Grass Lifted, Nest Revealed- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Cold peat carried a sour earthy smell along the narrow boardwalk. Rafe started his short excursion across the spongy tundra. Rafe has visited this path every morning since the spring thaw. A wooden ruler stayed in his hand to measure loose planks. His shaggy husky, Flake, padded beside him. The dog looked like a small adventurer, nose twitching at every tuft of grass. A unique patch of purple moss spread between two boards. Tiny drops rolled across its surface. Rafe noted the soft spot, then pushed forward, boots sinking slightly yet finding balance.

Wind rose without warning and pressed sideways against man and dog. The plank path swayed a little, and one end dipped lower than before. Rafe shifted his grip on the handrail, moving one palm farther apart to steady himself. Flake paused, ears high, as the gust lifted a mat of dry grass near the edge. Under the grass sat a small brown nest holding one pale egg. To the ants wandering across the rim, the hollow seemed like paradise. The discovery stopped both travelers for a heartbeat. Another push of wind threatened the fragile cup, and strands of grass began to lift again. Rafe crouched and slid the loosened board half an inch inward. The new edge shielded the nest from the draft. Thin sunlight touched the rough lichen, and a low hum from hidden insects drifted over the plain.

He straightened and left the nest untouched. He continued along the damp wood while Flake trotted ahead again. The wind calmed for several minutes. Their routine of tapping, noting, and stepping resumed across the flat land. Behind them, the board they moved stayed slightly out of line. The gap created a narrow roof for the fragile home. Gray clouds slid closer from the horizon, thick columns of drizzle sweeping under their bellies. Cold gusts faded as heavier drops began to fall. Rain blurred the prints Rafe and Flake left on the planks. Grainy water rings spread over the newly exposed moss.

冰冷的泥炭味沿著狹窄的木棧道飄散。Rafe 拿著木尺，開始他穿越濕軟苔原的短途踏查。他自春天解凍以來，每天早晨都會走這條路。長毛雪橇犬 Flake 跟在旁邊，鼻子不停嗅聞，好像小小探險家。兩塊木板間長著獨特的紫苔，細小水珠在上面滾動。Rafe 標記柔軟處後繼續前行，靴子微微下陷，仍保持平衡。

突然起風，吹得人與狗身形偏斜。木棧道輕輕搖晃，一端比先前更低。Rafe 換了手扶欄杆，把另一隻手移遠些以穩住身體。Flake 停下，豎耳望向被風吹起的乾草墊。草下有個棕色小巢，裡面躺著一顆淡色蛋。對在邊緣爬動的螞蟻來說，那凹洞簡直是樂園。這發現讓兩位旅者短暫屏息。風再度推擠，巢邊草絲又被掀起。Rafe 蹲下，把鬆動木板往裡推半吋，新邊緣替巢擋住了風。細陽光照在粗糙地衣上，遠處蟲鳴隨風微動。

他直起身，保持鳥巢原樣，繼續踩在潮濕木板上前進，Flake 又跑在前頭。風靜了幾分鐘，他們敲記、檢查、跨步的例行動作再度展開。身後那塊被移動的板稍微歪著，替脆弱的巢形成窄屋頂。灰雲自地平線逼近，細雨柱拖在雲腹之下。冷風漸息，更大的雨滴落下。雨水抹去 Rafe 與 Flake 留在板上的腳印，粗糙水圈擴散到剛露出的紫苔上。