(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
BOB DOUGHTY: Now, the VOA Special English program, American Stories.
(MUSIC)
Last week we brought you the first of four programs called "A Princess of Mars." Our story is from a series of books by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. They are science fiction stories, a mix of imagination and science.
Last week, we met John Carter who begins the story. He enters a cave deep in the desert in the state of Arizona. There something happens. He does not know how, but he has been transported to the Red Planet, Mars.
He quickly learns that gravity on Mars is much less than on Earth. The lack of gravity makes him very strong. He can even jump very high without trying.
He finds a low wall that surrounds a group of eggs. The eggs are opening. Out come small, fierce-looking green creatures. When we left John Carter, a green adult creature carrying a long sharp spear was coming toward him.
And now, the second program in our series, "A Princess of Mars."
(MUSIC)
JOHN CARTER: The creature with the spear was huge. There were many other similar creatures. They had ridden behind me on the backs of large animals. Each of them carried a collection of strange-looking weapons.
The one with the large spear got down from the back of his animal and began walking toward me. He was almost five meters tall and a dark green color. Huge teeth stuck out of his face, and his expression showed much hate and violence.
I immediately knew I was facing a terrible warrior. He began moving quickly toward me with the spear. I was completely unarmed. I could not fight. My only chance was to escape.
I used all my strength to jump away from him. I was able to jump almost thirty meters. The green Martian stopped and watched my effort. I would learn later that the look on his face showed complete surprise.
The creatures gathered and talked among themselves. While they talked, I thought about running away. However, I noticed several of them carried devices that looked very much like rifles. I could not run.
Soon, all but one of the creatures moved away. The one who had threatened me stayed. He slowly took off a metal band from his arm and held it out to me. He spoke in a strange language.
(SOUND)
JOHN CARTER: Slowly, he laid down his weapons. I thought this would have been a sign of peace anywhere on Earth...why not on Mars, too? I walked toward him and in a normal voice announced my name and said I had come in peace. I knew he did not understand, but like me, he took it to mean that I meant no harm.
Slowly, we came together. He gave me the large metal band that had been around his arm. He turned and made signs with his hands that I should follow him. Soon we arrived at the large animal he had been riding.
He again made a sign with his hands that I should ride on the same animal behind him. The group turned and began riding across the land. We moved quickly toward mountains in the distance.
(MUSIC)
JOHN CARTER: The large animals we rode moved quickly across the land. I could tell from the surrounding mountains that we were on the bottom of a long dead sea.
In time we came to a huge city. At first I thought the city was empty. The buildings all were empty and in poor repair. But soon I saw hundreds of the green warriors. I also saw green women and children. I soon learned about many cities like this. The cities were built hundreds of years ago by a people that no longer existed. The green Martians used the cities. They moved from one empty city to another, never stopping for more than a day or two.
We got down from our animals and walked into a large building. We entered a room that was filled with fierce green warriors.
(SOUND)
It was not difficult to tell that these were the leaders of the green Martians. One of them took hold of my arm. He shook me and lifted me off the ground. He laughed when he did so. I was to learn that green Martians only laugh at the pain or suffering of others.
This huge warrior threw me to the ground and then took hold of my arm again to pick me up. I did the only thing I could do. I hit him with my closed fist as hard as I could.
(SOUND)
The green warrior fell to the floor and did not move. The others in the room grew silent. I had knocked down one of their warriors with only my hand.
I moved away from him and prepared to defend myself as best I could. But they did not move. The green Martian that had captured me walked toward me. He said in a clear voice:
TARS TARKAS: "TARS TARKAS -- TARS TARKAS."
JOHN CARTER: As he spoke, he pointed to his own chest. He was telling me his name! I pointed to my chest and said my name, "John Carter."
He turned and said the word, "Sola." Immediately, a green Martian woman came close. He spoke to her. She led me to another building and into a large room.
The room was filled with equipment carried by the green Martians. She prepared something for me to eat. I was very hungry.
I pointed to her and said the word "Sola." She pointed at me and said my name. It was a beginning. Sola was my guard.
She also became my teacher. In time she would become a close and valued friend. As I ate my meal, my lessons in the language of the green Martians continued.
(MUSIC)
JOHN CARTER: Two days later, Tars Tarkas came to my room. He carried the weapons and the metal armbands the green warriors wear. He put them on the ground near my feet. Sola told him I now understood some of their language. He turned to me and spoke slowly.
TARS TARKAS: The warrior you hit is dead. His weapons and the metal of his rank are yours, John Carter. He was a leader of one small group among our people. Because you have killed him, you now are a leader.
You are still a captive and not free to leave. However you will be treated with the respect you have earned. You are now a warrior among our people.
JOHN CARTER: Tars Tarkas turned and spoke softly. From beyond the door a strange creature entered the room. It was bigger than a large dog and very ugly. It had rows of long teeth and ten very short legs.? Tars Tarkas spoke to the creature and pointed at me. He left. The creature looked at me, watching closely. Then Sola spoke about the creature.
SOLA: His name is Woola. The men of our tribe use them in hunting and war. He has been told to guard and protect you. He has also been told to prevent your escape. There is no faster creature in our world.? And in a fight they can kill very quickly. Do not try to escape, John Carter. Woola will tear you to small pieces.
JOHN CARTER: I continued to watch the creature named Woola. I had already seen how the green Martians treated other animals. They were very cruel.
I thought, perhaps this beast can be taught to be my friend...much like a dog on Earth. I walked close to the creature and began speaking in much the same way I would speak to a dog or other animal on Earth.
I sat down next to him while I talked softly. At first he seemed confused. I believe the creature Woola had never heard a kind word.
For the next several days I gained the trust and friendship of Woola. In a few short days Woola was my friend and fierce protector. He would remain my loyal friend as long as I was on Mars.
(MUSIC)
JOHN CARTER: Several days later, Sola came to me with a look of great concern.
SOLA: John Carter...come with me. A great battle is about to take place. An enemy is coming near this city. We must prepare to fight and we must be ready to flee.
JOHN CARTER: Sola, what enemy is this?
SOLA: A race of red men who travel our world in flying machines. A great number of their machines have come over the far mountain. Take your weapons with you and hurry.
JOHN CARTER: I collected my sword and a spear. I hurried out of the building and joined a group of warriors moving toward the end of the city. Far in the distance I could see the air ships.
They were firing large guns at the green warriors. I heard huge explosions. The green warriors were firing back with their deadly rifles. The air was filled with the sound of violent battle.
(SOUND)
Suddenly a huge air ship exploded.? It came down, crashing near me. Red Martians were falling from the side of the huge ship. And then it exploded!
(SOUND AND MUSIC)
BOB DOUGHTY: You have been listening to the Special English program, American Stories. This has been the second part of the story "A Princess of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burrows. This story was adapted for Special English by Paul Thompson. It was produced by Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter.
Shep O'Neal was the voice of John Carter. Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. And Barbara Klein was Sola. Join us again next week at this time as we continue "A Princess of Mars" in VOA Special English.
重点解析
1.on the backs of 背上
The debts piled up like loads on the backs of oxen.
债务丛集，如牛负重。
2.get down 下来
She got down on her hands and knees on the floor.
她双手撑地跪在地上。
3.all but one 除了一个以外
All but one of these letter bombs had been intercepted by vigilant post office staff.
除了一封漏网之外，警惕的邮局员工截获了其余所有的邮件炸弹。
4.He slowly took off a metal band from his arm and held it out to me.
他慢慢地从胳膊上取下一枚金属袖章，递到我面前。
take off 起飞
He wouldn't take his hat off.
他不肯摘下帽子。
5.He shook me and lifted me off the ground.
他和我握手，我四脚离开了地面。
lift off 升空
The plane lifted off and climbed steeply into the sky.
飞机起飞并迅速爬升至空中。
6. It came down, crashing near me.
掉了下来，在我身边。
come down 下来
Interest rates should come down.
利率应该降低。
参考译文
鲍勃·多尔蒂：现在为您演播，美国之音慢速英语节目，美国故事。
上周我们给大家带来的是《火星公主》四部分中的第一部分。我们的故事来自美国作家埃德加·赖斯·巴勒斯的系列科幻小说作品。
上周，我们结识了约翰·卡特，小说由此展开。他在亚利桑那州的一个沙漠里发现了一座很深的山洞，并走了进去。在那里发生了一些事情。不知为何，他来到了那个红色星球，火星。
很快他就知道了火星上的万有引力比地球上小得多。稀薄的万有引力让他变得强大。他甚至不费吹灰之力就能跳得很高。
他发现了一圈矮墙，里面躺着一些蛋，正在裂开。一些相貌丑陋的小绿怪从里面破壳而出。上周我们结束的时候，一个成年的绿色怪人正拿着一个又长又尖的矛朝他走来。
现在，我们开始讲述系列小说《火星公主》的第二部分。
约翰·卡特：那个怪人拿的长矛硕大无比。周围还有很多怪人。他们骑在巨兽背上，从我后面过来。每个怪人手中都拿着一个外表奇特的武器。
那个拿着大矛的人从巨兽背上下来，朝我走来。他身高将近五米，皮肤深绿。巨大的牙齿从面部伸出，表情充满仇恨与暴力。
我随即知道我面对的是一个可怕的战士。他开始拿着矛朝我快速移动。我手无寸铁。无力抗争。唯一的机会就是逃跑。
我用尽所有的力气跳开了他。我这一跳竟然跳了将近30米高。绿色的火星人停下来观看。后来我看到他的脸上写满了惊讶。
怪人们聚集起来交谈。他们谈话，而我在考虑逃命。然而，我注意到他们中，有些人拿的武器看上去很像步枪，我逃不掉。
很快，所有人都走远了，除了那个怪人。那个之前对我生命构成威胁的怪人留下了。他慢慢地从胳膊上取下一枚金属袖章，递到我面前。他用一种奇怪的语言说着什么。
约翰·卡特：慢慢地，他放下了武器。这在地球上意味着讲和，那在火星上也是吧？我朝他走了过去，用正常的声音宣布了我的名字，并且说我并无敌意。我知道他也听不懂，但是像我一样，他知道我并无恶意。
慢慢地，我们靠近了彼此。他把那个之前套在他胳膊上的巨大金属袖章递给了我。他转过身，用手示意我跟着他走。很快我们走到那个他刚骑着的巨兽跟前。
他又做了一个手势让我坐在他后面，跟他一起骑上这个巨兽。那些怪人掉头，骑上巨兽，穿越陆地。我们迅速跨过了远山。
约翰·卡特：那些巨兽在陆地上走得很快，我们骑在它们背上。根据四周的山，我能判断我们正位于一个狭长死海的底部。
我们及时赶到了一座大城市。一开始我以为这是座空城。所有的建筑都空空如也，修缮不精。但是很快我看到了数百名勇士。我也看到了皮肤发绿的妇女和孩子。我很快知道了，这里有很多这样的城市。这些城市早在数百年前就已经建造，而建城者已不在了。绿色的怪人将这些城市派上用场。他们从一座城市搬到另一座。停留从不超过一两天。
我们从巨兽身上下来，往巨大的建筑里走。我们走进一间站满绿色勇士的房间。
不难看出这些都是火星绿人的首领。他们中的一个拉住我的胳膊。和我握手，我四脚离开了地面。当他这么做时，他笑了。我马上就要知道，绿色的火星人只有在别人痛苦或遭受苦难时，才会笑。
这个绿色的勇士把我扔到了地上，而后又抓住了我的胳膊，把我拽了起来。我做了我唯一能做的事情。我攥紧拳头，重重地给了他一拳。
这个绿色的勇士摔倒在地，不能动弹。房间里其他的人开始安静下来。我用一只手就把他们的一个勇士打倒在地了。
我从他身边移开，准备尽自己最大的努力来保护自己。但是他们都没有动。那个抓住我的绿色火星人朝我走过来。用异常清晰的声音对我说：
TARS TARKAS: "TARS TARKAS -- TARS TARKAS."
约翰·卡特：他说话时指着他自己的胸膛。他正在向我介绍他的名字。我也指着自己的胸膛说出了我的名字：约翰·卡特。
他转过身说了一个词：“苏拉。”一个绿色的火星女人立刻走近。他对她说了一些话。她把我带到了另外一座建筑的一个大房间里。
这个房间里装满了绿色火星人的设备。她为我准备了一些吃的东西。我很饿。
我指着她叫苏拉。她也指着我喊我的名字。这是一个开端，苏拉成了我的保护者。
也成了我的老师。很快，她成了我亲近而又珍贵的朋友。我吃饭时，她仍然在给我上火星语课程。
约翰·卡特：两天以后，Tars Tarkas来到我的房间。他给我带来了武器和绿色勇士们戴的金属袖章。他把它们放到了离我脚很近的地上。苏拉告诉他，我现在能理解一些他们的语言了。他转向我开始慢慢地讲起话来。
TARS TARKAS: 你打了的那个勇士死了。他的武器和军衔是你的了。约翰·卡特。他是我们的一个小组首领。因为你杀了他，现在你是新的首领了。
你仍然是一个俘虏，没有离开的自由。但是你会得到尊重的对待。你赢得了别人的尊重。你现在是我们中的一名勇士了。
约翰·卡特：Tars Tarkas转过身轻声地说着。从门的一边进来了一个怪物。它比狗大一些，很丑。它长着一排排长牙，十条短腿。Tars Tarkas指着我对那个怪物说了一些话，便离开了。那个怪物看着我，神情专注。之后苏拉开始对我说起这个怪物。
苏拉：他的名字叫乌拉。我们部落的男人们用它们来狩猎或者打仗。Tars Tarkas命令它来看守和保护你。同时阻止你逃跑。这个世界上没有比它跑得更快的动物了。在战斗中他们能很快地致对方于死地。不要尝试逃跑，约翰·卡特。乌拉会把你撕碎。
约翰·卡特：我继续看着那个叫乌拉的怪物。我已经看到了绿色的火星人是如何对待其他动物的了。他们非常残忍。
我想可能这个怪物能够被驯化成为我的朋友。像地球上的狗一样。我走进这个怪物，开始用和向地球上的狗或其他动物一样的方式，和这个怪物说话。
我一边轻声和它说着，一边挨着它坐了下来。一开始它看上去很迷惑。我相信这个怪物乌拉从来没有听过这种话。
接下来的几天我获得了乌拉的信任和友谊。短短的几天乌拉就成了我的朋友以及凶猛的捍卫者。只要我在火星上，它就将是我忠诚的朋友。
约翰·卡特：几天后，苏拉眼中充满焦虑地向我走来。
苏拉：约翰·卡特，跟我来。一场伟大的战争即将爆发。敌人正在靠近这座城市。我们必须为战斗做出准备，我们也必须准备好逃亡。
约翰·卡特：苏拉，敌人是谁？
苏拉：一个乘坐飞行器路过我们这里的红色种族。他们乘坐的飞行器，已经铺天盖地地越过了我们的大山。带上你的武器，快点跟上。
约翰·卡特：我带上我的剑和长矛。匆忙地冲出了大楼，加入到了迅速往城市方向集结的勇士当中。我看到了远处的飞船。
他们正用巨枪朝着绿色的勇士们开火。我听到了剧烈的爆炸声。勇士们正用他们该死的步枪还击。空气中回荡着惨烈厮杀的声音。
突然一艘巨大的飞船被击中，掉了下来。在我身边，发生了猛烈的撞击。红色火星人从巨大的飞船里掉了出来。之后飞船便爆炸了。
鲍勃·多尔蒂：您正在收听的是美国之音慢速英语节目，美国故事。这是埃德加·赖斯·巴勒斯所著《火星公主》的第二部分。保罗·汤普森将这个故事改编成慢速英语节目。由保罗·汤普森和马里奥·里特共同制作。
约翰·卡特配音者谢普·奥尼尔。Tars Tarkas配音者史蒂夫·恩伯。苏拉配音者芭巴拉·克莱恩。欢迎您下周继续锁定美国之音慢速英语节目，美国故事，收听埃德加·赖斯·巴勒斯小说《火星公主》。
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