When Water Lifted the Hidden Key- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Mateo spotted his small wooden duck drifting near the center of the courtyard fountain. The janitor switched on the pumps every hour, so water rose in steady circles that soon covered the stones. A considerable ring of water had already spread around the central pillar base, hiding some markings. Mateo wanted the toy back before the next circle arrived. A fallen pillar lay across the narrow plank bridge that usually offered the quickest route. Warm sunlight slid over the damp tiles, and a single chime echoed from the clock tower above. Dragonflies began to hover just above the surface; their wings flashed like tiny mirrors. Mateo doubted the veracity of the rumor that fish lived in the fountain, yet he still preferred not to drop anything into the deep part. He stepped onto the plank, but the broken pillar blocked half the way and forced him to pause.

The pumps clicked again, and water climbed higher, covering another row of brown tiles. Mateo now faced two options. He could squeeze past the slippery pillar along the narrow edge—fast but risky—or wander around the fountain on the wide gravel path—slow but safe. The dark ring touched his shoe tips, showing the deadline’s advance. He chose the edge. He pressed one palm on the pillar, slid sideways, and his shoe slipped. Cold water soaked his socks, and a button popped from his shirt: the cost of speed. As he steadied himself, he noticed a tiny silver key wedged between the pillar and plank, an unexpected discovery glinting under the shallow wave. Mateo scooped it up. He let the wooden duck drift away and turned toward the curious key in his damp hand. Its metal gleamed while distant footsteps scattered birds from the roof.

馬特奧在庭院噴泉中央看見他的小木鴨漂流。工友每小時打開水泵，水面便以穩定的圓圈上升，不久便會蓋過石塊。一圈可觀的水已經在中央柱座周圍擴散，遮住了一些刻痕。馬特奧想在下一圈水來之前把玩具取回。一根倒下的柱子橫在狹窄的木板橋上，這條橋通常是最快的路。溫暖的陽光滑過濕滑的瓷磚，一聲鐘響從上方的鐘樓傳來。蜻蜓開始貼著水面盤旋，翅膀像小鏡子一樣閃亮。馬特奧質疑噴泉裡有魚的傳聞真偽，但仍不想把東西掉進深水。他踏上木板，可斷柱擋住半條路，迫使他停下。

水泵再次發出輕響，水面升得更高，又蓋過一排棕色瓷磚。馬特奧現在面臨兩條路。他可以沿著狹窄而濕滑的柱邊擠過——快但危險——或繞著噴泉寬闊的碎石道走——慢但安全。黑色水圈碰到他的鞋尖，表示時間推進。他選擇了邊緣。他一手按在柱子上側身滑行，鞋子打滑。冰冷的水浸濕襪子，一顆鈕扣從襯衫上彈落，這是速度的代價。他穩住身體時，注意到一把細小的銀鑰匙卡在柱子與木板間，在淺水中閃光。馬特奧撈起鑰匙。他讓木鴨繼續漂走，轉而看著手中潮濕的鑰匙。金屬反射的光線時，遠處腳步聲驚起屋頂上的鳥群。