02 The Steep Climb

Chapter 2 The Steep Climb Jack opened his eyes. The light was still gray, but the air was even damper and colder than in Frog Creek. Wow, I'm in a long dress, said Annie. It's scratchy. Hey, I've got a little purse on my belt. It has my library card in it. Jack looked down at his own clothes. He was wearing a shirt and trousers made of heavy wool. He also wore leather pants.

第二章 陡峭爬坡 杰克睁开眼。天色还是灰蒙蒙的，可这里的空气比青蛙溪的还要潮湿阴冷。 哇，我穿了条长裙子，安妮说，料子扎得慌。 嘿，我腰带上挂了个小钱包，里面装着我的借书卡呢。 杰克低头看自己的衣服，他穿的衬衫和裤子都是厚羊毛做的。 他还套了条皮裤。

slippers, and in place of his backpack was a leather bag. Wow, said Annie, looking out the window. This really looks like the Dark Ages. Jack looked out too. He couldn't see anything through the mist. It's just because the sun's not up yet, he said. I'd better check the book. Annie handed the Ireland book to Jack. He opened it and read aloud. The early Middle Ages were once known as the Dark Ages because learning and culture nearly vanished throughout Europe. Scholars today praise the brave Irish monks who helped keep Western civilization alive. What do civilization and monks mean? asked Annie.

还有拖鞋，他的背包变成了一个皮包。 哇，安妮望着窗外说道。 这里看着真的是黑暗时代呀。 杰克也往外看，大雾里什么都看不清。 这是因为太阳还没升起来呢，他说。 我最好看看那本书。安妮把那本 讲爱尔兰的书递给杰克，他翻开书大声读了起来。 中世纪早期曾经被叫做黑暗时代 因为当时整个欧洲的学术和文化几乎都消亡了。 如今的学者们称赞勇敢的爱尔兰修道士 正是他们帮助西方文明延续了下来。 文明和修道士是什么意思呀？安妮问。

I think civilization is when people have books and art and good manners," said Jack. Monks are religious people who spend their time praying and reading and helping people. Well, I don't see any civilization or monks out there, said Annie pointing at the mist. Jack pulled out his notebook. He wrote, Brave Monks in Ireland. Then he looked at Annie. If we find civilization, I think we'll find the lost story. He said, Let's go, said Annie. She lifted her skirt and climbed out the window.

我觉得文明就是人们有书读、有艺术、还懂礼貌呀，杰克说。 修道士是信仰宗教的人，他们每天祷告、读书，还帮助别人。 哼，我在外面可没看到什么文明或者修道士，安妮指着大雾说道。 杰克掏出他的笔记本。 他写道：爱尔兰的勇敢修道士。 然后他看向安妮。 如果我们找到了文明，应该就能找到那个遗失的故事了。 他刚说完，我们走吧，安妮说道。 她提起裙子，爬出了窗户。

Jack read more in the Ireland book. The monks copied the ancient writings of the Western world. Before printing was invented, all books had to be written and copied by hand. Hey, we're on a cliff! Annie called from outside. Above the ocean! Be careful! said Jack. He stuffed the Ireland book and his notebook into his leather bag. Then he climbed out the window. Annie was peering over the edge. Jack looked too. There was a rocky shore twenty feet below. Waves slapped against the rocks. Sea gulls swooped and glided above the sea. It doesn't look like there's any civilization down there, said Jack.

杰克接着读那本讲爱尔兰的书。 修道士们会抄写西方世界的古代著作。 印刷术发明之前，所有的书都得靠手写、手抄。 嘿，我们在悬崖上呢！安妮在外面喊道。 就在大海上面！ 小心点！杰克说。 他把爱尔兰的书和笔记本塞进自己的皮包里。 然后他也爬出了窗户。 安妮正探着身子往悬崖边下面看。 杰克也往下看。 二十英尺下面是布满岩石的海岸。 海浪拍打着岩石。 海鸥在海面上一会儿俯冲，一会儿滑翔。 下面看着好像没什么文明呀，杰克说。

Maybe we should climb those," said Annie. She pointed to steep steps cut into the cliff. Jack looked up. The cliff also rose above them in the mist. We'd better wait till the sun comes up. He said, Let's just go super slow, said Annie. She started up the stone steps. Wait, Annie, said Jack. They might be slippery. Whoa! she said, almost falling backward. I tripped on my darn dress. I told you to wait, Jack said. It's too dangerous. Just then something fell from above. Watch it, said Jack. He put his hands over his head. Hey, it's a rope, said Annie.

也许我们应该爬那些台阶，安妮说。 她指着刻在悬崖上的陡峭台阶。 杰克抬头看。 他们头顶的悬崖也在大雾里向上延伸。 我们最好等太阳升起来再走。 他说。 我们走得超级慢就好啦，安妮说。 她开始往石阶上爬。 等等，安妮，杰克说。 台阶可能很滑。 哇呀！她喊道，差点向后摔下去。 我被这破裙子绊到了。 我都叫你等一等了，杰克说。 这太危险了。 就在这时有什么东西从上面掉了下来。 小心！杰克说。 他用手护住自己的头。 嘿，是根绳子，安妮说。

Jack saw a thick rope dangling down the stairs. Where'd this come from? He asked. It's like when Morgan dropped the ladder to us, said Annie. I bet someone's trying to help us. Yeah, but who? Said Jack. Let's find out, said Annie. She grabbed the rope. I'll use it first. Once I'm at the top, you can come after me. Okay, but hurry, he said, and be very careful. Jack waited as Annie started climbing up the steps.

杰克看到一根粗绳子顺着台阶垂了下来。 这是从哪来的呀？ 他问道。 这就像之前摩根把梯子扔给我们的时候一样，安妮说。 我打赌肯定有人想帮我们。 是呀，可会是谁呢？ 杰克说。 我们去看看就知道啦，安妮说。 她抓住绳子。 我先抓着它爬。 我爬到顶之后，你再跟着上来。 好的，但是快点，他说，一定要非常小心。 安妮开始爬台阶，杰克在下面等着。