185 反常的举动

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" I can't believe Zira isn't mad at us," Zann thought a short while

later as he helped himself to another serving of pudding.

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" She knows we zapped away without permission and freed the plonk farmer

“她知道我们没经允许就闪现离开，还放了那个普朗克农夫。

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And I'm pretty sure she saw Mellis using magic."

而且我很确定她看见梅莉斯在用魔法了。”

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He tried not to worry about it. They were back

in the banquet room, eating dessert.

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However, Vilkor and most of the other guests were gone

不过，维尔科和其他大多数客人都已经走了。

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" Where did you say my uncle went?" Mellis asked Zira

looking around at the empty chairs.

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" He's busy with a few errands," Zira replied

"Don't worry—he'll return shortly."

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One of the other remaining guests leaned over to ask her something

and Zira stopped paying attention to the kids again.

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" I can't believe that plonk farmer turned us in," Perda whispered

leaning closer to Zann and Mellis.

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Zann nodded. Zira had told them that Trof had zapped straight

back to town to tell her he'd seen them by the well.

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Apparently he was hoping for a reward. Instead Zira locked

him in the dungeon in her mansion.

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" I was afraid she'd punish us too," Zann whispered

“我还以为她也会惩罚我们，”赞恩小声说。

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" But she's treating us like royalty!"

“但她待我们像王室成员一样！”

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He ate another spoonful of the delicious pudding and then

slipped some to Zing, who was curled up under the table.

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Perda looked uneasy." I wonder what Zira is up to."

珀达显得不安。“我好奇齐拉在打什么主意。”

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Vilkor hurried in." I just spoke to the representative

for the villagers, as you suggested, Zira."

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He puffed out his chest, sounding self-important

他挺起胸膛，语气自大。

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" The villagers are willing to do whatever we say

in exchange for our magic gifts.

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They've promised not to question any decision we make."

他们保证不质疑我们做出的任何决定。”

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" Excellent," Zira said." You have truly won their respect

through your strong leadership, my friend. Well done."

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That made Vilkor look even more pleased

with himself. Zann rolled his eyes.

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It was obvious that Zira was flattering Vilkor just

so that he'd do what she wanted him to do.

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It was even more obvious that Vilkor was enjoying

every moment of it.

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" He really is pathetic and selfish," Zann thought

“他真是又可悲又自私，”赞恩心想。

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" He doesn't care what happens to anyone else as long as he feels good."

“只要自己感觉好，他才不管别人会怎样。”

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As soon as the kids finished their dessert, they excused themselves again

孩子们一吃完甜点，便再次告辞。

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" Now, no zapping off this time," Zira said with a wink." It's getting late."

“这次可别瞬移溜走，”齐拉眨眨眼说。“天晚了。”

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" Don't worry, we won't," Mellis said with a weak smile

“别担心，我们不会的，”梅莉斯勉强笑了笑。

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The three kids hurried into the hallway

三个孩子匆匆走进走廊。

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" Wow," Perda said." I wonder why she's being so nice to us."

“哇，”珀达说。“我纳闷她为什么对我们这么好。”

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" Me too," Mellis said." When she caught us out by the well

I was sure we'd end up in that dungeon."

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" Who has a dungeon in their house, anyway?" Zann commented

“话说回来，谁会在自己家里建个地牢啊？”赞恩议论道。

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He straightened a statue that Zing had just accidentally

knocked over with his wing.

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" Then again, who locks someone in a cage and leaves him for the gorzogs?"

“还有，谁会把人锁在笼子里，丢着不管喂戈佐格兽？”

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Perda shuddered." That was horrible. I mean, Trof is a jerk

珀达打了个哆嗦。“那太可怕了。我是说，特罗夫虽然是个混蛋。

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But even he doesn't deserve that."

但他再混蛋也不该受这种惩罚。”

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" Zira probably hoped to make an example of him so the

other villagers would be afraid of her," Mellis said.

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" Or maybe she was trying to scare them away from the well."

“或者她是想吓唬他们，让他们远离那口井。”

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" I wonder if your uncle knows she did that," Zann said

“不知道你叔叔知不知道她做了那件事，”赞恩说。

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Mellis looked troubled." He wouldn't go along with something

so cruel. At least I hope he wouldn't."

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" Maybe we should ask him." Zann had just spotted Vilkor

emerging from the banquet room.

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" If he doesn't agree with the way Zira is acting, maybe we can

convince him to tell everyone how to do magic for themselves.

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Then Zira won't have any power over the rest of Terrica, and Perda

and I can go back to Magica knowing everything is okay here."

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They caught up to Vilkor in the courtyard

他们在院子里追上了维尔科。

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" Oh, I thought you children went to bed," he said

“哦，我还以为你们几个孩子去睡觉了呢。”他说。

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" We couldn't sleep after what we saw by the well," Mellis said

“在井边看到那件事之后，我们睡不着。”梅莉斯说。

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With help from Zann and Perda, she went on to tell

her uncle about Trof and the gorzogs.

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When they finished, Vilkor looked slightly

concerned. But then he shrugged.

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" Oh well, Trof probably deserved it. In any case

it's Zira's decision.

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I've agreed to leave her in charge of security

while I'm the brains of the operation."

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Zann traded a look with his friends." Vilkor isn't smart enough

to be the brains of anything," he thought.

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" It's obvious that Zira is using him as a figurehead

“很明显，齐拉是在利用他当个傀儡头子。

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She's the real brains of the operation — and the muscle too."

她才是真正的幕后主脑——也是真正的执行者。”

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" Please, Uncle," Mellis pleaded." You must see that Zira is up to no good!

“求您了，叔叔，”梅莉斯恳求道，“您一定能看出来齐拉没安好心！

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Leaving someone to be attacked by gorzogs isn't security. It's cruelty!"

把人丢下任由戈佐格攻击可不是什么安保措施，这是残忍的行为！”

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She touched her neck, as if reaching for the pendant that wasn't there anymore

她摸了摸脖子，仿佛在摸索那已不在那里的挂坠。

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" I wish my mother were still alive. She would be able to convince you."

“我真希望我母亲还活着。她一定能说服您的。”

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Vilkor's expression softened." Ah, yes, my kind-hearted sister," he murmured

维尔科的表情柔和下来。“啊，是啊，我那心地善良的姐姐，”他喃喃说道。

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Then he sighed." Oh, fine. If you kids are truly concerned

about this Trof situation, I'll go ask Zira about it right now."

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They checked the banquet hall, but it was deserted except

for a few servants cleaning up the dishes.

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They continued on to the reception room

他们继续往会客厅走去。

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Zira was seated on her throne, talking to

a few members of the inner circle.

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" Go on," Mellis whispered, giving her uncle a push." Ask her!"

“快去啊，”梅莉斯悄声说，推了她叔叔一把，“问她！”

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" Very well." Vilkor straightened his clothes, smoothed

back his hair, and then walked slowly toward Zira.

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" Hello, Vilkor," she said." I thought you went home."

“你好啊，维尔科，”她说，“我以为你回家了。”

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" I did," he said." Er, I mean I was about to

That is, I wanted to ask, uh . . ."

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He cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable

他清了清嗓子，看起来很不安。

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Before he could go on, the front door slammed open

他还没来得及继续说，前门就砰地一声被推开了。

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Krub strode in, red-faced and frowning

克鲁布大步走了进来，满脸通红，眉头紧锁。

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" Aha! There you are!" He pointed straight at Zann

“啊哈！你在这儿！”他直直地指着赞恩。

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" Zira, take this boy prisoner immediately. He's a murderer!"

“齐拉，立刻把这小子抓起来。他是个杀人犯！”