The Canoe That Drifted

Tao and Yuki paddle a canoe on a wide river. The morning starts clear and calm. Thick fog rolls in around midday. Soon, they cannot see the shore clearly. Their paddles dip quietly into the gray water.

陶和由纪在一条宽阔的河上划独木舟。早晨开始时天气晴朗、平静。中午前后，浓雾在四周弥漫开来。很快，他们看不清岸边了。他们的船桨悄悄地划进灰色的水里。

"We drifted off our usual path," Tao says. Yuki checks the small map in her bag.

“我们偏离平时的路线了。”陶说。由纪看了看包里的小地图。

Two routes lead back to the dock. One route cuts straight through a narrow marsh. The other route follows the wide, open river.

有两条路可以回到码头。一条路笔直穿过一片狭窄的沼泽。另一条路沿着宽阔、开阔的河道走。

"The marsh route looks quick," Tao says. "But the water there gets shallow and rocky."

“走沼泽看起来快。”陶说。“可是那里的水又浅又多石头。”

"The river route takes more time," Yuki says. "It stays open and safe the whole way."

“走河道要花更多时间。”由纪说。“但是一路上都开阔安全。”

Tao thinks about the fog and the rocks. "Let's take the safe route," he finally says. Yuki nods and steers the canoe right.

陶想着大雾和石头。“我们走安全的路吧。”他终于说。由纪点点头，把独木舟往右划去。

They paddle along the wide, open river. The fog slowly lifts around them. Sunlight breaks through in warm, soft patches.

他们沿着宽阔开阔的河道划行。雾在他们周围慢慢散去。阳光穿过云层，洒下一片片温暖柔和的光斑。

After thirty minutes, the dock comes into view. Tao points at it and smiles with relief.

三十分钟后，码头出现在眼前。陶指着它，宽慰地笑了。

"Good choice," Yuki says. "We stayed dry and safe."

“选得好。”由纪说。“我们没湿身，也很安全。”

They pull the canoe onto the sandy shore. Tao looks back toward the quiet, misty marsh. "Next time, with clear skies," he says. Yuki folds the small map and laughs softly. They carry the canoe up to the car together.

他们把独木舟拖上沙滩。陶回头望向安静、雾蒙蒙的沼泽。“下次，等天晴了再来。”他说。由纪把小地图折好，轻轻地笑了。他们一起把独木舟抬到了车边。