04 Scary Things

Chapter 4 Scary Things Jack pulled out his book and found a picture of the strongmen. He read aloud, Gladiators were slaves or criminals who fought in the amphitheater. They were forced to fight each other or wild animals like lions or bears. The people of Pompeii thought a gladiator fight was great fun. That's not fun, said Annie. No wonder I think it's weird here.

第四章 可怕的事 杰克掏出他的书，找到一张大力士的图片。他大声读道： 角斗士是在角斗场里打斗的奴隶或罪犯。 他们被迫互相打斗，或是和狮子、熊这类野兽搏斗。 庞贝的居民觉得角斗比赛特别有意思。 这一点都不好玩，安妮说。难怪我觉得这里怪怪的。

No kidding, said Jack. That's not like our time at all. Jack and Annie watched as the guards led the gladiators away. They went toward a building that looked like an outdoor stadium. That must be the amphitheater, said Jack. Let's check it out. Oh, all right, but it's not a library, said Annie. He and Annie started up the street toward the amphitheater. A large crowd had gathered near the entrance. Men and women cheered as the gladiators marched inside. Jack and Annie started to follow them, but a guard held up his spear. No children allowed, he said stiffly. Run along now.

可不是嘛，杰克说。这和我们的时代完全不一样。 杰克和安妮看着守卫把角斗士带走。他们朝一栋建筑走去 那栋建筑看起来像个露天体育场。 那肯定就是角斗场了，杰克说。我们去看看吧。 哦，好吧，不过那又不是图书馆，安妮说。 他和安妮沿着街道朝角斗场走去。一大群人已经聚在了 入口附近。角斗士们走进去的时候，男男女女都在欢呼。杰克和安妮 刚要跟着进去，一个守卫举起了他的长矛。 小孩不准进，他生硬地说。现在走开。

Yes, run along, run for your lives, came a raspy, hissing voice. Jack and Annie whirled around. It was the soothsayer. She was waving her bony finger at them. Oh no, her again, said Jack. Let's get away from here. He started to take off. Wait, said Annie. I want to talk to her. Are you crazy? Said Jack. But before he could stop her, Annie ran up to the soothsayer. Jack watched from a distance as the woman talked to Annie. Jack, come here quick, called Annie. Oh brother, said Jack. He sighed and went over to Annie and the soothsayer. Tell him, said Annie. The woman fixed her gaze on Jack.

对啊，走开，快逃命吧，一个刺耳的嘶嘶声传来。 杰克和安妮猛地转过身。 是那个占卜师。 她正对着他们挥舞自己瘦骨嶙峋的手指。 哦不是吧，又是她，杰克说。 我们快离开这儿。 他拔腿就要跑。 等等，安妮说。 我想和她聊聊。 你疯了吗？ 杰克说。 可他还没来得及拦住她，安妮就跑向了占卜师。 杰克站在远处看着那个女人和安妮说话。 杰克，快过来，安妮喊道。 唉，真麻烦，杰克说。 他叹了口气，走到安妮和占卜师身边。 告诉他呀，安妮说。 那个女人的目光落在了杰克身上。

All the streams of Pompeii have dried up, she said. Remember the stream near the Olive Grove? said Annie. So what? said Jack. Maybe they just need rain. No! said Annie. There are more scary things. Tell him. All the birds have flown away, the soothsayer said. Jack just stared at her. She said that all the rats left too, said Annie. And the cows are making strange noises. But why? said Jack. The sea is boiling hot, the old woman said. And the ground shakes and speaks. See, I told you, Annie said to Jack.

庞贝所有的小溪都干涸了，她说。 还记得橄榄林附近的那条小溪吗？安妮说。 那又怎么样？杰克说。可能他们只是需要下雨而已。 不对！安妮说。还有更可怕的事呢。告诉他。 所有的鸟儿都飞走了，占卜师说。 杰克只是盯着她看。 她说所有的老鼠也都跑光了，安妮说。 还有奶牛都在发出奇怪的叫声。 可这是为什么呢？杰克说。 海水变得滚烫，老妇人说。 大地还会震动，发出声响。 你看，我早就说了吧，安妮对杰克说。

But why are these things happening? Jack asked the soothsayer. Because the end is near. She whispered hoarsely. We have to leave now, said Annie. But what about the library? said Jack. What library? the soothsayer asked. Show her the story title, Jack, said Annie. Jack took the piece of paper from his bag. He showed the Latin writing to the soothsayer. A book with this title is in a library in this town, he said. So? the old woman said. So we have to save it, said Annie. She pulled out her secret library card. The soothsayer stared for a moment at the card and the shimmering letters on it. Then she smiled warmly at Jack and Annie.

可为什么会发生这些事呢？杰克问占卜师。 因为末日就要到了。 她沙哑地低声说道。 我们现在得走了，安妮说。 可是图书馆怎么办呢？杰克说。 什么图书馆？占卜师问道。 给她看看那个故事的书名，杰克，安妮说。 杰克从他的包里拿出那张纸。 他把上面的拉丁文给占卜师看。 有一本叫这个名字的书就在这个镇子的一个图书馆里，他说。 那又怎么样？老妇人说。 所以我们得把它救出来，安妮说。 她掏出了她的秘密借书卡。 占卜师盯着卡片和上面闪着光的字看了一会儿。 然后她对着杰克和安妮温暖地笑了。