The Window the Swallow Moved- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

The town square carried two sets of colors. Worn paint, which had peeled along the fountain rim, marked last year's banners. Fresh paper triangles now shook under bright midday light. A swallow traced a tight circle above the roof and vanished inside the clock tower. Niko, carrying a lantern of thin wood and glass, paused near the tower entrance. He had prepared it for tonight’s celebration and wanted it to glow from the highest window. Villagers arranged tables, yet that window remained empty. He had taken part in every yearly activity since he could climb these stairs.

He stepped inside and met the first obstacle. Stone steps, repaired many times, now leaned inward and bumped the swinging lantern. Glass rang softly each time wood knocked against the wall. Halfway up, clouds covered the sun, turning the passage dim. He rested, broke off one spare slat, and wedged it between frame and glass. The lantern stopped shaking, yet the window above offered new resistance. Its hinge had rusted, so the gap stayed narrower than his wrist. While he searched for space, the swallow darted through the slit and brushed his ear. The sudden push widened the opening by a finger’s width. Niko slid the lantern inside; light spread a joyful flicker across the square below. He closed the hinge as bells marked the hour.

鎮上的廣場呈現出兩種色彩。噴泉邊緣剝落的舊漆，顯示去年掛旗的位置；新的紙三角旗在正午亮光下抖動。 一隻燕子在屋頂上畫出緊湊的圓圈，然後鑽進鐘樓。尼科提著用薄木和玻璃做成的燈籠，停在塔門前。他已經為今晚的慶典準備好這盞燈籠，並且想讓它從最高的窗戶發光。村民正在擺放桌子，但那扇窗戶仍空著。自從能爬上這些樓梯以來，他每年都參與所有活動。

他走進塔內，第一個阻礙立刻出現。石階修補過許多次，如今向內傾斜，撞得燈籠左右晃動；每次木框碰牆，玻璃都輕輕作響。走到半途，雲層遮住太陽，通道變暗。他停下腳步，折下一片備用木條，插在框與玻璃之間，燈籠不再搖晃。然而上方的窗戶帶來新的阻力：鉸鏈生鏽，使縫隙窄得不到手腕寬。就在他尋找空間時，那隻燕子從細縫衝進來，擦過他的耳朵；突如其來的推力讓縫隙寬了一指。尼科將燈籠滑進去，光線把快樂的跳動映在廣場下方。他合上鉸鏈，鐘聲正好敲響。