09 Mouse-walk

Chapter 9. Mouse Walk. The mouse vanished into the tall grass on the other side of the stream. Jack and Annie stared at the tree branch. We have to try to cross it, said Annie. We're supposed to follow nature. Forget it, said Jack. It's too little. It'll crack in a second. Maybe if we pretend we're mice, we can do it, said Annie. Oh, brother, said Jack. Not again. If you could be a rock, you can be a mouse, said Annie. Just be teeny and light and fast.

第九章 老鼠步 那只老鼠消失在对岸高高的草丛里 小溪边。杰克和安妮盯着那根树枝看。 “我们得试着跨过去，”安妮说，“我们应该顺应自然。” “算了吧，”杰克说，“这树枝太细了，马上就会断的。” “要是我们假装自己是老鼠，说不定就能过去啦，”安妮说。 “天哪，”杰克说，“又来了。你能当石头，就能当老鼠，” 安妮说道，“只要小小的、轻轻的、动作快快的就行。”

Jack took a deep breath. We have to, said Annie. Okay, Jack said. Say squeak, said Annie. You're nuts, said Jack. Just do it, said Annie. It'll help you feel more like a mouse. Jack groaned. Okay, he said. Squeak. Squeak, said Annie. Squeak, squeak, squeak, they said together. Let's go, hurry, said Annie. Jack stepped onto the branch. I'm teeny, I'm light, I'm fast, he thought. Then he darted across the branch. Jack moved so quickly he didn't think about anything except getting to the other side. He forgot the wild freezing water.

杰克深吸了一口气。 “我们必须这么做，”安妮说。 “好吧，”杰克说。 “说‘吱吱’，”安妮说。 “你疯了吧，”杰克说。 “你就照做嘛，”安妮说。 “这样你会更有当老鼠的感觉。” 杰克叹了口气。 “好吧，”他说。 “吱吱。” “吱吱，”安妮说。 “吱吱，吱吱，吱吱，”他们一起喊着。 “我们走，快点，”安妮说。 杰克踩上了树枝。 我小小的，我轻轻的，我动作快快的，他心里默念着。 接着他飞快地冲过了树枝。 杰克跑得太快了，满脑子只有冲到对岸这一件事。 他完全忘了底下冰冷湍急的河水。

forgot the smallness of the branch. Suddenly Jack was on the other side. Suddenly Annie was right beside him. They laughed and fell together into the grass. See, see, the branch didn't break, said Annie. I guess it was big enough, said Jack. I guess we just had to think the right way. The peanut way, said Annie. Yeah, said Jack smiling. He felt great. He was still wet from his fall into the stream, but he didn't mind anymore. Jack pushed his glasses into place and stood up. Okay, now we just have to find the treehouse, he said. No, we don't, said Annie. She pointed up. The treehouse was outlined against the

也忘了树枝有多细。一眨眼杰克就到了对岸，安妮紧接着也 站在了他旁边。他们笑着一起倒在草地上。“你看你看，树枝没断吧，” 安妮说。“看来它够结实，”杰克说，“看来我们只要想对方法就行。” “是小花生的方法，”安妮说。“对呀，”杰克笑着说，他感觉棒极了。 刚才掉小溪里弄湿的衣服还没干，但他一点都不在乎了。杰克把 眼镜推回原位站了起来。“好了，现在我们只要找到树屋就行，”他说。 “不用找啦，”安妮说。她抬手指向上方。树屋的轮廓映在

moonlit sky, high in a tree, surrounded by white flowers. In the distance came the sound of voices. Then Jack saw flames. The samurai are coming back, said Jack. We have to go. Where's Peanut? said Annie. We can't leave Peanut. We have to, said Jack. The voices of the samurai were getting closer. So were their torches. Come on, Jack said. He grabbed Annie's hand. He pulled her toward the rope ladder. Oh, Jack, she said sadly. Go, go. Annie started up the rope ladder. Jack followed. He felt sad too. He liked that little mouse now. He liked it a lot. They climbed up and up.

洒满月光的天空下，高高挂在一棵树上，周围绕着白色的花。 远处传来了说话声，接着杰克看到了火光。 “武士们回来了，”杰克说，“我们得走了。” “小花生在哪？”安妮说，“我们不能丢下小花生。” “我们必须得走了，”杰克说。武士的声音越来越近了。 他们的火把也越来越近。“快走，”杰克说，他抓住了安妮的手。 他拉着她往绳梯跑。“哦，杰克，”她难过地说，“快走，快走。” 安妮开始爬绳梯，杰克跟在后面，他心里也很难过。 他现在喜欢上那只小老鼠了，特别喜欢。他们爬呀爬，越爬越高。

Just before they got to the top, Jack heard it. Squeak! Oh wow! cried Annie. Peanuts inside! Annie pulled herself into the treehouse. Jack followed. He gasped. Someone else was in the treehouse too. A dark figure was sitting in the corner. You have done well. The figure said. It was the ninja master. You have followed the way of the ninja. He said. Oh man! breathed Jack. Squeak! The master was holding peanut. Take good care of your little helper. He said. Handing the mouse to Annie. Annie kissed the mouse's tiny head.

就在他们快要爬到顶的时候，杰克听到了那个声音。 “吱吱！” “哇哦！” 安妮叫了起来。 “小花生在里面！” 安妮爬进了树屋。 杰克跟了进去。 他倒抽了一口气。 树屋里还有别人。 一个黑影坐在角落里。 “你们做得很好。” 那个身影说道。 原来是忍者大师。 “你们已经遵循了忍者之道。” 他说。 “我的天！” 杰克屏住呼吸小声说。 “吱吱！” 大师手里正抱着小花生。 “好好照顾你们的小帮手。” 他说。 边说边把小老鼠递给安妮。 安妮亲了亲小老鼠小小的脑袋。

And take this," said the Master. He held his hand out to Jack. He gave Jack a small round stone. This moon stone will help you find your missing friend. The Master said. Jack stared at the stone. Was this one of the four things? You must go home now, said the Master. He picked up the Pennsylvania book and handed it to Annie. Where did you find it? asked Jack. Here, said the Master. You did not see it before, because your heart knew you had a mission to complete first. What about you? said Annie. Can you come with us? Yes, said Jack. We need help finding Morgan. The Master smiled. No, my friends.

“还有，拿着这个，”大师说。他朝杰克伸出手，递给杰克一颗小小的圆形石头。 “这颗月亮石会帮你们找到失踪的朋友。”大师说。 杰克盯着这块石头看。 这是不是四件宝物中的一件？ “你们现在该回家了，” 大师说。他拿起那本宾夕法尼亚的书递给安妮。 “你在哪找到它的？”杰克问。 “就在这里，”大师说，“你们之前看不到它，” “因为你们心里清楚，得先完成一个任务。” “那你呢？”安妮说，“你能和我们一起走吗？” “对呀，”杰克说，“我们找摩根需要帮忙。” 大师笑了。 “不行，我的朋友们。”