The postman knew, and I had fourteen days left.
How it begins
The postman knew, and I had fourteen days left.
Der Briefträger wusste es, und mir blieben noch vierzehn Tage.
On Wednesday night I wrote up my notes for Dana. It was what I always did after a good day: everything I knew, in order, so that my editor could see the story growing. I wrote about the box and the vestry and the footprints with the stick. I wrote about the two hands. And I wrote about the postman, who walked the square at dawn and couldn't lie.
Am Mittwochabend habe ich meine Notizen für Dana geschrieben. Das mache ich immer nach einem guten Tag: alles, was ich weiß, der Reihe nach, damit meine Redakteurin sehen kann, wie die Geschichte wächst. Ich habe über die Kiste geschrieben, über die Sakristei und über die Fußspuren mit dem Stock. Ich habe über die zwei Handschriften geschrieben. Und ich habe über den Briefträger geschrieben, der im Morgengrauen über den Platz geht und nicht lügen kann.
"Possible: N. is not one person but two. An old writer, and a younger helper who copies the hand. The answers are delivered by hand, without stamps, before eight. The local postman, Ben Carter, 34, nine years on this round, clearly knows. He may even be the second writer himself. A postman delivering unstamped letters at dawn: that's a picture."
„Möglich: N. ist nicht eine Person, sondern zwei. Ein alter Schreiber und ein jüngerer Helfer, der die Schrift nachmacht. Die Antworten werden von Hand ausgetragen, ohne Briefmarken, vor acht Uhr. Der Briefträger vom Platz, Ben Carter, 34, seit neun Jahren auf dieser Runde, weiß es ganz sicher. Vielleicht ist er sogar der zweite Schreiber. Ein Briefträger, der im Morgengrauen Briefe ohne Briefmarken austrägt: Das ergibt ein schönes Bild.“
Languages
- Fifty Packs of Paper · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,966 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Fünfzig Packungen Papier · GermanB1 Intermediate · 2,081 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Cincuenta paquetes de papel · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,914 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Cinquante paquets de papier · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 2,202 words · ~20 min · Audio
German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · English with German · English with Spanish · English with French · German with Spanish · German with French · Spanish with German · Spanish with French · French with German · French with Spanish
Questions
Which languages can I read Fifty Packs of Paper in?
English, German, Spanish and French. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?
The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Spanish and French are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 1,966 words: around 15–20 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?
Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?
Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.