Corner Bent on a Library Book- 適合中高級的英語短篇故事

A gap wider than a hand interrupted the art shelf between two linen-bound volumes. Cal brushed the empty space, then compared the missing call number with the printout pinched between his fingers. Lena rolled a low step-stool forward; her gaze swept the neighbouring spines, their gold decoration catching the warm lamp above, yet the volume remained elusive. According to the catalog, the folio explored harbour embarkation banners and carried full-plate prints of verdant pennants that suited their project on festival colour. Together they left the aisle, weaving through honey-lit rows where old cloth released the faint scent of jute cord and paper.

Study tables near the window still hummed with quiet page-turning, so the two friends moved without haste toward the return cart. A tall stack greeted them; on the second rung, under travel atlases, peeked the green spine they needed. Cal had planned to copy three chapters, but the first closing announcement drifted through speakers and staff began sliding metal shutters over the distant history wing. Seconds slipped away; the folio had been scanned back in and was queued for reshelving behind the desk. Cal tapped his wristwatch; Lena’s shoulders lifted, and she hoisted the hefty book so they could hurry to the copier. Halfway there, a clerk steered a trolley across the corridor, narrowing the passage and erasing more minutes from the shrinking interval.

The lamp above the copier dimmed as the fifteen-minute warning sounded. Only two pages slid under the glass before the machine paused for a warming cycle. Cal longed to capture every illustrated banner, yet the countdown marched on, digits glowing amber on the wall clock. With the five-minute bell, he closed the folio, slipped a strip of jute twine between the plates they had copied, and handed it back for overnight shelving. The pair exchanged a brief nod, pages tucked safely in a folder, and walked toward the entrance vestibule. Behind them, staff rolled the shutters another notch; dust motes drifted through fading lamplight.

藝術書架上，兩本亞麻封面的厚冊之間出現了一個手掌寬的空隙。卡爾用指尖摸了摸那段缺口，再把缺少的索書號與手中列印的單子對照。莉娜推來一個矮腳踏凳，目光掃過鄰近書脊，上頭的金色裝飾在溫暖的燈光下閃爍，但要找的那本仍不見蹤影。根據館藏資料，那是本介紹港口啟航典禮旗幟的大開本圖錄，裡面印有翠綠旌旗的全版彩圖，正適合他們的節慶色彩報告。兩人離開這排書架，走過一條條蜜色燈光的走道，陳舊布面散發出黃麻與紙張混合的淡淡氣味。

靠窗的閱覽桌仍傳來輕微翻頁聲，兩位同伴因此不疾不徐地朝還書推車走去。一疊高書迎面而來；在旅遊地圖集下方，正好露出他們需要的那抹綠書脊。卡爾原打算影印三章，但第一個閉館廣播響起，館員開始在遠端歷史區拉下金屬拉門。時間迅速流逝；那本圖錄已完成還書登錄，正排在櫃檯後等待歸架。卡爾輕敲手錶，莉娜聳聳肩，抱起厚書，兩人加快腳步奔向影印機。走到一半，一位館員推著推車橫過走廊，通道變窄，又少了好幾分鐘。

十五分鐘預告再響時，影印機上方的燈光變暗。兩頁剛複印完，機器便進入加熱循環。卡爾渴望把所有彩旗圖都帶走，牆上時鐘卻以琥珀色數字繼續倒數。五分鐘鈴聲響起，他闔上圖錄，把一條黃麻繩夾在已複印的頁面間，交回館員準備隔夜上架。兩人點頭致意，將複印紙妥貼收進資料夾，轉身走向入口前廳。身後，工作人員再把拉門降下一格；飄浮的灰塵在漸弱的燈光中悠悠浮動。