Milo Before Nightfall- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

The last school bell echoed, and Milo hurried toward the hill that rose behind the playground. His goal was simple: catch a clear photograph of the first star before nightfall wrapped the sky. A narrow track, rugged with loose stones, climbed between sparse pine trees. He balanced a small camera bag on one shoulder and gripped a silver canister that carried biscuits for later. Wind rolled down the slope and pressed against his jacket, slowing each step. He has climbed this track many weekends, yet loose gravel still slid under his shoes. By the time he reached the flat top, the horizon already glowed deep blue, and the camera tripod unfolded with a soft click.

A sudden flash burst overhead. A bright meteor crossed the sky like a burning brushstroke. The glare startled a quiet owl which lifted from a branch; its wings brushed the tripod. For a moment, the camera was tilted, and the canister rolled across dry grass. Instead of straightening the tripod immediately, Milo dropped to one knee and turned the lens sideways, chasing the fading streak. The owl’s flight drew his eye toward a puddle where the meteor’s trail shimmered. The image that appeared on the screen is being framed by rippled water and glinting metal. Wind settled, grass stopped rustling, and the hill stood still beneath the new star.

最後一節下課鐘聲迴盪時，米羅快步朝操場後方的小丘衝去。他今天只有一個目標：在夜幕完全降臨前，拍下第一顆星。通往頂端的小徑因散落的石子顯得崎嶇，稀疏的松樹分立兩旁。他一肩扛著相機包，另一手提著放餅乾的銀色筒罐。坡上的風推著外套，使他每一步都費力。他雖已經走過這條路好幾個週末，碎石仍會在腳下滑動。當他抵達平坦的山頂時，地平線已呈深藍，他展開腳架，機構輕聲卡住。

忽然間，頭頂爆出一道亮光，一顆流星劃破天空，像燃燒的筆觸。強烈的光驚動了一隻貓頭鷹，牠拍翅離枝，翼尖擦過腳架。腳架偏了一下，筒罐也在乾草上滾動。米羅沒有急著扶正，而是單膝跪地，迅速把鏡頭轉向側面，追逐那條漸淡的光痕。貓頭鷹的飛行讓他注意到一處水窪，流星的尾跡在水面閃閃發亮。螢幕上的影像被波紋與閃爍的金屬邊緣自然框住。風靜了，草不再沙沙作響，新星懸在寧靜的山丘上空。