The Bridge Beneath the Ferns - 適合中高級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

Marco had planned to reach the cliff-top lookout before noon, and his terrier Ludo trotted beside him, nose low to the ground. The main trail climbed toward dizzying heights, then curved toward the sea. Halfway up, loose boulders covered the steps; part of the railing lay twisted, as if it had been hit by earlier rockfall. The obstruction forced him to pause. Cool air slipped between tall grass; brine settled on his lips; gull cries broke against stone. Ludo pawed at the rubble, but pebbles rolled down a narrow ravine to their right. Marco eyed a faint side track marked by recent boot prints and chose a detour that skirted the drop.

The detour soon pinched into a ledge no wider than a plank. Dry roots slipped under his boots, and Ludo’s leash tugged backwards when the dog paused. If Marco had looked straight ahead, he would have missed the pale rectangles hidden under ferns just below the ledge. He crouched; sunlight touched weathered boards stretching across the ravine. The structure had been built from slim timbers bound with rusted wire, yet each joint still gripped tight. Ludo barked once, tail high. After testing a plank with his weight, Marco lowered himself onto the footbridge, knees bent, then coaxed the dog across. Wind whipped through the gap, carrying an oceanic roar from breakers far below.

On the opposite bank, the bridge joined a forgotten segment of path where moss covered old stones. A family of rabbits froze among nettles, ears flat until Ludo’s scent drifted away. Fallen petals formed a faint ribbon, showing that earlier walkers had already passed and stirred the wildlife without lingering. Ten more strides brought open sky; the original trail reappeared beyond the collapsed section, unbroken. Marco and Ludo stepped onto level ground while afternoon light expanded over water. Salt mist hung over the distant lighthouse.

馬可計畫在中午前抵達懸崖頂端的觀景台，他的梗犬魯多貼著地面小跑。主要步道向高聳的懸崖攀升，再轉向海面。走到一半，鬆動的巨石覆蓋階梯；部分欄杆扭曲，像先前落石撞擊所致。這堵塞迫使他停下。涼風在高草間穿梭，鹹味停在嘴唇，海鷗的叫聲擊打岩石。魯多用爪撥動碎石，碎礫卻滾入右側狹窄峽谷。馬可瞄到一條被新鮮鞋印標記的細小叉路，便選擇繞道避開深邊。

繞道很快收縮成僅木板寬的凸緣。乾枯根系在靴底打滑，魯多的牽繩被牠向後一扯。若馬可目光始終向前，他就會錯過隱在蕨葉下的淺色木塊。他蹲下；陽光照到跨越峽谷的舊木板。這座結構以纖細木料與鏽蝕鐵絲打造，每個接點仍緊扣。魯多叫了一聲，尾巴高舉。馬可先以體重測試一塊木板，隨後屈膝下到橋上，引導狗穿過。風從縫隙呼嘯而過，遠處碎浪傳來海洋般的轟鳴。

橋的另一端連接被苔蘚覆蓋的舊徑。數隻兔子在荨麻叢中僵立，直到魯多的氣味飄遠。落花形成淡淡絲帶，顯示早先行人已經路過並驚動野生動物卻未停留。再走十步，開闊天空出現；原本的步道在崩塌段之外重新出現，完好無缺。馬可與魯多踏上平坦地面，午後光線擴散在水面上。鹹霧懸掛在遠方燈塔上空。