The Last Bus

DuoText original

Ana, 24, answers an advert and comes alone to Hollin Bridge, a small market town in the north of England: night baker wanted, no experience needed, room upstairs.

about 500 words · 5–10 min to read.

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

It is ten o’clock at night. The last bus stops on Bridge Street in Hollin Bridge. A young woman gets off. She has one big bag. Her name is Ana. She is twenty-four.

Es ist zehn Uhr abends. Der letzte Bus hält in der Bridge Street in Hollin Bridge. Eine junge Frau steigt aus. Sie hat eine große Tasche. Sie heißt Ana. Sie ist vierundzwanzig.

Ana looks at her phone. On the phone, there is an advert: WE NEED A NIGHT BAKER. NO EXPERIENCE. ROOM UPSTAIRS. BELL’S BAKERY, 7 BRIDGE STREET.

Ana schaut auf ihr Handy. Auf dem Handy ist eine Anzeige: WIR BRAUCHEN EINEN NACHTBÄCKER. KEINE ERFAHRUNG. ZIMMER OBEN. BELL’S BAKERY, 7 BRIDGE STREET.

Number seven is an old stone shop. Over the door, there is a name: BELL’S BAKERY. The shop is dark. Ana knocks on the door. Nothing. She knocks again.

Nummer sieben ist ein alter Laden aus Stein. Über der Tür steht ein Name: BELL’S BAKERY. Der Laden ist dunkel. Ana klopft an die Tür. Nichts. Sie klopft noch einmal.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

All 17 editions: titles, levels and lengths

The Last Bus · English (original)A1 Easy · 508 words · ~5 min
Der letzte Bus · GermanA1 Easy · 514 words · ~5 min
Το τελευταίο λεωφορείο · GreekA1 Easy · 491 words · ~5 min
El último autobús · SpanishA1 Easy · 497 words · ~5 min
Le Dernier Bus · FrenchA1 Easy · 601 words · ~10 min
आखिरी बस · HindiA1 Easy · 569 words · ~10 min
Bus Terakhir · IndonesianA1 Easy · 466 words · ~5 min
L’ultimo autobus · ItalianA1 Easy · 473 words · ~5 min
さいごのバス · JapaneseA1 Easy
마지막 버스 · KoreanA1 Easy · 374 words · ~5 min
De laatste bus · DutchA1 Easy · 513 words · ~5 min
Ostatni autobus · PolishA1 Easy · 428 words · ~5 min
O Último Ônibus · PortugueseA1 Easy · 519 words · ~5 min
Ultimul autobuz · RomanianA1 Easy · 453 words · ~5 min
Son Otobüs · TurkishA1 Easy · 371 words · ~5 min
Chuyến xe buýt cuối cùng · VietnameseA1 Easy · 621 words · ~10 min
最后一班车 · ChineseA1 Easy

Open it in the reader: all 272 language pairs

Reading it as a parallel text

A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.

Questions

Which languages can I read The Last Bus in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese. 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, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are A1 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

How long is it?

About 508 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.