2 This Is Camelot?

Chapter 2. This is Camelot? Jack shivered. He could see his breath in the dim light. Annie was staring out the window. This is Camelot? she said. Jack looked out with her. The treehouse had landed in a grove of tall, bare trees. A huge, dark castle loomed against the gray sky. No light shone from its windows. No banners waved from its turrets. Wind whistled through its tall towers, sounding sad and lonely. It looks deserted, said Annie.

第二章 这里就是卡米洛特？ 杰克打了个寒颤，昏暗的光线下他都能看见自己呼出的白气。安妮正盯着窗外看。 这里就是卡米洛特？她问道。 杰克跟着她一起往外看。树屋降落在一片光秃秃的高大树林里。一座庞大的， 漆黑的城堡在灰蒙蒙的天空下赫然耸立。城堡的窗户没有透出半点光亮，也没有旗帜 在角楼上飘扬。风穿过高耸的塔楼呼呼作响，听着又悲伤又孤寂。 看起来好像没人住哎，安妮说。

Yeah," said Jack. I hope we came to the right place. Jack pulled his notebook and pencil out of his pack. He went in to write a description of the dark castle. Hey, I see someone," said Annie. Jack looked out the window again.

是啊，杰克说。 希望我们没来错地方。 杰克从背包里掏出他的笔记本和铅笔。 他正要动笔把这座漆黑城堡的样子记下来。 嘿，我看到有人了，安妮说。 杰克再次看向窗外。

A woman was crossing the castle drawbridge. She wore a long cloak and carried a lantern. Her white hair blew in the wind.

一个女人正走过城堡的吊桥。 她披着长长的斗篷，手里提着一盏灯笼。 她的白发在风中飘着。

Morgan," said Annie and Jack together. They laughed with relief. Morgan hurried over the frost -covered ground toward the grove of trees. Annie? Jack? Is that you? she called. Of course, who'd you think? shouted Annie. She started down from the tree house. Jack threw his notebook into his backpack. He followed Annie down the rope ladder. When they reached the icy ground, they ran to Morgan and both threw their arms around her. I was looking out a window in the castle and saw a bright flash in the orchard, said Morgan. What are you doing here? He didn't send the tree house for us? asked Jack. With a royal invitation to spend Christmas in Camelot? asked Annie. No, said Morgan. She sounded alarmed. But the invitation was signed with an M, said Jack.

摩根！安妮和杰克异口同声地喊，两个人都松了口气笑了起来。 摩根踩着结了霜的地面，快步朝树林这边走来。 安妮？杰克？是你们吗？她喊道。 当然是我们啦，不然你以为是谁呀？安妮大声回答，说着就往树屋外面爬要下去。 杰克把笔记本塞进背包，跟着安妮顺着绳梯爬了下去。 脚一碰到结冰的地面，他俩就朝摩根跑过去，都伸出胳膊抱住了她。 我刚才在城堡里往窗外看，看到果园这边闪了一道亮光，摩根说。 你们怎么会来这里呀？ 不是他派树屋来接我们的吗？杰克问。 还有来卡米洛特过圣诞节的皇家邀请函呀？安妮问。 不是啊，摩根说，她的语气听着很慌张。 可是邀请函上签了个M呀，杰克说。

I don't understand," said Morgan. We are not celebrating Christmas in Camelot this year. You aren't," said Jack. Why not? said Annie. A look of sadness crossed Morgan's face. Do you remember when you visited my library and gave King Arthur the hope and courage to challenge his enemy? she asked. Sure," said Jack. Well, Arthur's enemy was a man named Mordred, said Morgan. After you left, Arthur defeated him. But not before Mordred's dark wizard cast a spell over the whole kingdom. The spell robbed Camelot of all its joy. What? All its joy? whispered Annie. Yes," said Morgan. For months Camelot has been without music, without celebration, and without laughter. Oh, no! said Annie. What can we do to help? said Jack.

我搞不懂了，摩根说，我们今年卡米洛特不庆祝圣诞节呀。 你们不庆祝？杰克说。 为什么不呀？安妮问。 摩根的脸上掠过一抹悲伤的神色。你们还记得上次你们来我的图书馆， 给了亚瑟王对抗敌人的希望和勇气的事吗？她问道。 当然记得呀，杰克说。 是这样的，亚瑟王的敌人叫莫德雷德，摩根说。你们走了之后， 亚瑟王打败了他，可莫德雷德手下的黑巫师赶在被打败前给整个王国施了个咒语。 这个咒语夺走了卡米洛特所有的欢乐。 什么？所有的欢乐？安妮小声问道。 是的，摩根说。好几个月了，卡米洛特没有音乐， 没有庆祝活动，也没有笑声。 啊，怎么会这样！安妮惊呼。 我们能做什么帮忙吗？杰克问。

Morgan smiled sadly. This time I don't think you can do anything, she said. But perhaps it will lift Arthur's spirits to see you both again. Come, let us go inside the castle. Morgan held up her lantern and started toward the drawbridge. Jack and Annie hurried after her. As they walked through the outer courtyard, the frozen grass cracked under their sneakers. They followed Morgan over the bridge and through a tall gate. There were no signs of life in the castle's inner courtyard. Where is everyone? Annie whispered to Jack. I don't know, he whispered back. Jack really wished they had a book about Camelot. It might help them understand what was going on. Morgan led them to a huge archway with two wooden doors. She stopped and looked at them. I'm afraid no book would help you tonight, Jack, she said.

摩根难过地笑了笑。 这一次恐怕你们帮不上什么忙了，她说。 不过要是亚瑟王见到你们俩，说不定能振作一点。 走吧，我们进城堡里去。 摩根举着灯笼，朝吊桥的方向走去。 杰克和安妮赶紧跟在她身后。 他们穿过外院的时候，冻硬的草在他们的运动鞋踩下嘎吱作响。 他们跟着摩根走过吊桥，穿过一扇高大的门。 城堡的内院里看不到半点儿有人活动的迹象。 大家都去哪了呀？ 安妮小声问杰克。 我不知道呀，他小声回答。 杰克真希望他们现在有一本讲卡米洛特的书。 说不定能帮他们搞明白现在到底是什么情况。 摩根领着他们走到一个安着两扇木门的巨大拱门前。 她停下脚步，看向他俩。 恐怕今晚什么书都帮不了你哦，杰克，她说。