10 Echo from the Past

Chapter 10 Echo from the Past Jack and Annie looked outside. The sun had slipped behind the trees of the Frog Creek woods. Annie still held the ancient scroll. She put it in the corner next to the scroll from their ocean trip. Just two more to go, she whispered. Yup, said Jack. He unzipped his pack. He pulled out days of the Wild West. He put it on top of a stack of books.

第十章 来自过去的回声 杰克和安妮望向外面，太阳已经落到青蛙溪树林的树后面去了。 安妮还拿着那卷古老的卷轴，她把它放在之前海洋之旅带回来的卷轴旁边的角落。 就只剩两个要找啦，她小声说道。 对呀，杰克说。他拉开背包的拉链，拿出了《西部荒野岁月》。 他把它放到一摞书的最上面。

Ready? he said. Annie was staring at the books. Her mouth dropped open. What's wrong? asked Jack. Annie just kept staring. Have you gone nuts? said Jack. Annie pointed at the Wild West book. Read the cover, she said. Jack picked the book up. He read the title aloud. Days of the Wild West. He looked at Annie. So? Keep reading, said Annie. The author's name was below the title. It was in smaller letters. Jack read, Slim Cooley. Jack gasped. His mouth dropped open. He and Annie stared at the words for a long moment.

准备好了吗？他问。安妮正盯着那些书看，嘴巴张得老大。 怎么了？杰克问。 安妮还是一直盯着看。你傻了吗？杰克说。安妮伸手指向那本西部荒野的书。 你读一下封面，她说。杰克把书拿起来，大声读出了书名。 《西部荒野岁月》。他看向安妮，怎么了？ 接着往下读呀，安妮说。作者名字在书名下面，用更小的字体印着。 杰克读道：斯利姆·库利。杰克倒吸一口凉气，嘴巴也张得老大。 他和安妮盯着那几个字看了好半天。

Oh, man, whispered Jack, we were using Slim's book, the book he wrote after he left us.

天呐，杰克小声说，我们之前用的是斯利姆的书，是他离开我们之后写的那本。

Jack and Annie shook their heads with wonder. Jack opened Slim's book. He looked at the title page. At the bottom of the page he read, Texas Press, Dallas, 1895. Jack turned the page. He read the dedication. With thanks to Smiley and Shorty, two strangers who changed my life. Jack looked at Annie. Slim dedicated his book to us, he said. Yep, said Annie. She smiled. Jack placed Slim's book back on the stack of books. Then he and Annie left the treehouse and climbed down the ladder.

杰克和安妮惊奇地摇了摇头。 杰克翻开了斯利姆的书。 他看向扉页。 在页面的底部，他读到： 得克萨斯出版社，达拉斯，1895年。 杰克翻过这一页。 他读起了献词。 感谢笑脸和小矮个， 两个改变了我人生的陌生人。 杰克看向安妮。 斯利姆把他的书献给我们哎，他说。 对呀，安妮说。 她笑了。 杰克把斯利姆的书放回那摞书上面。 然后他和安妮离开树屋，爬下了梯子。

As they started through the woods, the trees were alive with bird sounds. The air felt soft and moist. Frog Creek seemed so peaceful, said Jack. No rattlers, no rustlers, no ghosts. Yeah, but no Slim Cooley either, said Annie sadly. I know, said Jack, but when we read his book it's like he's still talking to us. Oh, right, said Annie. You mean it's like an echo from the past. Yeah, said Jack softly. Wow. Just then, out of the blue, a voice called, Jack, Annie. It's Dad, said Annie. Coming, she and Jack shouted. Then they ran all the way home. Through the long shadows of the setting sun.

他们穿过树林的时候，树上到处都是鸟儿的叫声，热闹极了。 空气柔软又湿润。 青蛙溪看起来好安宁啊，杰克说。 没有响尾蛇，没有偷牛贼，也没有鬼魂。 是呀，可也没有斯利姆·库利了，安妮难过地说。 我知道，杰克说，可我们读他的书的时候，就好像他还在跟我们说话呀。 哦，对呀，安妮说。 你是说这就像来自过去的回声对不对。 是的，杰克轻声说。 哇哦。 就在这时，突然传来一个声音喊道：杰克，安妮。 是爸爸，安妮说。 来了，她和杰克一起大声回应。 然后他们一路跑着回家。 穿过落日投下的长长影子。

From this valley they say you are going I shall miss your sweet face and bright smile For they say you are taking the sunshine That has brightened my pathway a while Come and sit by my side if you love me Do not hasten to bid me adieu For remember the Red River Valley And the cowboy who loved you so much

听说你就要离开这个山谷 我会想念你可爱的脸庞和灿烂的笑容 因为听说你要带走那束 曾短暂照亮我前路的阳光 如果你爱我就过来坐在我身边 不要急着和我说再见 要记得红河谷 还有那个深爱你的牛仔