At last, journeys end, a coated niche beyond the reach of even the most enterprising predator.
旅途的终点 高悬的庇护所使得最激进的捕食者都束手无策
coated
adj. 上涂料的，上胶的；穿外套的，覆盖着的，v. 外面覆盖（coat的过去分词）
niche英 [niːʃ; nɪtʃ]n. 壁龛；合适的职业；[亦称作 niche market]【商业】有利可图的市场(或形势等)vt. 放入壁龛
predator 英 ['predətə]美 [ˈpredətər;predˈətər]n. [动] 捕食者；[动] 食肉动物；掠夺者
But it's not just monkeys that find shelter in caves.
并非只有猴子们在洞穴中寻找遮蔽
These children are off to school.
这些孩子们刚放学
In rural China, that may mean a long trek each morning, passing through a cave or two on the way.
在中国农村每天早上都意味着一段 穿越一两个洞穴的艰苦跋涉
trek 英 [trek]美 [trɛk]n. 艰苦跋涉vt. （牛）拉（货车）；搬运vi. 艰苦跋涉
But not all pupils have to walk to school.
然而并非所有孩子都要徒步上学
These children are boarders.
这些孩子是寄宿生
boarder 英 ['bɔːdə]美 ['bɔrdɚ]n. 寄膳者；寄膳宿者；寄宿生
As the day pupils near journey's end, the boarders are still making breakfast.
当孩子们快要到达学校时 住宿生还在做早饭
In the school yard, someone seems to have switched the lights off.
校园内仿若被关掉了灯一般黑暗
But this is no ordinary play ground and no ordinary school.
校园内仿若被关掉了灯一般黑暗
Its house, inside a cave.
只不过是座洞穴中的房屋而已
A natural vault of rock keeps out the rain, so there is no need for a roof on the classroom.
天然拱顶阻隔了雨水 为教室省去了屋顶
vault 英 [vɔːlt] 美 [vɔlt]n. 拱顶；撑竿跳；地下室vi. 跳跃；成穹状弯曲vt. 做成圆拱形；撑竿跳过
