"One candle," says Mr Kaplan. "Tonight is the first night."
How it begins
"One candle," says Mr Kaplan. "Tonight is the first night."
„Eine Kerze“, sagt Herr Kaplan. „Heute ist der erste Abend.“
It is Friday, 4 December, 9:15, at the station. Mr Kaplan is old and small, with a big hat. Every evening he takes my bus to the care home. His wife is there. Tonight he has a small box of candles.
Es ist Freitag, 4. Dezember, 9:15 Uhr, am Bahnhof. Herr Kaplan ist alt und klein, mit einem großen Hut. Jeden Abend nimmt er meinen Bus zum Pflegeheim. Seine Frau ist dort. Heute hat er eine kleine Schachtel mit Kerzen.
"The first night of what?" I ask.
„Der erste Abend von was?“, frage ich.
Languages
- A Sound in the Dark · English (original)A1 Easy · 522 words · ~5 min · Audio
- Ein Geräusch in der Dunkelheit · GermanA1 Easy · 521 words · ~5 min · Audio
- Un sonido en la oscuridad · SpanishA1 Easy · 509 words · ~5 min · Audio
- Un bruit dans le noir · FrenchA1 Easy · 595 words · ~10 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 A Sound in the Dark 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 A1 Easy. In translation, German, Spanish and French are A1 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 522 words: around 5–10 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.