神奇树屋》 第二十九册 Christmas in Camelot 06 A White Comet

　　Once the knight¹ was gone, the candles and torches in thegreat hail grew dimmer. A bitter chill crept over the room.

"What do these three rhymes mean?" said Jack², looking at hisnotebook. "Who are the Keepers of the Cauldron? What secretdoor?""I don't know," said Annie. "I just know we have to saveMorgan."She gathered the red cloak up in her arms. "We've got our firstgift," she said. "Let's go.""Wait--we should figure this out first," said Jack.

"No. We should just go," said Annie. She turned and headedfor the archway.

Jack pushed his glasses into place and looked back at theRound Table, at the frozen king and queen, at the frozen knights³,and at Morgan le Fay.

He loved Morgan. She was their great friend and teacher. If heand Annie did not go on their quest, Morgan's story and thestories of Camelot and all the stories about the magic tree housewould end forever.

Jack took a deep breath. He put his notebook into hisbackpack. Then he turned toward the archway.

"Annie?" he said. She was gone.

"Annie, wait!" he shouted. "Wait!" Jack ran out of the greathall.

"Annie!""I'm here," she said quietly. "I'm waiting." She was standing⁴ atthe end of the entrance hall peering outside.

"How do we get to the Otherworld?" she asked.

"Maybe the tree house can take us there," said Jack. "Comeon."Together, Jack and Annie hurried through the inner courtyardof the castle and over the drawbridge. They ran over the frozenground to the moonlit grove⁵ of trees.

Clutching the red cloak, Annie started up the rope ladder. Jackfollowed. They climbed inside the tree house and sat on thefloor.

Annie picked up the Royal Invitation. "Close your eyes. I'llmake the wish," she said.

Jack closed his eyes. He was shivering from the cold.

"I wish we could go to the Otherworld," said Annie.

The bare branches of the trees rattled⁶ in the wind.

"I think it's working!" whispered Annie.

The wind stopped blowing.

Jack opened his eyes. He and Annie looked out the window.

The dark castle loomed⁷ against the sky. They were still inCamelot.

"It d-didn't work," said Jack, his teeth chattering⁸.

"Yes, it did!" whispered Annie. "Look down."Standing below the tree house was the biggest deer Jack hadever seen. The deer was staring up at them with amber⁹ eyes. Hishuge antlers seemed to glow in the cold moonlight.

Most amazing of all, the deer was completely white, as whiteas new-fallen snow.

"A white stag!" said Jack.

Puffs¹¹ of frosty air blew from the stag's nostrils¹². He steppedtoward the tree house 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. Jackwatched from the window as she walked to the stag and spokesoftly. The stag knelt. Annie climbed on his back.

"Come on!" she called to Jack. "Bring the cloak!""Okay, okay," said Jack. He gathered up the heavy velvetcloak. Clutching it against his chest, he climbed down the ropeladder. He hurried over to Annie and the white stag.

"Put on the cloak and climb on behind met" said Annie.

Jack put the cloak on over his backpack. He pulled it aroundhis shoulders and buttoned it at the neck. As the cloak fell downaround his body, the soft, smooth cloth made him feel warm andsafe.

"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, andheld on to Annie. The red velvet¹³ cloak draped over both of them,falling past their feet.

The white stag stepped gracefully¹⁴ over the frozen grass. Hewalked through the outer gate of the castle. He blew out a puffof air, then broke into a leaping run.

Jack held on tightly to Annie as the stag dashed across a frost-covered field. He jumped over hedgerows and stone walls. Hebounded across icy streams.

Annie's braids floated on the wind. The red cloak billowedbehind them. Jack was amazed at how easy it was to ride on thestag's back. He felt calm and safe as the stag sped like a whitecomet through the wintry countryside.

The stag ran past flocks of sheep and herds¹⁵ of goats asleep inthe meadows. He ran past thatched huts and quiet stables.

The stag ran on and on through the starry¹⁶ night. Jack saw acloud-covered mountain range in the distance. When they cameclose to the craggy mountains, Jack was sure the stag wouldstop. But he galloped¹⁷ on--not even breaking his stride as hestarted up a rocky slope.

The stag finally came to a halt on the ledge¹⁸ of a steep cliff. Ina windy swirl¹⁹ of fog and cloud, he knelt to the ground, and Jackand Annie slid off his back.

The stag stood up. He stared down at them with his glowingamber eyes.

"Thank you!" said Annie. "Do you have to leave now?"The stag lowered his head and raised it again. He blew out afrosty puff¹⁰ of air, then leaped away, vanishing into the mist.

"Bye," Annie said wistfully. She stared into the mist for amoment, then turned to Jack. "What do we do now?""I don't know," said Jack. "Let's read the three rhymes again."He reached under the red cloak and pulled off his pack. Hetook out his notebook and started to read the first rhyme:

"Beyond the iron gate--""Jack!" interrupted Annie. "Look!"Jack looked up. The wind had blown away some of the fog.

Beyond the cliff rose another mountain. A huge gate was builtinto its side. A pale light shone between the gate's thick ironbars. Two knights in gold armor stood guard under flamingtorches.

"Oh, man," whispered Jack.

"That's it--the iron gate!" said Annie. "If we pass through thatgate, we'll be in the Otherworld!"
 

1 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 grove   

n.林子，小树林，园林

参考例句：

• On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
• The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

6 rattled   

慌乱的，恼火的

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里，窗户都格格作响。

7 loomed   

v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• A dark shape loomed up ahead of us. 一个黑糊糊的影子隐隐出现在我们的前面。
• The prospect of war loomed large in everyone's mind. 战事将起的庞大阴影占据每个人的心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 chattering   

n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
• I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。

9 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

10 puff   

n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气

参考例句：

• He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
• They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。

11 puffs   

n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• We sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his. 我们坐在那里，轮番抽着他那支野里野气的烟斗。 来自辞典例句
• Puffs of steam and smoke came from the engine. 一股股蒸汽和烟雾从那火车头里冒出来。 来自辞典例句

12 nostrils   

鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。
• The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。

13 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

14 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

15 herds   

兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众

参考例句：

• Regularly at daybreak they drive their herds to the pasture. 每天天一亮他们就把牲畜赶到草场上去。
• There we saw herds of cows grazing on the pasture. 我们在那里看到一群群的牛在草地上吃草。

16 starry   

adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的

参考例句：

• He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。
• I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。

17 galloped   

（使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事

参考例句：

• Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
• The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。

18 ledge   

n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁

参考例句：

• They paid out the line to lower him to the ledge.他们放出绳子使他降到那块岩石的突出部分。
• Suddenly he struck his toe on a rocky ledge and fell.突然他的脚趾绊在一块突出的岩石上，摔倒了。

19 swirl   

v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形

参考例句：

• The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。
• You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿，看着雪花飘飘。