The Roof Tile That Loosened- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

A low wall ran four long steps from the roof door, and Grey placed his watering can in the narrow space between. Pots of young lettuce lined the edge in a neat row. Cool mist drifted across the tiles, carrying the faint scent of damp clay. Beyond doubt the ridge beside the wall was too slim for both the can and the heavy sack of soil resting there.

A sudden gust rocked the can. Water sloshed over the rim, spilled onto the smooth tiles, and raced downhill. The stream reached the soil sack, soaked the loose stitching, and the sack burst open. Loose earth slid into the drain, blocking the grate. Water pooled, then pressed against a stack of spare tiles; the stack tilted and one tile slipped free. The falling tile struck a small wooden crate, and from the crate rolled a bronze badge shaped like a falcon, green with age. Grey dropped to one knee, pushed the sagging sack aside, and scooped mud away from the grate with quick strokes. The drain accepted the flow at last, and the pool thinned to streaks. He folded the torn edge of the sack under its weight. He set the badge on the dry ledge.

一道矮牆距離屋頂的門四大步，Grey 把他的澆水壺放在牆與門之間狹窄的位置。幼嫩的萵苣盆沿著邊緣排得整整齊齊。涼薄的霧氣飄過瓦片，帶著濕陶土的氣味。毫無疑問，牆邊的脊太窄，放下澆水壺已經勉強，更不用說那袋沉重的土。

忽然一陣風把澆水壺晃倒。水從壺口潑出，沿著光滑的瓦片往下衝。水流碰到土袋，浸濕了鬆散的縫線，袋口於是裂開。鬆土滑進排水孔，堵住了格柵。水開始積成水潭，接著推向備用磚堆；磚堆傾斜，一塊磚掉了下來。掉落的磚打到一只木箱，一枚青綠色、做成隼形的銅徽章從箱內滾出。Grey 立刻單膝著地，把垮掉的土袋推到一旁，用快速的手勢撥開堵在格柵前的泥。排水孔終於吞下水流，潭水減成細痕。他把裂口摺到土袋底下，然後把徽章放到乾燥的矮牆上。