牛津书虫系列《星际动物园》Chapter10 附中英双语文本

10 Two of everything
10 做什么都是一对
It was a strange prison with no doors and no police to watch me．Well，I didn't know the special number for making the lifts work， so I couldn't escape by the lifts．There were stairs but it was ten kilometres straight up to get to the surface．
这是个奇怪的牢房，没有门，也没有警察看管我。哎，我不知道能让电梯运行的密码，所以我不能从电梯逃跑。有楼梯，但要径直往上走十公里才能到地面。
I couldn't get out．
我逃不出去。
I found food and water．Nobody came to see me for three days．
我找到了食物和水。有三天没人来看我了。
Finally a soldier arrived and took me back to the Star Room．An old man with a very straight back sat at the Star Table．He was alone and looked tired．'Hummingbird，'he said and then stopped．
最后，来了个士兵把我带回星际室。一位腰板挺直的老者坐在星际会议桌旁。只有他一个人，显出疲惫的样子。“蜂鸟。”他说，然后就停住了。
'Who are you，please？'I asked．I hadn't seen him before．
“请问您是谁？”我问。我以前没见过他。
'I'm the new President，'he said，but he didn't sound happy about it ．
“我是新主席，”他说。可听上去他并不为此感到高兴。
'So the President and the Councillors are still…'
“这么说原来的主席和理事们还……”
'Still crazy- yes，'the old man said．'I think many of them will get better．They saw the animal only for a very short time．'
“还在发疯——对，”老者说，“我想很多人会好起来的。他们看见那只动物只是一瞬间的事。”
'It wasn't a real animal，'I said quickly．
“它不是真动物，”我连忙说。
'That didn't make any difference．You asked me who I am．I'm just one of the Star Councillors，but I wasn't in the Star Room when you showed them the animal． I was lucky． Now listen，Hummingbird．There is something I must tell you．Something difficult．'
“那没有什么不同。你问我是谁。我只是一个星际理事，但你给他们看那只动物时我不在星际室。我很幸运。现在听着，蜂鸟。我得跟你说些事。一些棘手的问题。”
'Is it about my family？'I asked，feeling afraid．
“是我家的事吗？”我问，觉得有些害怕。
'No，Hummingbird．You are the only person in the Galaxy who knows where the Star Zoo is．If other people know about the Star Zoo， there will be killing． People will be killed．The Star Zoo will be destroyed．It is very important to keep the Star Zoo alive and so it is necessary to keep it secret．I 'm sorry，Hummingbird．You must stay here，ten kilometres down，all your life． I know you're a young girl and I'm sorry．'
“不，蜂鸟。银河系中只有你知道星际动物园在哪儿。如果其他人知道了星际动物园的事，就会发生杀戮。人会被杀死，星际动物园会遭到毁灭。让星际动物园存活下去十分重要，所以需要保密。对不起，蜂鸟。你得呆在这儿，地下十公里，一辈子都呆在这儿。我知道你还是个小姑娘，对不起。”
'All my life？'I said．I couldn't believe it．
“一辈子？”我说道。我简直无法相信这一切。
'Yes，'the old man said．'This is the planet of the Star Council so there is always work here you can do．I'm sorry．'
“是的。”那老者说，“这是星际理事会所在的行星，这儿总有你能做的事。对不起。”
'What kind of work？'I asked．
“什么工作？”我问。
'Well， everything is going crazy now．For example， we have some little children down here that nobody is taking care of．A robot is doing the job now—but little children need real humans．Would you like to try taking care of them？'
“呃，现在什么都乱了。比如，我们下面有些小孩子没人照看。现在是个机器人在照看他们——但小孩子需要真人。你愿意尽力照顾他们吗？”
'OK，'I said．It was something to do．
“行！”我说。也算有事可做。
I went to see the children， who were playing quietly with a robot． I laughed，because the robot was our family robot． I thought this robot and I would do something wonderful．But we could only take care of little children！
我去看望了孩子，他们正安静地和一个机器人玩。我笑了，因为那个机器人正是我们家的机器人。我想，这个机器人和我可以做一些奇异的事情。可我们只能照看小孩子！
I sat on the floor and played with the children．They were all less than four years old．
我坐在地板上陪孩子们玩儿。他们都不到四岁。
They needed somebody．A few of the children were crying．They needed loving．Robots can sing and play games，but they can't love．