6 AWhite Comet

CHAPTER VI. A WHITE COMET Once the night was gone, the candles and torches in the great hall grew dimmer. A bitter chill crept over the room. What do these three rhymes mean? said Jack, looking at his notebook. Who are the keepers of the cauldron? What secret door? I don't know, said Annie. I just know we have to save Morgan. She gathered the red cloak up in her arms. We've got our first gift, she said. Let's go. Wait, we should figure this out first, said Jack.

第六章 白色彗星 夜色褪去，大厅里的蜡烛和火把越来越暗。一阵刺骨的寒意 悄悄漫过了整个房间。 这三首童谣是什么意思？杰克看着笔记本说道。谁是坩埚的 守护者？秘密门指的是什么？ 我不知道，安妮说。我只知道我们必须救出摩根。 她把红色斗篷抱在怀里。我们已经拿到第一件礼物了，她说。我们 出发吧。 等等，我们得先把这件事搞清楚，杰克说。

No, we should just go," said Annie. She turned and headed for the archway. Jack pushed his glasses into place and looked back at the round table, at the frozen king and queen, at the frozen knights, and at Morgan Le Fay. He loved Morgan. She was their great friend and teacher. If he and Annie did not go on their quest, Morgan's story and the stories of Camelot and all the stories about the Magic Treehouse would end forever. Jack took a deep breath. He put his notebook into his backpack. Then he turned toward the archway. Annie, he said. She was gone. Annie, wait! he shouted. Wait! Jack ran out of the great hall. Annie! I'm here, she said quietly. I'm waiting. She was standing at the end of the

“不，我们现在就该走，”安妮说。她转身朝拱门走去。杰克推了推 架在鼻子上的眼镜，回头看向圆桌，看向被冻住的国王和王后， 看向被冻住的骑士们，还有摩根·勒·菲。他爱摩根。她是他们的好朋友 也是他们的老师。如果他和安妮不踏上这次冒险，摩根的故事、卡梅洛特的故事 还有所有关于魔法树屋的故事都会永远结束。杰克深吸了 一口气。他把笔记本放进背包里。然后转身朝拱门走去。 安妮，他喊道。她已经走了。安妮，等等！他大叫。等等！杰克跑出了宏伟的 大厅。安妮！我在这儿呢，她轻声说。我在等你。她正站在

How do we get to the other world?" she asked. Maybe the treehouse can take us there, said Jack. Come on. Together Jack and Annie hurried through the inner courtyard of the castle and over the drawbridge. They ran over the frozen ground to the moonlit grove of trees. Clutching the red cloak, Annie started up the rope ladder. Jack followed. They climbed inside the treehouse and sat on the floor. Annie picked up the royal invitation. Close your eyes. I'll make the wish, she said. Jack closed his eyes. He was shivering from the cold. I wish we could go to the other world, said Annie. The bare branches of the trees rattled in the wind. I think it's working, whispered Annie. The wind stopped blowing.

“我们要怎么去另一个世界呀？”她问。 也许树屋能带我们去，杰克说。走吧。 杰克和安妮一起匆匆穿过城堡的内院，跨过 吊桥。他们踩着冻硬的地面，跑向月光笼罩的小树林。 安妮紧紧攥着红色斗篷，开始爬绳梯。杰克跟在后面。他们爬进 树屋，坐在地板上。安妮拿起了王室邀请函。 闭上眼睛。我来许愿，她说。 杰克闭上了眼睛。他冻得浑身发抖。 我希望我们能去到另一个世界，安妮说。 光秃秃的树枝在风中咯吱作响。 我觉得起效啦，安妮小声说。风停了。

Jack opened his eyes. He and Annie looked out the window. The dark castle loomed against the sky. They were still in Camelot. It didn't work, said Jack, his teeth chattering. Yes, it did, whispered Annie. Look down! Standing below the treehouse was the biggest deer Jack had ever seen. The deer was staring up at them with amber eyes. His huge antler seemed to glow in the cold moonlight. Most amazing of all, the deer was completely white, as white as new -fallen snow. A white stag, said Jack. Puffs of frosty air blew from the stag's nostrils. He stepped toward the treehouse and shook his giant head. He's come to take us on our journey, said Annie. People don't ride deer, said Jack. But Annie had already started down the rope ladder. Jack watched from the window as she walked to the stag and spoke softly. The stag knelt. Annie climbed on his back.

杰克睁开了眼睛。他和安妮看向窗外。黑暗的城堡在 天空的映衬下若隐若现。他们还在卡梅洛特。 没起效呀，杰克说，牙齿都在打颤。 起效啦，安妮小声说。往下看！ 树屋下面站着一头鹿，是杰克见过的最大的鹿。那头鹿正盯着 他们，眼睛是琥珀色的。他巨大的鹿角在清冷的月光下好像在发光。最 神奇的是，这头鹿浑身雪白，就像刚落下的新雪一样。 是一头白牡鹿，杰克说。牡鹿的鼻孔里喷出一股股白气。他朝 树屋走了过来，晃了晃他大大的脑袋。 他是来带我们去冒险的，安妮说。 没人会骑鹿的，杰克说。可安妮已经开始往下爬绳梯了。 杰克在窗边看着她走到牡鹿身边，轻声对他说话。牡鹿跪了下来。 安妮爬到了他的背上。

Come on !" she called to Jack. Bring the cloak. Okay, okay, said Jack. He gathered up the heavy velvet cloak. Clutching it against his chest, he climbed down the rope ladder. He hurried over to Annie in the white stag. Put on the cloak and climb on behind me, said Annie. Jack put the cloak on over his backpack. He pulled it around his shoulders and buttoned it at the neck. As the cloak fell down around his body, the soft, smooth cloth made him feel warm and safe. Ready? Said Annie. Yeah, said Jack. He climbed on the stag's back behind Annie. The white stag slowly stood up. Annie leaned forward, putting her arms around its neck. Jack leaned forward too and held on to Annie. The red velvet cloak draped over both of them, falling past their feet.

“快过来呀！”她朝杰克喊道。 把斗篷带过来。 好啦好啦，杰克说。 他抱起沉甸甸的丝绒斗篷。 他把斗篷紧紧抱在胸前，爬下了绳梯。 他快步跑到安妮和白牡鹿身边。 穿上斗篷，爬到我后面来，安妮说。 杰克把斗篷套在背包外面。 他把斗篷拉到肩膀上，扣好了领口的扣子。 斗篷垂下来裹住他的身体，柔软、 顺滑的布料让他觉得又暖和又安心。 准备好了吗？ 安妮问。 好了，杰克说。 他爬到牡鹿背上，坐在安妮身后。 白牡鹿慢慢站了起来。 安妮往前倾，伸手抱住了他的脖子。 杰克也往前倾，紧紧抱住安妮。 红色的丝绒斗篷裹住了两个人，垂下来盖过了他们的脚。