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The Psammead looked a little happier when it heard that, and it said, “Well, you can talk to me, if you want to. Per-haps I’ll answer you and perhaps I won’t. Now say something.”
聽到那個這個賽米德顯得稍微高興些了，它說：“好吧，如果你們愿意，你們可以和我說說話。我也許回答你們的問題，也許不回答。現在說什么吧。”
At first the children could not think of anything to say, but then Robert asked, “How long have you lived here?”
開頭孩子們想不出要說什么，然而不一會兒羅伯特就問：“你在這兒住多久了？”
“Oh, thousands of years,” the Psammead answered.
“哦，幾千年了吧，”賽米德回答說。
The children waited, but the Psammead was silent.
孩子們等賽米德往下說，但它不說話了。
“Please tell us more,” Robert said.
“請多告訴我們一些情況，”羅伯特說。
“Well, all right, then,” the Psammead said. “There were lots of us then,” it went on. “People sent their children out to look for Psammeads, and when they found us, we gave them a wish.”
“唔，行，那好，”賽米德說。“當初我們有許多人馬呢，”它接著說。“人們打發孩子們去找賽米德，找到時我們就給他們實現一個愿望。”
“What happened to all the Psammeads, then?” Robert asked.
“那后來賽米德都怎么樣了？”羅伯特問。
“Well, if they get wet, they get ill and they usually die, and that’s what happened. Most of them got wet and died. And I’m not going to tell you another thing.”
“噢，要是它們弄濕了自己，就會生病，常常會死的，事情就是那樣。大部分賽米德弄濕了，死了。我不再告訴你們別的事了。”
“Oh, just one more question, please,” said Robert. “Do you give wishes now?”
“哦，請再回答一個問題，”羅伯特說，“你現在還幫人們實現愿望嗎？”
“You’ve had one,” said the Psammead. “You wished to see me, and here I am.”
“你們已經實現一個了。”賽米德說，“你們希望看到我，我就來了。”
“Oh, please. Just one more,” Anthea cried.
“噢，求求你了。就再來實現一個愿望吧。”安西婭叫道。
“Well, all right, but be quick! I’m tired of you!”
“唔，那好吧，可是快點！你們真煩人！”
It is very difficult to think of a really good wish, in just a second or two. Then Anthea remembered a wish of hers and Jane’s. She knew that the boys wouldn’t like it, but it was better than nothing.
一兩秒內就想出一個好愿望真困難。接著安西婭記起了她和簡的一個愿望。她知道男孩子們不會喜歡它，可總比沒有強。
“I wish we were all very, very beautiful,” she said.
“我希望我們都非常非常漂亮，”她說。
The Psammead pushed out its long eyes and got bigger and fatter, and the children waited. Then it said,” I’m sorry. I haven’t done this for a long time. I’ll try again, but l can only do one wish a day for you. Do you agree to that?”
賽米德將雙眼從眼眶伸出去好遠，并變大變胖了，孩子們等待著。一會兒，它說：“對不起。我很久沒這樣做了。我再試一次，但是一天只能為你們實現一個愿望。你們同意嗎？”
“Yes, oh yes!” the children cried.
“同意，同意！”孩子們喊道。
“But remember, the wish is only for a day,” said the Psammead. “When the sun goes down, everything goes back to what it was.”
“但是記住，只能維持一個白天。”賽米德說，“太陽落下去時，一切就恢復原樣了。”
The Psammead slowly got bigger, then suddenly went small again. “That’s all right!” it said. At once it turned and went back into the sand at the bottom of the hole.
賽米德慢慢地大起來，然后突然又變小了。“好了！”它說。它馬上轉過身回到洞底的沙中去了。
The children stood there for a second, and then Anthea turned to speak to the others. But they were not there! She was looking at three strangers— a girl with beautiful red hair and big blue eyes, and two very good-looking boys. Suddenly she understood. They had their wish. The strangers were Robert and Cyril and Jane—but now they were beautiful. Cyril’s hair was golden now, and Robert’s was black.
孩子們站了一下，然后安西婭轉身去和其他的孩子說話。可他們不在了！她看見三個陌生人——一個長著漂亮的紅頭發和大大的藍眼睛的女孩，還有兩個很好看的男孩。她忽然明白了。他們的愿望實現了：陌生人就是羅伯特、西里爾和簡——只是他們現在漂亮了。西里爾的頭發現在是金色的了，羅伯特則是黑頭發。
“I liked you better before!” Robert cried angrily to his brother and sisters. “Jane’s hair looks like carrots, and Cyril looks really stupid with long golden hair.”
“我更喜歡你們原來的樣子！”羅伯特生氣地對他的姐弟們叫著，“簡的頭發像胡蘿卜，西里爾長著金色長發的樣子看起來真傻。”
They went to find Baby, but he was just the same as he was before.
他們去找小弟弟，可他還是原來的樣子。
“Perhaps it’s because he’s young. He can’t have wishes. We’ll have to remember that next time,” Anthea said, and she held out her arms to him. But Baby’s mouth turned down at the corners and then he began to cry loudly. He did not know them!
“也許是因為他大小了吧。他也不會希望要什么。下次我們得記住。”安西婭說著并向他伸出手臂。可小弟弟撇著嘴開始大哭起來。他不認識他們！
