英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十六册 Hour of the Olympics 09 FIy Away Home

　　The white horse stopped at the low wall by theedge of the track.

"He's come for us!" cried Annie. The guards staredin awe¹ at the horse. Annie broke free and dashed overto Jack².

He grabbed her hand and they ran to the horse. Theguards shouted and started after them. But they weretoo late. Jack and Annie had already climbed over thewall and into the waiting chariot.

"Go! Go! white horse.

The horse reared and pawed the air!

The crowd stepped back from the wall.

The guards froze.

Go!" Annie cried to the huge horse.

Jack looked up to where Plato was now standing³.

Plato smiled and waved at him.

Then the white horse leaped forward, pulling thechariot behind him.

Jack couldn't even wave back at Plato. All he coulddo was hold on tight as the horse galloped⁴ beside theOlympic racers.

Jack bounced up and down. 'Dust and sand got inhis eyes. He squeezed them shut and crouched⁵ downin the chariot.

He didn't know where they were going. But itdidn't matter. The white horse was in charge.

Jack heard the thundering noise of the racing⁶ horsesand chariots. He heard the screaming crowd.

He felt sand blowing in his face and the hardbumping and rattling⁷ of the chariot.

Suddenly, he was thrown backward. He heard aswoosh of wind, then...

Silence.

"Oh wow!" cried Annie.

Jack opened his eyes. All he saw was blue sky. Hepushed his glasses into place and looked around.

"Help!" he cried.

The white horse had grown giant feathery wingsand was pulling their chariot into the sky.

Jack gripped the railing of the chariot and held onfor his life.

"To the tree house!" shouted Annie.

Below, the Olympic crowd watched in stunnedsilence.

The winged horse left the games behind and flewover the temple of Zeus, over the statue of Nike, overthe sacred olive tree and the gymnasium.

On they went: over the poet's house, the Greektheater, and the field of white tents.

Finally, the winged horse coasted to the groundnear the olive grove⁸.

The wheels of the chariot bumped onto the grass.

Then slowly, slowly, they came to a stop.

Jack and Annie stepped out of the chariot. Jack'slegs were so wobbly he could hardly walk.

Annie rushed to the horse and stroked his neck.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Jack patted the horse's long white neck too.

"Thanks," he said. "That was the best ride of mylife."The horse snorted and pawed the ground.

"Come on, Annie. We have to go before they findus," said Jack.

"I don't want to leave him," said Annie. "He's themost beautiful horse in the whole world."Her eyes filled with tears. "We have to," said Jack.

The horse put his head down and touched Annie'sforehead with his soft nose. Then he gave her a gentlepush toward the tree house.

Annie sniffled but started walking. Jack took herhand as they walked through the olive grove to therope ladder of the tree house.

"You first," Jack said.

Annie started up the ladder. Jack followed. Whenthey were inside, Annie hurried to the window. Jackgrabbed the Pennsylvania book.

He pointed⁹ to a picture of the Frog Creek¹⁰ woodsand said, "I wish-""Look!" said Annie.

Jack looked out the window. The horse had spreadhis great feathery wings. He was rising from the field.

The white horse flew high into the blue Olympiansky.

Then he disappeared behind the clouds.

"Bye!" called Annie.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Jack pointed again at the Pennsylvania book.

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

The wind started to blow.

The tree house began to spin.

It spun¹¹ faster and faster.

Then everything was still.

Absolutely still.

1 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

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 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。

4 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。

5 crouched   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
• The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

6 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

7 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

8 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。

9 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。

10 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

11 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。