014 战车竞速

旁白 neutral

" I haven't seen Poseidon yet," Julia whispered to Markos." What's he like?"

“我还没见过波塞冬呢，”朱莉娅悄声对马科斯说。“他什么样？”

旁白 neutral

The two of them were following Hermes and Brody toward the hippodrome

两人正跟着赫耳墨斯和布罗迪走向赛马场。

旁白 neutral

That was the stadium where the chariot races would take place

那就是战车比赛将要举行的竞技场。

旁白 neutral

Hermes had arranged to meet Poseidon there

赫耳墨斯已约好在那儿与波塞冬碰面。

旁白 neutral

" We don't see Poseidon as much as the other gods," Markos told Julia

“波塞冬不像其他神祇那么容易见到，”马科斯告诉朱莉娅。

旁白 neutral

" As the god of the sea, he prefers to stay beneath the waters

“作为海神，他更喜欢待在水下。

旁白 neutral

Well, except when he wants to spend time with horses, that is."

嗯，除非他想和马匹待在一起的时候，那就另说了。”

旁白 neutral

" I didn't even know Poseidon was the god of horses," Julia said." We didn't learn that in class."

“我都不知道波塞冬还是马匹之神，”朱莉娅说。“课上没学过这个。”

旁白 neutral

" He created the horse out of sea foam to impress the goddess Demeter," Markos said

“他用海泡沫创造了马，为了打动女神德墨忒尔，”马科斯说。

旁白 neutral

" Oh, cool."

“哦，好酷。”

旁白 neutral

Julia looked around as they entered the hippodrome

当他们走进赛马场时，朱莉娅环顾四周。

旁白 neutral

The place was deserted." So where's Poseidon?" she murmured

那里空无一人。“那波塞冬在哪儿？”她喃喃自语。

旁白 neutral

Suddenly they heard a crack of thunder, and rain poured down on all of them

突然，他们听到一声雷鸣，大雨倾盆而下，浇在他们身上。

旁白 neutral

Julia ducked and covered her head with her hands

朱莉娅低下头，用手护住脑袋。

旁白 neutral

A second later the rain stopped as quickly as if someone had turned off a faucet

一秒钟后，雨停了，快得就像有人关掉了水龙头。

旁白 neutral

Standing before them was Poseidon. He had a flowing beard tangled with seaweed, and he was holding a trident

站在他们面前的是波塞冬。他留着飘逸的胡须，上面缠着海草，手里握着一把三叉戟。

旁白 neutral

Behind him were two teams of snorting horses. Each team was hitched to a chariot

他身后是两队喷着鼻息的马。每队马都套着一辆战车。

旁白 neutral

" Poseidon, my friend!" Hermes greeted him." You're right on time."

“波塞冬，我的朋友！”赫尔墨斯招呼他，“你来得正好。”

旁白 neutral

" You always deliver my messages quickly, Hermes," Poseidon replied with a nod

“你总是很快送达我的消息，赫尔墨斯，”波塞冬点头回答。

旁白 neutral

" Of course I'm on time when you need a favor."

“你需要帮忙时我当然准时。”

旁白 neutral

" This is the champion I told you about," Hermes said, gesturing at Brody

“这就是我跟你说过的那位冠军。”赫尔墨斯指着布罗迪说。

旁白 neutral

" I'm sure he's destined to beat Zeus' mystery mortal."

“我相信他注定会打败宙斯那位神秘的凡人。”

旁白 neutral

" Hmm." Poseidon looked Brody up and down." Allow me to introduce my own champion."

“嗯。”波塞冬上下打量着布罗迪，“请允许我介绍一下我的冠军。”

旁白 neutral

A man jumped out of one of the chariots

一名男子从其中一辆战车上跳了下来。

旁白 neutral

He was very tall, with broad shoulders and curly dark hair

他个子很高，肩膀宽阔，长着一头卷曲的黑发。

旁白 neutral

" This is Drakon," Poseidon said." I thought it would be interesting for our mortal heroes to train against each other."

“这位是德拉孔。”波塞冬说，“我觉得让我们的凡人英雄互相切磋会很有趣。”

旁白 neutral

" An excellent idea!" Hermes agreed

“好主意！”赫尔墨斯赞同道。

旁白 neutral

Julia wasn't so sure." Brody isn't ready to train against anyone yet," she whispered to Markos

朱莉娅可没那么确定。“布罗迪还没准备好和任何人对抗呢。”她小声对马科斯说。

旁白 neutral

" First he needs to learn what he's supposed to be doing!"

“他首先得弄明白自己该做什么！”

旁白 neutral

But Brody was already striding toward the chariots." Is this one mine?" he asked

但布罗迪已经大步朝战车走去。“这辆是我的吗？”他问道。

旁白 neutral

" Brody, look out!" Julia cried as a horse lunged toward him

“布罗迪，小心！”一匹马猛地冲向他，朱莉娅大喊。

旁白 neutral

Brody jumped away just in time to avoid a bite on the shoulder." Wow, this horse is pretty aggressive," he said

布罗迪及时跳开，躲开了肩膀上的撕咬。“哇哦，这匹马攻击性真强，”他说。

旁白 neutral

" They don't like standing around," Poseidon said

“它们不喜欢干站着，”波塞冬说。

旁白 neutral

" They'll settle once they get moving. Won't you, my pets?"

“一旦跑起来它们就会安静下来。对不对，我的宝贝们？”

旁白 neutral

He stepped over and stroked the nose of the horse that had tried to bite Brody. The animal nuzzled him happily

他走过去，轻抚那匹试图咬布罗迪的马的鼻子。那动物开心地蹭着他。

旁白 neutral

Brody climbed into the chariot." Giddyup!" he called, whipping the reins up and down so they slapped the horses' rumps

布罗迪爬进战车。“驾！”他喊道，上下挥动缰绳，抽打着马屁股。

旁白 neutral

The animals didn't seem to like that. All four horses leaped in place

马匹们似乎不喜欢这样。四匹马都在原地跳了起来。

旁白 neutral

One of them reared, while another kicked at the chariot

其中一匹直立起来，另一匹则朝着战车踢去。

旁白 neutral

" Easy, boy," Hermes called to Brody." We don't want the horses to dump you before you get started."

“放轻松，小子，”赫尔墨斯对布罗迪喊道。“我们可不想你还没开始就被马给甩下来。”

旁白 neutral

Julia was growing more and more worried

朱莉娅变得越来越担心。

旁白 neutral

" Is this safe?" she asked Markos as both teams sprang into a gallop

“这安全吗？”当两队人马都开始飞奔时，她问马科斯。

旁白 neutral

" Of course not," Markos said." It's the most dangerous event in the Games

“当然不，”马科斯说。“这是赛会中最危险的项目。

旁白 neutral

The crowd loves it, which is why it comes last." He shrugged

观众喜欢它，这就是为什么它排在最后。”他耸了耸肩。

旁白 neutral

" Well, that's one reason it comes last

“嗯，这是它排在最后的一个原因。

旁白 neutral

I imagine there's another reason — if an athlete gets killed, he's already finished all the other events!"

我想还有另一个原因——如果有运动员丧命，他已经先完成了所有其他项目！”

旁白 neutral

Julia gulped. Brody had no idea how much danger he was in

朱莉娅倒吸了一口气。布罗迪完全不知道自己有多危险。

旁白 neutral

He was grinning as his chariot sailed around a turn, chasing the one driven by Drakon

他咧着嘴笑，他的战车流畅地转过一个弯道，追赶着德拉孔驾驶的那辆。

旁白 neutral

" Faster, boy!" Hermes shouted

“再快点，小子！”赫尔墨斯喊道。

旁白 neutral

Brody snapped the reins again. The horses surged forward, which made Brody lose his balance

布罗迪再次抖了抖缰绳。马匹向前猛冲，这让布罗迪失去了平衡。

旁白 neutral

He grabbed the edge of the chariot to keep himself from falling out

他抓住战车边缘，以防自己掉出去。

旁白 neutral

But at the same time, he dropped the reins

但就在这时，他把缰绳给丢了。

旁白 neutral

" Steer, mortal!" Poseidon thundered at Brody. The sea god turned to Hermes

“快驾驭马，凡人！”波塞冬对布罗迪吼道。海神转向赫尔墨斯。

旁白 neutral

" Your champion isn't much of a driver, eh?"

“你的冠军驾驶技术不怎么样嘛，嗯？”

旁白 neutral

" Give him time," Hermes responded with a smile." He's a fast learner."

“给他点时间，”赫尔墨斯笑着答道，“他学东西很快。”

旁白 neutral

" Fast learner?" Julia muttered." I definitely never thought of Brody that way before."

“学东西快？”朱莉娅咕哝道，“我以前可从没觉得布罗迪是这样的人。”

旁白 neutral

Markos heard her." What do you mean? Brody learned how to throw the javelin and discus almost immediately."

马科斯听到了她的话。“你这话什么意思？布罗迪几乎一下子就学会了怎么投标枪和铁饼。”

旁白 neutral

Julia didn't answer. She held her breath as the chariots sped along the straightaway

朱莉娅没有回答。她屏住呼吸，看着两辆战车在直道上飞驰。

旁白 neutral

The horses' nostrils were flaring, and Brody's team was gaining on Drakon's, even though Brody's reins were flapping free

马匹的鼻孔张得老大，尽管布罗迪的缰绳在空中乱甩，他的马队还是快追上德拉孔了。

旁白 neutral

" Grab those reins, boy!" Hermes shouted." Oh, never mind. I'll help you, just this once."

“抓住缰绳，小子！”赫尔墨斯喊道。“哦，算了。我来帮你，就这一次。”

旁白 neutral

Hermes' winged sandals lifted him off the ground and carried him swiftly through the air

赫尔墨斯那双带翼的凉鞋托着他离开地面，飞快地掠过空中。

旁白 neutral

He snatched the reins out of midair and tossed them to Brody

他一把从半空中抓过缰绳，扔给了布罗迪。

旁白 neutral

" Thanks, dude!" Brody called breathlessly

“谢啦，兄弟！”布罗迪上气不接下气地喊道。

旁白 neutral

" Watch out!" Hermes warned him." You're about to crash!"

“小心！”赫尔墨斯警告他，“你要撞上了！”

旁白 neutral

The horses had felt Brody pulling on the reins again, and they didn't seem to like it

马匹又感觉到布罗迪在拉缰绳，它们似乎不太乐意。

旁白 neutral

Now they were heading straight toward the stands!

现在，它们正直冲看台而去！

旁白 neutral

" Turn, boy! Turn!" Poseidon called

“转弯，小子！转弯！”波塞冬喊道。

旁白 neutral

Hermes landed beside Poseidon." You were right, my friend," he said." This is interesting!"

赫尔墨斯落在波塞冬身旁。“你说得对，我的朋友，”他说，“这确实有意思！”

旁白 neutral

Julia couldn't believe the two gods were acting so casual. Brody could be killed!

朱莉娅不敢相信这两位神祇竟如此漫不经心。布罗迪可能会没命的！

旁白 neutral

She watched him pulling the reins in all different directions, but that only seemed to make the horses gallop faster

她看着他把缰绳往不同方向拉，但那似乎只是让马匹跑得更快了。

旁白 neutral

" Use the reins to steer the horses, Brody!" Julia yelled

“用缰绳控制马的方向，布罗迪！”朱莉娅喊道。

旁白 neutral

" Pull the reins in the same direction!"

“往同一个方向拉缰绳！”

旁白 neutral

Usually Brody didn't pay attention to her advice

布罗迪平时总是不理会她的建议。

旁白 neutral

But this time he did. He yanked the reins to the left

但这次他听了。他猛地将缰绳往左一拉。

旁白 neutral

It worked! The team veered left, just missing the stands

起作用了！马队向左急转，堪堪避开了看台。

旁白 neutral

Somehow Brody managed to steer the horses back on the track, where they spotted Drakon's team and took off after them

布罗迪总算设法把马队引回了赛道，它们一看到德拉孔的马队，就立刻追了上去。

旁白 neutral

Julia sighed with relief." That was close!" she whispered

朱莉娅松了一口气。“好险！”她低声说。

旁白 neutral

Things didn't go much better after that

在那之后，情况并没有多大好转。

旁白 neutral

Brody's horses mostly ignored him and chased the other team

布罗迪的马基本不理会他，只顾着追赶另一队马。

旁白 neutral

By the end of the day, Hermes was clearly displeased." Well, you survived," he told Brody

一天结束时，赫尔墨斯显然很不高兴。“嗯，你活下来了，”他对布罗迪说。

旁白 neutral

" But you'll have to get much better at this if you expect to beat anyone — especially the mighty Alcides."

“但如果你想打败任何人——尤其是强大的阿尔喀得斯，你得在这方面练得强得多才行。”