Mateo at the Footbridge- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Mateo rolled the last bale of hay into the wagon and spotted a gap in the fence. Three young cattle wandered toward tall trees beyond the pasture. He has searched the field since noon, and Mateo aimed to discover their path before sunset. By then, his boots already carried thick layers of dry mud. Hoof prints pressed into soft earth curved toward the river that sliced the valley. Water hurried past, lifting loose branches like small boats and widening the distance at every moment. The animals kept walking along the opposite bank. A narrow footbridge, the single link between the shores, waited farther upstream. No other spot allowed anyone to traverse the swirling water.

He hurried to the bridge that rested upstream; its wooden planks have been covered with moss. Each cautious step triggered a steady creak, and one plank cracked under his heel, sparking a quick hop. On the far side, thick reeds hid movement, yet a low moo floated through green curtains. He slid between stems and expected a chase, but the surprise formed near a fallen apple cart. The cattle stood in a neat line, munching fruit they had just discovered. Sweet scent filled cool air while red skins glowed near lazy jaws. In the deepening dusk, stars began to sprinkle the universe above. Mateo lifted the cart handles, and the wheels bumped over roots. The small herd ambled behind him across the quiet bridge toward lanterns that glowed in the farmyard.

馬特歐把最後一捆乾草推上馬車，隨即注意到柵欄上出現一個缺口。三頭年輕的牛小跑著離開牧場，朝遠處高樹走去。他從中午就一直在草地上搜尋，還打算在太陽下山前找出牠們的路徑。此時，他的靴子已覆滿厚厚的乾泥。鬆軟泥土上的蹄印彎向橫切山谷的河流。水流匆匆，漂浮的斷枝像小船般被帶走，距離也隨之拉大。牛群沿著對岸繼續前行。唯一連接兩岸的狹窄木橋位於上游更遠處。沒有其他地方能讓人橫越那股翻騰的水勢。

他趕往那座位於上游的橋樑；橋板早已被苔蘚覆蓋。每一步都發出規律的嘎吱聲，其中一塊板裂開，使他猛地跳起。到了對岸，茂密蘆葦遮住動靜，卻有低沉的牛叫聲穿過綠幕。馬特歐鑽進莖葉，本以為會展開一場追逐，沒想到驚喜就在倒下的蘋果車旁。牛群整齊排成一列，咀嚼著剛找到的水果。甜香瀰漫涼風，紅色果皮在懶散的嘴角閃著光。暮色加深，星光開始點綴頭頂的宇宙。馬特歐握起車把，車輪顛過樹根，小牛們悠閒地跟在他後面，穿過安靜的橋，走向農場裡正發光的燈籠。