The Water Inside the Cabin- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Leo balanced a metal kettle while leaving the campsite. Evening clouds gathered above the tall pines. Warm air smelled of pine sap, and thin smoke drifted near the grills. He had promised soup before the lanterns flicked on. The lake waited beyond a weathered cabin that leaned toward the shore. Boards, once bright, now carried silver streaks that marked many winters. Over time, the cabin has lost most of its paint, leaving pale wood exposed. A family of ducks seemed to dwell under a cracked pier, paddling silently. Time pressed as sunlight slipped lower, and a loose plank blocked the narrow path.

Leo stepped back when the plank bent with a dry snap. Water sloshed inside the kettle, nearly spilling. Instead of returning to the muddy track, he hopped onto a log. As he passed an open window, a glint from inside caught his attention. A rusty tub rested beneath a slow roof drip. It held clear rainwater that reached almost to the rim. His eyebrows lifted, and he dipped the kettle without entering fully. Within seconds, the kettle was now filled completely. The weight grew in his hand, cool and certain. Moments later, steam curled above the cooking pot. Neighbors settled on benches for the nightly storytelling. The last streak of pink faded behind the treetops. Sparks blinked slowly again within the fire ring.

里奧端著金屬水壺，離開營地。傍晚的雲層聚在高高的松樹上方。空氣帶著松脂的香味，薄煙在烤架旁漂浮。他答應在燈籠亮起前煮湯。湖泊位在一間傾向湖岸的舊木屋後方。曾經明亮的木板，如今佈滿多年冬季留下的銀灰條紋。經年累月，木屋已失去大部分油漆，蒼白木頭裸露在外。一群鴨子似乎棲身在破裂碼頭下，靜靜划水。太陽下沉，時間緊迫，狹窄小徑被一塊鬆動木板擋住。

木板發出乾裂聲時，里奧退了一步。水在壺裡搖晃，幾乎灑出。他沒有折返泥濘小道，而是跳到一根原木上。走過開著的窗戶時，裡面一道亮光吸引他的視線。一個生鏽水盆放在屋頂緩慢滴水處。盆內的雨水幾乎滿到邊緣。他眉毛一揚，身子未整個進屋，就把水壺浸了進去。幾秒內，水壺已完全注滿。冰涼重量握在他手心，確實而安穩。不久，蒸氣在炊鍋上方盤旋。鄰近的露營者坐上長凳，準備夜晚的說書時光。最後一抹粉紅退到樹梢後方，火圈裡的火星再次緩慢閃爍。