儿童英语读物《神奇树屋》 第五册 Night of the Ninjas 06
Jack and Annie went into the cave. They followed the ninja through the darkness.
The back of the cave was lit with dozens of candles. Shadows danced on the walls.
In the flickering light， Jack saw a dark figure sitting on a woven mat.
The ninja master.
The ninja bowed to the master. Then he stepped to one side.
The master stared at Jack and Annie.
“Sit，” he said.
Jack and Annie sat on the cold，hard floor.
Squeak.
The mouse poked its head out of Annie’s pouch.
“It’s okay， Peanut，” said Annie.
The master stared at the mouse for a moment. Then he looked at Jack. “Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m Jack and that’s my sister， Annie，” Jack answered.
“Where do you come from?” the master asked.
“Frog Creek， Pennsylvania，” Annie answered.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“We’re trying to help our friend Morgan le Fay，” said Jack. “She left us a message.”
Annie pointed to the short ninja. “We gave the message to him.”
“You mean， you gave the message to her，” said the ninja master. “And she has given it to me.”
“She?” said Jack and Annie together.
The woman ninja’s eyes sparkled. Jack thought she might be smiling.
The master held up Morgan’s note.
“Perhaps I can help you，” he said. “But first you must prove yourselves worthy of my help.”
Just then the tall ninja appeared. He made a sign to the master.
The master stood up. He handed Morgan’s note to Annie.
“We must go now，” he said. “The samurai are close.”
“Samurai?” said Jack. He knew that the samurai were fierce Japanese fighters.
“Were they the ones in the valley?” Jack asked. “The ones with the torches?”
“Yes， our family is at war with them，” said the master. “We must leave before they find us.”
“But what about helping Morgan?” said Annie.
The master strapped on his sword.
“I have no time now， ” he said. “I must go.”
“Can’t we go with you?” said Annie.
“No， there is no place for you where we are going. You must find your way back to your house in the trees.”
“Alone?” said Jack.
“Yes. You must go alone. And beware of the samurai.”
“Why?” said Jack.
“They will think you are one of us，” said the master. “They will ask you no questions.
They will show you no mercy.”
“Yikes，” whispered Annie.
“But you have seen the way of the ninja. You can practice it yourselves now，” said the master.
“H-how?” said Jack.
“Remember three things，” said the master.
“What?” said Jack.
“Use nature. Be nature. Follow nature.”
“I can do that!” Annie said.
Jack looked at her. “You can?” he said.
The master turned to Jack. “Your tree house lies to the east. That is the way you must go，” he said.
How? wondered Jack. How do we find the east?
Before he could ask， the master bowed. Then he disappeared into the shadows.
The two ninjas led Jack and Annie out of the cave， into the moonlight.
The tall one pointed at the pine forest. Then they too disappeared into the darkness.
Jack and Annie were all alone.
6影子武士
杰克和安妮于是走了进去，他们跟着矮个子忍者在黑暗中穿行。
山洞里面点了很多的蜡烛，人影在墙上跳动着。
在闪烁的烛光中，杰克看见一个黑色的身影坐在一张布毯上。
是忍者头头。
矮个子忍者向他们的头目鞠了一躬，然后他就站到了一边。
头目凝视着杰克和安妮。
“坐吧。”他说。
杰克和安妮坐在了冰冷坚硬的地上。
吱吱。吱吱。
小老鼠把脑袋从安妮的口袋里钻了出来。
“没事的，花生。”安妮说。
忍者头目盯着小老鼠看了一下，然后看着杰克问道：“你们是谁?”
“我是杰克，她是我妹妹安妮。”杰克回答道。
“你们从哪来?”头头问道。
“宾夕法尼亚的蛙溪镇。”安妮说。
“你们来这里干什么?”他问。
“我们试图帮助我们的朋友摩根·拉菲。”杰克说，“她给我们留了一个信儿。”
安妮指着矮个子忍者说，“我们把那个信条给他了。”
“你是说，你把留言给了‘她’。”忍者头目说，“她已经把它给我了。”
“她?”杰克和安妮同时说道。
那个女忍者的眼神闪烁了一下，杰克想她可能是在笑吧。
头头举起摩根的留言，“也许我可以帮你们。”他说，“但是首先你们要证明你们确实值得我帮助。”
就在这时那个高个子忍者出现了，他向忍者头头做了一个手势。
那头目站了起来，他把摩根的留言递给了安妮。
“我们现在必须走了。”他说，“武士们来了。”
“武士?”杰克说，他知道日本武士是一群极其凶狠的斗士。
“是在山谷中的那些人吗?”杰克问道，“拿着火把的那些人?”
“没错，我们的组织正在与他们进行战争。”那头目说，“我们必须在他们找到我们之前离开。”
“可是那帮助摩根的事怎么办?”安妮说。
忍者头头把他的剑绑在身上。“我现在没有时间了。”他说，“我得走了。”
“我们不能和你们一起走吗?”安妮说。
“不行，我们去的地方你们可不能去，你们必须自己找到回树屋的路。”
“我们自己?”杰克说。
“没错。你们必须自己走，小心那些武士。”
“为什么?”杰克说。
“他们会认为你们是我们中的一员。”头头说，“他们不会问你们任何问题，也不会对你们有一点仁慈之心。”
“我的妈呀!”安妮悄悄地说。
“不过你们已经见过了忍者的行动方式，现在你们也可以自己锻炼一下了。”忍者头头说。
“怎……怎么锻炼?”杰克说。
“记住三件事。”忍者头目说。
“什么?”杰克说。
“利用自然，融入自然，跟着自然。”
“我能做到!”安妮说。
杰克看着她，“你能?”他说。
头目转向杰克说：“你们的树屋在东边，你们必须朝那边走。”
怎么走?杰克迟疑着，我们怎么找到东边?
他还没来得及问，那头目鞠了一躬然后就消失在阴影里了。
两个忍者把杰克和安妮带出了山洞，重新又回到月光下。
高个子忍者指了指松树林，于是他们也消失在黑暗中了，只剩下杰克和安妮两个人。
