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The next day was calm at the zoo. Maybe, Jessie thought, the strange things happening to the animals had stopped.
On the afternoon of the second peaceful day, Benny said, “Let’s read our books.”
“That would be fun,” Violet said. “I’m almost finished reading the mystery I brought with me and I’m eager to see how it ends.”
So they went outside and Henry spread out two blankets. There was only one tree in Edward’s backyard, but it was a large apple tree and heavy with apples.
It was pleasant to enjoy the shade on such a warm day, to eat crisp apples, and to read.
At last they closed their books and folded their blankets. When they decided1 to visit the zoo, it was almost closing time.
Going through the gate, they found David. He was giving Joe, the elephant, a bath. “Hi, Aldens,” he called with a smile, then returned to his work.
Joe patiently allowed David to use a brush to scrub him. Making wide soapy circles in the elephant’s leathery hide, David soon covered Joe in white.
“Watch this,” David said, chuckling2 and picking up a hose. “He loves his shower!” He sprayed the elephant, causing the soap to run down Joe’s sides in white streams. Joe lifted his trunk and trumpeted3 his pleasure.
At last David coiled up the hose and came over to lean on the fence. “What did you do today?” he asked.
“Most of the day we read and ate apples,” Benny said, grinning.
David nodded. “That sounds like a perfect afternoon. Second only to working here with the animals.”
“David,” Henry asked, growing serious, “what do you think of what’s been happening at the zoo?”
Frowning, David shook his head. “I wish I knew what was going on. If these awful things don’t stop, I’m afraid Edward might lose the zoo.” He paused. “I noticed Helen Brooks4 here again yesterday. She asked me a lot of questions, but I didn’t give her any information that would hurt Edward.”
“Good!” Jessie said. “I know she’s waiting for a chance to find out something really damaging.”
“I saw Pat talking to her,” David said, “but I know she didn’t give her any news, either.”
I hope not, Jessie thought.
“Has anyone else been around asking questions?” Violet asked.
David shrugged5. “Not that I noticed. I only work three days a week in the summer.” He smiled. “I’d like to work with the animals every day. Someday,” he announced, “I’m going to be a zookeeper.”
“That would be a great job, David,” Benny said. “Maybe I’ll be one, too.”
“We could work at the same zoo, Benny,” David said, teasing. “Well,” he sighed, “I’d like to stay and talk but I’d better get back to work. Pat wants me to check out the brown bears.”
The Aldens strolled over to the leopards7 and watched a baby leopard6 playing with its mother.
Four chimes sounded. The zoo was closing. One boy, sitting on his father’s shoulders watching the beavers8, cried, “I don’t want to leave.”
“We’ll come back, son,” the father reassured9 him.
A man pushed a wheelchair before him. In the chair was an elderly woman with a lovely smile on her face.
Yes, Henry thought. Edward’s zoo had to stay open. It gave so much enjoyment10 to so many different kinds of people.
In the morning the children planned to go to the zoo early. Edward was opening up that day and Pat was coming in later. They wanted their afternoon free, as Grandfather was taking them to a movie, then out for ice cream.
As soon as they entered the zoo’s gates, they knew something was wrong. Going by the lions, they noticed how restless they were and how they paced back and forth11, shaking their manes.
Hurriedly they followed Edward to the Bird House. “Let’s see how our tropical friends are doing,” Edward said, opening the door.
The macaw screeched12, and the green parrot scolded, but on the whole the birds were unusually quiet. Many were hunched13 over and didn’t move.
“Oh,” Jessie cried, grabbing her arms, “it’s cold in here!”
“I’m cold, too,” Benny exclaimed.
“The heat’s off!” Edward shouted, racing14 to the opposite wall and checking the thermometer. Immediately he turned up the heat, and when he faced them, an angry expression crossed his face.
“These birds could have died!” he said, his face red with fury. Helplessly he threw out his hands. “Let’s check the others.”
Sure enough, the brown bears from Alaska were slumped15 against the rocks, panting. The air-conditioning in their glassed-in area had been turned off.
Edward raced from one animal house to another, raising low temperatures and lowering high temperatures. The Aldens helped by bringing water to animals that were lying down, too uncomfortable to move.
At last all the animals had been checked, and when they were at ease again, the children relaxed, too.
“Maybe we should face Helen Brooks and ask her to leave the zoo alone!” Violet exclaimed.
“Not yet,” Jessie cautioned. “If she isn’t the one doing these things, she’d just love to hear about them.”
“The best thing to do is keep our eyes open, and if we see anything suspicious, tell Edward,” Henry advised.
“I hate to sit here and wait for things to happen,” Violet said.
“It’s the only thing we can do right now,” Jessie admitted. “I don’t like it any better than you do.”
“Let’s go home,” Henry said. “We can’t do any more here. Edward is in the Bird House and Pat will be coming soon.”
As they left, a black car sped away.
“Who was that?” Benny said. “He was speeding!”
“Doesn’t Helen Brooks have a black car?” Jessie asked.
“Yes,” Violet responded quietly. “Was she spying again?”
Henry shook his head. “I don’t think so. A man was behind the wheel.”
Puzzled, they glanced at one another. The mystery was becoming deeper and deeper.
收听单词发音 |
1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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2
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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3
trumpeted
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| 大声说出或宣告（trumpet的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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4
brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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5
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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leopards
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| n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移 | |
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8
beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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9
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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10
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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11
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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12
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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13
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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14
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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15
slumped
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| 大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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