基普的远行：一个给孩子们的故事

我是莉亚。

This is Rhea.

欢迎来到《给小人物的小故事》。

Welcome to Little Stories for Tiny People.

你永远不知道生活会带你去往何方，或者你偶然走上的路是否会带你到达一个有趣的地方。

You never know where life will take you or whether the path you take by accident might lead you to an interesting place.

这个故事讲的就是这个。

That is what this story is about.

让我们来听一听。

Let's hear it.

这个故事叫《基普走了远路》。

It's called Kip Takes the Long Way.

交给你了，罗莎琳德。

Take it away, Rosalind.

记住，没有插图。

Remember, there are no pictures.

你得在脑子里想象这些画面。

You have to imagine the pictures in your mind.

你可以按照自己的方式想象它们。

You can imagine them however you want.

好的。

Alright.

我们开始吧。

Let's go.

好的。

Alright.

集中注意力，大家。

Focus, people.

这可是件大事。

This is a big deal.

我们预计会有40只动物参加，所以这将是我们迄今为止规模最大的一场演出。

We're expecting 40 animals, so this is gonna be our biggest show by far.

我们必须比以往任何时候都表现得更好。

We need to play better than ever before.

另外，别忘了，森林音乐俱乐部的威尔莫特会来，如果我们给他留下深刻印象，他可能会让我们上节目单。

Plus, don't forget, Wilmot from the Forest Concert Club is gonna be there, and if we impress him, he might put us on the schedule.

那会很棒。

That would be look.

我不想夸张，但这可能是我们一生中最重要的夜晚。

I don't wanna be dramatic, but this could be the biggest night of our lives.

这可能会让我们一举成名。

It could put us on the map.

没错。

Totally.

这可能是我们的重大突破。

This could be our big break.

基普？

Kip?

基普，你听到了吗，伙计？

Kip, are you, are you listening, buddy?

吹大号的基普根本没在听。

Kip, who played the tuba, was not listening.

他一直盯着远方，幻想着去树林里随便走走。

He'd been staring off into space, daydreaming about taking a just because walk in the woods.

听到自己的名字，基普转向乐队非正式的领袖杰里，说：嗯。

At the sound of his name, Kip turned to Jerry, the unofficial leader of the band, and said, yep.

今晚音乐会，蒲公英茶摊。

Concert tonight, dandelion tea stand.

基普的乐队成员们互相交换了眼神。

Kip's bandmates exchanged looks.

杰里清了清嗓子。

Jerry cleared his throat.

不是，基普。

No, Kip.

不在蒲公英茶摊。

It's not at the Dandelion Tea Stand.

在日落时分的大鱼池。

It's at Big Fish Pond at sunset.

别迟到。

Do not be late.

基普忍住了翻白眼的冲动。

Kip kept himself from rolling his eyes.

到底是谁让杰里当上乐队队长的？

Who had put Jerry in charge of the band in the first place?

他不记得大家投票选过他。

He didn't remember them voting on it.

哦，大家别忘了穿格子衬衫和条纹裤子。

Oh, and everybody remember to wear your plaid shirts and your striped trousers.

我们得看起来精神点。

We've gotta look sharp.

乐队成员们收拾好东西，各自散去。

The bandmates packed up and dispersed.

基普，杰里临走前说。

Kip, Jerry said before leaving.

你不会偷偷溜走吧？

You're not gonna wander off on us, are you?

当然不会，基普一边轻柔地把大号放回琴盒里，一边回答。

Of course not, Kip said, gently resting his tuba in its case.

他感到一阵恼火。

He felt a flash of annoyance.

他为什么总是这么盯着我？

Why is he checking up on me so much?

两只松鼠挥了挥手，朝森林里走去。

The two squirrels waved goodbye and headed into the forest.

基普回到家，放下大号，收拾了几样东西放进背包。

Kip stopped at home, dropped off his tuba, and packed a few things in his satchel.

当时是正午。

It was midday.

他有很多时间可以在音乐会前去树林里散步。

He had plenty of time to take a walk in the woods before the concert.

基普从水壶里喝了一口，往嘴里扔了几粒种子，然后出发了。

Kip took a swig from his canteen, tossed some seeds in his mouth, and set off.

一分钟内，他就走上了小径。

Within a minute, he was on the trail.

自从基普上次纯粹为了散步而出门，已经过去好几周了。

It had been weeks since Kip had taken one of these just because walks.

这是一种他从人类那里学到的概念，曾经对他这只松鼠来说是陌生的，而如今他已全心全意地接受了。

It was a concept he'd learned from people, a concept that had been foreign to him as a squirrel, and a concept he had since wholeheartedly embraced.

但最近他一直很忙，既要参加几个月前加入的乐队，又要接一些零工来补充他的橡果储备。

But he'd been busy lately with the band he joined several months back, as well as the odd jobs he'd taken on to supplement his acorn stash.

自从他上次毫无理由地在树林里闲逛，已经过去好几天了。

Days had turned into weeks since he'd taken one of these strolls through the woods for no particular reason at all.

当时正值盛夏正午，森林生机勃勃。

It was midday in the heart of summer, and the forest was vivid.

这片林子里金菊出奇地多，仿佛画家特意点缀的明亮欢快的黄色笔触。

There was an unusual number of goldenrods in this part of the woods, and they gave the effect of bright, cheerful yellow accents placed by a painter.

基普拍了拍他的背包，确认自己带了种子袋和装满溪水的水壶。

Kip padded his satchel, making sure he had his pouch of seeds and his canteen filled with water from the creek.

他感觉到 something crinkly，想起自己还带了地图。

He felt something crinkly and remembered he'd also brought his map.

这张地图是他新绘制的，一份活文档，每次随意漫步后他都会添加内容，填补森林的空白，将已知的小径与未知的路径连接起来。

The map was a new creation of his, a living document he added to after each just because walk to fill in the gaps of the forest, connecting trails he knew with ones he didn't.

他已经很久没进行过这样的散步了。

It had been so long since he'd taken one of these jaunts.

他几乎都忘了这件事。

He'd nearly forgotten about it.

此刻，基普坐在一块石头上，把地图拿了出来。

Presently, Kip sat down in a rock and pulled it out.

基普原本只是打算漫无目的地走一会儿，然后原路返回家。

Kip had been planning to simply walk rather aimlessly for a bit, then turn around and go right back home.

但当他审视自己整洁的笔记时，决定沿着其中一条他潦草标记的小径走下去。

But as he scanned his own neat work, he decided to follow one of the trails he'd scribbled down.

也许他可以边走边完善细节，添加一些地标。

Perhaps he'd refine the details, add a few landmarks as he went.

他在地图上标记了金盏花丛，因此迅速找到了方向。

He'd marked the Goldenrod Patch on the map, so he oriented himself quickly.

有一条小径。

There was a trail.

没错。

Yes.

就在附近。

Just nearby.

他马上就能踏上这条小径。

He could hop on it in mere moments.

他会沿着这条路走一段时间，直到下一个重要的地标——那棵古树。

He'd take that for a while until the next big landmark, the ancient tree.

然后他就会原路返回，正好赶得上音乐会。

Then he'd turn around and be back well in time for the concert.

一旦基普舒适地踏上小径，他就感到自己比过去几个月以来任何时刻都更加放松。

As soon as Kip was comfortably on the trail, he felt himself relax more than at any time in what felt like months.

生活实在太忙了。

Life had been too busy.

尤其是乐队，让人精疲力尽。

The band in particular had been exhausting to keep up with.

杰里以为自己是谁？

Who does Jerry think he is?

基普一边在树林中跋涉，一边自言自语。

Kip said aloud to himself as he trudged through the woods.

他有时养成了自言自语的习惯，只是为了理清思路。

He had developed a habit of talking to himself sometimes, just to think things through a bit.

于是他继续前行，任由午后阳光透过树冠洒落身上，感觉肩上的重担终于卸下，一边走一边与自己讨论着杰里这件事。

So he continued on, soaking up the shafts of afternoon sun through the tree canopy, feeling as though a great weight was off his shoulders, discussing this Jerry situation with himself as he went.

这人根本不配当负责人。

The guy has no business being in charge.

他只会吹萨克斯。

He plays the saxophone.

依我看，他根本不该管任何事。

He shouldn't be in charge of anything if you ask me.

每周排练五次？

And rehearsals five times a week?

三次就足够了。

Three would be sufficient.

基普跳过倒下的树干，穿过茂密的荆棘丛，穿过狭窄的岩石缝隙，仿佛终于能理清生活中的一切纷扰。

As Kip scampered over fallen logs, under thickets of brambles, between narrow gates of rock, It seemed as though he could finally think through everything going on in his life.

真奇妙，当你独自一人，没有人问你烦人的问题，也不加任何自己的意见时，你反而能得出一些重要的结论。

It's amazing how when you're alone, with no one asking pesky questions or adding their own thoughts to the matter, you can come to some important conclusions.

就这样，基普得出了一个令人震惊的明确结论。

And in that way, Kip came to his own startlingly clear conclusion.

他应该成为乐队的领导者。

He should be the leader of the band.

我真不敢相信我之前没想到这一点。

I can't believe I didn't think of this before.

就在他决定推翻杰里的那一刻，基普听到了左边深处传来几个人激烈争论的声音。

It was just at that moment, just when he decided to overthrow Jerry, that Kip heard the sound of several people off to his left deep in a seemingly important debate.

热狗不是三明治。

A hot dog is not a sandwich.

我真不敢相信这还有争议。

I can't believe this is even in question.

我不同意。

I have to disagree.

三明治是一个宽泛的类别。

Sandwich is a broad category.

自从有人向他提出散步可以毫无目的之后，基普就更加留意周围的人了。

Kip paid more attention to people ever since they'd introduced him to the idea of taking walks for no reason.

当然，他一直努力不被人发现。

He always tried to remain unseen, of course.

他并不想把他们的眼睛抓得血肉模糊，如果他们攻击的话，他不得不这么做。

He had no interest in scratching them all over the eyeballs, which is what he would be forced to do if they attacked.

这些人看起来不像是会攻击的类型。

These people didn't seem like the attacking kind.

他们似乎是在徒步旅行途中休息，坐在一些岩石上，全神贯注于这场极其重要的对话。

They seemed to be taking a break from hiking, resting on some boulders, absorbed in this very important conversation.

基普躲到了一棵蕨类植物后面。

Kip hid behind a fern.

嘿，各位。

Look, guys.

我能理解双方的观点。

I can see both sides of this.

没有两个方面。

There are not two sides.

这可不是三明治。

It's not a sandwich.

两片面包夹着肉。

Bread with meat in between.

这就是三明治。

It's a sandwich.

案子结了。

Case closed.

这些年来，基普一直对与人有关的许多事情感到好奇。

Kip had wondered about many things related to people over the years.

他好奇为什么人们头上长着长发，但手背上却几乎没有毛发。

He'd wondered why they had long hair in their heads, but little on their knuckles.

他好奇为什么人们要穿颜色鲜艳的袜子。

He'd wondered why they wore colorful socks.

他好奇他们为什么根本要穿袜子。

He wondered why they wore socks at all.

他从未想过，他们最喜爱且名字奇特的食物——热狗——他在许多露营地都见过其制作过程，是否属于三明治的一种。

He had never considered whether their most beloved and curiously named food, the hot dog, which he'd seen prepared at many a campsite, was a type of sandwich.

但当人们从休息中起身，开始从他身边走开时，他开始对此感到好奇。

But now as the people got up from their rest and began walking away from him, he did wonder about it.

他继续前行，脑海中充满了疑问。

He resumed his walk, his mind, alive with questions.

面包卷和面包是一样的吗？

Is a bun the same as bread?

那热狗的形状呢？

What about the hotdog shape?

这算不算？但他还没来得及完成这个疑问，就突然陷入了流沙中。

Does that mat But he didn't get to finish that particular question because he had fallen dramatically into quicksand.

基普正在下沉。

The Kip was sinking.

沙子的质地和厚度恰好像一杯奶昔，一杯正宗的奶昔，那种和热狗搭配绝佳的奶昔。

The sand was the exact texture and thickness of a milkshake, a proper milkshake, the kind that goes excellently with a hotdog.

总之，当他下陷时，爪子在空中抓挠，他意识到，照这个速度，他会错过他的音乐会。

Anyway, as he went down, paws grasping at the air, he realized, at this rate, he would miss his concert.

救命。

Help.

哦，天哪。

Oh, dear.

你好，有人在吗？

Hello, can somebody?

但基普沉入了沙子的表面之下。

But Kip sank beneath the surface of the sand.

当上方的世界似乎越来越远时，基普的脑海中浮现出一个念头。

A single thought bubbled up in Kip's mind as the world above seemed to drift further and further away.

这将会让

This is going to make

要推翻杰里非常困难。

it very challenging to overthrow Jerry.

就在世界陷入黑暗之际，基普感到有什么东西抓住了他伸出的爪子。

Just as the world went dark, Kip felt something grasp his outstretched paw.

他感觉到自己被向上拉去。

He felt himself being pulled upwards.

片刻之后，他已脱离沙面，咳嗽着，大口喘气。

A moment later, was above the sand, coughing and gasping for air.

救他的是只鸟，正悬在沙面上空拍打翅膀，用爪子紧紧抓着基普的爪子。

His rescuer was a bird flapping in midair above the sand, ripping Kip's paw in its talons.

鸟儿承受着基普的重量，艰难地向上飞行。

The bird strained under Kip's weight, struggling to fly upward.

基普的下半身仍陷在沙子里。

Kip's lower half was still beneath the sand.

终于，终于，鸟儿猛地一拽，把基普的脚从沙中拔出，两人一同翻滚着飞向空中，重重摔在几英尺外。

Finally, finally, the bird yanked Kip's feet free, and the two of them went careening through the air, landing with a thud several feet away.

基普缓缓从坚硬的地面上抬起脑袋。

Kip slowly lifted his head from the hard ground.

我的爪子出了大问题。

Something is very wrong with my paw.

他的右爪传来一阵灼痛。

There was a searing pain in his right paw.

爪子，基普心想，一种啃噬般的不适感正笼罩他的腹部，而他需要这爪子来吹奏大号。

A paw, Kip thought, a gnawing feeling settling in his tummy that he needed in order to play the tuba.

天哪。

Oh, dear.

基普站起身，拍掉身上的沙子。

Kip rose and dusted the sand off himself.

流沙就在几英尺外，像坩埚一样咕嘟冒泡。

The quicksand was a few feet away, bubbling like a cauldron.

在它旁边，一只黑鸟正以严厉的表情凝视着他。

Beside it, peering at him with a severe expression, was a grackle.

这些傲慢的鸟儿以捕食其他鸟类著称，总让基普感到不安。

These imperious birds, known for their tendency to prey upon their feathered brethren, always made Kip uneasy.

谢谢你救了我，基普说。

Thank you, Kip said, for saving me.

是的。

Yes.

你当时处境相当危险，乌鸦一边梳理羽毛一边低声说道。

You were in a rather dire situation, murmured the Grackle, preening himself.

嘿。

Hey.

我不认识你吗？

Don't I know you?

基普说，回想起另一次他朝着山顶走去的散步。

Kip said, thinking back to another walk he'd taken aimed at the mountain's peak.

我有很多人认识。

I'm known by many.

我每周都会举办讲座，当然，场场爆满，主题是人类行为。

I give weekly talks, well attended, of course, on human behavior.

我想起来了，”基普说道，点了点头。

I do remember you, Kip said, nodding.

再次谢谢你。

Thank you again.

我觉得‘谢谢’根本不足以表达我的感激。

I feel like thank you isn't nearly enough.

也许我能做点什么。

Perhaps I can do something.

你需要帮助。

You needed help.

我提供了帮助。

I provided it.

好吧，谢谢你，”基普说道，对自己的言辞如此苍白感到尴尬。

Well, thank you, Kip said, cringing at the inadequacy of his words.

我最好走了。

I'd better go.

我得去大鱼池演奏一场日落音乐会。

I have to play a sunset concert at Big Fish Pond.

基普向乌鸦点了点头，转身朝他来时的路回去，敏锐地感觉到爪子中正传来一阵阵悸痛。

Kip nodded to the grackle and turned back the way he'd come, keenly aware of the throb developing in his paw.

我只能带着受伤的爪子演奏了，他对自己说。

I'll just have to play with a broken paw, he told himself.

我会先

I'll get

回到小径上，很快就到

back in the trail and be there in

你走错方向了。

You are headed in the wrong direction.

基普转过身，面对乌鸦。

Kip turned to face the Grackle.

我非常确定这条路是我来的方向。

I'm quite sure this is the direction I came from.

再次感谢。

Thanks again.

他转过身继续前行，但渡鸦在空中拍打着翅膀，落在了他前面。

He turned back and continued walking, but the Grackle flapped through the air and settled down in his way.

鸟儿凝视着他，眼中充满怜悯。

The bird stared at him, his eyes filled with pity.

你看起来真是一只奇怪的草原犬鼠。

You are a curious looking prairie dog.

我是一只松鼠。

I'm a squirrel.

这解释了你的尾巴。

That explains the tale.

听着，草原松鼠，我有责任不能带你走错路。

Look, prairie squirrel, I feel a certain responsibility not to lead you astray.

意思是，我猜你是从那个方向来的，但你现在离大鱼池已经足够远了，如果原路返回，会花更长时间才能回到家。

Meaning, I assume you came from that direction, but you have now traveled far enough from Big Fish Pond that it will take you longer to get back home by turning around.

你必须继续沿着环路走。

You must continue on the loop.

环路？

The loop?

它环绕着那些岩崖。

It encircles the crags.

对你这样一只不会飞的小动物来说，非常危险。

Perilous for a small flightless creature such as yourself.

基普咽了咽口水，盯着那些裂缝。

Kip gulped the cracks.

他听说过那些地方。

He'd heard of them.

那是森林中央一片以危险著称的岩石区域。

A rocky area in the center of the forest known for being dangerous.

但现在是正午。

But it's midday.

我还有很多时间可以原路返回。

I have plenty of time to get back this way.

看来你已经失去了对太阳时钟的感知。

It seems you have lost track of the sun's clock.

乌鸦朝天空做了个手势。

The Grackle gestured at the sky.

基普抬头一看，倒吸一口凉气。

Kip glanced up and gasped.

太阳怎么会已经移动到天空的那么远的地方？

How had the sun gotten that far across the sky?

基普摇摇头，再次抬头看去。

Kip shook his head and looked again.

他因为跌进沙子里，又重重地撞在地上，感到头晕目眩。

He was confused from falling in the sand, from hitting the ground so harshly.

但不对，根据太阳的位置来看，已经是下午晚些时候了。

But, no, judging from the sun's position, it was late afternoon.

音乐会，他低声说道。

The concert, he whispered.

他这才意识到，自己因沉溺于推翻杰里的想法而浪费了多少时间。

It struck him then just how much time he'd lost to his musings about overthrowing Jerry.

他径直走过了那棵古树——本该在那里掉头的地标。

He'd walked right past the ancient tree, the landmark at which he should have turned around.

他凝视着森林，试图寻找那棵树的踪影。

He peered into the forest searching for a glimpse of it.

他所看到的只有茂密的植被，一片无法穿透的绿色。

All he saw was dense foliage, impenetrable green.

我不确定你是否能在日落前到达那里，乌鸦沉思道。

I am uncertain as to whether you can make it there by sunset at all, the Grackle mused.

但我确定，你绝不可能原路返回就能赶回去。

But I am certain you will not make it back by going back the way you came.

正如我所说，这条环线会带你绕过岩壁，回到你寻找的区域。

As I said, the loop will take you around the crags and back to the area you seek.

环线，基普重复道，一种下沉的感觉涌上心头，与爪子中的悸动交织在一起。

The loop, Kip repeated, a sinking feeling in his stomach joining the throb in his paw.

就沿着你现在的路走。

Just stick on the trail you're on.

你可能到不了，但这是最接近的方法了。

You might not make it, but it's the closest you'll get.

乌鸦从地上飞了起来。

The grackle lifted up from the ground.

哦，对了，乌鸦飞走时喊道，那是一个三明治。

Oh, and by the way, the grackle called out as he flew away, it is a sandwich.

相信我。

Trust me.

我是专家。

I'm an expert.

说完，他就走了。

With that, he was gone.

就在基普踏上环形小径的几步之后，他意识到自己的背包、零食、水和爪子画的地图全都陷在流沙底部了。

It was at that moment as Kip took his first few steps on the loop that he realized his satchel, his snacks, his water, and his paw drawn map were all at the bottom of the quicksand.

尽管天色已越来越晚，他的爪子和自尊都受了伤，而且没有水和地图，基普仍努力保持希望。

Despite the fact that it was growing ever late in the day, his paw and pride had been wounded, and he was without water or a map, Kip tried to keep his hope alive.

他沿着环形小径前行，一步接一步，努力不去注意太阳 steadily 向西沉落。

He kept to the loop, putting one foot in front of the other, trying not to pay attention to the sun's steady westward trajectory.

松鼠是有领地意识的，通常只在一片区域内活动。

Squirrels are territorial, sticking to one general area.

通常是基佩塔的领地。

Quiipeta territory, usually.

他随意漫步的乐趣之一，就是走出自己的领地，去探索属于其他生物、其他松鼠的森林区域。

Part of the thrill of his just because walks was to go beyond it to explore parts of the forest that belonged to other creatures, other squirrels.

他现在正身处其中一片区域。

He was in one of those parts now.

他从未到过这里，也不知道渡鸦说的这条小路是否正确。

He'd never ventured here, had no idea if the Grackle was correct about this trail.

然而，他还是径直走进了一片泥潭。

And yet, he kept walking straight into a mud patch.

哦，不。

Oh, no.

基普缓慢地穿过这片泥泞。

Kip slowly made his way through the sludge.

当他这样走着时，他想象自己出现在音乐会上，不是穿着格子衬衫和条纹裤子，而是浑身是泥，爪子还断了。

And as he did so, he imagined himself showing up at the concert, not in a plaid shirt and striped trousers, but covered in mud with a broken paw.

这个黑暗的想法让他忍不住笑了出来。

The dark thought made him chuckle in spite of himself.

那是什么？

What's that?

一条几乎看不见的细小小径，直接从他前方的环形路分岔出去。

A thin whisper of a trail, nearly invisible, broke off from the loop directly ahead of him.

基普用眼睛跟着它看。

Kip followed it with his eyes.

在傍晚时分，没有头顶烈日的刺眼光芒，他清楚地看到小径通向哪里——那些岩壁。

In the late afternoon, without the harshness and glare of the overhead sun, he could see precisely where it headed, the crags.

基普能看清一座高耸的岩壁，大约离他二十码远。

Kip could make out a tall rock face, perhaps 20 yards off.

如果我能穿过那些岩壁，就能赶到音乐会了。

If I could just cut through the crags, I'd make it to the concert.

也许我还能有机会成为

Maybe I could still have a

乐队的领头人。

shot at being the leader of

乐队的主唱。

the band.

基普从主路上迈出了一步。

Kip took a single step off the loop.

狭窄的小径踩在脚下感觉坚硬。

The narrow trail felt hard beneath his feet.

岩石峭壁离得如此之近。

The crags were so close.

他是一只典型的松鼠，极其敏捷，异常协调。

He was a typical squirrel, exceedingly agile, exceptionally coordinated.

他能在最细的树枝上保持平衡。

He could balance on the most slender of branches.

他又迈了一步。

He took another step.

这会非常容易。

It would be so easy.

故事可能被夸大了，基普心里想。

The stories are probably overblown, Kip thought to himself.

松鼠总是试图让自己的尾巴显得更高、更刺激。

Squirrels are always trying to make their tails taller, more exciting.

再迈出一步，但有什么东西阻止了他，完全阻止了他。

Another step, but something stopped him, completely stopped him.

他再也没有移动一英寸。

He didn't move another inch.

整整一分钟，他只是凝视着小径下方。

For a long minute, he simply stared down the trail.

他想象着自己悬挂在岩壁边缘。

He imagined himself dangling from the edge of a rock face.

没有捷径，基普大声说道。

No shortcuts, Kip said aloud.

他转过身，继续沿着环线行走。

He turned around and resumed walking on the loop.

当基普听到熟悉的水流拍打岩石的声音时，心跳骤然加快。

Kip's heart leapt when he heard the familiar sound of water rushing over rocks.

这声音听起来和大河的岔口一模一样。

It sounded exactly like the fork in the Great River.

基普曾多次来过这里。

Kip had been there many times.

森林生物们称之为岔口的地方，是大河分流后重新汇合为一的地方。

The fork, as the forest creatures referred to it, was the spot where the split in the great river closed and the two halves came together as one.

那是一个多岩石的区域。

It was a rocky area.

基普喜欢在急流附近的河岸上挂起吊床，聆听水声。

Kip liked to set up a hammock on the bank near the rapids and listen to the water.

岔口离大鱼池非常近。

The fork was very close to Big Fish Pond.

正因如此，池子才得以存在，因为有一条小支流从那里蜿蜒分流，将水带到池中。

It was the reason the pond existed at all because a small tributary meandered off it, bringing water to the pond.

基普停下脚步，仔细聆听。

Kip stopped and listened.

是的。

Yes.

这绝对是岔口。

It's definitely the fork.

他抬头一看，发现太阳正缓缓西沉，天空从蓝色渐变为朦胧的橙色。

He glanced up and saw the sun sinking low and the sky turning from blue to a hazy orange.

再过几分钟就要日落了，但他还是能赶得上音乐会。

In a few minutes, it would be sunset, but he was going to make it to the concert.

他冲过岔口，飞奔回家取来大号，匆匆赶到池塘，结果迟到了。

He dashed through the fork, rushed home to grab his tuba, scamper to the pond, and arrived fashionably late.

基普在艰难穿过一片带刺的灌木丛时，几乎被解脱感击倒，啊哟。

Kip was nearly bowled over by relief as he struggled through a tangle of prickly brambles Eek.

哎哟。

Ow.

为什么？

Why?

他冲过一堵厚实的灌木墙，呃呵。

Pushed through a wall of thick shrubs Eesh.

被一系列尖锐的岩石绊倒了？真的吗？

Stumbled over a series of sharp edged rocks Seriously?

绕过一棵巨大的松树后，却从悬崖边掉了下去。

Rounded a corner past a massive pine tree, and and fell off a cliff.

好吧，假设吧。

Well, allege.

他用爪子在空中乱抓，终于抓住了一条树根。

He scrabbled at the air with his paws and caught hold of a tree root.

基普悬挂在那儿，拼命抓住树根，努力喘过气来。

Kip dangled there, desperately clinging to the root, trying to catch his breath.

他突然意识到，自己一直刻意避开这些岩壁，就是不想落得挂在岩石边缘的下场。

It struck him that he'd purposely avoided the crags so as not to end up dangling from a rocky ledge.

他几乎笑出声来，但一个不小心就可能坠落下去。

He nearly laughed at the thought, but one false move could send him falling.

他花了幾秒鐘等待呼吸平复，紧紧抓着树根，稳住身形。

He took a few seconds waiting for his breath to slow, gripping the root and getting his bearings.

然后，基普灵巧地从树根爬回了他跌落的那块岩 ledge。

Then, Kip deftly scrambled up from the tree root back onto the ledge from which he'd fallen.

他坐着，让小脚在岩 ledge 边缘晃荡。

He sat, letting his little feet swing off the end of the ledge.

现在不休息是没有意义的。

There was no point in not taking rest now.

从这个位置——这片俯瞰深渊的岩 ledge，基普欣赏着风景。

From this spot, this ledge overlooking a drop, Kip took in the view.

那里确实有很多水，而且确实在岩石上奔腾而过。

There was certainly a lot of water, and it was certainly rushing over rocks.

但基普并没有看那条岔路。

But Kip was not looking at the fork.

基普所看到的，既可怕又壮丽。

What Kip saw was terrible and magnificent in equal measure.

这很可怕，因为这意味着毫无疑问，基普无法赶到音乐会了。

It was terrible because it meant that without a doubt, Kip was not going to make it to the concert.

但它也同样壮丽。

But it was magnificent too.

基普从未见过这样的景象。

Kip had never seen one like it.

他当然见过小一点的，但从没见过这么壮观的。

He'd seen small ones, of course, but never one like this.

他正凝视着一座宏伟壮丽的瀑布。

He was looking at an enormous, majestic waterfall.

基普所坐的岩 ledge 让他能完整地看到瀑布倾泻而下、撞击远处岩石的景象，激起的水雾漫天飞舞，轻轻搔痒着他的毛发。

The ledge on which Kip sat gave him a full view of the cascade of water crashing on the rocks far below, sending an incredible spray into the air that tickled his fur.

上方，太阳渐渐隐没在树后。

Above, the sun slipped behind the trees.

这是基普见过的最美丽的事物之一。

It was one of the most beautiful things Kip had ever seen.

天空被柔和的色彩浸染。

The sky was awash with pastel colors.

瀑布在渐暗的光线下闪烁着光芒。

The waterfall glittered in the fading light.

基普想象着他的乐队成员们正在为演出做好准备。

Kip imagined his bandmates settling in for the show.

他们会等他，期待他迟到地走进来。

They'd wait for him, expecting him to stroll in late.

想到这一幕，基普感到恶心。

Kip felt sick imagining it.

他永远不可能成为乐队的领导者。

He could never be the leader of the band.

他有多么自私啊。

How petty he'd been.

多么极其自私啊。

How incredibly petty.

他无法相信自己竟如此沉迷于推翻杰里的念头，以至于彻底打乱了自己一整天的节奏。

He could not believe he had been so absorbed in the idea of overthrowing Jerry that he had thrown his entire day off course.

要是他没有那么自恋就好了。

If only he hadn't been so enamored with himself.

我该怎么弥补他们呢？

How will I ever make it up to them?

他想。

He wondered.

然而，从这个小高处眺望，基普内心挣扎不已。

And yet, staring out from this little perch, Kip was torn.

如果他到达那棵古树时就折返，如果没有绕这条小路，他就永远不会偶然发现这令人惊叹的景色。

Had he turned back home upon reaching the ancient tree, had he not taken the loop, he would have never stumbled on this dazzling sight.

天空渐渐变暗，月光如聚光灯般洒在瀑布上。

The sky turned dark, and the moon shone over the waterfall like a spotlight.

聚光灯。

A spotlight.

是的。

Yes.

基普这时想到了一个主意。

An idea came to Kip then.

只是一个微弱的想法。

Just the whisper of an idea.

他不知道这个主意能否奏效，能否弥补他造成的混乱，但这个念头本身已足够让他感到安慰，使他的心平静下来。

He didn't know if it could work, if it could fix the mess he'd made, but the thought of it was comforting enough to allow his mind to settle.

基普蜷缩在岩架上，抱着自己的尾巴，接受了一个事实：他在黑暗中无法回家，尤其是没有地图的情况下。

Kip curled up on the ledge, hugging his tail, accepting the fact that he was not going to make it home in the dark, especially without his map.

他在下方水流冲过岩石的声响中睡着了。

He fell asleep to the sound of the water rushing over the rocks below.

基普站在俯瞰瀑布的岩架上，欣赏着午后阳光的景色。

Kip stood on the ledge overlooking the waterfall, taking in the view of the afternoon light.

它和他记忆中一样美丽，而且下方岩石边缘聚集了一群动物，围绕着旋涡般的水流，让这景象更加令人兴奋。

It was just as beautiful as he remembered and a whole lot more exciting with the crowd of animals perched on rocks below on the perimeter of the swirling water.

哇哦。

Woo hoo.

嗯。

Yeah.

62、64、65、66。

62, 64, 65, 66.

观众有66只动物。

There are 66 animals in the audience.

这是我们规模最大的一场演出。

This is our biggest show yet.

我觉得你跳过了63。

I think you skipped over 63.

观众有65只动物。

65 animals in the audience.

你能相信吗？

Can you believe it?

基普笑着看向他的乐队成员，他们正在悬崖边缘布置乐器。

Kip grinned at his bandmates as they set up their instruments on the Ledge.