05 The Ghost-Queen

Chapter 5 The Ghost Queen A ghost? Annie whispered. But Jack could only stare in horror. The ghost began to speak. She spoke in a hollow, echoing voice. I am Hutepey, she said. Queen of the Nile. Is it true that you have come to help me? Yes, said Annie. Jack still couldn't speak. For a thousand years, said the ghost queen. I have waited for help.

第五章 幽灵女王 “有鬼？”安妮小声说。可杰克只能满脸惊恐地盯着前方。 幽灵开口说话了，声音空洞又带着回响。 “我是胡特佩，”她说，“尼罗河的女王。你们真的是来帮我的吗？” “是的。”安妮说。杰克还是说不出话。 “我已经等了一千年了，”幽灵女王说，“一直在等人帮忙。”

Jack's heart was pounding so hard he thought he might faint. Someone must find my Book of the Dead, she said. I need it to go on to the next life. Why do you need the Book of the Dead? asked Annie. She didn't sound scared at all. It will tell me the magic spells I need to get through the Underworld, said the Ghost Queen. The Underworld, said Annie. Before I journey on to the next life, I must pass through the horrors of the Underworld. What kinds of horrors? Annie asked. Poisonous snakes, said the Ghost Queen. Lakes of fire, monsters, demons. Oh, Annie stepped closer to Jack. My brother hid the Book of the Dead so tomb robbers would not steal it, said the Ghost Queen. Then he carved this secret passage.

杰克的心跳得飞快，他觉得自己快要晕过去了。 “必须有人找到我的亡灵书，”她说。 我需要它来前往来世。 “你为什么需要亡灵书呀？”安妮问。 她听起来一点都不害怕。 “它会告诉我穿过冥界需要用到的所有魔法咒语，”幽灵 女王说。 “冥界呀。”安妮说道。 “在我踏上来世的旅程之前，我必须先闯过冥界的重重险境。” “都有什么样的险境呀？” 安妮问道。 “有毒的蛇，”幽灵女王说。 火湖，怪兽，还有恶魔。 “哦。”安妮往杰克身边靠了靠。 “我哥哥把亡灵书藏了起来，这样盗墓贼就偷不走它了，”幽灵女王说。 然后他还凿出了这条秘密通道。

message on the wall telling me how to find it. She pointed to the wall. Jack was still in shock. He couldn't move. Where? asked Annie. Here? She squinted at the wall. What do these tiny pictures mean? The Ghost Queen smiled sadly. Alas, my brother forgot my strange problem. I cannot see clearly that which is close to my eyes. I have not been able to read his message for a thousand years. Oh, that's not a strange problem, said Annie. Jack can't see anything either. That's why he wears glasses.

墙上的留言，告诉我怎么找到它。她指了指墙壁。杰克还 处在震惊中，动弹不得。 “在哪里呀？”安妮问，“这儿吗？”她眯着眼睛看向墙面。这些小小的图案是什么意思呀？ 幽灵女王难过地笑了笑。 “唉，我哥哥忘了我有个奇怪的毛病。离我眼睛近的东西我都看不清楚，” 一千年来我都没法读懂他的留言。 “哦，这不是什么奇怪的毛病呀，”安妮说，“杰克也什么都看不清，所以 他才戴眼镜呀。”

The Ghost Queen stared in wonder at Jack. Jack, thunder your glasses, said Annie. Jack took his glasses off his nose. He held them out to the Ghost Queen.

幽灵女王惊奇地盯着杰克。 “杰克，快把你的眼镜递过去呀。”安妮说。 杰克把眼镜从鼻梁上摘了下来。 他把眼镜递给幽灵女王。

She backed away from him. I fear I cannot wear your glasses, Jack, she said. I am made of air. Oh, I forgot, said Annie. But perhaps you will describe the hieroglyphs on these walls, said the Ghost Queen. Hiero -who? said Annie. Hieroglyphs, said Jack, finally finding his voice. It's the ancient Egyptian way of writing. It's like writing with pictures. The Ghost Queen smiled at him. Thank you, Jack, she said. Jack smiled back at her. He put his glasses on. Then he stepped toward the wall and took a good long look. Oh, man, he whispered.

她往后退了退，躲开他的手。 “恐怕我戴不了你的眼镜，杰克。”她说。 我是空气做的呀。 “哦，我忘了。”安妮说。 “不过或许你可以把墙上的这些象形文字念给我听。”幽灵女王说。 “象形什么？”安妮问。 “象形文字，”杰克终于能说出话来了。 那是古埃及的书写方式，就像用图画来写字一样。 幽灵女王对着他笑了笑。 “谢谢你，杰克。”她说。 杰克也对着她笑了笑，戴上了眼镜。 然后他走到墙边，仔仔细细地看了好半天。 “哇哦。”他小声说道。