Spice Air and the Hidden Terrarium - 適合中高級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

"Careful, the lizard is under the crate," Cal whispered.

Sage crouched, a smoky note from roasting chilies reaching her nose as the small reptile froze against a stack of baskets. Around them, the market pressed close; nut shells cracked under shoes, and steam from soup pots drifted through sun-bleached awnings. Between stalls, discarded orange peel spread a sweet-acid scent that fought with vinegar splashes from a pickle bucket. The lizard darted again, its tail brushing a dented metal container streaked with turmeric. Shoppers kept moving, yet the creature stayed visible, scales glinting like damp green glass.

Sage slid one basket aside. Dusty coriander puffed upward, and the lizard slipped behind a wooden post. A narrow passage opened toward a back lot where deliveries were stored beside the old dormitory, now used as a storeroom. Empty crates, once stacked neatly, had been toppled by earlier traffic; their rough edges formed a maze too tight for quick steps. Sage followed, but a slanted lid blocked her palm and garlic skins clung to the sweat on her wrist. Near the wall, a tilted glass terrarium rested on a barrow. Its inside surface carried a faded sketch of leaves, painted to mimic jungle undergrowth. The pattern suggested someone had displayed creatures here earlier that morning.

Sage lifted the terrarium’s lid, then paused. From a nearby fruit cart, she pinched a strip of mango peel; fibrous juice coated her fingers with sharp sweetness. She set the peel at the terrarium’s entrance. The lizard flicked its tongue, drawn by the fresh aroma, and crept over the rim without struggle. With both hands steady, Sage eased the lid onto the glass terrarium, and warm spice-laden air lingered.

「小心，蜥蜴在箱子下面。」卡爾低聲說。

賽奇蹲下，烤辣椒的微燻味竄入鼻中，小爬蟲僵在籃子堆旁。四周市場擁擠，鞋底壓碎堅果殼，湯鍋蒸氣在褪色篷布間飄蕩。攤位間，丟棄的柳橙皮散出甜酸味，與醃菜桶濺出的醋香混雜。蜥蜴再度竄動，尾巴掠過一只沾滿薑黃的凹陷金屬容器。顧客持續移動，然而那小傢伙仍可見，鱗片像潮濕的綠玻璃發光。

賽奇移開一只籃子，乾香菜粉揚起，蜥蜴滑到木柱後。通往後方空地的窄巷展開，那裡送貨物品堆在舊宿舍旁，如今已成倉庫。空木箱原本堆疊整齊，之前人流撞散，粗糙邊緣形成行動緩慢的迷宮。賽奇跟上，但一片斜蓋擋住前掌，大蒜皮黏在她汗濕手腕。靠牆處，一只傾斜的玻璃飼育箱放在手推車上，內壁有褪色葉形速寫，模仿叢林植被。這圖案暗示早上曾有人在此展示生物。

賽奇掀開飼育箱蓋，又停住。她從附近水果車捏起一條芒果皮，纖維汁液在指尖留下辛甜。她把果皮放在飼育箱口，蜥蜴伸舌，被新鮮氣味吸引，毫不掙扎地爬入箱內。賽奇雙手穩穩放下玻璃飼育箱蓋，辛香空氣留在周圍。