英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十五册 Viking Ships at Sunrise 03 Brother Patrick

　　Jack¹'s glasses were wet with mist. He quickly wipedthem, then looked up.

A man in a brown robe stood before him. The manhad a round red face. He was bald, except for a fringeof hair around his head.

Nearby the rope was tied around a tree.

"I--I'm not an invader," said Jack.

"He's Jack!" said Annie. She was standing² behindthe man. "I'm Annie. We're from Frog Creek,Pennsylvania.""We--we come in peace," stammered³ Jack.

The man's blue eyes twinkled.

"Oh, do you now?" he said. "I wondered what wasgoing on. I had dropped the rope so I could climbdown the steps. But you two grabbed it instead. Howin the world did you get on this island?"Jack stared at the man. He didn't know how toexplain the magic tree house.

"In our boat," Annie said quickly.

The man looked puzzled. "Not many boats cancome ashore⁴ at this dark, early hour.""Well, we're very good sailors," said Annie.

Oh, brother, thought Jack. He hoped their sailingskills wouldn't be tested.

"Where exactly are we?" asked Annie. "And whoexactly are you?""You're on an island off the coast of Ireland," theman said. "And I am Brother Patrick.""Whose brother are you?" said Annie.

The monk⁵ smiled. "The 'brother' means I'm aChristian monk.""Oh, you're one of the monks⁶ who savedcivilization!" said Annie.

The man smiled again.

Annie turned to Jack and whispered, "Let's showhim our cards. I trust him.""Okay," said Jack. He trusted the monk, too.

They both pulled out their secret library cards andshowed them to Brother Patrick.

The M's and L's for Master Librarian shined in thegray light.

--The monk looked at them and bowed his head.

"Welcome, my friends," he said. "Thank you," saidJack and Annie.

"I did not truly think you were invaders⁷," BrotherPatrick. "But on our small island, we are careful ofstrangers.""Why?" said Annie.

"There are terrible stories about Viking raiders," hesaid. "When we see their serpent ships, we must hideor be taken as slaves.""Serpent ships?" said Jack.

"The prows⁸ of their ships are often carved in theshape of a serpent's head," said Brother Patrick. "I amafraid it stands for their fierce, cold-blooded ways."Jack looked at the misty⁹ gray sea. "Do not worry,"said Brother Patrick.

"They cannot land safely on this island beforedaylight. They're not as good sailors as some people."He winked¹⁰ at Annie.

"Too bad for them," she said cheerfully.

"But tell me, why have you come here?" askedBrother Patrick.

"Oh," said Jack. "I almost forgot."He pulled Morgan's paper from his leather bag. Heshowed the Latin words to the monk.

Serpens Magna"This is the title of a story that we have to takeback to our friend and teacher, Morgan le Fay," saidAnnie.

"I see..." said Brother Patrick. He gave Jack andAnnie a mysterious look.

What he thinking? Jack wondered.

But the monk changed the subject.

"I think you would like to visit our monastery¹¹," hesaid.

"What's that?" said Annie.

"The place where we monks live and work," saidBrother Patrick. "Come.""But the sun's not up yet," said Jack. "Won't theothers be asleep?""Oh, no" said Brother Patrick. "in the summer, werise long before daylights We have much to do. You'llsee."The monk led them up a dirt path. Jack hoped theirbook was at the monastery. He wanted to leave thegloomy island with its threat of Viking invaders assoon as Possible.

A low bell started to ring. Jack saw a lonely churchsteeple against the gray sky ahead.

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 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。

3 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

4 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

5 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

6 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

8 prows   

n.船首( prow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The prows of the UNSC ships flared as their magnetic accelerator cannons fired. UNSC战舰的舰首展开，磁力大炮开火了。 来自互联网

9 misty   

adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的

参考例句：

• He crossed over to the window to see if it was still misty.他走到窗户那儿，看看是不是还有雾霭。
• The misty scene had a dreamy quality about it.雾景给人以梦幻般的感觉。

10 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。