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Net bandits
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Chapter II
Manor House. 5.30pm
Rob Zanelli looked round as he heard the gentle knock at the door of his room.
"Hi, Dad," Rob said as his father came in.
Mr Zanelli was smartly dressed in a blue business suit. His dark hair was flecked(使……有斑点) with grey at his temples.
"Hi," said Mr Zanelli. "How's things?"
Rob shrugged(耸肩). "Fine, I guess."
Mr Zanelli sat down on Rob's bed. He nodded towards Rob's school books, neatly stacked(叠好) on his desk. "Work going well? How's Elaine? Knocking you into shape(1)?" He laughed, but not very convincingly(令人信服地).
Rob sighed. He seemed to have had this same conversation with his father so often before.
"She's OK, Dad. But you know what I want."
It was Mr Zanelli's turn to sigh. He was the managing director of his own company, GAMEZONE, which produced computer games. Mrs Zanelli was a director of the company, too. Between them they earned a lot of money. But they both knew — as did Rob — that there was one thing that all their money couldn't buy for them.
"Rob," said Mr Zanelli. "I know what you're going to say. You want to go to school. Right?"
Rob nodded. "Of course. And I can't see why you won't let me."
"You know why. Because we're frightened for you."
"But I'm not. Why should you be?"
Mr Zanelli stood up abruptly. "Look. Let's discuss this another time, eh?"
Rob nodded. Discuss it another time — it was the answer he always got. And nothing would change. He'd still not be allowed to go to school with other kids, still have to be tutored at home, on his own, by people like Elaine Kirk.
"What's buzzing on the Internet?" said Mr Zanelli, seizing the opportunity to change the subject. "Made any new contacts?(2)"
"A few," said Rob, brightening(面露喜色) slightly. His parents might not be prepared to let him go to school with other kids, but they certainly tried to make up for(3) it with what they provided. He had every bit of computer kit worth having, and then some more.
"Where?" said Mr Zanelli. "Which continent — or are they in all of them(4)?"
Rob gave him a smile. "This continent, actually. This city."
"Portsmouth?"
"A Newbie(网络新手) site. They've just joined the Net. I've been waiting for them to set up some User IDs."
"And have they?"
Rob grinned. "A couple. I found them just before you came in. In fact I've just sent an e-mail to one of them..."
Notes:
1. knock into shape：培养成预期的那样
2. new contacts：此处指交新朋友
3. make up for：弥补
4. ...are they in all of them?还是每个洲都有?
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