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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo CHAPTER 11 The Guilty One

时间:2017-07-17 09:01来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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When Grandfather drove to the zoo, the children piled out, intending to find Edward. Grandfather trailed after them.

“Did Amos come back?” Benny shouted at Edward, who stood before the Monkey House.

Sadly, Edward shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Pat and I have searched the entire grounds, and he’s no place to be found.”

“I know where he is!” Benny said.

Edward gave him a sharp look. “You do? Where is he?”

“Mac Thatcher1 sold him to the pet shop man,” Benny answered, his eyes fastened on Edward.

“Can you believe Mac Thatcher could have stolen Amos?” Henry asked.

“Yes, I can,” Edward said in a discouraged tone.

“You don’t seem surprised,” Violet said.

“I’m not,” Edward said dully.

The children and Grandfather waited patiently for Edward’s explanation.

“I’ll tell you about Mac Thatcher later,” Edward said. “First let’s go see if the pet shop monkey is mine.”

“Yes, yes,” Benny said so excited that he ran from Edward to Grandfather. “Amos was stuffed in a real little cage and we’ve got to get him out!”

“And we will,” Edward said grimly.

Pat, who came out of the Bird House, joined them, and Edward quickly told her about Mac Thatcher and the monkey.

“Oh, no,” she groaned2. “I thought we’d seen the last of him.”

Edward started walking toward the exit. “I’m going to Bridgeport. Hopefully Amos is still at the pet shop.”

Jessie handed Pat the box of vitamins and special food. “Here’s what you asked for.”

“Thanks, Jessie,” Pat said, rewarding her with a warm smile. “I’ll see to it that the black panther gets his vitamins.”

“And you know which other animals need their food,” Edward called over his shoulder.

“Yes,” Pat answered, a worried frown crossing her forehead. “You run along.” She gave Benny a quick pat on the back. “I’m sure Amos will be there.”

“I know it!” Benny responded promptly3, hurrying to catch up with Edward.

So back to Bridgeport they drove, this time with Edward in the front seat.

Once inside the pet shop, the clerk took one look at the children and hurried to the rear to get the monkey.

Returning, he set the cage on the counter where Edward could examine the monkey.

In a few minutes Edward announced, in a triumphant4 burst, “It’s Amos!”

“I knew it!” Benny said gleefully.

“I paid five hundred dollars for that monkey,” the clerk sniffed5, “and I don’t intend to give him up.”

“Well, I’m buying him back at the same price,” Edward said sternly. “This monkey was kidnapped from my zoo. I recognize him from that brown marking on his head.”

“Oh, my,” the clerk said. “If you’ll pay me the money, I’ll be grateful. I don’t want any trouble by dealing6 with a stolen monkey!”

Edward wrote out the check, mumbling7, “I’ll take this out of Mac Thatcher’s hide!”

Benny talked to Amos, and the bright-eyed monkey responded by chattering8 and sticking out a paw.

Violet leaned down to the cage and said softly, “You’re going home now, Amos.”

“Not quite to the zoo yet,” Edward said grimly. He turned to the white-faced clerk. “May I use your telephone?”

“Help yourself.”

Dialing the Rosedale police, he told them a few things that had happened at the zoo and asked them to meet him at Mac Thatcher’s house, giving them the address.

Henry wondered how he knew Mac’s address.

“Let’s go to Mac Thatcher’s, James,” Edward said, his face a thundercloud. “Now Mac will pay for what he’s done.”

The children scrambled9 into the station wagon10. Benny sat in the very back with Amos. Jessie tried to piece together what had happened, but decided11 she’d better be patient and ask Edward later.

Grandfather, not losing a minute, drove out of the parking space and headed back to Rosedale. If he’d had a siren, it would have been going full blast.

“How do you know where Mac Thatcher lives?” Jessie ventured to ask.

“Oh, I know a lot about Mac,” Edward said. “You see, he used to work for me. He was a lazy worker, often forgetting to feed the animals. Or he’d be late for work, neglecting his tasks.”

Henry nodded. “That sounds like Mac. We were in his bookstore, and he hadn’t fed Scamper12, either.”

“Scamper?” Edward questioned.

“Scamper’s a cute little dog,” Benny explained. “If we didn’t have Watch, I’d like to take him home.”

“He is a sweet dog,” Jessie added. “You could tell by the way Mac treated him that he didn’t get any attention or love.”

Edward continued, “I just couldn’t have an employee who was irresponsible with my animals.” His eyes flashed, remembering. “He didn’t even like animals. A zoo is no place for a person who dislikes animals.”

“That’s terrible!” Violet whispered, her face stricken.

Entering Rosedale, Edward directed, “Turn left at the light, James. Anyway, I fired Mac,” he continued, “and hired Pat.”

“I can see why,” Henry said.

“You can’t have someone unreliable working with animals,” Edward said. “He not only forgot to feed some of them, but he didn’t clean out their homes, either.” He shook his head. “If you work with animals, you must be very responsible.”

“I wonder if Mac emptied the seals’ pool and changed temperatures, and did all those other mean things?” Violet asked.

“Well, he was angry with me for firing him, but we have no proof that he did those other things,” Edward replied. “One thing for sure, though, is that he’s going to answer for stealing Amos! He took him because he just wanted to get back at me any way he could.” He pointed13. “Third house on the left, James.”

Suddenly, Mac dashed out carrying a suitcase. He opened the trunk of his car.

Turning, he saw the Aldens and Edward. He pressed his lips together and waited for them to get out of the car.

“What do you want now?” he sneered14, folding his arms across his chest. “You follow me to the pet shop and now you follow me to my house!”

“I think you know why we’re here,” Edward said calmly, his eyes never leaving Mac’s frowning face.

“You stole Amos and sold him to the pet shop!” Benny said in an accusing tone. “We saw you!”

“No, I didn’t,” Mac retorted, an edge to his voice. “That monkey was nothing but trouble. Why would I want to steal him?”

“For the money,” Edward said shortly. “We went to the pet shop and rescued Amos. The monkey is in the station wagon. I’ve positively15 identified him! And,” he added, “the clerk can positively identify you!”

Mac glanced at the car and saw Amos in the cage. “Okay, so I tried to sell your monkey,” he admitted. “I didn’t get much money for him.” He shot Edward a hateful look. “After all, I lost my job and my salary!”

Edward calmly replied, “You deserved to be let go, Mac Thatcher, and I think you know it. I wouldn’t put it past you to have drained the seals’ pool, changed the temperatures, and stolen my files!”

Mac gritted16 his teeth in annoyance17. “Well, I didn’t do it! All I did was take a measly monkey.”

Doubtfully, Jessie stared at Mac. She didn’t like his mean little eyes and narrow dark face. But she realized that didn’t make him guilty.

“Did you change all the names of the animals?” Benny asked.

Mac looked surprised. “What do you mean?”

“The giraffes’ sign was put in front of the bears, and the monkeys’ sign was in front of the elephants,” Violet explained.

Mac snorted. “I never heard of such a thing!” Abruptly18, he yanked the keys out of the trunk, and they dropped in the street.

“Wait a minute!” Edward shouted, scooping19 up the keys, and dangling20 them before Mac’s eyes. “Why do you have my zoo office key and the key to the gates?”

“I forgot to turn in the fool things,” Mac said stiffly, but he bit his lip in confusion.

“I don’t think so,” Edward said icily. “You did turn in your keys, but first you had a second set made. This explains how you got into the zoo. You knew all about the zoo’s wires, how to change the temperature, and where the files were kept, didn’t you?”

Sullen21, Mac stared at the ground.

“We saw you several times at the zoo, too,” Henry said. “Now we know why.”

“Yes,” Benny said, nodding his head vigorously, “and you asked us a lot of questions about the zoo!” He stuck out his chin, daring Mac to contradict him.

Mac’s eyes shifted from one to the other, then back to the telltale keys.

“All right!” Mac growled22. “I guess you’ve got me. Sure I did all the things you mentioned! Why shouldn’t I?” Mac paused, his eyes narrowing. “You had it coming! No one fires Mac Thatcher and gets away with it. I’d be happy if your zoo closed.”

“You hurt the animals!” Benny said, his disbelieving eyes opening wide.

“If it hadn’t been for you kids and that mangy monkey, you’d never be the wiser.” He snatched the keys from Edward’s hands. “But try and stop me! I’m leaving Rosedale forever!”

Suddenly, a police car pulled up and two policemen jumped out.

Quickly, Edward told the police lieutenant23 the story of his animals and what had been done to them. “I’m sure the files will be in the house.”

The first policeman arrested Mac and ordered him into the back of the squad24 car. The lieutenant entered the house with Edward and the Aldens. Sure enough, the files were stacked in a corner.

Henry and Jessie picked up the important papers and carried them out to the car.

Scamper dashed outside with them, then stood on his hind25 legs.

“Who will take care of Scamper?” Benny wailed26. “If Mac goes to jail, there won’t be anyone to feed him.”

Edward reached down and scratched the dog under its chin. Scamper eagerly licked his fingers. “Well, Scamper, it looks like you’ll be coming home with me. I’d like a little fellow like you around the house.”

“Oh, good,” Violet said, petting Scamper.

The dog looked at them with his big dark eyes. He obviously wanted someone to love and to be loved himself.

Edward found a leash27 and fastened it to Scamper’s collar and led him outdoors. “By the way, officer, Mac Thatcher owes me five hundred dollars. That’s the money he made when he stole my monkey from the zoo and sold him.”

“Come down to the station in a few hours and swear out a complaint,” the officer said, “and we’ll see that you get your money.”

“Thanks, officer,” Edward said, with a wave. After the police car left, he breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to the Aldens and the old twinkle crept back into his eyes. “To the zoo, James!”

Arriving at the gates, Edward immediately let Scamper out, holding onto the leash, and with his other hand took the cage to the Monkey House and opened it. At first the monkey stood quite still, then suddenly he erupted into a ball of energy. He leapt up, grabbed the trapeze and swung wildly back and forth28. Then he grasped a tree branch and climbed to the top.

As they watched the monkey, a high-pitched voice interrupted them. “Yoo-hoo, Edward Marlow.”

In dismay the children turned and saw Helen Brooks29 bearing down on them, her high heels clicking determinedly30.

Not Helen Brooks, Violet thought, her heart skipping a beat. In the joy of finding Amos and uncovering Mac Thatcher, she’d almost forgotten the woman who wanted to close the zoo. But now here was Helen Brooks to ruin the day.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 thatcher ogQz6G     
n.茅屋匠
参考例句:
  • Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. 汤姆 - 索亚和撒切尔法官同乘一条小艇。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
  • Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. 撒切尔夫人几乎神经失常,还有波莉姨妈也是。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
2 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
参考例句:
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 promptly LRMxm     
adv.及时地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
  • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
4 triumphant JpQys     
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的
参考例句:
  • The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
  • There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。
5 sniffed ccb6bd83c4e9592715e6230a90f76b72     
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说
参考例句:
  • When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣,吸了吸鼻子,擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
7 mumbling 13967dedfacea8f03be56b40a8995491     
含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I could hear him mumbling to himself. 我听到他在喃喃自语。
  • He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg. 宴会结束时,他仍在咕哝着医院里的事。说着说着,他在一块冰上滑倒,跌断了左腿。
8 chattering chattering     
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
  • I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
9 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 wagon XhUwP     
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车
参考例句:
  • We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
  • The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
11 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
12 scamper 9Tqzs     
v.奔跑,快跑
参考例句:
  • She loves to scamper through the woods of the forest.她喜欢在森林里的树林中穿梭嬉戏。
  • The flash sent the foxes scampering away.闪光惊得狐狸四处逃窜。
13 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
14 sneered 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f     
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
  • It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
15 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实
参考例句:
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
16 gritted 74cb239c0aa78b244d5279ebe4f72c2d     
v.以沙砾覆盖(某物),撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 );咬紧牙关
参考例句:
  • He gritted his teeth and plunged into the cold weather. 他咬咬牙,冲向寒冷的天气。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The young policeman gritted his teeth and walked slowly towards the armed criminal. 年轻警官强忍住怒火,朝武装歹徒慢慢走过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
参考例句:
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
18 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
19 scooping 5efbad5bbb4dce343848e992b81eb83d     
n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等)
参考例句:
  • Heated ice cream scoop is used for scooping really cold ice cream. 加热的冰淇淋勺是用来舀非常凉的冰淇淋的。 来自互联网
  • The scoop-up was the key phase during a scooping cycle. 3个区间中,铲取区间是整个作业循环的关键。 来自互联网
20 dangling 4930128e58930768b1c1c75026ebc649     
悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口
参考例句:
  • The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果,那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
  • The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上,摇晃着他们的双腿。
21 sullen kHGzl     
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的
参考例句:
  • He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
  • Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐,因为昨晚没睡好。
22 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说
参考例句:
  • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 lieutenant X3GyG     
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员
参考例句:
  • He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
  • He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官,递上了一张简短的便条进去。
24 squad 4G1zq     
n.班,小队,小团体;vt.把…编成班或小组
参考例句:
  • The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
  • A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。
25 hind Cyoya     
adj.后面的,后部的
参考例句:
  • The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
  • Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。
26 wailed e27902fd534535a9f82ffa06a5b6937a     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句
27 leash M9rz1     
n.牵狗的皮带,束缚;v.用皮带系住
参考例句:
  • I reached for the leash,but the dog got in between.我伸手去拿系狗绳,但被狗挡住了路。
  • The dog strains at the leash,eager to be off.狗拼命地扯拉皮带,想挣脱开去。
28 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
29 brooks cdbd33f49d2a6cef435e9a42e9c6670f     
n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时,狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了,今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》
30 determinedly f36257cec58d5bd4b23fb76b1dd9d64f     
adv.决意地;坚决地,坚定地
参考例句:
  • "Don't shove me,'said one of the strikers, determinedly. "I'm not doing anything." “别推我,"其中的一个罢工工人坚决地说,"我可没干什么。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • Dorothy's chin set determinedly as she looked calmly at him. 多萝西平静地看着他,下巴绷得紧紧的,看来是打定主意了。 来自名作英译部分
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