初级Zorro
Chapter Seven: The Avengers[1]
In the evening the magistrate and hisfriends are in the tavern. They are laughing about the old friar.
"Why are you laughing?" asks amysterious voice. They look at the door of the tavern and see Zorro. He has apistol in one hand and a sword in the other.
"Magistrate! I am here to punish you," says Zorro. "Old Friar Felipe is not a thief and you know it."
"I am an important magistrate. I don'tlike friars because they are your friends, Zorro."
Zorro gives a whip to the magistrate's friend and says, "Now whip this corrupt magistrate 15 times."
"But I cannot do this," says thefriend.
"Whip him or I whip you!" saysZorro.
The friend whips the magistrate. After the punishment the magistrate falls to the ground.
"This is how I punish dishonest[2]people," says Zorro.
The next day everyone talks about the magistrate's punishment.
A group of young men want to help Captain Ramon arrest Zorro. They look for him in the hills and in the valleys. In the evening they go to the Vega hacienda. When Don Alejandro sees them he says, "Why are you all here?"
"We are looking for Zorro. We want to capture the bandit and get the reward. But now we are tired and hungry. Can you give us some food?"
"Yes, of course. Please come in. You can put your swords and pistols near the door," says Don Alejandro."Sit down! Eat these cakes and drink this wine."
Don Alejandro and Don Diego talk to theyoung men.
At 9 p.m. Don Diego says, "Please excuse me. I am tired and I am going to bed."
"Look, Diego, these young men are nottired. It's only 9 p.m.You are young but you are always tired," says DonAlejandro.
"Yes, father, you are right. Good night everyone!" The others eat, drink and sing.
At midnight a masked man appears at the door.
"Look, it is Zorro!" says one of the young men. "Zorro, the bandit," they all say.
"Yes, I am Zorro, but I am not a bandit. I have principles[3]and I fight for them. In California we have corrupt political men, cruel magistrates and dishonest people. I want to change this. I fight to help the poor, the natives and the friars. What are your principles?"
"We want to help the poor, the natives and the friars too," says one young man.
"Our principles are the same,"says another.
"Come with me and we can fight together! We can make California a better place to live," says Zorro.
"But who are you? Where do you live?" asks a young man.
"I can't tell you. It's asecret," says Zorro.
The young men talk together.
"Yes, we want to fight with you. We want justice[4]in California. Our new name is The Avengers!" says a young man.
"Yes, we are The Avengers," theyall say.
"Good! We now fight together!"says Zorro and leaves.
"The Governor of California is here today,"says Sergeant Gonzales.
"Good!" says Captain Ramon."I must speak to him."
"Good morning, Captain Ramon,"says the Governor. "I have your letter. Thank you for the information about the Pulido family. They are Zorro's friends. They are traitors. We must put them in prison and kill them! They are dangerous."
"What a good idea! My soldiers can arrest them today," says the Captain.
A group of soldiers goes to the Pulido hacienda. They arrest Don Carlos, Dona Catalina and Lolita. They take them to prison.Don Carlos is furious. His wife and daughter cry.
When Don Diego hears about this, he goes to the Governor. He asks him, "Why is the Pulido family in prison?"
The Governor answers, "They are Zorro's friends. They help and protect him. They are traitors!"
"I cannot believe this. I know them.They are honest people.They don't help bandits," says Don Diego.
"You are wrong, Don Diego. They must be punished. The punishment for traitors is death," says the Governor.
Early in the evening Zorro sends a message to The Avengers. The message says:
"Meet me at midnight at the lake. Bring yourswords and pistols.
Pass the word to everyone."
At midnight Zorro and The Avengers meet atthe lake. Every Avenger has a mask on his face. Zorro says, "We are hereto rescue[6]Don Pulido and his family. They must escape from prison. They are innocent[7].We must be silent, enter the prison and help them. Francisco, you take DonCarlos to the village of Pala. Jose, you take Dona Catalina to the Vega hacienda.I want to take Lolita to Friar Felipe. They must hide for a few days."
Zorro and The Avengers rescue the Pulido family. Don Carlos and Dona Catalina reach their destination[8].The soldiers follow Zorro and Lolita. Zorro's horse is very fast.
Zorro and Lolita arrive at Friar Felipe'shacienda. Zorro says, "Can Lolita stay here with you for a few days? Sheis in danger."
"Yes, I can protect her," says Friar Felipe. Zorro kisses Lolita and says, "Always remember that I love you." Then he rides away on his horse.
[1]Avengers:复仇者(佐罗的朋友,喜欢惩罚坏人)。
[2]dishonest:不诚实。
[3]principles:原则。
[4]justice:公道,正义。
[5]escape:逃脱。
[6]rescue:搭救。
[7]innocent:无辜的，清白的。
[8]destination:目的地。
中级Alice
Chapter Nine: Who Stole the Tarts?
The King and the Queen were sitting on the throne. The Knave of Hearts
was standing in front of them. There were two soldiers near the Knave. It was the Knave of Hearts' trial.
'I must be in a courtroom. Here's the judge with his wig and gown and that's the jury,' thought Alice, Looking at the twelve animals and birds in the jury-box.
Alice sat down. When everybody was ready the King, who was the judge,said: 'Read the accusation!'
The White Rabbit read from a big roll of paper:
'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts
All on a summer day:
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts,And took them all away!'
'Off with his head!' cried the Queen.
'But we must have some witness first!' cried the White Rabbit.
'Call the first witness!' said the King.
The first witness was the Hatter. He had his tea in one hand and bread and butter in the other hand.
'I am sorry about this but I was having my tea when they called me,' said the Hatter.
'When did you begin your tea?' asked the King.
'March the fourteenth, I think,' answered the Hatter.
'The fifteenth,' said the March Hare.
'The sixteenth,' added the Dormouse.
'Write that down!' said the King, 'and take off your hat.'
'It isn't mine,' said the Hatter.
'You stole it, didn't you?' inquired the King.
'No, your Majesty, I didn't,' replied the Hatter. He was very frightened.
'I sell hats, you see. I'm a Hatter,' he said.
'Let's continue now. What did you see?' asked the King.
'Well, your Majesty, I was having my tea when the March Hare said ...'
'I didn't!' protested the March Hare.
'I mean ... the Dormouse said.'
The Dormouse didn't protest. He was asleep, so the Hatter went on. 'Well,I cut more bread and butter.'
'But what did the Dormouse say?' inquired the King.
'I can't remember,' replied the Hatter.
'You must remember or I'll cut off your head!' threatened the King. The Hatter was shaking with fear.
'Please, your Majesty, I'm a poor man. Let me go!' cried the Hatter.
'Cut off his head!' ordered the Queen.
The Hatter ran away so quickly that the executioner couldn't catch him.
Alice felt very strange. 'This courtroom seems so small. Perhaps I'm growing again!' Alice thought.
'Next witness!' the King called out.
The next witness was the Duchess' cook. When she entered the courtroom she had a pepper pot so everybody started to sneeze.
'Tell us what you know,' said the King. 'Your Majesty, you must ask her questions,' said the White Rabbit.
'That's right. Well, let's see, what are tarts made of?' asked the King.
'Pepper, of course,' answered the cook.
'Next witness!' said the King.
The White Rabbit looked at his paper and read out the name:
'ALICE!'
Chapter Ten: The End of the Trial
'Here I am!' cried Alice. She stood up in such a hurry that she knocked over the jury box.
'I'm very sorry!' said Alice picking up the jury animals as quickly as she could.
'What can you tell us about this?' asked the King.
'Nothing,' answered Alice.
'That's very important,' said the King.
'You mean unimportant, your Majesty,' said the White Rabbit.
'Of course, that's what I meant ... unimportant,' replied the King.
The jury was very busy writing down what the witness said. Some of them wrote 'unimportant' others wrote 'important'. The King was writing in his book, too. After a while he shouted: 'Silence! I have an important rule for you. Listen!' Everybody was silent.
'Rule Forty-two: All people more than a mile tall must leave the courtroom,' declared the King.
Everybody looked at Alice.
'I'm not that tall,' said Alice.
'Of course you are,' said the King.
'You're more than two miles tall,' added the Queen.
'I won't leave. It's not a real rule. You've just invented it,' protested Alice.
'It's the oldest rule in the book,' said the King.
'Then it should be Number one and not Number Forty-two,' replied Alice.
The King didn't know what to say. He looked at the jury and asked: 'What do you think?'
'Cut off his head!' said the Queen pointing at the Knave of Hearts.
'Sentence first and then verdict,' protested the White Rabbit.
'You should ask him if he's guilty first,' suggested Alice.
'Keep quiet!' said the Queen.
'I won't! You're just a pack of cards!' replied Alice.
When Alice said this, the cards flew up into the air and then down upon her.
'Wake up, Alice!'
Alice opened her eyes and saw her sister's face, the river and the green fields.
'I had a strange dream,' said Alice. She told her sister about the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat and the cruel Queen.
Alice's sister kissed her and said: 'Let's go home dear. We'll have some tea.'
Alice got up and walked home thinking of those strange creatures in that land of wonders on a beautiful, sunny afternoon.
