The Orienteering Race

Imogen and Dax are partners for the school's orienteering race through the forest reserve. Each team gets a map and a list of five checkpoints to find. Teachers wait at each checkpoint, ready to stamp the card and offer quick words of encouragement. Whoever finishes fastest, with every checkpoint marked, wins the trophy.

伊莫金和达克斯是学校定向越野赛的搭档，赛道穿过森林保护区。每支队伍都会拿到一张地图和一份需要找到的五个检查点的清单。老师们等在每个检查点，随时给卡片盖章，并说几句鼓励的话。谁用最快的速度跑完全程，并且每个检查点都盖了章，谁就能赢得奖杯。

At the third checkpoint, they follow a trail marker that turns out to be wrong. Another team probably kicked it sideways by accident. Imogen and Dax walk nearly a mile before Dax notices the trees don't match the map at all.

到第三个检查点时，他们顺着一个路标走，结果那个路标是错的。可能是另一支队伍不小心把它踢歪了。伊莫金和达克斯走了将近一英里，达克斯才发现这些树和地图上根本对不上。

"We should turn back," Dax says, checking his watch nervously. Imogen agrees, though she hates losing the time. They retrace their steps carefully, watching for the real trail marker they missed.

“我们该往回走了，”达克斯一边紧张地看着手表，一边说。伊莫金同意，虽然她很不愿意浪费时间。他们小心地沿原路返回，留意着被他们错过的真正路标。

When they find it, it's half-hidden under a fallen branch, exactly where the map says it should be. If they hurry now, they might still catch up to the other teams. Imogen breaks into a jog, and Dax follows right behind her.

他们找到了它，它被半掩在一根倒下的树枝下面，正是地图上标的位置。如果现在抓紧，他们也许还能追上其他队伍。伊莫金开始小跑起来，达克斯紧紧跟在她后面。

They reach the fourth checkpoint just as another team leaves it. The two teams exchange a quick, friendly wave before splitting off in different directions. The fifth checkpoint sits at the top of a short, steep hill. Imogen's legs burn, but she keeps climbing, since stopping now would waste everything they've done.

他们到达第四个检查点时，另一支队伍刚好离开。两队互相友好地快速挥了挥手，就朝不同的方向分开了。第五个检查点在一座陡峭的小山顶上。伊莫金的腿火辣辣地疼，但她仍继续往上爬，因为现在停下来，就会白费他们之前做的一切。

At the finish line, they aren't first, but they aren't last either. Their teacher checks their checkpoint card and nods with approval. "Getting lost and finding your way back counts for something too," she says. Dax grins and admits he has never been so relieved to see a parking lot.

到了终点线，他们不是第一名，但也不是最后一名。老师检查了他们的检查点卡片，赞许地点点头。“迷了路又找回来，也算是一种收获，”她说。达克斯咧嘴一笑，承认自己从没这么高兴地看到过停车场。