03 Brother Patrick

Chapter 3 Brother Patrick Jack's glasses were wet with mist. He quickly wiped them, then looked up. A man in a brown robe stood before him. The man had a round red face. He was bald, except for a fringe of hair around his head. Nearby the rope was tied around a tree. I'm not an invader, said Jack. He's Jack, said Annie. She was standing behind the man. I'm Annie. We're from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania.

第三章 帕特里克修士 杰克的眼镜蒙上了雾，湿乎乎的。他赶紧 擦了擦，然后抬头看。一个穿棕色长袍的男人站在他面前。那人长着一张圆 红的脸，是个光头，只有脑袋周围长着一圈碎发。旁边的绳子正 系在一棵树上。 “我不是入侵者。”杰克说。“他是杰克。”安妮说。她正站在那个男人身后。 我是安妮。我们来自宾夕法尼亚州的青蛙溪。

We come in peace, stammered Jack. The man's blue eyes twinkled. Oh, do you now? He said. I wondered what was going on. I had dropped the rope so I could climb down the steps. But you two grabbed it instead. How in the world did you get on this island? Jack stared at the man. He didn't know how to explain the magic treehouse. In our boat, Annie said quickly. The man looked puzzled. Not many boats can come ashore at this dark early hour. Well, we're very good sailors, said Annie. Oh, brother, thought Jack. He hoped their sailing skills wouldn't be tested. Where exactly are we? Asked Annie.

“我们是带着好意来的。”杰克结结巴巴地说。 男人的蓝眼睛闪了闪。 “哦，是吗？” 他说。 我刚才还在想发生什么事了呢。 我刚才松开绳子，好爬下台阶。 结果反倒被你们俩抓住了。 你们到底是怎么登上这座岛的？ 杰克盯着男人看。 他不知道该怎么解释魔法树屋的事。 “坐我们的船来的。”安妮飞快地说。 男人看起来很疑惑。 这么早天还黑着，没几艘船能靠岸的。 “哈哈，我们可是超厉害的水手呀。”安妮说。 “哦天呐。”杰克心里想。 他可希望没人要考验他们的驾船技术。 “我们到底在哪儿呀？” 安妮问道。

And who exactly are you? You're on an island off the coast of Ireland. The man said, and I am Brother Patrick. Whose brother are you? Said Annie. The monk smiled. The brother means I'm a Christian monk. Oh, you're one of the monks who save civilization. Said Annie. The man smiled again. Annie turned to Jack and whispered, let's show him our cards. I trust him. Okay, said Jack. He trusted the monk too. They both pulled out their secret library cards and showed them to Brother Patrick. The M's and L's for master librarian shined in the gray light.

“还有，你到底是谁呀？” “你们现在在爱尔兰沿岸的一座小岛上。” 男人说，“我是帕特里克修士。” “你是谁的兄弟呀？” 安妮说。 修士笑了。 “‘修士’的意思是我是一名基督教修道士。” “哦，原来你就是拯救文明的修道士之一呀！” 安妮说。 男人又笑了笑。 安妮转头对着杰克小声说， “咱们把卡片给他看吧。” “我信得过他。” “好呀。”杰克说。 他也信得过这位修士。 他俩都掏出了自己的秘密图书卡 拿给帕特里克修士看。 代表图书馆大师的M和L字样 在灰蒙蒙的光线下闪闪发亮。

The monk looked at them and bowed his head. Welcome, my friends. He said, Thank you, said Jack and Annie.

修士看着卡片，低下头鞠了一躬。 “欢迎你们，我的朋友们。” 他说。“谢谢您。”杰克和安妮齐声说。

I did not truly think you were invaders," said Brother Patrick, but on our small island we are careful of strangers. Why? said Annie. There are terrible stories about Viking raiders, he said. When we see their serpent ships, we must hide or be taken as slaves. Serpent ships? said Jack. The prowls of their ships are often carved in the shape of a serpent's head, said Brother Patrick. I am afraid it stands for their fierce, cold -blooded ways. Jack looked at the misty gray sea. Do not worry, said Brother Patrick. They cannot land safely on this island before daylight. They're not as good sailors as some people, he winked at Annie. Too bad for them, she said cheerfully.

“我刚才其实没真把你们当成入侵者。”帕特里克修士说， 但在我们这座小岛上，我们对陌生人都很警惕。 “为什么呀？”安妮问。 “有好多关于维京海盗的可怕传闻。”他说。 我们一看到他们的蛇形船，就得躲起来，不然就会被抓去当奴隶。 “蛇形船？”杰克问。 “他们的船首经常会刻成蛇头的形状，” 帕特里克修士说。 恐怕这就代表了他们凶狠残暴、冷酷无情的行事风格。 杰克望向雾气弥漫的灰色海面。 “别担心。”帕特里克修士说。 天亮之前，他们没法安全登上这座岛的。 “他们可不像某些人一样是厉害的水手呀。”他冲安妮眨了眨眼。 “那他们可太倒霉啦。”安妮开心地说。

But tell me, why have you come here?" asked Brother Patrick. Oh, said Jack, I almost forgot. He pulled Morgan's paper from his leather bag. He showed the Latin words to the monk, Serpens Magna. This is the title of a story that we have to take back to our friend and teacher, Morgan Lafay, said Annie. I see, said Brother Patrick. He gave Jack and Annie a mysterious look. What's he thinking? Jack wondered, but the monk changed the subject. I think you would like to visit our monastery, he said. What's that? said Annie.

“不过告诉我，你们为什么来这儿呀？”帕特里克修士问。 “哦，”杰克说，“我差点忘了。” 他从自己的皮包里掏出了摩根的纸条。 他把上面的拉丁文单词拿给修士看：大蛇。 “这是一个故事的名字，我们得把这个故事带回去给我们的朋友兼老师，摩根· 勒菲。”安妮说。 “我知道了。”帕特里克修士说。 他神神秘秘地看了杰克和安妮一眼。 “他在想什么呢？” 杰克心里疑惑，但修士换了个话题。 “我想你们应该愿意去看看我们的修道院吧。”他说。 “修道院是什么呀？”安妮问。