雙語讀電影 《賽車總動員》第09章 :只要我把路修完，你們就放我走， 對吧？

“And we’ll be right back to our Hank Williams marathon after a quick Piston Cup update,” a voice announced over the radio on Lizzie’s porch.

Lightning looked up. Piston Cup update? Had anyone even noticed he was gone yet? He wondered. Maybe they’d send a search party!

“Still no sign of Lightning McQueen,” the announcer said.

Lightning’s engine raced. They were looking for him! Maybe that minivan couple would tell someone they had seen him.

“Meanwhile, Chick Hicks arrived in California and today became the first car to spend practice time on the track,” the voice went on.

“Yeah, well, it’s just nice to get out here before the other competitors,” Chick’s voice boomed over the radio’s speakers. “You know, get a head start.”

Lightning glowered, imagining Chick and Tex laughing together at the Dinoco tent. He imagined Chick winning the Piston Cup, getting the big endorsement deals, starring in a Hollywood movie—getting everything Lightning wanted for himself.

Well, this race car isn’t about to quit now, Lightning thought, snapping out of his vision. “Mater,” he said to the rusty old tow truck, “let me get this straight. I can go when this road is done. That’s the deal, right?”

“That’s what they done did said,” Mater agreed. That was all Lightning needed to hear. “Okay. Out of my way,” he growled. “I’ve got a road to finish.” Lightning focused, the way he did before a race. Then, in a moment, he was off! He put the hammer down and zipped through his work. Bessie wobbled and splashed tar across the road, groaning as the race car pulled her far faster than she was built to go.

A short while later, Mater burst into Doc’s office. “He’s done!”

“Done?” Doc grumbled. He wasn’t sure whether to be impressed or suspicious. “It’s only been an hour.” He followed Mater out toward the street, where the rest of the town was gathered. They looked at their newly “fixed” road. It was a disaster.

“I’m done.” Lightning panted heavily. “Look, I’m finished. Just say thank you,” he said to Sally, “and I’ll be on my way. That’s all you gotta say.”

“Whee-hoo!” Mater called as he drove to the opposite end of the road. “I’m the first one on the new road!” He drove over the bumpy splattered asphalt. “A-h-h-a-h!” he said as he was jostled back and forth. “It rides pre-etty smo-ooo-ooth!”

Sally cut to the chase. “It looks awful.”

Lightning glared at her. “Now it matches the rest of the town,” he shot back.

Red, the shy fire truck, was so hurt by Lightning’s comment that he drove off into the woods, knocking over Luigi’s tower of tires. The whole town could hear Red sobbing.

Furious, Sally wheeled to face Lightning. “Who do you think you are?” she demanded.

“Look, Doc said when I finished, I could go,” Lightning said in frustration. “That was the deal.”

“The deal was you fix the road, not make it worse,” Doc snapped as he drove up. “Now, scrape it off; start over again.”

“Hey, look, grandpa,” Lightning said rudely. “I’m not a bulldozer, I’m a race car.”

“Is that right?” Doc replied, clearly unimpressed. “Then why don’t we just have a little race? Me and you.”

Lightning cracked up. “Ho, ho, ho. Me and you,” he said, unbelieving. “Is that a joke?”

“If you win, you go and I fix the road,” Doc suggested. “If I win, you do the road my way.”

Lightning couldn’t believe his luck! This car probably does zero to sixty in about threepoint five years, he thought. I’ll run the race and be out of here in half an hour. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“You know what, old-timer?” Lightning said. “That’s a wonderful idea. Let’s race.”