the iceberg express(冰山直通车)-第1节
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The Iceberg Express
The Iceberg Express
by David Cory
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The Iceberg Express
The Magic Comb
One bright morning in August little Mary Louise put on her hat and
went trudging across the meadow to the beach。
It was the first time she had been trusted out alone since the family had
moved to the seashore for the summer； for Mary Louise was a little girl；
nothing about her was large； except her round gray eyes。
There was a pale mist on the far…off sea； and up around the sun were
white clouds edged with the hues of pinks and violets。 The tide was
coming in； and the waves； little at first； but growing larger every moment；
were crowding up； along the sand and pebbles； laughing； winking and
whispering； as they tumbled over each other； like thousands of children
hurrying home from school。
Who was down there under the blue water； with the hoarse； hollow
voice； urging and pushing them across the beach to her feet？ And what
was there beneath the sea； and beyond the sea； so deep； so broad and so
dim； away off where the white ships； that looked smaller than seabirds；
were gliding out and in？
But while Mary Louise stood still and wondered； there came a low
rippling laugh to her ear。
A little distance down the beach a girl； somewhat older than herself；
rested on the beach。 She evidently was tired from swimming； for she lay
half in the water and half on the warm sand； her face resting on her
upturned palms； looking at Mary Louise with a smile； which seemed to
say： 〃Why don't you come over and comb my hair？〃
Indeed； this must have been exactly what she meant； for she held out a
pretty pearl comb until Mary Louise could resist no longer。
Little Mary Louise had never before seen such beautiful long hair。 It
spread like a scarf from the girl's shoulders down upon the sand。
Mary Louise had forgotten that there were mermaids； and that
mermaids always had most beautiful hair； and that they always combed it
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The Iceberg Express
with pearly combs！
〃Have you been swimming？〃 asked Mary Louise。
〃Yes； a long swim；〃 answered the little mermaid； and she gave a
sudden kick in the water with her little feet； or； should I say； with her small
fin…tail； which sent the spray flying。
〃Oh； you're a mermaid！〃 exclaimed Mary Louise； surprised and
delighted at her unexpected discovery。 〃I saw your finny tail。 Do you
like tails better than feet？〃
〃I never had feet；〃 said the little mermaid； 〃so I can't say； but I should
think they'd be very nice to walk on。〃
〃Yes； if you go to the mountains； as we did last summer；〃 answered
Mary Louise； 〃but you don't have to climb hills in the ocean。〃
〃Perhaps you don't know there are mountains in the sea；〃 said the little
mermaid。 〃Of course； you have seen nothing but their tops。 What is
that little rocky ledge over yonder； where the white lighthouse stands； but
the stony top of a hill rising from the bottom of the sea？ And what are
those pretty green islands； with their clusters of trees and grassy slopes；
but the summits of hills lifted out of the water？〃
〃Oh！〃 said Mary Louise； with a gasp。 〃You do know geography；
don't you？ Is it pretty； away down there under the waves？〃 she added
wistfully。
The mermaid smiled very sweetly as she answered； 〃Yes； it is。 There
are many wonderful things to see； and many strange beautiful things to
hear under the sea！ I will comb your hair with my magic comb；〃 and she
ran the pearly comb gently through Mary Louise's hair。
〃Over the sea the white ships sail； Out through the mist and the
rollicking gale； While deep below the mermaids swim With their finny
tails so neat and trim。 So please； little magic comb； don't fail To give
Mary Louise a mermaid tail。〃
And the more she combed the longer grew the pretty curls； until； to the
astonishment of Mary Louise； she found her hair trailing down to her very
feet。 The breeze suddenly blew it to one side； and there on the sand；
instead of her two little shoes； was a mermaid's tail； with a flippy…floppy
fin on the end！
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The Iceberg Express
〃Come with me；〃 said the mermaid； and without a moment's hesitation
Mary Louise followed her into the water and out beyond the breakers；
swimming as easily as if she had always been a little mermaid； instead of a
girl who wore tan shoes。
〃Where are we going？〃 asked Mary Louise； as the dim line of the
shore disappeared and there was nothing in sight but the great； restless
ocean。
The mermaid did not answer； but looked about intently； as if trying to
find something。
〃What are you looking for？〃 asked Mary Louise； for she was a curious
little girl； and forgot one question as soon as she asked another。
〃Oh； there it is！〃 exclaimed the mermaid。 〃Come with me。 Hold
your hands out before you like this and dive down！〃
〃But where are we going？〃 again asked Mary Louise as they sank
lower and lower in the sea。
〃Oh； I forgot；〃 answered the mermaid； turning with a smile to her little
companion； 〃I was so busy looking for the subway entrance that I forgot
your question。〃
〃Goodness！〃 cried Mary Louise。 〃I didn't know there was a subway
in the sea！〃
〃To be sure；〃 answered the mermaid。 〃The track lies along the
bottom of the ocean。 It's not a railroad train we're going to take； but a
water train that comes all the way from the Northern seas； sweeping on
like a river in the sea。 Wait till we get down there。 You'll see how fast it
goes。〃
Mary Louise was too astonished to speak。
〃The Pullman cars；〃 continued the mermaid； 〃are icebergs。 They
come from the North every summer to take a trip South。〃
〃Whew！〃 shivered Mary Louise。 〃I think we ar near one now； for I
feel quite cold。〃
Sure enough； she was right； for there close at hand was a great white
object。
〃All aboard！〃 shouted a big polar bear。 〃Watch your step！〃
The mermaid helped Mary Louise to slide on a projecting ledge； and
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The Iceberg Express
off they went。
〃Now we can enjoy the scenery；〃 laughed the mermaid； as she
arranged her tail in an artistic curve and brushed back her hair； which had
been swept over her eyes by the swift action of the water。
〃The train never stops； you know； until it reaches its destination； but
that need not interfere with our getting off any time we please should you
wish to visit any pretty spot we pass on our journey。〃
Just at that moment there was a tremendous crash and Mary Louise
found herself thrown off into the water； while a muffled roar rolled
through the depths of the ocean。
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The Iceberg Express
The Coral Palace
〃Why； the ocean is full of cracked ice！〃 exclaimed Mary Louise； as
she and the mermaid rose to the surface and looked about them。 〃I
wonder what it was that caused such a tremendous crash？〃
〃Perhaps the Whale Ice Trust is after a big ice supply；〃 replied the
mermaid with a laugh。 〃The ocean depths are no longer a quiet place
since this dreadful hot weather set in。 Just the other day I heard the King
of the Mermen say that they were about to send a note of protest to
Neptune for violating the laws of Merland！〃
〃I don't know much about it；〃 said Mary Louise； 〃except that it's very
