英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十六册 Hour of the Olympics 01 Just One More

　　"You awake?" Annie's voice came out of the dark.

"Yep," said Jack¹ from his bed.

"Get up," said Annie. "We have to get to the treehouse before sunrise.""I'm ready," said Jack.

He threw back his covers and jumped out of bed.

He was wearing his jeans and T-shirt.

"You slept in your clothes?" asked Annie.

"I didn't want to waste any time," saidJack. He pulled on his backpack. Annie laughed.

"You must really be excited about going to ancientGreece," she said.

"Yep," said Jack.

"Do you have your secret library card?" askedAnnie.

"Yeah, do you?" said Jack.

"Sure. Put it in your backpack," she said. Shehanded her card to him. "I'll carry the flashlight.""All set," said Jack.

They tiptoed downstairs and out the door. Outsidethe air was fresh and cool. "There's no moon," saidAnnie. "Just stars."She turned on her flashlight.

"Ta-da!" she said. "Let's go."They followed the beam of light across their yardand up the street.

Jack was thrilled to be going to ancient Greece. Butsomething worried him.

"What do you think will happen after we go toGreece?" he asked Annie. "Is this our last missionever?""Oh, I hope not," said Annie. "What do you think?""I don't know. Let's ask Morgan," said Jack.

"Hurry!" said Annie.

They started running. The flashlight beam flew infront of them, lighting² the way.

They slowed to a walk when they got to the FrogCreek woods. The thick woods were pitch-black.

Annie shined the flashlight upward as they walkedbetween the trees. Finally, they found the magic treehouse.

"We're here!" Annie called.

"Go on up," said Jack.

Annie grabbed³ the rope ladder and started up. Jackfollowed.

Annie shined the flashlight around the tree house.

Morgan le Fay was sitting at the window. Shecovered her eyes when the light hit her face.

"Turn off the light, please, Annie," she said softly.

Annie turned it off.

"Welcome," Morgan said in the dark. "Are youready for your next mission?""Yes!" said Annie. Then her voice got quiet. "Thisisn't our last one ever, is it?""Ask me that question after this mission," saidMorgan.

"We want to go on more," said Jack.

"You're very brave to say that," said Morgan.

"You've had three very hard journeys as MasterLibrarians.""Oh, they weren't so hard," said Jack.

"You risked your life to save the lost story ofHercules," said Morgan.

"It was nothing," said Annie.

"And the Chinese story of the silk weaver," saidMorgan. "And the Irish story of the serpent monsterSarph. Thank you.""You're welcome," said Jack and Annie.

"Now," said Morgan, "for the last story... Jack hearda rustling⁴ sound.

"Here is the title," Morgan said. "You can shineyour light on it, Annie."Annie turned the flashlight back on. She shined iton the paper.

"Wow, is that Greek?" asked Jack.

"It certainly is," said Morgan.

She reached into her robe again and pulled out abook.

"For your research," she said.

Jack took the book from her. Annie shined herflashlight on the cover. They read the title: A Day inAncient Greece.

"Now, what must you always remember?" askedMorgan.

"Our research book will guide us," said Jack.

"But in our darkest hour, only the lost story cansave us," said Annie.

Morgan nodded. "And you must show your secretlibrary cards to the wisest person you meet," she said.

"Don't worry. We will. Bye!" said Annie. Jackshivered with excitement as he pointed⁵ at the book'scover.

"I wish we could go there," he said.

"And I wish we could go on lots of other missions!"Annie added.

The wind began to blow.

The tree house started to spin.

It spun⁶ faster and faster.

Then everything was silent.

Absolutely silent.

1 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。

2 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

3 grabbed   

v.抢先，抢占( grab的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指匆忙地）取；攫取；（尤指自私、贪婪地）捞取

参考例句：

• He was grabbed by two men and frogmarched out of the hall. 他被两个男人紧抓双臂押出大厅。
• She grabbed the child's hand and ran. 她抓住孩子的手就跑。

4 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

6 spun   

v.纺，杜撰，急转身

参考例句：

• His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
• Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。