12 Sudden Danger危险悄至-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《101条花斑狗The Hundred and One Dalmatians》

12 Sudden Danger For a few seconds,she stared into the dimly lit room.Then she shouted: ‘Saul！Jasper！Turn off that television！And turn on the light!' 'We can't turn on the light because we've no electric bulbs2 left, said Saul Baddun.'When the telly finishes,we go to bed.' 'And if we turn the telly off,there'll be no light at all,'said Jasper Baddun. 'Well,turn the sound off,anyway,'said Cruella,angrily. Jasper did as he was told,and the little figures moving on the screen were suddenly voiceless.The Cadpig yapped indignantly.Missis,who was crouching low in the midst of her family,instantly hushed her. Pongo,also crouched low,got ready to spring5 at Cruella if she attacked any pup.But she seemed scarcely to notice any of them.Those near her shrank back as she strode into the room. 'I've got a job for you,my lads,'she said to the Badduns.'The pups must be killed tonight-every single one of them.' ·202· 12 危险悄至 ①dimly /'diml/ad.朦胧地， 有几秒钟工夫，她凝视着光线昏暗的房间。 昏暗地 然后叫道： “索尔！贾斯珀！把电视关了！把灯打开！” “我们不能开灯，因为我们没有灯泡了，”索 2 bulb /bAlb/n.灯泡 尔·巴腾说，“电视一结束，我们就睡觉。” “要是我们关了电视，就一点亮光也没有了。” 贾斯珀·巴腾说。 “那好吧，无论如何得把声音关了。”克鲁略 怒冲冲地说。 贾斯珀照她的吩附做了，屏幕上移动着的小 人一下子变得无声无息。“小赖猪”愤怒地狂吠 3 crouch/"kraotf/蹲下：蜷 着，缩着：弯腰低头 起来。正低身伏在家人中间的密西斯，立刻制止 ④hush /haf/.静下来，压下 了她。庞果也蜷伏下来，只要克鲁略攻击任何一 …不声张 条小狗，他就准备跃起向她扑去。但是她似乎没 ⑤spring/sprin/g.跳，跃 注意他们之中任何一条小狗。当她大步走进房间 ⑥shrink back退缩，害怕 时，靠近她的小狗都朝后退缩。 “我有件事要你们干，我的小伙子们，”她对 巴腾兄弟说，“今天夜里必须把小狗杀掉 条都不留。” ·203· The HundredandOne Dalmatians The Badduns gaped at her.'But they're not big enough to be made into fur coats yet,'said Saul. 'The largest ones are,and the little ones can be made into gloves. Anyway,they've got to die-before someone finds them.There's been so much in the papers about the Dearlys'dogs.All England's on the hunt for Dalmatians.' 'But how could anyone find them here?'said Jasper Baddun. 'Why can't they just stay on2,growing bigger and bigger?' ‘It's too risky③，'said Cruella.‘Someone might hear them yapping and tell the police.My husband's going to ship the skins abroad-except the ones I keep for my own coat.I shall have it reversible Persian lamb one side and Dalmatian dog the other-and wear the dog inside until people forget about the Dearlys'pups.When that happens,I'll collect another lot and we'll start our Dalmatian fur farm again.But this lot must be got rid of-quickly.' 'How?'said the Badduns,both together. 'Any way you like.Poison them,drown them,hit them on the head.Have you any chloroform in the larder?' 'Not a drop,'said Saul Baddun.'And no ether,either.' 'We can't afford luxuries,'growled Jasper Baddun. ‘Drown them,then.' 'Dogs can swim,'said Saul Baddun.'Anyway,the pond's less than a foot deep. 'Then you must hit them on the head,'said Cruella. Saul Baddun had gone pale.'What,hit ninety-seven pups on the head?'he said,shakily.'We couldn't do it.Have pity,Mrs de Vil. We'd be wore out.' 'Listen,'said Cruella de Vil.'I don't care how you kill the little beasts.Hang them,suffocate them,drop them off the roof-good ·204· 101条花斑句 ①gape/gep/k张口呆看 巴腾兄弟目瞪口呆地看着她。“可他们还没 有大到可以做皮衣服呀。”索尔说。 “最大的可以做了，小的可以做皮手套。无论 如何，他们必须死一在有人发觉他们之前。报 纸上有关甜来夫妇的狗的消息登得太多了。整个 英国都在寻找花斑狗。” “不过怎么会有人在这儿发现他们呢？”贾斯 ②stay on留在（继续住下去） 珀巴腾说，“为什么不能留着他们，让他们长得 ③risky /'risku/a.冒险的 更大些？” ④reversible/ri'v3sabl/a.正 “这太冒险了，”克鲁略说，“也许会有人听 反（表里）两用的 3 lot /Ip/n.(货物等1一堆， 见他们的叫声，去报告警察。我的丈夫准备把皮 一批，一份 用船运到外国去—除了我留下做自己衣服的皮。 我要把衣服做成两面翻穿的一一面是波斯羔羊 皮，另一面是花斑狗皮一把狗皮一面穿在里面， 直到人们忘了甜来夫妇的小狗。到那时，我将收 集另外一大批狗，我们将重新开始办我们的花斑 chloroform /'klprofo:m/n. 狗皮场。不过这一批必须快收拾掉。” 三氧甲烷，氯仿 “怎么干呢？”巴腾兄弟俩一齐问道。 ⑦larder/'la:da/n储藏室，食 品库 “你们爱怎么干就怎么干。毒死他们，淹死他 drop /drop/n微量，点滴 们，砸他们脑袋。你们的储藏室里有没有氯仿？” “一滴也没有，”索尔·巴腾说，“乙醚也没 有。” “我们买不起这些奢侈品。”贾斯珀·巴腾大 声说。 ⑨pale /perl/a,(脸色等)苍 “那么，淹死他们。” 白的 “狗会游泳，”索尔·巴腾说，“再说，池塘还 suffocate'sf3keIt/.使室 不到一英尺深。” 息，使不能呼吸：闷死 “那么你们只好砸他们的脑袋。”克鲁略说。 ·205· The HundredandOne Dalmatians gracious,there are dozens of lovely ways.I only wish I'd time to do the job myself.' 'Couldn't you make time,Mrs de Vil?'said Jasper.You'd do it so beautifully-it'd be a pleasure to watch you.' Cruella shook her head.'I've got to get back to London.'Then a fiendish look came into her eyes.'Here's an idea for you.Shut them up without food and then they'll kill each other.' 'But they'd make such a horrible noise about it,said Saul Baddun. We'd never be able to hear the telly.' 'Besides,they'd damage3 each other's skins,said Cruella.'That would ruin their value.You must kill them carefully.Then you can start the skinning④.' 'But we can't skin them!'wailed5 Jasper.'We don't know how.' 'My husband will show you,'said Cruella.'We'll both drive down tomorrow night.And we shall count the bodies-just remember that,will you?If you've let even one pup escape,I'll turn you out of Hell Hall. Now you'd better get busy.Good night.' Fortunately,few of the pups knew enough Human to understand Cruella's words fully,but they all felt she was evil.And as she made her way to the door she aimed a kick at a small pup who was dangerously close to her.It was more frightened than hurt but it gave a loud wail of anguish.Several of the bigger pups snarled indignantly at Cruella.Lucky,remembering the time he had nibbled her ear,barked out hastily: 'Don't bite her,chaps!She tastes hot!' So Cruella got to the door unhurt.She flung it open and the moonlight shone on her black-and-white hair and her absolutely simple white mink cloak.Then she looked back at the roomful of puppies. 'Good-bye,you horrid little beasts",'she said.'I shall like you so ·206· 101条花斑狗 ①good gracious(表示惊骇 索尔巴腾的脸都白了。“什么，砸九十七条 等)=Good Heaven(me, goodness!哎呀！天呀！天 小狗的脑袋？”他颤抖地说，“我们干不了。可怜 哪！ 可怜吧，戴维尔太太。我们会累坏的。” “听着，”克鲁略·戴维尔说，“我不在乎你们 怎样杀这些小畜生。吊死他们，憋死他们，把他 ②fiendish"i:ndja.恶魔 们从屋顶上摔下去一老天爷，有几十种好办法 (似的：恶毒的，残忍的 呢。我真希望有时间亲自动手来干这活。” “你抽不出时间吗，戴维尔太太？”贾斯珀说 道，“你会干得那么利索一看着你干会是一种 3 damage'demd/损坏， 乐趣。” 损伤 克鲁略摇摇头。“我得回伦敦。”随即她的眼 神显露出残忍。“给你们出个主意。把他们关起 ④kin/sknl.剥…的皮 5 wail /we/.悲叹 来不喂食，这样他们就会相互残杀。” “可他们会吵得响声震天，”索尔·巴腾说， “我们也就听不见电视上说的话了。” “另外，他们会相互把皮弄坏的，”克鲁略说， “那会使他们失去价值。你们必须小心地杀死他 们。然后你们可以开始剥皮。” “可我们不会剥皮！”贾斯珀悲哀地说，“我 ⑥make one's way to向前 们不知怎么干。” aim /eim/头.瞄准，针对 8 anguish'engwif/h.(极度) “我丈夫会做给你们看的，”克鲁略说，“明 痛苦，苦闷 天夜里我们俩一起开车来。我们要数一数尸 ⑨snarl/sna:/比（狗等嗥叫， 咆哮 体一你们记住了，能记住吗？哪怕你们让一条 0 hastily/herstil/ad急速地， 小狗逃跑了，我也要把你们赶出汉尔宅邸。你们 慌忙地 最好现在就干起来。晚安。” 幸好几乎没有什么小狗知道足够多的人话， 能完全听懂克鲁略的话，不过他们都觉得她是个 魔鬼。当她朝门口走去时，她对着离她很近、处 于险境的一条小狗踢了一脚。对那条小狗来说， beast/bi:st/n畜牲 其实是惊吓多于伤害，不过这使他痛苦地狂叫了 ·207· The HundredandOne Dalmatians much better when you're skins instead of pups.And I shall simply love the ones who are made into my own coat.How I'm looking forward to it!' They saw her walk out past the pond which reflected the black house,and on to the great iron gates,which she unlocked and locked again,behind her.Then,through the silent winter night,came the sound ora powerful car driving away,followed by one strident blast from the loudest motorhorn in England. How well Pongo and Missis remembered that terrifying sound!It took them back to the happy evening when they had stood beside the striped black-and-white car on the Outer Circle.How safe and contented they had been then,little guessing what dangers lay ahead! Jasper Baddun hurriedly shut the front door,saying:'If we've got to do the pups in,we'd better keep them all in one place.' Pongo felt stunned.If only he could think!If only the Sheepdog were there to advise him! Missis whispered:'If you wish to attack those villains,I will help you,Pongo.' Lucky said quickly 'They always carry knives.' ·208· 101条花狂狗 一阵。几条大一点的小狗对着克鲁略愤怒地叫起 来。“幸运”记起那一次他咬过一点点她的耳朵 的事，急忙叫道： ①reflect'Iekt/(镜子等) “不要咬她，伙计们！她是辣的！” 映现（影像等） 所以克鲁略一直走到门口都没有受到伤害。 她猛地打开门，月光照在她那黑白两色的头发上 和她那纯白的貂皮斗篷上。这时她回头看着满屋 小狗。 “再见，你们这些讨厌的小畜生，”她说， “到你们成了皮子而不是小狗时，我会更加喜欢你 们的。我只喜欢做成了我的衣服的那些狗皮。我 多么期待这件衣服啊！” 他们看着她走过那倒映着黑房子的池塘，继 续走向大铁门，她打开门走出去，又把身后的铁 门锁上。接着在寂静的冬夜里，传来了一辆大功 率汽车驶去的声音，跟着传来英国最响亮刺耳的 一声汽车喇叭声。 那可怕的声音庞果和密西斯记得多么清楚啊！ 他们回想到那幸福的晚上，那时他们在园外环形 道上站在那辆黑白条纹的汽车旁。那时他们是多 么安全、多么满足，一点都没想到以后会有什么 危险！ 贾斯珀·巴腾急忙关上前门，说道：“要是我 们必须把小狗杀死，我们最好把他们关在一个地 方。” 庞果感到茫然了。要是他想得出办法就好了！ 要是牧羊狗在这儿给他出主意就好了！ 密西斯悄悄说道：“如果你想攻击这两个流氓， 我会帮你的，庞果。” “幸运”急忙说：“他们总带着刀子。” ·209· The HundredandOne Dalmatians Pongo's brain was beginning to work.'If we attack them,they may kill us,he whispered to Missis.'And then there will be no one to help the pups.Quiet!Let me think.' The Badduns were talking together in low grunts 'One thing's certain,'said Jasper.'We can't do it tonight or we shall miss "What's My Crime?".' It was their very favourite television programme.Two ladies and two gentlemen,in faultless2evening dress,had to guess the crime committed by a lady or gentleman in equally faultless evening dress. Stern moralists said this programme was causing a crime wave and filling the prisons,because people committed crimes in the hope of being chosen as contestants5.But crime is usually waving and the prisons are usually full,so probably 'What's My Crime?'had not made much difference.Both the Badduns longed to appear as contestants,but they knew they would never be chosen unless they committed a really original crime,and they had never been able to think of one. 'We could kill the pups after "What's My Crime?",Jasper,'said Saul.'We ought to do it tonight,while they're sleepy.They'll be more dangerous when they're wide awake.' 'It's a nuisance that's what it is,'said Jasper.'And whatever way we do it,we shall be exhausted.First the killing and then the skinning!' 'Maybe we'll get the knack of the skinning,'said Saul.'Then we can skin while we watch the telly.' 'Still,ninety-seven pups!'said Jasper.Then a wild gleam came into his eyes.'Saul,I bet no one else has ever murdered ninety-seven Dalmatians.It might do the trick for us!It might get us on to "What's My Crime?”.' ·210 101条花斑狗 庞果的脑子开始工作了。“如果我们攻击他 们，他们可能杀死我们，”他对密西斯轻声道， “那样就没有人帮助小狗了。安静！让我想想。” 巴腾兄弟正在一起低声咕哝。 ①grunt/grAnt/.元，咕哝 “有一件事是肯定的，”贾斯珀说，“我们今 天夜里不能干，要不我们会错过‘我的罪行是什 么？’节目。” ②faultless/fb::lths/a.完美无 缺的 这是他们十分喜爱的电视节目。两位女士和 3stem/st3nla.严格的，严 两位先生，穿着完美无缺的晚礼服，必须去猜测 厉的，苛刻的 由穿着同样完美无缺的晚礼服的一位女士或是一 ①moralist/'mprolist 'mora1st/n道德家：伦理 位先生犯下的罪行。严厉的道德学家说这个节目 学家 引起一个犯罪浪潮，使监狱人满为患，因为人们 5 contestant /kan'testant/n. 竞赛参加者，选手 犯罪是希望被选中作为竞赛者。不过罪行常常是 6 long /lon/渴想，极想，渴 潮水般涌来，而监狱也常常是客满，所以“我的 望 罪行是什么？”也许并没有造成太多影响。巴腾兄 ⑦original /o'rid3ana/a.别出 心裁的：新频的 弟俩都渴望作为竞赛者在电视上露面，可他们知 道自己永远不会被选中，除非他们干下了一件真 正独出心裁的罪行，可他们怎么也想不出来。 “我们可以在‘我的罪行是什么？’之后杀小 狗，贾斯珀，”索尔说，“我们应该在今天夜里他 8 nuisance'nju:sns/L.使人 们睡着的时候干。他们醒着的时候比较危险。” 为难的行为，麻烦事情 “这是件麻烦事情，就这么回事，”贾斯珀说。 “不管我们用什么方法，我们都会筋疲力尽。先是 9 knack/nek/n.决窍，窍门 杀狗，然后剥皮！” 也许我们能学会剥皮的技巧，”索尔说，“那 么我们就可以一边看电视一边剥皮了。” gleam/gli:m/n.闪光，微光 “但这是九十七条小狗啊！”贾斯珀说。接着他 的眼睛里闪现出一种狂热的光芒。“索尔，我打赌， 谁也没有杀死过九十七条花斑狗。这也许能让我们 达到目的。它会让我们参加‘我的罪行是什么？'。” ·211·