11 Or Etse!

Chapter 11, or else. Jack and Annie were too stunned to speak. Staring at the bizarre creature, Jack remembered the story of the Raven King. How the king had wanted to be a bird, how he had stolen a spell from the Wizard of Winter, how the spell had worked only half way and left him half bird and half human. The Raven King jumped from the window to the floor. One by one, his Raven bodyguards swooshed into the room after him. At least 20 Ravens came through the window. Soon Jack and Annie were surrounded by dark wings, sharp beaks, and bright eyes.

第十一章：否则后果自负 杰克和安妮惊得说不出话来 盯着这个奇异的生物，杰克想起了渡鸦国王的故事 国王有多渴望变成一只鸟，他又是怎么从冬之巫师那里偷来咒语的 为什么咒语只生效了一半，把他变成了半人半鸟的样子 渡鸦国王从窗户跳到了地上 他的渡鸦保镖们一个接一个呼啦啦跟着他飞进了房间 至少有二十只渡鸦从窗户飞了进来 很快杰克和安妮就被黑漆漆的翅膀、尖尖的鸟喙和亮闪闪的眼睛团团围住了

Once his guards were in place, the Raven King twisted his head from side to side, looking from Jack to Annie. Where are the two ravens who stole my diamond? He asked in a raspy voice. What diamond? asked Annie.

等保镖们都各就各位，渡鸦国王转了转脑袋，看看杰克又看看安妮 “偷了我钻石的两只渡鸦在哪里？”他用沙哑的声音问道 “什么钻石？”安妮问

What ravens? asked Jack, his voice trembling. He wished desperately that he still had the Diamond of Destiny to give him strength and courage. The ravens that came to this castle after raiding my treasure room, said the Raven King. Where are they hiding? Jack tried to imagine that he was still holding the diamond. We don't know anything about them, he said in a low, steady voice. Pretending to hold the diamond actually made him feel brave. You don't know anything about them? said the Raven King. No, said Jack, you must have the wrong castle. Ah, the wrong castle, said the Raven King. Yes, said Jack. Perhaps you're right, said the Raven King. But are you certain you haven't seen them? They look very much like this little one here.

“什么渡鸦？”杰克问，声音有点发抖 他多希望自己还拿着命运钻石，能给他力量和勇气啊 “就是洗劫了我的宝库之后飞到这座城堡来的渡鸦。”渡鸦国王说 “他们藏在哪里了？” 杰克努力想象自己还握着那颗钻石 “我们完全不知道他们的事。”他用低沉又平稳的声音说道 假装握着钻石的感觉真的让他变得勇敢起来了 “你们完全不知道他们的事？”渡鸦国王反问 “不知道，”杰克说，“你肯定找错城堡了。” “哦，找错城堡了。”渡鸦国王说 “是的。”杰克说 “也许你说得对。”渡鸦国王说 “但你确定你没见过他们吗？” “他们长得和这只小家伙非常像哦。”

The Raven King threw his cape over his shoulder and held up an iron bird cage. A Raven was held captive inside.

渡鸦国王把披风甩到肩后，举起了一个铁鸟笼 里面关着一只渡鸦

The raven croaked. Teddy, cried Annie. His name is Teddy, said the raven king. How charming. I've caught a teddy. I think he'll make a wonderful pet, don't you? Jack was horrified to see Teddy trapped in the raven king's cage. It's not charming, he said. It's cruel. No, he better let him go or else. Yeah, let him go, said Annie, or else. Or else, said the raven king, or else what? With backward jerks of his head he laughed a raspy laugh. As the king laughed, Jack glanced at the floor under the window. He saw the hazel twig. He moved toward it. The raven king caught sight of him. His laugh stopped abruptly. Creak -a! He croaked to one of his bodyguards. Jack dashed for the twig. But before he could grab it, the king's bodyguard had swooped across the floor and picked up the twig in his beak. As the raven carried it to the top of the window, Jack noticed that one of his tail feathers was bent.

笼里的渡鸦呱呱叫了一声 “泰迪！”安妮大喊起来 “他叫泰迪啊。”渡鸦国王说 “真好听。” “我抓了一只泰迪呢。” “我觉得他会是个很棒的宠物，你们说呢？” 看到泰迪被关在渡鸦国王的笼子里，杰克吓坏了 “一点都不好，”他说 “你太残忍了。” “不行，你最好放了他，否则有你好果子吃。” “对，放了他，”安妮说，“否则后果自负。” “后果自负？”渡鸦国王说，“不然你们想怎么样？” 他边晃脑袋边发出沙哑的笑声 国王笑的时候，杰克瞥了一眼窗户底下的地面 他看到了那根榛树枝 他朝树枝走过去 渡鸦国王注意到了他的动作 他的笑声突然停了 “呱——！” 他冲其中一个保镖叫了一声 杰克猛地朝树枝冲过去 但他还没来得及抓到树枝，国王的保镖就已经掠过地面 用嘴叼起了树枝 就在这只渡鸦叼着树枝飞到窗顶的时候 杰克注意到他的一根尾羽毛是弯的