01 The Bamboo Book

Day of the Dragon King

龙王之日

Chapter 1. The Bamboo Book Annie peeked into Jack's room. Ready to go to China? she asked. Jack took a deep breath. Sure, he answered. Bring your secret library card. Annie said, I have mine in my pocket. Yep, said Jack. He opened his top dresser drawer and took out a thin wooden card. The letters M L on it shimmered in the light. Jack dropped the card.

第一章 竹简书 安妮往杰克的房间里瞅了瞅。 准备好去中国了吗？ 她问道。 杰克深吸了一口气。 “当然啦。”他回答道。 带上你的秘密图书馆借书卡哦。 安妮说：“我的已经放在口袋里啦。” “好的。”杰克说。 他打开梳妆台最上层的抽屉，掏出一张薄薄的木卡。 卡上的字母M和L在光线里闪着微光。 杰克把卡

card into his backpack. Then he threw in his notebook and a pencil. Let's go, said Annie. Jack pulled on his pack and followed her. What are we in for today? He wondered. Bye, Mom, said Annie as they passed their mom in the kitchen. Where are you going? She asked. China, said Annie. Great, said their mom. She winked at them. Have fun. Fun, thought Jack. He was afraid that fun wasn't quite the right word. Just wish us luck, he said as he and Annie headed out the front door. Good luck, their mother called. If only she knew we weren't pretending. Jack whispered to Annie.

塞进了背包里，接着又把笔记本和铅笔也放了进去。 “我们走吧。”安妮说。杰克背上背包，跟在她身后。 今天我们会遇到什么呢？他暗自琢磨。 “妈妈再见。”经过厨房看到妈妈时，安妮打招呼道。 “你们要去哪儿呀？”妈妈问。“中国。” 安妮回答。“太棒啦。”妈妈说。 她冲两人眨了眨眼。“玩得开心哦。”开心？ 杰克心想。他觉得“开心”这个词好像不太贴切。 “就祝我们好运吧。”他和安妮走出前门的时候说道。 “祝你们好运。”妈妈在后面喊道。 “要是她知道我们不是在玩闹就好了。”杰克小声对安妮说。

Yeah," said Annie, grinning. Outside, the sun shone brightly. Birds sang. Crickets chirped. Jack and Annie walked up their street toward the Frog Creek woods. I wonder if the weather will be this nice in China, Annie said. I don't know. Remember Morgan said this would be a very scary adventure, said Jack. They're always scary, said Annie. But we always meet animals who help us, or people. True, said Jack. I bet we meet someone great today, said Annie. Jack smiled. He was starting to feel excited now instead of scared.

“对呀。”安妮笑嘻嘻地说。 外面阳光明媚。 鸟儿在歌唱。 蟋蟀在唧唧叫。 杰克和安妮沿着街道往青蛙溪树林的方向走。 不知道中国的天气会不会也这么舒服呢。安妮说。 我不知道呀。 别忘了摩根说过这次会是非常吓人的冒险哦。杰克说。 每次冒险都很吓人呀。安妮说。 但是我们总能遇到帮我们的动物，或者好心人呀。 那倒是。杰克说。 我打赌今天我们也会遇到超棒的人。安妮说。 杰克笑了。 他现在不再害怕，反而开始觉得兴奋了。

Let's hurry," he said. They ran into the Frog Creek woods. They slipped between the tall trees until they came to a huge oak. Hello came a soft voice they knew well. They looked up. Morgan was peering down from the magic tree house. Ready for your next mission as master librarians? She asked. Yes, said Jack and Annie. They grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Are we still going to China? Asked Annie when they had climbed into the treehouse. Indeed, said Morgan. You're going to ancient China. Here is the title of the story you must find. She held up a long thin strip of wood.

“我们快点走吧。”他说。 他们跑进了青蛙溪树林。 他们在高大的树木间穿行，直到来到一棵巨大的橡树前。 “你们好呀。”一个他们非常熟悉的温柔声音传来。 他们抬头望去。 摩根正从魔法树屋里往下看他们。 准备好执行你们作为图书管理员大师的下一个任务了吗？ 她问道。 “准备好了。”杰克和安妮齐声回答。 他们抓住绳梯，开始往上爬。 我们还是要去中国吗？ 他们爬进树屋的时候，安妮问道。 “没错。”摩根说。 你们要去的是古代中国。 这是你们必须找到的故事的书名。 她举着一条又长又薄的木片。