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儿童英语读物 The Comic Book Mystery CHAPTER 8 Scaredy Cats

时间:2017-10-26 04:55来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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Grandfather on the open door of the boxcar. “You have a visitor,” he announced.

Violet looked up from her drawing. “Hi, Grandfather. Who is it?”

Grandfather came inside, allowing Sid Hoyt to step into the boxcar behind him.

Sid Hoyt greeted the children and glanced around the room. “So this is the famous boxcar where you kids once lived. It’s fixed1 up nice.”

“The children drew a comic book,” said James Alden proudly. He held out the copy the kids had made at the library the night before. “I think it’s quite good.”

Sid paged through the comic. “It’s very good,” he praised. “I like the way you used the boxcar as the place where the Super-Aldens get their powers. You kids have great imaginations.”

“Violet drew the pictures,” said Henry.

“We’re working on the second issue now,” Jessie added.

Sid checked out the new panels on their table. “You kids may put me out of business!”

Everyone laughed.

“I came here for a reason,” Sid told them. “I want to invite you to the comic book convention in Hartford on Saturday.” He turned to Grandfather. “The invitation includes you, Mr. Alden.”

“Oh, boy!” Benny shouted.

James Alden considered. “I have business in Hartford I’ve been putting off. Where is the convention?”

“Hartford Century Hotel,” Sid replied.

Grandfather nodded. “I think that would work out fine. I’ll drive to Hartford, and while you all are attending the convention, I’ll take care of my business downtown. We’ll stay at the hotel overnight and come back on Sunday. How does that sound?”

“Yay!” Benny cheered. “This is going to be fun!”

“I have another favor to ask,” Sid said to Grandfather. “May I borrow your grandchildren this afternoon? You see, I am giving a presentation tomorrow. I have a lot of material to sort out and pack. My wife usually helps me, but she’s working on a big project.”

“We’d love to help,” Jessie answered for them.

“I’ll give them supper,” Sid told Grandfather. “And bring them home before too late. We’ll all need an early start tomorrow.”

The kids climbed into Sid’s green van parked out front and they drove off.

On the drive to Sid’s house, they all discussed the mystery.

“We haven’t found the counterfeiter3 yet,” Henry admitted. “But some strange things have happened. Do you know Marvin Peabody?”

“The president of the Connecticut Captain Fantastic Fan Club?” Sid replied. “I know him. Why?”

“We saw him at the library last night,” Jessie explained. “And he was at the antiques show where we bought issue number nine. He tried to buy it from us. When he saw us last night, he tried to buy the comic again. He offered us a lot of money.”

“Not only that,” Violet put in, “but he seemed kind of jealous that we’re friends with you.”

Sid sighed. “Marvin used to call me a lot and interrupt my work. I’m grateful for my fans. If nobody bought my comics, where would I be? But Marvin can be demanding.”

“Why does he want to buy our comic so much?” Violet wondered.

“Good question,” Sid said. “Marvin Peabody has a whole set of Captain Fantastic comics in mint condition. That means they are in Mylar bags and the covers have never been creased4. I autographed a copy of his issue number nine at last year’s Hartford convention.”

Henry nodded. “It’s like we suspected. Marvin just wants our number nine.”

“But why?” Benny asked.

“Because he knows it’s counterfeit2?” Jessie guessed.

“Or,” said Violet, “because he was supposed to get something from that particular comic.”

“The note!” the others chimed in.

Sid pulled the van into the garage behind his barn-house. “I can see why you kids are detectives. You figure every angle.”

As soon as Sid unlocked the door, Batman and Robin5 ran over, meowing. They weaved in and out of the children’s legs, making the Aldens giggle6.

“I think they’re hungry,” Benny said as Robin licked his fingers.

“Those two are always hungry,” said Sid. “They’ll just have to wait till suppertime.”

Benny petted the cats, “I know how you feel,” he told them. “I’m always hungry, too.”

The Aldens followed Sid into the studio area. Sid opened the narrow, flat drawers of a long metal file cabinet.

“This is where I store my original art,” he said. “I’m doing a presentation on issue number nine, since it’s such a curiosity. People are interested in how I made the mistake on Captain Fantastic’s costume.”

Finding the right drawer, he pulled out several long sheets of white cardboard and laid them on the drawing table.

“Is that the original art for number nine?” asked Violet. The cardboard sheets were covered with tissue paper.

Sid handed one of the boards to her. “Raise the tissue—it’s only hinged at the top.”

Violet lifted the tissue cover, revealing bright drawings beneath of Captain Fantastic leaping across a river.

“I thought you did the drawings in pencil and wrote down the colors for the colorist at the comic book house,” she remarked.

“You’re right,” Sid answered. “But I make full-color drawings for myself and for presentations. I also have the rough sketches7, cover drawings, and the pencil finishes for each comic. They are all jumbled8 up, though. That’s why I need your help.”

The children sorted drawings and sketches for issue number nine. Sid chose the panels he wanted to use in his presentation. He set aside the splash page as the piece to auction9 off for charity.

“It should sell for a good price,” he said.

They packed the art carefully in two portfolio10 cases, along with slides of the rest of the art that Sid would show using a projector11.

“Do you keep the art for all your comics?” Henry asked the cartoonist.

Sid nodded. “ABC Comics sends the final pencil art back. My originals are probably the most valuable things I own. Art galleries frame these pieces and sell them.”

“The counterfeiter wants the originals to number nine,” said Jessie. “Maybe he will try to steal the art at the convention.”

“I’ve thought of that,” Sid said. “I’m going to be really busy tomorrow. Will you help guard my art?”

The kids agreed.

Jessie thought, I hope the counterfeiter does try to take the art. Then we can catch him!

Sid heated some pork barbecue and the children set the table. While they ate supper, Batman and Robin gazed pleadingly at their plates.

“Shoo!” Sid said in mock anger. “You have cat food in your dishes.”

Suddenly the cats scurried12 into the living room, eyes round with fear, tails fluffed twice their normal size.

“They don’t act like that unless they are really spooked,” Sid said, concerned.

Henry stared out the window. “They were looking this way. Somebody—or something—out there scared them.”

Immediately everyone ran outside. They saw no one.

“Look at this!” Jessie called.

Under the dining area window, footprints marked the moist earth. A sprinkling of yellow powder edged one heel.

“That’s the same stuff we found in the library when the note was stolen,” Benny observed. He put some on his finger and sniffed13. “It smells like the place where they are building the new house.”

“Fresh-cut lumber,” Henry agreed. “It’s sawdust.”

“So now we know the prowler and the person who stole our note are the same,” Jessie concluded. “And that person works where wood is cut.”

Violet placed her foot beside one of the prints. “Look how small these prints are. And not very deep. I think they were made by a woman.”

“Or a small man,” Sid added.

“Like Marvin Peabody,” Henry said.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
2 counterfeit 1oEz8     
vt.伪造,仿造;adj.伪造的,假冒的
参考例句:
  • It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
  • The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远,实际是最近的一幅赝品。
3 counterfeiter gvtzao     
n.伪造者
参考例句:
  • If the illegal gains are very large the counterfeiter shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than seven years and be fined. 对于违法所得数额巨大的,处3年以上7年以下有期徒刑,并处罚金。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Judge: (asking a counterfeiter) Why do you make false money? 法官:(威严地问假币制造者)你为什么制造假币? 来自互联网
4 creased b26d248c32bce741b8089934810d7e9f     
(使…)起折痕,弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 ); (皮肤)皱起,使起皱纹; 皱皱巴巴
参考例句:
  • You've creased my newspaper. 你把我的报纸弄皱了。
  • The bullet merely creased his shoulder. 子弹只不过擦破了他肩部的皮肤。
5 robin Oj7zme     
n.知更鸟,红襟鸟
参考例句:
  • The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
  • We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟,知道春天要到了。
6 giggle 4eNzz     
n.痴笑,咯咯地笑;v.咯咯地笑着说
参考例句:
  • Both girls began to giggle.两个女孩都咯咯地笑了起来。
  • All that giggle and whisper is too much for me.我受不了那些咯咯的笑声和交头接耳的样子。
7 sketches 8d492ee1b1a5d72e6468fd0914f4a701     
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概
参考例句:
  • The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
  • You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 jumbled rpSzs2     
adj.混乱的;杂乱的
参考例句:
  • Books, shoes and clothes were jumbled together on the floor. 书、鞋子和衣服胡乱堆放在地板上。
  • The details of the accident were all jumbled together in his mind. 他把事故细节记得颠三倒四。
9 auction 3uVzy     
n.拍卖;拍卖会;vt.拍卖
参考例句:
  • They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
  • They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。
10 portfolio 9OzxZ     
n.公事包;文件夹;大臣及部长职位
参考例句:
  • He remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio.他因为她带着一个大公文包而记住了她。
  • He resigned his portfolio.他辞去了大臣职务。
11 projector 9RCxt     
n.投影机,放映机,幻灯机
参考例句:
  • There is a new projector in my office.我的办公室里有一架新的幻灯机。
  • How long will it take to set up the projector?把这个放映机安放好需要多长时间?
12 scurried 5ca775f6c27dc6bd8e1b3af90f3dea00     
v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She said goodbye and scurried back to work. 她说声再见,然后扭头跑回去干活了。
  • It began to rain and we scurried for shelter. 下起雨来,我们急忙找地方躲避。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 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》
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