04 Into the Castle

Chapter 4. Into the Castle. I'm going to kill her, muttered Jack. He threw his stuff into his pack and moved toward the drawbridge. He hoped no one would see him. It was getting darker. It must be night. When he got to the bridge, he started across. The wooden planks creaked under his feet. He peered over the edge of the bridge. Were there any crocodiles in the moat? He couldn't tell.

第四章 闯入城堡 我要找她算账，杰克嘟囔着。 他把东西一股脑塞进背包，朝着吊桥走过去。 他希望没人会发现他。 天越来越黑了，肯定已经到夜里了。 他走到桥边，开始往对面走。 脚下的木板咯吱咯吱直响。 他探着脑袋往桥的边缘外面瞧。 护城河里面会不会有鳄鱼呀？ 他也说不准。

Halt! someone shouted. A guard on top of the castle wall was looking down. Jack dashed across the bridge. He ran through the castle gate and into the courtyard. From inside the castle came the sounds of music, shouting, and laughter. Jack hurried to a dark corner and crouched down. He shivered as he looked around for Annie. Torches lit the high wall around the courtyard. The courtyard was nearly empty. Two boys led horses that clopped over gray cobblestones. Eeeee! Jack turned. He was the knight's black horse.

“站住！”有人大喊。城堡墙头上的守卫正往下看呢。 杰克飞奔着冲过桥，穿过城堡大门，跑进了院子里。 城堡里传来音乐声、叫喊声还有笑声。 杰克赶忙跑到一个黑暗的角落蹲下来，他一边打哆嗦一边四处找安妮。 火把把院子周围的高墙照得亮堂堂的，院子里几乎没什么人。 两个男孩牵着马，马蹄哒哒踩在灰色的鹅卵石上。 咿呀——！ 杰克转过身，那正是骑士的黑马。

He peered into the darkness. There was Annie. She was hiding behind a well in the center of the courtyard. She waved at him. Jack waved back. He waited till the boys and horses disappeared inside the stable. Then he dashed to the well. I'm going to find the music, whispered Annie. Are you coming? Okay, Jack said with a sigh. They tiptoed together across the cobblestones. Then they slipped into the entrance of the castle. Noise and music came from a bright room in front of them. They stood on one side of the doorway and peeked in. The feast in the great hall, whispered Jack. He held his breath as he stared in awe.

他往黑暗里仔细瞧，安妮在那儿呢！她躲在院子中央的一口井后面，正朝他挥手。 杰克也朝她挥挥手，等那几个男孩牵着马走进马厩不见踪影后，他才飞快地跑到井边。 “我要去找音乐的来源，”安妮小声说，“你要不要一起呀？” “好吧。”杰克叹了口气说。他俩一起踮着脚走过鹅卵石地，悄悄溜进了城堡的入口。 喧闹声和音乐声从他们前面一间亮着灯的房间传出来，他俩站在门口的一侧，往里面偷看。 是大厅里的宴会，杰克小声说。他惊讶得屏住了呼吸，瞪着眼睛往里看。

A giant fireplace blazed at one end of the noisy room. Antlers and rugs hung on the stone walls. Flowers covered the floor. Boys in short dresses carried huge trays of food. Dogs were fighting over bones under the tables. People in bright clothes and funny hats strolled among the crowd. Some played funny shaped guitars. Some tossed balls in the air. Some balanced swords on their hands. Men and women dressed in capes and furs sat at long crowded wooden tables. I wonder which one is the knight, said Jack. I don't know, whispered Annie. But they're eating with their fingers. Suddenly someone shouted behind them.

闹哄哄的房间一头，巨大的壁炉烧得正旺。 石墙上挂着鹿角和地毯。 地上铺满了鲜花。 穿着短上衣的男孩们端着盛满食物的大托盘。 狗狗们在桌子底下抢骨头吃。 穿着鲜艳衣服、戴着滑稽帽子的人们在人群里走来走去。 有些人弹着造型古怪的吉他。 有些人往空中抛着球玩。 有些人在手上平衡宝剑玩杂耍。 披着斗篷、穿着毛皮衣服的男男女女坐在挤得满满当当的长木桌旁。 “不知道哪个是那个骑士呢。”杰克说。 “我不知道呀。”安妮小声回答。 “不过他们都在用手抓东西吃哎。” 突然，有人在他们身后大喊起来。

Jack whirled around. A man carrying a tray of pies was standing a few feet away. Who art thou? he asked angrily.

杰克猛地转过身，一个端着一盘派的男人站在离他们几步远的地方。 “你们是谁？”他气呼呼地问。

Jack! squeaked Jack. Annie! squeaked Annie. Then they ran as fast as they could down a dimly lit hallway.

“杰克！”杰克尖声喊。“安妮！”安妮尖声应。然后他俩拼尽全力沿着昏暗的走廊往前跑。