01 Before Dawn

Viking Ships at Sunrise

《日出时的维京船》

Chapter 1 Before Dawn Jack opened his eyes. A thin gray light came through his window. His clock read 5 a .m. All was quiet. Today we're going to ancient Ireland, he thought, back more than a thousand years. Morgan le Fay had told him that it was a very dangerous time, with Vikings raiding the coasts. You awake? came a whisper. Annie stood in his doorway.

第一章 黎明之前 杰克睁开眼睛。一缕灰蒙蒙的微光透过窗户照进来。他的闹钟显示是凌晨5点。四周静悄悄的。 今天我们要去古爱尔兰，他心想，回到一千多年前。 摩根·勒·菲之前告诉过他，那是个非常危险的年代，维京人会突袭沿海地区。 你醒了吗？一个低语声传来。安妮站在他的房门口。

dressed and ready to go. Yeah, meet you outside, said Jack as he climbed out of bed. He pulled on his jeans, t -shirt, and sneakers. He put his secret library card into his backpack with his notebook and pencil. Then he hurried downstairs. Annie was waiting for him in their yard. The air was damp and misty. Ready? She asked. Jack took a deep breath. I guess, he said. He was a little worried about the Vikings. They walked silently over the dewy grass. Then they ran up their street and into the Frog Creek woods. Mist clung to the trees as they walked through the dark woods.

穿好衣服准备出发啦。 好呀，外面见。杰克边说边爬下床。 他套上牛仔裤、T恤，还有运动鞋。 他把自己的秘密借书证放进背包里 和笔记本、铅笔放在一起。 接着他匆匆跑下楼。 安妮正在院子里等他呢。 空气潮乎乎的，蒙着薄雾。 准备好了吗？ 她问道。 杰克深吸了一口气。 差不多吧，他说。 他有点担心那些维京人。 他们踩着沾了露水的青草，静悄悄地走着。 接着他们顺着街道往前跑，钻进了青蛙溪树林。 他们穿过昏暗的树林时，雾气正缠绕在树木间。

It's hard to see said Jack. Where's the treehouse asked Annie? I have no idea said Jack Just then something fell in front of them. Watch out shouted Jack. He covered his head the ladder Cried Annie Jack opened his eyes the rope ladder from the magic treehouse dangled in front of them Jack looked up the treehouse was hidden in the mist Come on, let's go said Annie she grabbed the ladder and started up Jack followed They climbed through the wet air and into the treehouse Hello said Morgan. I'm glad to see you

都看不清路了，杰克说。树屋在哪里呀？安妮问。我不知道呀，杰克说。 就在这时，有个东西落到了他们面前。当心！杰克大喊。他捂住头，是梯子！ 安妮叫道。杰克睁开眼，魔法树屋的绳梯正晃悠悠地挂在他们面前。 杰克抬头一看，树屋藏在雾气里。 快走呀，我们上去。安妮说着抓住梯子往上爬，杰克跟在后面。 他们在潮湿的空气里往上爬，钻进了树屋。 你们好呀，摩根说。很高兴见到你们。

She was sitting in the corner. At her feet were the scroll they'd brought back from Roman times and the bamboo book from ancient China. I'm so glad to see you, said Jack. Me too, said Annie. It's good that you both came early, said Morgan. She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a piece of paper. Here's the ancient story you must find today, she said. Morgan handed the paper to Jack. On it were the words, Serpens Magna. The mysterious writing reminded Jack...

她正坐在角落里，脚边放着他们从古罗马带回来的卷轴，还有从中国古代带回来的竹简。 我也很高兴见到您，杰克说。 我也是，安妮说。 你们俩来得早真是太好了，摩根说。 她把手伸进长袍的褶皱里，掏出了一张纸。 这是你们今天要找到的古故事，她说。 摩根把纸递给杰克，上面写着Serpens Magna几个字。 这行神秘的文字让杰克想起了……