Lifting Leaf and Cone by the Stream - 適合初學者的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

What is under this leaf?

It is morning by the stream. York kneels on the bank. His knees press damp mud. Wet earth smells rich here. A flat rock rests by his toes. A leaf spins in the current.

He lifts the edge. His fingers slip; the leaf is slick. He slides a forked stick under the edge. He lifts. Under it, dark mud shows a clean oval patch. A tiny pebble sits there. "It is small," York says. The leaf rests again.

He stands by a rough log. He eases a thin curl of bark. His thumb presses the curl. Fine wood grain lines the pale inner face. Dry bark dust clings in the crease. A small bug slips out. It skates on the water. He lays the curl down.

On the flat rock, a cone rests. York lifts it, then pauses. A pale ring circles the spot. The stone looks clean. York gives the cone a name. He sets it back. A cool drip taps on the flat rock.

「這片葉子底下是什麼？」

小溪旁現在是早晨。York 跪在岸邊。他的膝蓋壓著潮濕的泥。這裡的濕土有濃厚的氣味。他的腳趾邊放著一塊平坦的石頭。一片葉子在水流裡旋轉。

他掀起邊緣。他的手指打滑，葉面很滑。他把一根分叉的小棍滑到邊下。他抬起來。底下的深色泥上出現一塊乾淨的橢圓區。一顆小石子待在那裡。「它很小。」York 說。葉片又落回原位。

他站在粗糙的倒木旁。他慢慢掀起一小條樹皮。他的拇指按住那條捲曲。淺色的內面有細緻的木紋。乾燥的樹皮粉卡在縫裡。一隻小蟲滑了出來。它在水面上滑行。他把那條捲曲放回去。

平坦的石頭上放著一個松果。York 把它拿起來，然後停住。那個位置有一道淡色的圈。石頭看起來很乾淨。York 給這個松果取了一個名字。他把它放回去。一滴涼水在平坦的石頭上輕輕敲打。