《神奇树屋》 第二十九册 Christmas in Camelot 01 A Royal Invitation

　　Sunlight had faded from the late-afternoon sky. Puffy snowclouds were moving in.

"Let's hurry. I'm cold," said Jack¹.

He and Annie were walking home from school. TheirChristmas vacation was just beginning.

Cooo--cooo.

"Wait," said Annie. "Look." She pointed² to a white bird sittingon a bare tree branch at the edge of woods. The bird the wasstaring straight at them.

"It's a dove," said Jack.

"It's a messenger ' said Annie, "from Morgan.""No," Jack said, afraid to get his hopes up. They hadn't seenMorgan le Fay in a long time. He really missed her.

"Yes," said Annie. "She has a mission for us. I can feel it."In the hush³ of the cold twilight⁴, the dove spread its wings andflew into the Frog Creek⁵ woods.

"Come on!" said Annie. "The tree house is back!""You're just hoping!" said Jack.

"I'm knowing!" Said Annie. She ran into the woods, followingthe white dove.

"Oh, brother," said Jack. But he took off after Annie.

Even in the growing darkness, they easily found their way.

They zigzagged⁶ between the bare trees and ran over the frozenground until they came to the tallest oak in the woods.

"See?" said Annie, pointing to the top of the tree.

"Yeah," whispered Jack.

There it was: the magic tree house.

"Morgan!" shouted Annie.

Jack held his breath, waiting to see the enchantress at the treehouse window. But Morgan did not appear.

Annie grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Jack followed.

When they climbed inside the tree house, Jack saw somethinglying on the floor. It was a scroll⁷, rolled up and tied with a redvelvet ribbon.

Jack picked up the scroll and unrolled it. The thick, yellowedpaper shimmered⁸ with large gold writing.

"Wow, Morgan sent us a really fancy note," said Annie.

"It's an invitation," said Jack. "Listen."Dear Jack and Annie,Please accept this Royal Invitation to spend Christmas In theKingdom of Camelot. M"Christmas in Camelot!" said Annie. "I don't believe it!""Cool," whispered Jack. He pictured a beautiful, glowing castlelit with candles and filled with knights⁹ and ladies feasting andsinging.

"We're going to celebrate Christmas with Morgan and KingArthur!" said Annie. "And Queen Guinevere!""Yeah," said Jack. "And the Knights of the Round Table, likeSir Lancelot!""Let's go!" said Annie. "Where's the book?"She and Jack looked around the tree house for a book aboutCamelot. The only book they saw was the Pennsylvania bookthat always brought them home.

"That's strange," said Jack. "Morgan didn't send a book aboutCamelot with the Royal Invitation. How does she expect us toget there?""I don't know," said Annie. "Maybe she forgot."Jack picked up the invitation. He read it again. He turned itover, hoping to find more information. The back of the scrollwas blank. He handed the invitation to Annie.

"She must have forgotten," he said.

"Darn," said Annie, staring at the gold writing. "I really wishwe could go to Camelot."The tree branches rustled¹⁰.

The wind began to blow.

"What's happening?" said Jack.

"I don't know--" said Annie.

"Wait a minute," said Jack. "You were holding the invitation,and you made a wish...

The wind blew harder.

"That must have made the magic work!" cried Annie.

Jack felt a surge of joy.

"We're going to Camelot!" he said.

The tree house started to spin.

It spun¹¹ faster and faster.

Then everything was still.

Absolutely still.

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 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。

3 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

4 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

5 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。

6 zigzagged   

adj.呈之字形移动的v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The office buildings were slightly zigzagged to fit available ground space. 办公大楼为了配合可用的地皮建造得略呈之字形。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The lightning zigzagged through the church yard. 闪电呈之字形划过教堂的院子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 scroll   

n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡

参考例句：

• As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。
• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

8 shimmered   

v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The sea shimmered in the sunlight. 阳光下海水闪烁着微光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A heat haze shimmered above the fields. 田野上方微微闪烁着一层热气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

10 rustled   

v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He rustled his papers. 他把试卷弄得沙沙地响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Leaves rustled gently in the breeze. 树叶迎着微风沙沙作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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。