05 The Letter

Chapter 5. The Letter. George Washington? Really? said Annie. Yeah, I think he is, said Jack. Wow! Where'd he go? said Annie. I want to see him again. Come on! She started toward the river. Wait, don't go far, said Jack. I just want to make sure it's him. He opened the Revolutionary War book. He found a picture of the boats on the riverbank. He read...

第五章 那封信 “乔治·华盛顿？真的吗？”安妮说。 “对呀，我觉得就是他。”杰克说。 “哇！他去哪儿了？”安妮说，“我想再看看他。快走呀！” 她拔腿就往河边跑。 “等等，别跑太远，”杰克说，“我得确认一下是不是真的是他。” 他翻开那本独立战争的书，找到一张河岸上船只的图片，读了起来……

When General George Washington gathered his troops by the Delaware River, he was commander -in -chief of the whole American Army. The General led the Army for six years until America became a free and independent nation. In 1789, he was elected the first president of the new United States. Oh, man, it is him, said Jack. He pulled out his notebook and wrote, General George Washington helped America become independent. Hey, what are you writing? someone asked. Jack looked up. A bearded soldier was pointing at him. Jack shoved the Revolutionary War book and his notebook into his bag.

乔治·华盛顿将军在特拉华河畔集结部队时，已经是全军 的总司令了。他带领军队奋战了六年，直到美国成为 一个自由独立的国家。1789年，他被选举为新生的 美利坚合众国第一任总统。 “天呐，真的是他！”杰克说。他掏出笔记本写道： 乔治·华盛顿将军帮助美国实现了独立。 “喂，你在写什么？”有人问道。杰克抬头一看，一个留着胡子的士兵正指着 他。杰克赶紧把独立战争的书和笔记本塞进包里。

Nothing, sir," he said. He started walking away. The man shouted after Jack, but Jack ran down toward the river and lost himself in a crowd of soldiers. When he looked over his shoulder, he was relieved. The bearded man was nowhere in sight. Stop, young man! Someone shone a lantern right in Jack's face. Jack gasped. It was the captain. I told you to go home, Jack, the captain said sternly. Where's your sister? Jack looked around. Where was Annie? I don't know, he said.

“没什么，长官。”他说。 他转身就要走。 那个男人在杰克身后大喊，可杰克往河边跑，钻进士兵堆里 不见了。 他回头看的时候，终于松了口气。 那个大胡子士兵已经不见踪影了。 “站住，小伙子！” 有人举着灯笼正照在杰克脸上。 杰克倒抽了一口冷气。 是那个上尉。 “我告诉过你回家去的，杰克。”上尉严厉地说。 “你妹妹在哪儿？” 杰克四下看了看。 安妮去哪儿了？ “我不知道。”他说。

Find her at once and go back to your family, the captain ordered. Our secret mission is very important. Children will only get in the way. Yes, sir, said Jack. The captain started to leave, but he stopped. I wonder if you could do me a favor, Jack, he asked. Sure, said Jack. The captain pulled out his letter. This is my letter to my children, he said. It's a farewell letter. Would you please take it back with you to Frog Creek? Yes, sir, said Jack. You must only send it if you hear that we have failed in our mission and many patriots were lost, said the captain. Yes, sir, said Jack.

“马上找到她，回到你家人身边去。”上尉命令道。 “我们的秘密任务非常重要。” “小孩子只会碍事的。” “好的，长官。”杰克说。 上尉刚要走，又停了下来。 “不知道你能不能帮我个忙，杰克。”他问。 “当然可以。”杰克说。 上尉掏出了他的信。 “这是我写给我孩子们的信。”他说。 “是一封告别信。” “你能不能把它带回青蛙溪去？” “好的，长官。”杰克说。 “只有当你听说我们任务失败，很多爱国志士 牺牲了的时候，你才能把信寄出去。”上尉说。 “好的，长官。”杰克说。

The captain handed his letter to Jack. I copied the general's speech for my children, the captain said. If anything bad happens to me, I hope those words will give them courage. The captain then turned and disappeared into the crowd. Good luck, Captain, Jack called. He hoped he would never have to send the letter to the man's children. Suddenly Jack clutched the letter to his chest. Send, he whispered. This letter was the writing they'd been looking for, something to send. He and Annie could go home now, their mission was over. Jack shoved the captain's letter into his bag. Now he just had to find Annie.

上尉把信递给杰克。 “我把将军的演讲抄下来给我的孩子们了。”上尉说。 “要是我出了什么事，希望这些话能给他们勇气。” 说完上尉就转身消失在人群里了。 “祝你好运，上尉。”杰克喊道。 他希望自己永远都不用把这封信寄给男人的孩子们。 突然杰克把信紧紧按在胸口。 “寄信。”他小声念叨着。 这封信就是他们一直在找的要寄出去的东西呀。 他和安妮现在可以回家了，他们的任务完成了。 杰克把上尉的信塞进包里。 现在他只需要找到安妮就行了。