Mud Pies Shift on the Wobbly Shelf - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

"Pass the tin pan," Emil called.

Cole slid the dented pan across the flat stone, then knelt by the tap. He tipped the watering can toward the stream and tried to measure each pour by counting slow heartbeats. A pale mound of dry upland sand rested near the stump, waiting for its turn in the mix. Behind Cole, Emil pressed a cool handful of mud into the pan. The paste proved adaptable, spreading under gentle taps from a wooden spoon. Tiny crystal grains inside the sand glinted where the spoon scraped the edge. On the fence, an observant sparrow shifted its claws and watched the small splashes below.

Thin sunlight struck the wet stone and flashed against the puddles, while a sharp earthy smell lifted from the ground. Emil lifted the filled pan toward the plank shelf that lay on two bricks. At the same time, Cole rose with the heavy watering can and swung it toward another pot. Water sloshed against the metal walls, pushing his arm sideways.

A sudden gush spilled from the can, ran across the stone, and slid beneath one supporting brick. The brick lurched; the shelf tilted forward. Two fresh mud pies slid a hand-width, bumped each other, and stopped half over the edge. Emil’s knees bent, ready to catch, but the pies clung to the tin and held. Cole steadied his footing, feeling grit roll under his boot. The sparrow flapped up and settled again as droplets pattered off the wood. Emil nudged the near pie back from the gap. Cole steadied the plank with one muddy palm. Water still dripped from the can beside his boot.

「把那個錫鍋遞過來。」艾米爾喊道。

寇爾將凹陷的鍋滑過平坦的石頭，接著蹲在水龍頭旁。他把灑水壺向細流傾斜，慢慢數著心跳來估量每一次注水。乾燥的高地沙子堆在樹樁旁，等著被加入混合物。寇爾身後，艾米爾把一把冰涼的泥巴壓進鍋裡。這團泥巴十分可塑，經木勺輕敲便攤開。沙子裡的細小水晶顆粒在勺邊閃動。籬笆上的一隻機警麻雀移動爪子，注視著下面的水花。

細陽照在濕石上，光點在水窪上閃爍，濃烈的泥土氣味弥散開來。艾米爾把裝滿的鍋舉向架在兩塊磚上的木板。同時，寇爾提著沉沉的灑水壺站起，將它擺向另一只鍋。水在金屬壁裡衝撞，使他的手臂向側滑動。

灑水壺猛地潑出一股水，沿石面流動，鑽進支撐磚下方。磚塊晃了一下，木板前傾。兩塊剛做好的泥餡餅沿板滑了一掌寬，撞在一起後停住，一半懸在邊緣。艾米爾屈膝準備接住，但餡餅緊貼錫板沒有掉落。寇爾站穩，感到砂礫在靴底滾動。麻雀撲翅又停回原處，水珠噼啪落在木頭上。艾米爾將最近的一塊餅推回安全處。寇爾用滿是泥的手掌扶穩木板。靴旁的灑水壺仍滴著水。