The jungle of plants stood as if at attention under the bright white lights.
查看中文翻译
Casey ran down the steps, leaning on the metal banister so that he could jump down two steps at a time. He landed hard on the cement basement floor and darted into the bright white light of the plant room.
查看中文翻译
He saw his T-shirt, lying crumpled on the floor a few feet from a tall, leafy tree. The tree seemed to lean toward the T-shirt, its long tendrils hanging down, loosely coiled on the soil around its trunk.
查看中文翻译
Casey took a timid step into the room.
查看中文翻译
Why am I so afraid? he wondered.
查看中文翻译
Stopping at the entrance way, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the brighter-than-day light. He took a deep breath, inhaling the steamy air, and held it. It was so hot down here, so sticky. His back began to itch. The back of his neck tingled.
查看中文翻译
Why do I have the feeling that they're watching me? Waiting for me?
查看中文翻译
He scolded himself for being so afraid and took a few more steps toward the crumpled T-shirt on the floor.
查看中文翻译
It's just a room filled with strange plants.
查看中文翻译
Hey -- wait.
查看中文翻译
There it was again.
查看中文翻译
He took another step. Another.
查看中文翻译
Was the big tree breathing?
查看中文翻译
Casey stared at the shirt on the floor. So near. What was keeping him from grabbing it and running back upstairs? What was holding him back?
查看中文翻译
Who could be breathing? What could be breathing?
查看中文翻译
"Casey -- where are you?"
查看中文翻译
"Okay so far," he called back to her. But his voice came out in a whisper. She probably couldn't hear him.
查看中文翻译
He jumped, startled by a sudden, low moan from the big supply closet against the wall.
查看中文翻译
Margaret's voice sounded so far away, even though she was just at the head of the stairs.
查看中文翻译
Was the breathing growing louder?
查看中文翻译
The breathing.
查看中文翻译
It sounded so human, as if someone were in there, moaning in pain.
查看中文翻译
Another low moan from the supply closet. A plant seemed to sigh. A tall fern suddenly dipped low, shifting its leaves.
查看中文翻译
The shirt was about three yards away.
查看中文翻译
Steady breathing. Not too loud. Not too soft, either.
查看中文翻译
He took a step forward. Then another.
查看中文翻译
A quick dash. A quick dive, and he'd have it.
查看中文翻译
"Casey?" He could hear his sister from upstairs, sounding very worried. "Casey -- hurry!"
查看中文翻译
They had been drooping loosely. Now they were taut. Ready.
查看中文翻译
Just a foot away. Almost in reach.
查看中文翻译
Two snakelike tendrils swung out at him.
查看中文翻译
He didn't answer. He was concentrating on the shirt. Just a few feet away. Just a few feet. Just a foot.
查看中文翻译
"Casey? Casey?"
查看中文翻译
The leaves quivered all the way up the trunk.
查看中文翻译
"Casey -- hurry!" Margaret called, sounding even farther away.
查看中文翻译
Ready to grab him?
查看中文翻译
The shirt was almost within reach.
查看中文翻译
"Let go!" he cried, holding the T-shirt tightly in one hand, grabbing at the tendrils with the other.
查看中文翻译
He raised his eyes to the tall tree. The long, ropy tendrils had tensed. Stiffened. Or had he imagined it?
查看中文翻译
He heard a groaning sound, then more breathing.
查看中文翻译
"Casey? Are you okay? Answer me!"
查看中文翻译
The tendrils wrapped themselves around his waist.
查看中文翻译
The plant groaned again.
查看中文翻译
What was holding him back?
查看中文翻译
No.
查看中文翻译
He grabbed the shirt.
查看中文翻译
I'm trying, he thought. I'm trying to hurry.
查看中文翻译
He took two more steps, then crouched low, his arms straight out in front of him.
查看中文翻译
"Huh?" he cried out, paralyzed with fear. "What's happening?"
查看中文翻译
Another low moan, this time from the other side of the room.
查看中文翻译
Margaret? Casey tried calling, but no sound came out of his mouth. Margaret?
查看中文翻译
"Casey!" she cried. "What's --"
查看中文翻译
Her mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide.
查看中文翻译
The tendril resisted for only a moment, then went slack.
查看中文翻译
Help! He again tried to shout. He pulled once more, leaning forward, using all his strength.
查看中文翻译
He ducked low, hit the floor, tried to roll away.
查看中文翻译
The tendrils hung on, and gently tightened around him.
查看中文翻译
No good.
查看中文翻译
They didn't squeeze him. They weren't trying to strangle him. Or pull him back.
查看中文翻译
He jerked violently, then pulled straight ahead.
查看中文翻译
The tendrils held on.
查看中文翻译
The plant uttered a loud sigh.
查看中文翻译
"Let go!" Casey cried, finally finding his voice.
查看中文翻译
The tendrils hung on.
查看中文翻译
And then suddenly Margaret was standing beside him. He hadn't heard her come down the stairs. He hadn't seen her enter the room.
查看中文翻译
But they didn't let go.
查看中文翻译
"It -- won't let go!" he told her.
查看中文翻译
"No!" she screamed. And grabbed one of the tendrils with both hands. And tugged with all her strength.
查看中文翻译
They felt warm and wet against his bare skin. Like animal arms. Not like a plant.
查看中文翻译
Casey uttered a joyful cry and spun away from the remaining tendril. Margaret dropped the tendril and grabbed Casey's hand and began running toward the stairs.
查看中文翻译
"Oh!"
查看中文翻译
They both stopped short at the bottom of the stairway.
查看中文翻译
Standing at the top was their father, glaring down at them, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides, his face rigid with anger.
查看中文翻译