The house was quiet at 5 am and Tim’s mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the quiet. He’ d dreamt of the cave last night. The purring of the freezer had been the sea.

下午5点，房间里很安静，蒂姆的妈妈在睡觉。偶尔冰箱发出的声音会打破宁静。他想着昨晚的洞穴。冰箱的蜂鸣声让他感到自己就在海上。

Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He’d eat after he’ d been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.

蒂姆穿上毛衣，将几个苹果放到书包里。还不到吃早饭的时候。他会穿过洞穴，坐在岩石上，看着大海吃苹果。

He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches but his mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches, she’ d want to know why he had to leave so early. He settled¹ for some biscuits, and left a note stuck to the table:

他希望有一个合适的背包。只能用书包充当下。还有别的东西要放吗？三明治，但是如果他取出面包做三明治，妈妈也许就会知道。她会想这么早他就离家的原因。于是他装了些饼干，在桌子上留了个条：

Gone to Michael’s Back tonight, Tim.

今晚去米Michael’s Back，蒂姆。

The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn’t up. Even the highway up the hill was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.

外面的天空高远，柔和而又明亮，虽然太阳还没升起。当他沿着街道走时，通往山上的公路很安静。从海上刮来的风新鲜，芬芳。

The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday’s sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down to the beach impatiently², but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds marching up and down watching the waves.

虽然沙丘顶部很凉爽，沙丘依然在呼吸着昨天太阳留下的热量。他亟不可待地跑到海滩上，没有一个人，只有干燥的沙粒在晨风中飞舞，海鸟盯着海浪不时飞上飞下。

The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight³ stretched  across the sea. The sun was pushing its way over the edge⁴ of the world.

光线突然变了。太阳的第一缕曙光延展在海面上。太阳正从世界的边缘一点点升起。

Over the first rocks, along to the point. Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed higher in the sky.

朝向目标，姆站在紧邻最近的岩石上。他回头望去，海滩上依然很安静。太阳越升越高。

He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more mysterious  now? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn’t go in all the way...

他现在能看见岩洞了，在晨曦中显得更加幽暗。沙子变成银色，随着海水的退去又变成暗金色。他必须迫使自己更近洞穴。现在为什么如此神秘？但是费了很多周折却又折回去是很不明智的。他不必一直呆在山洞里……