3 Rok

Chapter 3 Rock It was cooler outside now, daylight was fading quickly, the wind had picked up. A grand adventure for us, eh? said Teddy. Yes, said Annie. Jack was excited too, but he had lots of questions. As Teddy started off through the oak forest, Jack hurried to keep up. What do you think our mission is exactly? he asked. Merlin said we should bring order to the castle, said Annie.

第三章 洛克 外面现在凉快多了，天光飞快暗下去，风也变大了。 “这可是我们的大冒险，对不对？”泰迪说。 “对呀。”安妮说。 杰克也很兴奋，不过他脑子里有好多问题。 泰迪动身穿过橡树林的时候，杰克赶紧加快脚步跟上。 “你觉得我们的任务到底是什么呀？”他问。 “梅林说我们要让城堡恢复秩序呀。”安妮说。

Perhaps he wants us to mop the floors and wash the dishes," Teddy joked. And make the beds, said Annie. She and Teddy laughed. Our mission has to be harder than just doing chores, said Jack. What about the tunnel of fear? Oh, you need not be afraid of fear, said Teddy. I know magic, remember? Teddy, did you know any magic before you met Morgan and Merlin? asked Annie. Indeed, my father was a sorcerer, Teddy said. And my mother was a wood sprite from the other world. That is so cool, said Annie. They crunched through piles of dead leaves. A gust of wind shook the tree branches. Golden oak leaves spun to the ground. Jack's thoughts were spinning too. Merlin in the heart of the oak, sorcerers, wood sprites, none of these things would ever make sense back in Frog Creek.

“说不定他是要我们去擦地板洗碗呢。”泰迪 开玩笑说。 “还要整理床铺呢。”安妮说。 她和泰迪都笑了起来。 “我们的任务肯定比做家务难多了。”杰克说。 那恐惧隧道是怎么回事？ “哦，你不用害怕恐惧呀。”泰迪说。 “我可是会魔法的，忘了吗？” “泰迪，你遇到摩根和梅林之前就会魔法吗？” 安妮问。 “当然啦，我爸爸是个巫师。”泰迪说。 “我妈妈是来自另一个世界的林中小精灵哦。” “这也太酷了吧！”安妮说。 他们踩着厚厚的枯叶走，脚下咔嚓作响。 一阵风吹过，晃得树枝来回摇摆。 金色的橡树叶打着旋儿落到地上。 杰克的脑子也跟着转个不停。 橡树心里的梅林、巫师、林中小精灵， 这些事要是回了青蛙溪，根本没人会相信的。

At last Teddy led them out of the forest and into a clearing. Alt, he said. They all stopped walking. Beyond the clearing was a small village of thatched roof cottages. The cottage windows twinkled with candlelight. Chimney smoke rose into the dusky sky. Teddy held up his lantern. Onward, he said. They went down a dirt path that passed through the village. Several children in ragged clothes peeked out their front doors. Greetings, called Teddy. Can you tell us how to get to the castle of the Duke? The castle? A boy said in a frightened voice. It is just beyond the wood. He pointed at a forest on the other side of the village. Follow the path and you'll come to it. But you mustn't go there, a girl cried. Why not? Asked Annie. Something's been very wrong at the castle, said the girl, ever since the ravens came. Has anyone been there to see what's going on? Asked Jack.

最后泰迪领着他们走出森林，来到了一片空地上。 “停。”他说。 他们都停下了脚步。 空地那头是个小村庄，里面都是茅草顶的小屋。 小屋的窗户闪着点点烛光。 烟囱里的炊烟飘向暮色沉沉的天空。 泰迪举起了手里的提灯。 “往前走。”他说。 他们沿着一条土路走，这条路穿过整个村庄。 好几个穿得破破烂烂的孩子从家门口探出头偷看他们。 “你们好呀。”泰迪大声打招呼。 “请问你们知道去公爵的城堡该怎么走吗？” “城堡？” 一个男孩声音抖抖地问。 “就在那片树林的后面。” 他指了指村子另一头的树林。 “沿着这条路走就能到了。” “可是你们绝对不能去那儿！”一个女孩大叫道。 “为什么不能去呀？” 安妮问。 “城堡最近出了很可怕的事，” 女孩说，“自从乌鸦来了之后就变成这样了。” “那有人去过那儿看看是怎么回事吗？” 杰克问。

"'Only old Maggie, who used to work there,' said the girl. "'Two weeks ago she went to the castle as usual, but she came running back, scared out of her wits.' "'Maggie says the castle is all haunted with ghosts,' said a boy. She keeps repeating the same rhyme over and over.' "'Ghosts?' said Jack. His mouth felt dry. But Teddy just laughed. "'Ghosts don't scare me,' he said. "'Have you ever seen one, Teddy?' asked Annie. "'No, but I should like to,' Teddy said with a grin. "'Look!' One of the girls pointed at the sky. "'The ravens are back!' A flock of large black birds was flying low in the dark gray sky. The village kids screamed. Several grown -ups rushed out of their cottages. "'Go away!' a woman yelled at the ravens. She picked up a handful of stones and began throwing them at the birds. "'Leave us alone!'

“只有以前在城堡做工的老玛吉去过。”女孩说。 “两周前她和往常一样去城堡，却拼命跑了回来，吓得” 魂都没了。” “玛吉说城堡里到处都是鬼。”一个男孩说。 “她还翻来覆去念叨着同一段顺口溜。” “鬼？”杰克说。 他感觉嘴里发干。 可泰迪只是笑了笑。 “鬼可吓不到我。”他说。 “泰迪，你见过鬼吗？”安妮问。 “没见过，不过我还挺想见见的。”泰迪咧嘴笑着说。 “快看！” 其中一个女孩指着天空大喊。 “乌鸦回来了！” 一群硕大的黑鸟正低低地飞在暗灰色的天空里。 村里的孩子们都尖叫起来。 好几个大人从小屋里冲了出来。 “滚开！”一个女人对着乌鸦大喊。 她抓起一把石子，就往鸟群身上扔。 “别来烦我们！”

Stop, stop, cried Annie, you'll hurt them. A stone struck one of the ravens, it fell to the ground. No, cried Annie. The grown ups pulled their children inside, doors slammed and shutters closed. Annie dashed to the fallen bird and knelt beside it.

“住手，快住手！”安妮大喊，“你们会伤到它们的！” 一块石头打中了一只乌鸦，它掉到了地上。 “不要啊！”安妮大叫道。 大人们把孩子拉回屋里，砰地关上门，还拉上了百叶窗。 安妮冲向那只掉下来的鸟，蹲在了它身边。

Jack and Teddy hurried over to Annie and the fallen bird. The bird was crouching, slightly spreading its wings. Its head was bowed as it made low, squeaking sounds. One of its tail feathers was bent. Coo, coo! Teddy said loudly. He looked at Jack. I once journeyed to the Isle of Birds to study their language, he said. I learned a bit of dove, but no raven. Don't worry, said Jack. Annie talks to birds and animals in her own language.

杰克和泰迪赶紧跑到安妮和那只受伤的鸟身边。 那只鸟缩着身子，翅膀微微张开着。 它耷拉着脑袋，发出低低的吱吱叫声。 它的一根尾羽被打弯了。 “咕咕，咕咕！” 泰迪大声喊。 他看向杰克。 “我以前去过鸟岛研究鸟类的语言。”他说。 “我懂一点鸽子的话，但是不会说乌鸦的话。” “别担心。”杰克说。 安妮能用她自己的方式和鸟儿还有小动物说话呀。