16 The White Cat’s Revenge白猫复仇-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《101条花斑狗The Hundred and One Dalmatians》

16 The White Cat's Revenge The Staffordshire woke them in good time-every pup must be ready to leap out of the van the minute the tailboard was put down. 'Not that my dear pets would hurt you if they saw you,said the Staffordshire.'But it might cause delay.The van will stop in a big,dark garage.Streak out,turn sharp left,and you will be in a dimly-lit mews-and on your way.We'll say good-bye now.' 'Can we send you news on the Twilight Barking?'asked Pongo. 'Hardly ever get the chance to listen to it,'said the Staffordshire. "But I shall get news of you all right.I'm a great one for newspapers- they pass the time on the road.Always plenty of them in the van;we use them for packing2.Well,here we are.' The van stopped.The Staffordshire started to bark loudly. 'Let him out,Jim,'said Bill.'Before he breaks the Sound Barrier3.' ·292· 16 白猫复仇 斯塔福猎狗及时叫醒了他们一后挡板一放 下，每条小狗必须准备好跳下运货车。 “倒不是因为我的宠物看见了会伤害你们，” 斯塔福猎狗说，“但是会耽搁时间。运货车将停 在一间黑暗的大车库中。你们冲出去，立即向左 ①streak out冲出去 拐弯，便进了灯光暗淡的小巷一随后你们继续 上路。现在我们该说再见了。” “我们能在黄昏吠叫中把消息传送给你吗？” 庞果问。 “我几乎没有机会听，”斯塔福猎狗说， ②pack /pak/包，把…打 “但是我完全能得到你们的消息。我非常喜欢 包，包装 报纸一在路上看报可以消磨时间。运货车里 3 the Sound Barrier此处理解 为声障，break the Sound 总有许多报纸，我们用它包东西。哦，我们到 Barrter指超音速。 了。” 运货车停了。斯塔福猎狗开始大声吠叫。 “让他出去，吉姆，”比尔说，“免得他的声 障破裂。” ·293· The HundredandOne Dalmatians Down came the tailboard.Out shot the Staffordshire.This time he managed to knock Jim right down,before turning to Bill,whom he tackled low. 'Just about winded me,he has,'said Bill,proudly.'Grrh,you Flying Saucer2,you！' Jim got to his feet and spoke lovingly to the Staffordshire.'If England had six of you,we shouldn't need no army,'he said.'Come home and get your supper,you Misguided Missile3' Bill and Jim had been much too occupied to notice the black dogs streaming out of the van,and out of the dark garage into the mews. Snow had been falling for hours,so that London was all white.The pups had scarcely noticed the snow while they were running away from Cruella's car.Now they at once fell in love with this beautiful,feathery stuff-it raised their spirits wonderfully.And they felt well-rested,after their sleep in the van.They were still hungry but they didn't mind that much because they were expecting a wonderful supper.Hearing them counting on this,poor Missis felt more anxious than ever. Bill,Jim,and the Staffordshire had gone out of the garage by another way,so Pongo let the pups play in the snowy mews for a few minutes.Then Missis persuaded the Cadpig to get back into her cart,and off they went.Because of the snow there were very few people about- which was just as well,as the army of black dogs was now very noticeable against the white streets.The only person who saw them was an elderly gentleman on his way to a late party.He rubbed his eyes,then shook his bead and murmured:'And I haven't even begun Christmas yet.' ·294· 101条花狂句 后挡板放下了。斯塔福猎狗飞一般冲出。这 次他把吉姆撞倒了，而后转向比尔，抱住他把他 ①acke"tek/抓住，捉住， 按倒。 扭住 “他几乎抱住了我，”比尔得意地说，“嘿， 2 flying saucer's3:sa/飞碟 你这个飞碟，你啊！” 吉姆站起身，亲昵地对斯塔福猎狗说：“如果 英国有你这样的六条狗，我们就不需要军队了，” 他说，“回家吃你的晚饭去吧，你这个打错目标 3 misguided missile打错目标 的导弹 的导弹。” ④stream/stri:m/,蜂拥而出 比尔和吉姆太忙了，没有注意到黑狗群奔涌 出运货车，跑出黑暗的车库，进人小巷。雪已经 下了几个小时，伦敦已是白茫茫一片。小狗逃跑躲 过克鲁略的汽车时，几乎没有注意到雪。现在他们 立即爱上了这美丽的毛茸茸的东西一它奇妙地使 他们精神振奋。他们在运货车里睡了一觉，已经得 到很好的休息。虽然很饿，但是并不太在意，因为 他们期待着一顿美妙可口的晚餐。听到他们指望吃 到晚餐，可怜的密西斯更焦急了。 比尔、吉姆和斯塔福猎狗从另一条路出了车 库，所以庞果让小狗们在积雪的小巷中玩耍几分 钟。随后密西斯说服“小赖猪”回到小车上，他 们便出发了。因为下雪，几乎没有行人一这样 更好，因为黑狗队伍在白色街道上此刻显得极为 醒目。唯一看见他们的是一位上了年纪的绅士， 他是赴晚场聚会去的。他擦了擦眼晴，接着摇摇 头，喃喃地说：“我可还没有开始过圣诞节呢。” 基督教传说，圣母或耶稣常在圣诞节显示奇迹。这位老先生先足怀疑 自己眼花，后来又以为是出现奇迹。 ·295· The HundredandOne Dalmatians It took only a few minutes to reach the Outer Circle.How beautiful Regent's Park looked,snowy under the stars! Pongo said:'Missis,do you remember what I told you when we said good-bye to the Park?' Missis answered :'You told me to think of the day when we would come back with fifteen puppies running behind us.And now we have ninety-seven.' They had not come back to the Outer Circle by the way they had left it but were at the other side of the Park,close to Cruella de Vil's house. As they drew near to it,Pongo saw that every window was dark,so he thought it would be safe to call a moment's halt. 'Look,pups,'he told them.'That is our enemy's house.' Lucky said 'May we scratch it and bite it?' 'You would only hurt your nails and your teeth,'said Pongo, looking up at the huge house. Missis was looking down into the a rea.Something moved there- something only a little less white than the snow.It was Cruella's Persian cat. Her back was arched and she was spitting angrily.Pongo said quickly:'Madam,none of us would ever dream of hurting you.' The white cat said:'That's the civilest speech I ever had from a dog.Who are you?There are no black dogs round here.' 'We are not usually black except for our spots,'said Pongo.'We once visited your house-' He got no further because the white cat guessed everything-as well she might,after all the talk she had heard between Mr and Mrs de Vii. 'And you've rescued all the pups from Hell Hall！Well,bravo④， bravo!I couldn't be more pleased.' Then Missis remembered what Cruella de Vil had said on the night ·296· 101条花斑狗 他们只花了几分钟就到了园外环形道。繁星 下积雪的摄政公园看上去多美啊！ 庞果说：“密西斯，你记得我们向公园道别 时我对你说过的话吗？” 密西斯答道：“你叫我想想当我们身后跟着十五 条小狗回来时的日子。现在我们却有九十七条。” 他们并没有从下车的那条路回园外环形道， 而是走公园的另一侧，紧靠着克鲁略·戴维尔的住 宅。他们走近住宅时，庞果看到每扇窗子都是黑 的，于是他认为暂停一会儿是安全的。 “瞧，小狗们，”他告诉他们，“那是我们敌 人的住宅。” “幸运”说：“我们可以扒它咬它吗？” “那只会损坏你们的爪子和牙齿。”庞果说着 拾头看看这所大房子。 密西斯在看下面地下室前的空地。有什么东 西在那儿动着一它也是白的，不过比雪稍逊一 筹。这是克鲁略的波斯猫。 ①arched /a:tfid/a.拱形的， 她弓起背，呼噜呼噜地怒叫着。庞果赶快说： 弓着背的 “夫人，我们谁也不会梦想伤害你。” 2spit/spIt/k(唾弃地)说， 发（牢骚 白猫说：“这是我听到过的一条狗说的最文明 ③civil /sivl/a,有礼貌的；文 的话。你们是谁？这儿附近没有黑狗。” 明的 “除了我们的斑点外，我们通常不是黑的。” 庞果说。 “我们到过你的家—” 他没有继续说下去，因为白猫一切都猜想到 ④bravo"bro:'vau/im.(惑叹 词好！好啊！妙啊！ 了一她听到过戴维尔夫妇的一切话之后，是很 可能猜到的 “你从汉尔宅邸救出了所有小狗！嗯，好极 ·297· The HundredandOne Dalmatians when the puppies were born,and she spoke to the white cat very kindly, saying:'I might have known you would sympathize-for I once heard you lost many kittens in early infancy' Forty-four,to the present date,'said the white cat.'All drowned by the fiend3 I live with.' 'Why don't you leave her?'asked Pongo. 'I bide my time,'said the white cat.'I wait for my full revenge.I can't do much on my own-I've only two pairs of paws.But I scare the servants away-any cat can make a house seem haunted.I let the place become overrun with mice.And,oh,how I scratch the furniture! Though it's heartbreaking how little she notices it-she's such a rotten housewife.Why not let your pups come in and do some damage now?' 'Oh,please,please let us!'clamoured all the pups. Pongo shook his head.'Cruella will be back.I'm surprised she's not home already.' 'Oh,she's been back,'said the white cat,'and gone out to dinner. She had to,because I scared another batch of servants away this morning-as a little Christmas present for her.Do come in!' 'No,no,Pongo!'cried Missis.'This is no moment for revenge. We should get the pups home.They are hungry.' But the pups clamoured louder than ever.'Please,please,please let us damage Cruella's house!'They made so much noise that Missis could not hear what the white cat was now saying to Pongo.At last he turned, quietened the pups,and said: 'Missis,I now feel that we should do as our friend here suggests.It would take me a long time to explain why,so will you trust me, please?' Of course,Pongo,said Missis,loyally.'And if you're sure we really ought to be revenged on Cruella-well,naturally,I shall enjoy it.' 'Then follow me,'said the white cat.'There's a way in at the back.' ·298· 101条花斑狗 了，好极了！再没有比这能使我更高兴了。” 于是密西斯记起小狗们出生那一天夜里克鲁 ①kitten /kitn/n小猫 ②infancy /'infanst/婴儿期， 略·戴维尔说过的话，她极为和善地对白猫说： 幼时 “我本该知道你会同情的—因为我有一次听说 3 fiend /fi:nd/n.魔鬼，恶毒 的人 你失去了许多刚生下的小猫。” ④bide one's time等候时机 “四十四只，到目前为止，”白猫说，“全被 和我住在一起的魔鬼淹死了。” “为什么你不离开她？”庞果问。 “我在等待时机，”白猫说，“我等待着要彻 底报复。我靠自己的力量成不了大事一我只有 heartbreaking /'ha:tbreikin a.令人心碎的 两对爪子。但是我吓跑了仆人一任何一只猫都 ⑥rotten /'rotn/a.不千净的， 能使一幢房子似乎有鬼出没。我让这里的老鼠多 邋通的 得不得了。哦，我拼命抓这些家具！不过她几乎 一点没注意到，真让人伤心—她是个糟透了的 主妇。现在为什么不让你的小狗们进去搞些破 坏呢？” “是啊，请，请让我们去吧！”所有小狗都嚷 嚷着。 庞果摇摇头。“克鲁略要回来了。她还没有 回家使我感到奇怪。” “啊，她回来过了，”白猫说，“出去吃晚饭 了。她只能出去，因为今天早晨我吓跑了另一帮 仆人一作为送给她的一个小小的圣诞礼物。就 进来吧！” “不，不，庞果！”密西斯喊道，“没有时间 报仇了。我们应该让小狗们回家。他们饿坏了。” 但是小狗们比以前叫得更响。“请，请，请 让我们去毁坏克鲁略的家吧！”他们叫得那么响， 以致密西斯听不清现在白猫对庞果说的话。最后 他转身叫小狗安静下来，并且说： ·299· The HundredandOne Dalmatians Lucky and two big,loud-barked pups were left on guard-they were sorry to miss the fun,but duty was duty. 'Three barks if you sight the striped car or hear its horn,'Pongo told them,then marched all the other pups after the white cat.The little blue cart was left in the mews at the back of the house-the Cadpig insisted on going into the house and getting her fair share of the revenge. The white cat took them in through the coal cellar. 'Nothing down here worth wrecking2,'she said,making for the stairs.Up through the dark house they went,until she paused outside a bolted door. ‘Now,if you really can undo that bolt！’she said to Pongo. 'Goodness knows,I've tried often enough.' 'Oh,he's splendid at bolts,'said Missis,proudly. It was a nice,chromium3 bolt,well-oiled.It gave Pongo no trouble at all. There was enough light from the lamps on the Outer Circle to show them a big room in which were many racks of fur coats. ‘Why,Cruella must own dozens of them！’thought Missis.And there were many fur stoless,muffs,etc,too. Pongo barked his orders: 'Four pups to a coat,two pups to a stole,one pup to a muff. Present teeth！Tear-r-rl！' There was not space enough in one room to finish the whole job, so the pups spread themselves throughout the house.After that,the fur flew with a vengeance⑦-in every direction..Chinchilla⑧，Sable9, ·300· 101条花斑狗 “密西斯，我现在感到我们应该按照这位朋友 的建议去做。要说清楚为什么，需要花很长时间， 因此请你信任我，好吗？” “当然，庞果，”密西斯忠诚地说，“如果你 真的认为应该对克鲁略报复一啊，我自然是高 兴的。” “那就跟我来吧，”白猫说，“后面有一条 路。” ①cellar/'sela/n.地窖，地下 室 “幸运”和两条叫声响亮的大小狗留下担任警 2 wreck/rek/.破坏 戒一他们对错过这场娱乐感到很遗憾，但是责 任就是责任。 “如果见到有条纹的汽车或者听见它的喇叭 声，就叫三声。”庞果告诉他们，接着其他所有小 狗都跟在白猫后面跑去。蓝色小车留在房子后面 的小巷里一“小赖猪”坚持要进屋子，报她应报 3 chromium /'kraumjam/n. 的一份仇。 铬 ④well-oiled/wel-oild/a.(机 白猫领着他们进屋穿过放煤的地窖。 器等)运转顺利的 “下面没有什么东西值得破坏。”她说着朝楼 梯走去。他们上楼穿过黑暗的屋子，直到她停在 一个插着插销的门外。 “喏，你是不是真的能打开那插销！”她对庞 ⑤stole/stoul/n.女用长条披 肩 果说，“天晓得，我试过的次数够多的了。” 6 muff /mAf/.n皮手笼：手筒 “啊，他对付插销可拿手啦。”密西斯骄傲地 (女人拙手防寒用) 说。 ⑦with a vengeance 这是一个镀铬的精致的插销，很好用。它一 vend3ans/[o语)猛烈 点也没给庞果带来什么麻烦。 地，厉害地：彻底地：过度地 chinchilla /tfin'tfila/n. 园外环形道上的路灯照进来的亮光，足以使 美栗鼠皮 他们看见这个大房间里许多挂着皮衣的架子。 9 sable /'seibl/n.黑（紫）貂 皮 “嘿，克鲁略一定有几十件皮衣！”密西斯想。 那里还有许多裘皮披肩、皮手笼等等。 ·301·