Mr.Popper’s Penguins（Ⅻ）

◎Richard and Florence Atwater

Track 9

最終的結果皆大歡喜，電影公司老板決定在企鵝們去北極之前拍一段短片，當然，波普先生也得到了一筆報酬。時間也來到了企鵝們離開的日子。

But at last everything was ready, and the day came when the Poppers were to go down and say good-by.Bill and Janie ran all over the ship, and did not want to leave when it was time to draw up the1)gangplank.The Admiral shook hands with them and Mrs.Popper, and thanked them for having helped to train the2)extraordinary penguins that were to be a real contribution to science.

Mr.Popper had gone down below to say a private farewell to his birds.All that kept him from breaking down completely was the knowledge that what he was doing was best for them, too.First he said good-by to all the younger penguins.Then to Greta, who had saved Captain Cook.Then, last of all, he3)leaned over and said a special good-by to Captain Cook, who had come and made life so different for Mr.Popper.

Then he wiped his eyes, straightened his back, and went up on deck to say good-by to Admiral Drake.

“Good-by, Admiral Drake,” he said.

“Good-by?” repeated the Admiral.“Why, what do you mean?Aren’t you coming with us?”

“Me — go with you to the North Pole?”

“Why, of course, Mr.Popper.”

1) gangplankn.跳板；踏板

2) extraordinaryadj.非凡的；卓越的

3) leanv.（身體）傾斜；倚靠

但最后，當所有的事情都準備就緒的時候，波普一家要去跟企鵝們說再見的那天也來了。比爾和珍妮滿船亂跑，最后要下船的時候也不愿意離開。上將跟孩子們和波普太太揮著手，謝謝他們把企鵝訓練得這么好，對科學做出了貢獻。

波普先生一個人下去，跟他的鳥兒們做私人道別。他安慰自己，他所做的是對這些鳥兒們最好的事情，只有這樣想，他才不會崩潰。首先，他跟所有的小企鵝說了再見，然后是格雷塔，她可是救了庫克船長。最后，他彎下腰，對庫克船長說了一個特殊的再見，他的到來給波普先生的生活帶來了如此大的變化。

然后波普先生擦了擦眼淚，挺直了背，走上甲板，和德雷克上將道別。

“再見，德雷克上將?！彼f。

“再見？”上將重復道，“為什么？你什么意思？你不跟我們一起去嗎？”

“我——跟你們一起去北極？”

“當然了，波普先生?！?/p>