At five o'clock on Sunday the electrician was lying under the carousel with a torch in her mouth, and she had been there since eight.
How it begins
For W.
Für W.
At five o'clock on Sunday the electrician was lying under the carousel with a torch in her mouth, and she had been there since eight.
Am Sonntag um fünf Uhr lag die Elektrikerin mit einer Taschenlampe im Mund unter dem Karussell, und sie lag schon seit acht Uhr dort.
Her name was Bev. On Wednesday I had rung twelve electricians, and eleven had laughed at the dates or hadn't answered. Bev had answered. From Monday to Saturday she worked for a big company that wired office buildings and didn't allow its electricians to take private jobs; on Sundays she was her own boss. "One Sunday," she had said. "That's what you've got before your hearing. I'll start at eight and stay till it's done. If it isn't done by midnight, it isn't done."
Sie hieß Bev. Am Mittwoch hatte ich zwölf Elektriker angerufen, und elf hatten über die Termine gelacht oder gar nicht geantwortet. Bev hatte geantwortet. Von Montag bis Samstag arbeitete sie für eine große Firma, die Bürogebäude verkabelte und ihren Elektrikern private Aufträge nicht erlaubte; sonntags war sie ihre eigene Chefin. „Einen Sonntag", hatte sie gesagt. „Mehr haben Sie nicht vor Ihrer Anhörung. Ich fange um acht an und bleibe, bis es fertig ist. Wenn es um Mitternacht nicht fertig ist, ist es nicht fertig."
Languages
- For W. · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 2,294 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Für W. · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,224 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Para W. · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,263 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Pour W. · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,557 words · ~15 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 For W. 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 B2 Intermediate. In translation, German, Spanish and French are B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 2,294 words: around 15 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.