋糕据说尝着是肝味

and onions, and Gary and Mrs Markmaker, who the group had picked up at the lift, were talking about Mr White and Alan. "I think 67 is right," said Mrs M. "If White and Alan are brought down to witness the refilling of the lake, they will see with their own eyes that they have failed, that the Resistance has prevailed, and that Chroma will continue to be a hub of creativity for the entire world. Personally, I think it's a great idea." "Well, if you're sure," said Gary. "I suppose it does make sense. Hmmm, that sounds a bit risky to me, thought Rockwell. Why would you take someone like Mr White

道和洋葱味，加里和马克梅克太太是队伍在电梯旁碰到的，他俩正在聊怀特先生和艾伦。 "我觉得67是对的，"马克梅克太太说。 "如果把怀特和艾伦带下来见证湖泊蓄水，他们就能亲眼看到自己输了，反抗军赢了，克罗玛会一直是全世界的创意中心。 我个人觉得这是个很棒的主意。" "好吧，既然你都确定了，"加里说。 "我也觉得这说得通。 唔，这在我听来有点冒险，罗克韦尔想。 为什么要把怀特先生这样的人

out of his cell when everybody has worked so hard to get him in it? As Gary and Mrs M's voices faded, they were replaced by a new one. Rockwell recognised its tinniness immediately. "So, you understand what's going to happen?" said 67, quietly. "You need to wait for the red signal. Until you see that, you need to keep playing along. "Got it," replied a deep voice, one that Rockwell recognised but couldn't quite place. "The red signal. Nobody will suspect a thing, least of all Stone here. Look at him. It's pathetic really. "Just make sure you're ready," said 67. "I can't wait," said the man. "Mainly cos these shackles are really hurting my wrists." It's Alan, thought Rockwell. And right there, at that very moment, he knew that every single suspicion he'd had about 67 was justified. More importantly, he knew that Peanut, the entire Resistance and every citizen of Chroma was in serious danger.

从牢房里放出来？大家费了那么大劲才把他关进去呀。 加里和马克梅克太太的声音渐渐远去，另一个新声音响了起来。 罗克韦尔立刻认出了那细弱的声调。 "所以，你明白接下来要发生什么了吧？"67轻声说道。 "你要等红色信号。 在看到信号之前，你要继续配合演戏。 "明白了，"一个低沉的声音回答，罗克韦尔觉得这声音很熟悉，可一时想不起来是谁。 "红色信号。 没人会怀疑什么，尤其是斯通那家伙。 看看他那样子。 实在是太可悲了。 "你只要保证自己准备好就行，"67说。 "我都等不及了，"那个男人说。 "主要是这镣铐真的磨得我手腕好疼。" 是艾伦，罗克韦尔想。 就在这一刻，他知道自己对67的所有怀疑都是有据可循的。 更重要的是，他知道皮纳特、整个反抗军、还有克罗玛的每一个居民都陷入了极大的危险之中。