英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十三册 Vacation Under the Volcano 1 A Secret Code

　　Jack¹ reached into his drawer and took out his secretlibrary card. He held the thin piece of wood and ranhis finger over its shimmering² letters: M L.

"Master Librarian," he whispered.

Jack couldn't believe that he and his sister, Annie,were finally Master Librarians.

He wondered if he should pack the secret card totake on vacation. His family was about to leave for aweek in the mountains.

Just then Annie stuck her head into Jack's room.

"Want to check the woods?" she asked.

Every morning, they looked in the Frog Creekwoods to see if Morgan le Fay and her magic treehouse had returned.

"We can't," said Jack. "We're leaving soon." "Butwhat if Morgan's there?" said Annie.

"What if she's waiting for us?""Oh, okay," said Jack. "Let's look fast."He grabbed his backpack. He threw in his notebook,his pencil, and his secret library card. Then hefollowed Annie downstairs.

"We'll be back soon!" Annie called.

"Don't go far!" their dad called. "We're leaving intwenty minutes.""Don't worry, we'll be back in ten!" said Annie.

Right, thought Jack. Five minutes to the woods, andfive minutes back. Even if Mor-gan sent them on anadventure, they would return at exactly the sametime that they left.

Jack and Annie ran out their front door. In thebright morning sunshine, they hurried across theirlawn and down the street.

"I had a nightmare last night," said Annie.

"What was it?" said Jack.

"I dreamed fires were burning," said Annie.

"Everything was smoky and dark, and the groundwas shaking. Do you think it was a warning?""Nah," said Jack. "Nightmares never come true."They left the sidewalk and headed into the FrogCreek woods. The woods were quiet and peaceful.

They walked between sunlit trees until they came tothe tallest oak in the woods.

"Yay!" said Annie.

There it was--the magic tree house. And Morgan leFay was waving from the window.

"Hail, Master Librarians," she said. Jack and Anniebowed playfully. "At your service," said Annie. "Thencome on up!" said Morgan. They grabbed the ropeladder and started up. When they climbed inside thetree house, they found Morgan holding a book and apiece of paper.

"I have an important mission for you," she said.

"Are you ready?""Yes!" they both answered.

Jack's heart pounded. Ever since Morgan had madethem Master Librarians, he had been longing³ for theirfirst mission.

"You know I collect books for Camelot's library?"she said.

Jack and Annie nodded.

"Well, there have been many great libraries lost inhistory," said Morgan. "And with them, we have lostmany wonderful stories.""That's sad," said Annie.

"It is," said Morgan. "But luckily, with the help ofthe tree house and you two Master Librarians, someof those stories can be saved. Such as this one--"Morgan showed them the piece of paper. There wasstrange writing on it:

Vir fortissimus in Mundo"Is that a secret code?" said Jack.

Morgan smiled. "In a way," she said. "Actually, it'sthe title of a lost story. It's written in Latin, thelanguage of the ancient Romans of Italy.""Ancient Romans?" said Jack. He loved anything todo with ancient Romans.

"Yes," said Morgan. "This story was in a library in aRoman town. I need you to get it before the librarybecomes lost forever.""No problem!" said Annie.

"Do you have your secret library cards?" askedMorgan.

"Yes," said Jack.

"Good. Do not lose them. The right people willknow what they mean," said Morgan. "And, as usual,here is a book to help you."Morgan handed Jack a book called Life in RomanTimes. The cover showed a Roman town with peoplewearing tunics⁴ and sandals.

"That looks great," said Jack.

"And take this--the name of the story I need," saidMorgan. She handed the piece of paper to Jack, and heput it in his pack.

"Remember," said Morgan. "Your research book willguide you. But remember: In your darkest hour, onlythe ancient story can save you. But first you mustfind it."Jack and Annie nodded.

"Go now," Morgan said softly. "And don't forgetwhat I just told you.""Thanks," said Jack. He pointed⁵ at the cover of thebook on Roman times. "I wish we could go there," hesaid.

The wind started to blow.

"I almost forgot--I'm going to help you blend in!"Morgan shouted above the wind.

"What do you mean?" shouted Jack.

Before Morgan could answer, the tree house startedto spin.

It spun⁶ faster and faster and faster.

Then everything was still.

Absolutely still.

"Oh, cool," whispered Annie. "Look at us."

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 shimmering   

v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The sea was shimmering in the sunlight. 阳光下海水波光闪烁。
• The colours are delicate and shimmering. 这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。 来自辞典例句

3 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

4 tunics   

n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍

参考例句：

• After work colourful clothes replace the blue tunics. 下班后，蓝制服都换成了色彩鲜艳的衣服。 来自辞典例句
• The ancient Greeks fastened their tunics with Buttons and loops. 古希腊人在肩部用钮扣与环圈将束腰外衣扣紧。 来自互联网

5 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。

6 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。