02 Cruel War

Chapter 2. Cruel War Glaring sunlight filled the treehouse. It's really hot here, said Jack. Especially in these clothes, said Annie. Their clothes had magically been changed. Annie wore a long dress. Jack wore scratchy pants and a long -sleeved shirt. His backpack was now a leather knapsack. Where are we? asked Annie. They looked out the window together.

第二章 残酷的战争 刺眼的阳光洒满了树屋。 "这里好热啊。"杰克说。 "尤其是穿这些衣服，更热了。"安妮说。 他们的衣服被魔法变过了。 安妮穿了一条长裙。 杰克穿了扎人的裤子和一件长袖衬衫。 他的双肩包现在变成了一个皮制背包。 "我们在哪儿呀？"安妮问。 他们一起朝窗外看去。

The treehouse had landed in a tree at the edge of a field, the same field on the cover of the book. It looked so peaceful, said Jack. Where's the Civil War? There, whispered Annie with a shiver. She pointed to the woods beyond the field. Jack saw a soldier riding a horse out of the woods. The horse was covered with mud. The soldier's blue uniform was torn, his arm was bloody. Another man rode into the field. His blue uniform was in rags too. His head was bandaged. Man, whispered Jack, who are they? He opened the Civil War book and found a painting of some soldiers in blue. He read to Annie.

树屋降落在一片田野边缘的树上，这片田野和封面 上的那片田野完全一样。 "这里看起来好安静啊。"杰克说。 内战在哪里呀？ "在那儿。"安妮打了个哆嗦，小声说。 她指向田野那头的树林。 杰克看见一个士兵骑着马从树林里出来。 马身上沾满了泥。 士兵的蓝色制服破了，胳膊上全是血。 另一个人骑马进了田野。 他的蓝色制服也破破烂烂的。 他的头上缠着绷带。 "天呐，"杰克小声说，"他们是谁呀？" 他翻开那本内战的书，找到了一张穿蓝色制服士兵的画。 他读给安妮听。

1861 to 1865. The Civil War is also called the War Between the States, because it was fought between the southern and northern states of the United States. Southerners wore gray uniforms and were called Confederate soldiers. Northerners wore blue uniforms and were called Union soldiers. So they're Union soldiers, said Jack. He pulled out his notebook and wrote, Civil War 1861 to 1865. Blue equals North equals Union. Gray equals South equals Confederate. Jack looked at his book again. He read aloud.

1861年到1865年。内战也叫南北战争，因为它是 在美国的南方州和北方州之间打响的。南方人穿灰色 制服，被称为邦联士兵。北方人穿蓝色制服，被称为 联邦士兵。 "所以他们是联邦士兵。"杰克说。他掏出笔记本写下：内战 1861-1865。 蓝色=北方=联邦。灰色=南方=邦联。 杰克又看了看他的书，大声读了起来。

The Civil War was a cruel and bloody war. More people died in this war than in all of America's other wars put together. One out of every five young men in the nation died or was wounded. That's so sad, said Annie. Jack wrote in his notebook, Cruel War. Wow, they keep coming, Annie said. Jack looked up. More Union soldiers were coming through the field. These didn't have horses. They all looked sad and weary. Some of them limped. Some of them helped others along. One man stumbled and fell down. I have to help, said Annie. Wait, said Jack.

内战是一场残酷又血腥的战争。 这场战争中死亡的人数比美国其他所有战争加起来的都多。 这个国家每五个年轻人里就有一个死亡或者受伤。 "太让人难过了。"安妮说。 杰克在笔记本上写下：残酷的战争。 "哇，他们还在不断过来。"安妮说。 杰克抬起头。 更多的联邦士兵正穿过田野走过来。 这些人没有马。 他们看起来都又难过又疲惫。 有些人一瘸一拐的。 有些人搀扶着别人走。 有一个人绊了一下，摔倒了。 "我得去帮忙。"安妮说。 "等一下。"杰克说。

She started down the rope ladder. You can't help, said Jack. A kid can't help. But Annie kept going. Don't forget, we have to find some special writing for Morgan, Jack called in a loud whisper. Something to follow. He packed the Civil War book and his notebook in his knapsack. Then he started down the ladder. When he stepped onto the ground, Jack saw Annie in the distance.

她开始顺着绳梯往下爬。 "你帮不上忙的。"杰克说。 一个小孩子帮不了什么的。 可安妮还是继续往下爬。 "别忘了，我们还要给摩根找特别的文字呢。"杰克用很大的 小声喊道。 能指引方向的东西。 他把内战的书和笔记本塞进了皮背包里。 然后他也开始爬下梯子。 杰克踩到地面的时候，看见安妮在远处。

She was holding her hand out to the fallen soldier. She helped him to his feet. The soldier slowly started walking again. Annie walked beside him. Oh, brother, said Jack, and he hurried to catch up with Annie.

她正向摔倒的士兵伸出手，扶他站了起来。 士兵慢慢重新开始往前走，安妮走在他旁边。 "哎呀天呐。"杰克说着，赶紧跑着去追安妮。