Chain Tightens and the Lighthouse Beam Sweeps - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

"That big lens turns slowly."

Rafael set his palms on the warm brass rail.

He and Greta had climbed the spiral stairs to the lamp room.

The glass around them caught late sun, and dust swam in the light.

Salt and orange mixed in the air, and the rail felt slightly sticky.

A fog bell hung mute above the rocks beyond the thick window.

On the last landing, Rafael paused to peel an orange in long coils.

He carried the curls in his pocket and wiped his hands on a cloth.

Greta set a hand on the crank, and Rafael took the other side.

The first turns felt heavy; the chain drew up its slack and tightened.

When Rafael let go, the handle slipped back half a turn.

It tapped his wrist.

He pulled his hand away and watched Greta check the wooden catch.

"The catch is still on," she said.

She nudged it away, and the drum began to turn.

The great lens moved, and a pale beam slid across the calm water.

It swept back and crossed the glass beside them.

It tracked the floor in a slow arc, and the gear clicked.

Together they set two neat coils of orange peel on the inner ledge.

Rafael steadied one coil with a fingertip as the slow beam crossed it.

「那個大鏡片轉得很慢。」

拉斐爾把雙手按在溫熱的黃銅欄杆上。

他和Greta已經爬上通往燈室的螺旋樓梯。

周圍的玻璃接住傍晚的陽光，塵埃在光裡漂浮。

空氣裡混著鹽味和橘子香，欄杆摸起來有一點黏。

厚玻璃外的岩石上方掛著霧鐘，那晚一直靜默不響。

在最後一層平台，Rafael停下來把一顆橘子剝成長長的圈。

他把橘皮圈放進口袋，用一塊布擦了擦手。

Greta把一隻手放在曲柄上，Rafael握住另一邊。

開始幾圈很沈重；鍊條把鬆弛的部分收起來，拉得繃緊。

Rafael一鬆手，把手回滑了半圈。

它輕輕碰了一下他的手腕。

他把手縮開，看著Greta檢查那個木製卡扣。

「卡扣還扣著。」她說。

她把卡扣輕輕撥開，鼓輪就開始轉動。

大鏡片動了，一道淡淡的光束滑過平靜的海面。

它又掃回來，從他們身旁的玻璃上掠過。

它在地面劃出一個慢弧，齒輪發出喀噠聲。

他們一起把兩圈整齊的橘皮放在內側的窗台邊。

當那道慢慢移動的光束掠過時，Rafael用指尖扶住其中一圈。