The Guest Ranch
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Cottonwood Guest Ranch appeared suddenly: a long, low building the same burnt color as the desert soil it sat on.
棉花木材 客人牧场突然出现:一座长而低的建筑,同它所坐的沙漠土壤一样被烧焦的颜色.
Zach squinted as the car rumbled forward, kicking up clouds of dust with every bump; his mom’s sedan was not designed for these New Mexico roads.
他妈妈的轿车不是为这些新墨西哥州道路设计的。
Through the bug- speckled windshield, he could see a man sitting in a rocking chair, wearing a cowboy hat.
通过有斑点的挡风玻璃,他可以看到一个坐在摇椅上,戴着牛仔帽的男人.
Zach rolled his eyes.
扎克转出他的眼睛。
“Why are we on vacation in the middle of nowhere?”
“为什么我们在荒郊野外度假? “
he grumbled, flicking his thumb idly across his smartphone’s screen.
在智能手机屏幕上,
“The map doesn’t even get a signal.”
地图连信号都没有。 “
“To take a break from all that!”
“从这些事情中走开! “
Zach’s mom replied, reaching over to pluck his phone from his hands.
Zach的母亲回应说,
“To relax!
“放松!
To experience nature!”
体验大自然!”
She lowered the window and took a deep breath.
她放下了窗户 深呼吸了
“Smell that?
“闻到了吗?
That’s fresh air out there!”
这是新鲜空气, “
To Zach, the air smelled like horses and cows.
至札克所出之气有马牛之味.
He could even see the horses tossing their manes as he and his mom parked and headed into the main building.
他甚至看到马扔了他们的男人 当他和他妈妈停了下来,朝主楼走去。
Inside, old-timey photographs of rodeo riders lined the walls beneath a massive longhorn skull.
里面,牛仔骑手的老照片 将墙排入了巨大的长角头骨下
While his mom checked in, Zach leafed through his guest packet, taking in the scope of the week’s activities: horseback riding and hiking, river rafting and rodeo skills, culminating in an authentic cattle drive on the last day.
Zach通过他的客人包, 进入本周的活动范围:骑马和徒步旅行,
He had to admit that the activities looked pretty cool, especially the horseback riding.
他不得不承认这些活动看起来相当酷,尤其是骑马.
All day, he had been struck by the vastness of the desert, and also by the strangeness of traversing it by car—metal and glass and air conditioning shielding him from the elements.
整天,他都为沙漠的广阔所震撼,也为通过汽车 -- -- 金属和玻璃 -- -- 和空调来挡住他而穿过沙漠感到奇怪。
It would be different to cross the desert on horseback.
骑马穿越沙漠会不同
You would be more than just a passerby in the landscape—you’ d be a part of it.
你不仅仅是风景中的路人,
Still, Zach felt a little uneasy as he grabbed his bag and followed his mom to their casita.
Zach还是觉得有点不安 他抓住了包 跟着他妈妈去了他们的卡西塔
“Mom, are you sure this place is for us?”
“妈妈,你确定这是给我们的吗? “
he ventured.
他冒险了。
“I mean, the other guests and the people in the photos don’t exactly look like us.”
照片中的其他客人和民众并不像我们。 “
In response, his mom threw open the door to their casita and plopped down on one of the beds with evident relief.
作为回应,他妈妈把卡西塔的门打开,并扑倒了其中一张床上,明显地松了口气.
“Give it a chance,” she urged, kicking off her shoes.
她敦促说,“给机会,”踢出她的鞋子。
“Your uncle Grant said they had a great time when they came here last summer.”
“你的叔叔Grant说,他们去年夏天来到这里时玩得很开心。 “
The next morning, Zach embarked on his first horseback-riding lesson, fighting back a yawn.
第二天早上,扎克开始上他的第一个骑马的课,还击了一场打哈欠.
What sort of vacation required you to wake up with the Sun?
什么样的假期需要你和太阳一起醒来?
While the experienced kids saddled up for a trail ride, Zach and the other beginners learned the basics—the parts of the horse, the parts of the saddle, how not to get stomped or chomped on.
当经验丰富的孩子们骑马去骑小马时,扎克和其他初学者学习了基本知识——马的部分,鞍的部分,如何不被打倒或被打倒.
The ranch- hand instructors made riding seem effortless, but Zach’s horse, Gizmo, had other ideas.
但Zach的马Gizmo也有其他想法。
He refused to walk where Zach directed, no matter how fiercely he tugged on the reins.
他拒绝走扎克所指示的路,不管他多么猛烈地拉着绳子.
Why had nobody ever warned Zach just how big horses were in real life?
为什么没人警告过扎克 现实生活中的马有多大?
Gizmo’s teeth were monstrous, his muscles hard as marble.
Gizmo的牙齿非常可怕,
No wonder Zach couldn’t get him to obey.
难怪扎克不能让他服从。
The afternoon hike was a relief in comparison: Zach peered up close at cacti, listened for birdcalls, and learned to identify different kinds of scat.
比起下午的徒步旅行, 扎克在仙人掌附近对接,听到鸟叫声,并学会识别出不同种类的猫.
But he felt a bolt of envy as the experienced riders came trotting back halfway through his group’s nature walk.
但是,当经验丰富的骑手们经过他的团体的自然行走半途而返时,他感到嫉妒。
Poking around for deer poop while the plants stabbed you with their spines was considerably lackluster compared to an honest-to-goodness ride through the desert.
当植物用脊椎刺你的时候 到处打鹿粪 和一次诚实的好战的 穿越沙漠相比 相当的不省人事
Lumped in with the “Little Wranglers” as young as five and six, Zach felt extra conspicuous.
扎克带着"小流氓"相接,
He kicked grumpily at the dirt, then choked on the dust cloud he’ d created.
他狠狠地踢出土来,
“Tell me about your day, honey,” implored his mom after dinner.
“说说你的一天,亲爱的,”在晚饭后恳求他的妈妈。
“Can I have my phone now?”
“现在可以把手机给我了吗? “
“Zach,” she groaned.
她呻吟着“扎克”,
“Really?”
“真的吗? “
“You’ve been at the spa all day!
「你一整天都在温泉疗养所!
I need a break, too,” Zach insisted, and though she frowned, she handed over the phone and let him play games until bedtime.
Zach坚持说, 虽然她皱眉了, 她还是把电话交给他,
Zach’s stomach sank as he dragged his feet back toward the stables the next day.
Zach的胃在第二天拖回马厩时沉了下来。
Gizmo whinnied apprehensively as soon as he spotted Zach.
吉兹莫一发现扎克就发牢骚
It was going to be a grueling week.
这周会很糟
Just then, a tall African American man in a white Stetson hat loped by.
刚刚,一个戴着白色斯德森帽的美国黑人高个子。
“ All right, where are my beginners?”
“...... 好吧,我的初学者呢? “
he boomed.
他兴奋了。
Zach blinked.
扎克眨眼了,我看见了
A black cowboy?
一个黑人牛仔?
Working as a ranch hand in New Mexico?
在新墨西哥州当牧场手?
“Saddle up,” the man instructed, and everyone leapt into action except for Zach, who was still staring.
除了Zach, 他仍然盯着他。
The ranch hand gave him a wink.
牧场的手给了他一眨眼。
“The name’s Mitch,” he said, tipping his hat.
他说, " 他的名字是Mitch " ,他顶起帽子。
“Zach,” Zach replied.
“Zach,”扎克回答。
He had no hat to tip.
他没有帽子给小费。
“Pleasure to meet you, Zach.
“很高兴见到你,扎克。
Now hop to it!”
现在跳起来! “
By the end of class, it was clear that Zach was not keeping up.
至课已后,查克显然不守.
The other Little Wranglers were trotting, while Zach could barely direct Gizmo’s meanderings.
而Zach却几乎无法指挥Gizmo的玩偶。
“Giddyup,” Zach growled, digging in his heels and wishing he had spurs like a real cowboy.
Zach咆哮地挖起他的脚跟,
But Gizmo stayed still.
但吉兹莫没动静
“Why don’t we spend a little time with Gizmo one-on-one,” Mitch suggested as class ended, “and see if we can get you two up to speed?”
“我们为什么不花一点时间和吉兹莫一对一相处呢 ” , 米奇建议作为课的结束, “看看我们能否让你们俩加快速度。 “
Zach’s face grew warm with embarrassment.
Zach的脸因尴尬而变暖.
“That’s okay,” he mumbled.
“没关系,”他喃喃自语。
“Horseback riding isn’t really my thing.”
骑马不是我的本事。 “
“That’s a load of manure,” Mitch replied promptly.
Mitch迅速回复,
“I’ll see you here after lunch, bud.”
午餐后我会在这里见到你, “
The stables were empty in the afternoon, the grownups out on a trail ride until dusk and the kids at arts and crafts or the pool.
午后马厩空了,大人们骑着小道骑到黄昏去,孩子们在艺术和工艺或游泳池里.
Mitch was waiting with a smile.
Mitch笑着等着呢
“Here’s the first secret to cowboying,” he said and slipped a sugar cube into Zach’s hand.
他说:「这是牛仔的第一个秘密,
“Keep your palm flat, now.”
“现在把你的手放平。 “
Gizmo gobbled up the sugar cube as fast as a jackrabbit.
吉兹莫像兔子一样快地把糖方块挖出
Zach grinned.
扎克笑了起来。
“Now the rest is up to you,” Mitch proclaimed.
米奇宣称,“现在剩下的由你决定”。
“Saddle up!”
"站起来!"
Once Zach was astride, Mitch corrected his posture, adjusted his knees, and told him to loosen his grip on the reins.
扎克一走后,米奇纠正了姿势,调整了膝盖,并告诉他放松了对绳子的抓取.
“You’re in charge of the horse,” he said.
他说, " 你负责马事 " 。
“ Always remember that.”
“永远记住这一点。 “
Slowly, Zach took Gizmo for a walk around the pen.
慢慢地,扎克带着吉兹莫去走走钢笔.
This time, Gizmo followed his lead.
这一次,吉兹莫跟随他的领导.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!
“现在,
You’re a natural,” Mitch exclaimed.
Mitch说,
Zach took three more loops around the pen, a little faster each time, before Mitch told him to bring Gizmo back in.
扎克又绕了三个圈子来回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回回
Zach straightened up, clutched the reins, and clucked his tongue— and this time, Gizmo veered wildly off course.
Zach把绳子拉直了 咬住他的舌头 这一次 Gizmo疯狂地偏离了航道
Mitch caught the reins just in time.
米奇及时抓住了绳子
“Whoa, boy.
“哇,孩子。
Whoa,” he cooed, gentling the horse.
哇,"他凝固了, 调侃了马。
“Just a rabbit underfoot.
“只是一只兔子脚下。
That’s all.
仅此而已。
Easy, now.”
慢慢来 “
Carefully, he helped Zach dismount.
他小心地帮助扎克下山
As soon as he reached the ground, Zach realized he was shaking.
扎克一到地上,就意识到自己在发抖.
“I don’t know,” he said, looking out over the land, remembering his earlier daydreams of galloping through the desert on horseback.
「我不知道, 」他说,
“I might not be cut out for this ranch stuff.”
“我可能不会因为这个牧场的事情而被剪除。 “
“Now what’s that supposed to mean?”
“现在这是什么意思? “
“I mean—I mean—well, come on,” Zach exclaimed.
"我的意思是,嗯,来吧," 扎克说。
“Being a cowboy isn’t for black folks, is it?”
“当牛仔不适合黑人, “
“You don’t think I’m a real cowboy?”
“你不认为我是真正的牛仔吗? “
Mitch asked pointedly.
米奇直截了当地问。
“Well, yeah, I guess,” Zach said, rolling his eyes.
扎克说,
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, son.
“孩子,
What do they teach kids at school these days?
这些天他们在学校教孩子什么?
There’s a long history of black cowboys!
黑人牛仔历史悠久!
As a matter of fact, in the old days, one out of every four cowboys was black—including some of the most famous ones.”
事实上,过去,每四名牛仔中就有一人是黑人——包括一些最出名的牛仔. “
“No way!”
绝对不行!
Zach replied, but even as the doubt popped out of his mouth, in its place he felt a tiny sprig of hope pop up.
扎克回答说,但即使疑点从口中涌出, 在它的代替下,他感到一股微小的希望涌出.
Maybe cowboying could be for him, after all.
也许牛仔是他的,毕竟。
“Yes way,” Mitch said as he led Zach and Gizmo back to the stable.
Mitch在带领Zach和Gizmo回马厩时说:“是的,”
“There was Bose Ikard, a famous tracker in the early Texas cattle drives.
“在德克萨斯州早期的牛群运动中,有一位著名的田径运动员Bose Ikard。
Charley Willis—born a slave, died a bronco buster.
查理·威利斯生来就是个奴隶 死来就是个混混
John Hayes, ‘the Texas Kid,’ fought segregation across the Wild West.
John Hayes, “德克萨斯小子”, 与整个西部的隔离作斗争。
Rodeo star Bill Pickett started cowboying after fifth grade!”
罗德奥明星比尔·皮克特(Bill Pickett)在五年级后开始牛仔!
“Wow,” Zach breathed, even as he lugged a bucket of water over to Gizmo’s stall.
Zach喘了口气, 即使他把一桶水拖到Gizmo的摊上。
Mitch chuckled.
米奇放弃了。
“It’s true.
" 这是真的。
For more than a hundred years, black cowboys found a special kind of freedom out here in the West.
一百多年来,黑人牛仔在西方发现了一种特殊的自由.
Sometimes they had to do the dirtiest work, the hardest work—pinning down the cattle for branding, rounding up wayward herds—but still they thrived.
有时,他们不得不做最肮脏的工作,最辛苦的工作,他们为牲畜打上烙印,围住远道的牲畜,但他们仍然繁衍。
Persisted against all odds.
心烦意乱
Proved themselves, and rode with the other cowboys— white, Mexican, Native American, you name it.
证明自己,并骑 与其他牛仔——白人,墨西哥人,美国原住民,你说它的名字。
All equals out under the desert sky.
在沙漠的天空下,一切都是平等的
The Wild West is your history, too, bud.
荒野 西部也是你的历史,伙计
Just as much as anyone else.”
和别人一样多 “
By this point, Mitch was kneeling, looking Zach straight in the eye.
此时米奇正在跪下,直视扎克的眼睛.
Zach took a deep breath.
扎克深呼吸了。
Only that morning, he had believed there was no place for him in the cowboy story of the West.
就在那天早上,他相信西部的牛仔故事中没有他的位置.
Suddenly, everything was different.
突然间 一切都不一样了
The little sprig of hope took root.
小小的希望之花扎了根
“Thanks,” he whispered.
他低声说“谢谢,”
“No problem, bud,” Mitch said, then swept his giant white Stetson off his head and plunked it down on top of Zach’s.
Mitch说:“没问题,
The rest of the week, the only thing Zach could think and talk about was riding.
周余所出,而札克所想而论之事也,所出所出之事也.
Every morning he got to the stable early to feed Gizmo a sugar cube.
每天早上他都早到马厩 给吉兹莫喂一粒糖
He started skipping the afternoon activities—rock climbing, nature walks, a shopping trip to town—to practice for the cattle drive on the last day.
他开始跳过下午的活动——攀岩、自然行走、到镇上去购物,
His mom skipped the shopping trip, too, and chitchatted with Mitch instead while Zach and Gizmo rode round and round, up and down, tackling the easiest trail back behind the bunkhouses.
他妈妈也跳过购物之行 和米奇聊了一会儿 而Zach和Gizmo骑着车 上下走着 在床铺屋后面最简单的路
Every night, Zach rode Gizmo across the desert, chasing cattle like Bose Ikard all through his dreams.
每天晚上,扎克骑着吉兹莫穿越了沙漠,追逐着像博斯·伊克德一样的牛群通通通地追逐着他的梦想.
He had a goal, now: to ride in the cattle drive.
他有一个目标,现在:骑上牛车。
He might not be ready yet to learn to lasso or barrel ride like some of the other kids, but Zach knew if he practiced every day—persisted, like Mitch said—he would be able to prove himself a ranch hand.
他可能还没有准备好像其他孩子一样学习拉索或管子骑行,但扎克知道,如果他每天练习——像米奇说的那样——他会证明自己是牧场的一手。
That didn’t stop his nerves, of course.
当然,
The morning of the cattle drive, he looked out over the landscape at all the cacti he could topple into, all the rocks that could make Gizmo trip—and, nevertheless, squared his shoulders, donned his white Stetson, and saddled up his horse.
赶牛的一早,他俯瞰着风景,他可以翻上所有的仙人掌,所有能够让吉兹莫出行的岩石——尽管如此,他还是平平了肩膀,把他的白色斯泰特森取出,并鞍上他的马.
“You ready, bud?”
"准备好了吗,伙计? “
asked Mitch.
问米奇。
“We’re both ready,” Zach replied, resting a hand on Gizmo’s warm neck—and then they were off.
扎克回答说, “我们都准备好了,”扎克说,
At first, all Zach could think about was his riding.
起初,扎克所能想到的只是他的骑术.
Back straight, knees up, eyes ahead, reins held low with thumbs up.
向后直走 膝盖向上 向前看 用拇指举起绳子
Mitch’s advice looped through Zach’s head like a mantra: You’re in charge, but trust the horse.
Mitch的建议像话语一样, 但相信马。
All around him rode the ranch hands, kids from his class, and adult guests, plenty of whom were also beginners, Zach realized.
他身边到处骑着牧场的手,他班上的孩子,还有成年来宾,其中许多也是初学者,扎克意识到了.
They, too, seemed to be muttering mantras and adjusting their posture.
他们似乎也胡言乱语并调整了姿态。
His mom was among them, trotting cautiously alongside Mitch and his horse, Maggie, catching up to Zach.
他的妈妈也在他们中间, 和米奇和马儿玛姬一起小心翼翼地追上扎克.
“Feel that breeze?”
"感觉那微风? “
she called.
她打电话来
“Isn’t it wonderful?”
" 这不是很棒吗? “
It was.
没错
Zach could smell the cattle on the wind, but he didn’t mind—not out here in the desert.
Zach能闻到风下牛的味道,
Gizmo trotted confidently through the scrub, flanks rising and falling beneath Zach’s legs.
Gizmo满怀信心地踏入了洗手间,
They weren’t galloping, no, but they were keeping pace!
他们并没有奔跑,
When they reached the herd, the cattle meandered, not sure where to go, just like the guests.
当他们到达了牧群,牛群被放出,不知该去哪里,就像客人一样.
Zach glanced at his mom, wondering if she knew what happened next.
Zach看着他妈妈 想知道她是否知道接下来发生了什么
How did a cattle drive work, exactly?
牛车怎么开的?
The cowboys knew.
牛仔们知道
“Hang tight!”
抓紧!
Mitch shouted as he and the other ranch hands spurred their horses on.
米奇喊着,他和其他牧场的手 刺激他们的马。
They surrounded the herd and began funneling the cattle toward fresh grazing land.
他们包围了牧群,开始把牛排到新的牧场去。
The drive proceeded smoothly, like a well- choreographed dance.
车开得很顺利,就像舞蹈一样
Excitedly, Zach gave Gizmo a little kick.
令人兴奋的是,扎克给了吉兹莫一脚.
“Stick to the back!”
"站到后面来!"
Mitch called, and Zach scowled.
Mitch打来电话 Zach喊了
Why should he?
为什么?
Then he understood.
然后,他明白了。 \ N
After Mitch had helped coax the herd forward, he circled back to Zach and his mom.
在米奇帮助牛群前进后,他转回了扎克和他的妈妈.
“Now we round up the stragglers!
“现在我们围住那些散乱者!
That’s the best part.”
这是最好的部分。 “
Zach beamed.
扎克被烧了
The pace at the back was perfect for him and Gizmo, and whenever a lazy steer or distracted cow wandered off, he and Mitch and his mom worked together to push it back into the herd.
后面的节奏对他和吉兹莫来说是完美的,每当一头懒惰的方向盘或分心的牛走开后,他和米奇同心协力将它推回了牧群.
Cowboying was hot, sweaty, dirty work.
牛作作活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活
It was challenging, keeping an eye on all the cattle and coordinating Gizmo’s movements, all while swallowing most of the herd’s dust—but it was more fun than Zach had ever had in his life.
却比Zach一生中更有趣。
That night, nothing could dim Zach’s smile, though he was so sore that it hurt to walk.
当晚,没有什么能淡化扎克的笑容,虽然他很痛,走路很痛苦.
At the evening campfire, he collapsed beside his mom and crowed, “Best day ever!”
在傍晚的营火中,他倒在了妈妈旁边并叫喊着“最好的一天!
“You were awesome out there,” she said, smiling proudly.
她骄傲地说,“你在那里真棒。”
“Do you want to see?”
“你想看看吗? “
She rummaged in her pocket, and out came the last item Zach expected—his phone.
她从口袋里翻来翻去 最后一件Zach想得到的东西
There was the cattle drive, captured in vivid detail: Zach and Gizmo trotting off toward the horizon; Zach and Gizmo creeping up on a wayward steer; Zach dismounting, covered in dust.
那里有牛车, 生动地捕捉: 扎克和吉斯莫向地平线行走;扎克和吉斯莫向上行走;扎克向下行走,被尘埃所覆盖。
“Oh man, wait until my friends see these!”
"哦,伙计,等我朋友们看到这些! “
Zach exclaimed.
札克赞叹.
But the words jerked him out of his digital reverie.
但是这些话让他摆脱了数字化的喜好.
The photos would make for great memories, sure, but they were stealing him away from the here and now: his achy legs, the toasting marshmallows, the starlit sky beneath which the ranch hands crooned cowboy songs.
照片会给人们留下美好的回忆,当然, 但是现在他们把他从这里偷走了: 他的痒腿, 烤棉花糖, 星光的天空, 在下面,牧场手握牛仔歌曲。
Across the fire, Mitch shot him a wink.
穿过大火,米奇向他眨了眼
“Tomorrow, I mean.
“明天,我是说。
When we go home.”
当我们回家的时候 “
Zach popped a melty marshmallow into his mouth and turned to his mom.
扎克把一粒融化了的棉花糖塞入口中,转而去找他妈妈.
She seemed to understand his words perfectly, despite the goo, judging by her wide smile.
她似乎完全理解他的话 尽管她的笑容很宽广
“Right now,” he said, “I don’t want to be anywhere but here.”
“现在,”他说:“我不想去任何地方, “