Chinese · Episode 17
The Spinning Rock
Spoken by 晓航
A close call with a spinning rock, told as a work story, then a promise to call his sister.
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Episode text
有一次干活，我们正准备移动一块石头， Once while we were working, we were about to move a rock,
它突然转得比刚才快多了。 It suddenly spun much faster than before.
阿金喊我别靠近，我马上停下， Ajin yelled for me not to get close, and I stopped right away,
看着那块石头从很近的地方转过去。 watching that rock spin past really close by.
近得连上面的灰都看得清楚， So close I could even see the dust on it clearly,
外面却一点声音也没有，只有耳机里阿金在叫我。 but outside there wasn't a sound at all, only Ajin calling me in the headset.
回到船里，我们才发现他的手伤了，先停下工作， Back on the ship, we only then found his hand was hurt, so we stopped work first,
把手处理好。 and took care of his hand.
后来他那只手里加了一小块铁， Later they put a small piece of iron in that hand of his,
现在已经能照常干活，也能夹菜。 and now he can work as usual, and pick up food with chopsticks too.
他还拿这件事讲过笑话，不过出事那天， He's even joked about it, but on the day it happened,
我们谁也没笑。 none of us laughed.
坐下来时，饭已经冷了。我正说终于没事了， When we sat down, the food was already cold. I was just saying we were finally okay,
阿金就让我给家里打电话。 when Ajin told me to call home.
我说晚一点吧，他说：“你妹妹又不知道你没事， I said maybe later, and he said, "Your sister doesn't know you're okay,
先让她听听你的声音。” let her hear your voice first."
后来我给晓星打过去，她接得很快， Later I called Xiaoxing, and she answered quickly,
我却不知道从哪里讲起。 but I didn't know where to begin.
最后只说今天干活有点慢，想早点休息。 In the end I only said work had been a bit slow today and I wanted to rest early.
等了一会儿，她的话传过来，让我别太累， After a moment, her words came through, telling me not to tire myself out,
又问过几天回不回来。 and asking if I'd be back in a few days.
我说回去，等了一会儿， I said I would, waited a while,
就听见她说：“那回来吃饭。” and heard her say, "Then come home for dinner."
那块石头和阿金的手，我一句也没提， I didn't mention the rock or Ajin's hand at all,
只告诉她自己挺好的。 just told her I was fine.
挂了电话，阿金问打过没有，我说打了。 After I hung up, Ajin asked if I'd called, and I said I had.
他说：“下次没出事，也记得打，别总让家里等。 He said, "Next time even if nothing happens, remember to call—don't always make the family wait.
” "
我把电话放在桌上，答应他了。 I put the phone on the table and promised him.