Mr.Popper’s Penguins（Ⅻ）

◎Richard and Florence Atwater

Track 9

最终的结果皆大欢喜，电影公司老板决定在企鹅们去北极之前拍一段短片，当然，波普先生也得到了一笔报酬。时间也来到了企鹅们离开的日子。

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.（身体）倾斜；倚靠

但最后，当所有的事情都准备就绪的时候，波普一家要去跟企鹅们说再见的那天也来了。比尔和珍妮满船乱跑，最后要下船的时候也不愿意离开。上将跟孩子们和波普太太挥着手，谢谢他们把企鹅训练得这么好，对科学做出了贡献。

波普先生一个人下去，跟他的鸟儿们做私人道别。他安慰自己，他所做的是对这些鸟儿们最好的事情，只有这样想，他才不会崩溃。首先，他跟所有的小企鹅说了再见，然后是格雷塔，她可是救了库克船长。最后，他弯下腰，对库克船长说了一个特殊的再见，他的到来给波普先生的生活带来了如此大的变化。

然后波普先生擦了擦眼泪，挺直了背，走上甲板，和德雷克上将道别。

“再见，德雷克上将。”他说。

“再见？”上将重复道，“为什么？你什么意思？你不跟我们一起去吗？”

“我——跟你们一起去北极？”

“当然了，波普先生。”