The Jammed Compost Drum - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

Soft soil clung to Alma's fingertips as she balanced beside the big compost drum. Low dappled light touched the metal surface. It showed a thin ring of rust around the crank wheel. Ines lifted a small wooden pride of lion figures from the path. She placed them on the nearby bench, away from the wet ground. A gentle slope ran under the drum’s stand, so the barrel leaned a little toward the herb bed.

Alma grabbed the handle and tried a slow turn. The drum refused to spin; the gear underneath clicked once and froze. “Something is caught,” Ines said, pressing her ear against the side. A dull thud sounded with every attempt. Alma unlatched the round door, and damp air drifted out. Inside, a faded blanket lay twisted around the central axle, its wool threads wedged between each cog. The tight space offered little dimension for arms to reach straight. Alma bent her knees and began to crawl halfway into the barrel. Her boots slipped on the curved wall, but her fingers found the edge of the blanket.

She tugged in short pulls until the cloth unwound like a slow spiral. The last knot snapped free, and the axle rolled. Outside, Ines steadied the drum so it would not glide down the slope. Alma backed out, shoulders dusted with compost flecks, and swung the door shut. She wiped her hands on the grass, grasped the crank once more, and gave it a full turn. The barrel revolved smoothly, and she let the handle rest against the frame.

柔軟的土壤黏在 Alma 的指尖上，她在大型堆肥桶旁保持平衡。斑駁的柔光打在金屬表面，顯露曲柄輪周圍一圈細細的鏽跡。Ines 把一組小木製獅子雕像從小徑上拿起，放到旁邊的長椅上，免得沾到濕土。桶架下是一個緩坡，所以桶身微微朝香草床傾斜。

Alma 抓住把手，試著慢慢轉動。桶卻不肯轉，底下的齒輪喀啦一下便停住。「裡面卡東西。」Ines 把耳朵貼在側面說。每次嘗試都傳來低沉的碰擊聲。Alma 打開圓形門，潮濕的氣味立刻飄出。一條褪色的毯子纏在中央軸上，羊毛絲卡在每個齒間。狹窄空間幾乎伸不直手臂。Alma 彎膝，半身爬進桶內。靴子在弧形壁上打滑，但她的手指抓住了毯緣。

她一段段地拉，直到布料像緩慢螺旋般鬆開。最後一個結啪地脫落，軸開始轉動。Ines 在外面扶住桶，防止它沿坡滑下。Alma 退回來，肩上沾滿堆肥碎屑，然後關上桶門。她在草上擦乾雙手，再度握住曲柄，完整轉了一圈。桶身順暢地旋轉，她把把手靠回框架。