1 Beneath the Bridge

Chapter 1 Beneath the Bridge Ivan hated being late, even for a dangerous mission to a spooky dimension. "Hurry up, Aunt Lucy!" he called. Ivan was standing on the steps to Lucy's apartment building with his cousins, Malia and Dante. Tapping her foot beside them was their friend Susana Leal. She'd come with them to Gulf City to enjoy the New Year's Eve fireworks display over Karankawa Bay. Of course, neither Mr. Leal nor Aunt Lucy knew the real reason the four kids had begged permission to come. They were going to return to 13th Street. Dozens of children from across Texas had wandered into that scary place, and now they were the captives of a wicked queen. Someone had to set them

第一章 桥底下 伊万最讨厌迟到了，哪怕是要去一个阴森的异次元执行危险任务也一样。 “露西姨妈，快点呀！” 他喊道。 伊万和他的表兄妹马利亚、但丁站在露西公寓的台阶上。 他们的朋友苏珊娜·莱尔在旁边跺着脚。 她跟着他们一起来到海湾城，就是为了看跨年夜卡兰卡瓦湾上空的烟花表演。 当然啦，莱尔先生和露西姨妈都不知道，四个孩子软磨硬泡求着要来这里的真正原因。 他们要回13号街去。 得克萨斯州各地有几十个孩子都误闯进了那个可怕的地方，现在都被邪恶的女王抓起来了。 总得有人把他们救

free! "Coming!" shouted Lucy. She popped through the door and pulled a flowery shawl over her head. "Oooh, it's chilly. Y'all have your jackets?" "Yup!" said Malia, zipping hers up. "Christmas present from my mom. VERY expensive." Ivan rolled his eyes and pulled on the straps of his backpack. "Why do you kids always carry those everywhere?" Lucy asked. "It's a wild world," Dante explained. "Gotta be ready for anything. Tidal waves, shark attacks, the zombie apocalypse " Lucy pinched his cheek, laughing. "Like any of those things could ever happen to y'all. Come on, pingos!" she said, teasing.

出来呀！ “来了来了！”露西喊道。 她快步走出门，往身上披了条花披肩。 “哎哟，可真冷。 你们都穿外套了吧？” “穿啦！”马利亚一边说，一边把自己外套的拉链拉上。 “这是我妈妈送我的圣诞礼物。 可贵了呢。” 伊万翻了个白眼，拽了拽背包的肩带。 “你们这些孩子怎么走到哪儿都背着这些包呀？” 露西问道。 “这世界可不太平嘛，”但丁解释道。 “总得随时做好准备应对各种事呀。 海啸啦，鲨鱼袭击啦，僵尸末日啦——” 露西捏了捏他的脸，笑了起来。 说得好像这些事真能落到你们头上似的。 走吧，小宝贝们！” 她打趣道。

They hurried to the bus stop. In a matter of minutes, they were standing on the shore. They found a good spot close to the bridge that stretched across

他们急匆匆地赶往公交站。 没几分钟，他们就站到了岸边。 他们在桥附近找了个好位置，那座桥横跨

Karankawa Bay, joining Gulf City to Invader Island. Ivan glanced around, looking for the Aguilars. Suddenly, out of the crowd came Mickey and Do.a Chabela. "Hey, guys!" Mickey said, holding out his fist. Ivan and Dante bumped it with theirs. Malia gave him a salute and a smile. "Are your parents here?" Lucy asked. Chabela pointed up the beach. "They've set up chairs under that purple umbrella. Mickey and I were just going to get elotes. Want to come, kids?"

卡兰卡瓦湾，连接着海湾城和入侵者岛。 伊万环顾四周，找阿吉拉尔一家人。 突然，米奇和查韦拉奶奶从人群里走了出来。 “嘿，大伙！” 米奇一边说，一边伸出拳头。 伊万和但丁都伸出拳和他碰了碰。 马利亚笑着朝他敬了个礼。 “你们的爸妈在这儿吗？” 露西问道。 查韦拉往海滩上方指了指。 “他们在那把紫色伞下面摆好了椅子。 我和米奇正打算去买墨西哥烤玉米呢。 要不要一起去呀，孩子们？”

Everyone looked over at the food cart selling corn on the cob.

所有人都看向那个卖玉米棒的小吃车。