儿童英语读物《神奇树屋》 第五册 Night of the Ninjas 10
Jack opened his eyes.
Then he opened his fist. He stared at the moonstone in his hand. It was clear and smooth. It almost seemed to glow.
“We’re home，” said Annie.
Squeak.
Annie and the mouse were looking out the window.
Jack looked with them.
The sun was setting in the distance.
No time at all had passed in Frog Creek.
They heard their neighbor’s dog， Henry，bark. They heard crickets chirping.
In the distance， they could see their dad step out of their house. He stood on their porch.
“Ja-ack! An-nie!” he called.
Time for dinner.
“Com-ing!” Annie shouted.
Jack sat back on his heels. He looked at the moonstone again.
“I guess we have one of the four things，” he said.
“We’ll look for the other three tomorrow，” Annie said.
Jack nodded. They had a lot more work to do.
He put the moonstone in his pocket.
He pulled on his pack.
“Ready?” he said.
“Wait，” said Annie. She took off one of her sneakers. She pulled off her sock. Then she put her sneaker back on.
“What are you doing?” said Jack.
“I’m making a bed，” she said.
“A what?”
“Bed! You know， for Peanut to sleep in.” Annie picked up the mouse. She tucked it inside her sock.
“Night， Peanut，” she said softly.
Squeak.
“Oh brother，” said Jack.
Annie held the mouse close to Jack.
“Kiss it goodnight， Jack，” she said.
“Don’t be silly，” he said. “Let’s go.”
“Thanks for helping us，” Annie said to the mouse.
She put Peanut gently down on the glowing M. She pulled Morgan’s message out of her pouch.
And put it next to the mouse.
“See you tomorrow，” she said. Then she started down the ladder.
Jack stared at the mouse. It looked back at him.
For a moment， its dark eyes looked old and wise.
“Come on， Jack!” called Annie.
Jack kissed its tiny head.
“Night-night， Peanut，” he whispered.
Then Jack headed down the rope ladder.
It got darker and darker as he went down.
By the time he stepped onto the ground， it was almost completely black.
“Where are you?” said Jack.
“Here，” said Annie. Her hand bumped his. He took it.
“Careful，” he said.
“Careful yourself，” she said.
Together they took off through the cool， dark woods.
They moved silently and swiftly—two shadow warriors returning home.
10.晚安，花生
杰克睁开眼睛。
然后他张开了他的掌心，凝视着他手里的那块月亮石，它又亮又光滑，几乎可以发光了。
“我们到家了。”安妮说。
吱吱。吱吱。
安妮和那只小老鼠正朝窗外张望呢。
杰克也和他们一起向窗外看去。
远处太阳正在缓缓下山。
蛙溪镇的时间还一点都没有过。
他们听见了邻居家的狗亨利在叫，他们听见蟋蟀的唧唧声。
远处，他们看见他们的爸爸正走出家门，站在家门前的门廊上。
“杰克!安妮!”他叫道。
是吃晚饭的时间了。
“来啦!”安妮回应道。
杰克跪坐下来，再一次看着月亮石。
“我想我们已经得到了四样东西中的一样。”他说。
“我们明天去找其他的三样。”安妮说。
杰克点了点头，他们还有很多事情要做。
他把月亮石装进他的口袋，然后背上了他的背包。
“准备好了吗?”他说。
“等等。”安妮说，她脱下了自己的一只鞋，又脱下一只袜子，然后穿上鞋子。
“你在干吗?”杰克说。
“我在做一张床。”她说。
“一张什么?”
“床!知道吗，给花生睡觉用的。”安妮抓起了小老鼠，把它塞进了她的袜子里。
“晚安，花生。”她温柔地说。
吱吱。吱吱。
“我的老天。”杰克说。
安妮把老鼠举到杰克面前。
“跟它吻别，杰克。”她说。
“别傻了。”他说，“我们走。”
“谢谢你帮助我们。”安妮对小老鼠说。
她把花生轻轻地放在那个发光的字母M上，她把摩根的留言从口袋里拿出来，放在老鼠的旁边。
“明天见。”她说，然后她开始从绳梯往下爬。
杰克看着老鼠，小老鼠也看着他。刹那间，它的小黑眼睛看起来又老成又充满智慧。
“来呀!杰克。”安妮叫道。
杰克吻了吻它的小脑袋。
“晚安，花生。”他小声说。
于是杰克也顺着绳梯下去了。
他下去的时候外面越来越黑了。
他下到地面的时候，外面几乎全黑了。
“你在哪儿?”杰克说。
“这儿。”安妮说，她的手碰到了他的手，杰克抓住了安妮的手。
“小心。”他说。
“你自己小心。”她说。
他们一起穿越了阴冷、黑暗的小树林。
他们安静地迅速地走着——两个影子武士回家了。
