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VOA Short Stories., The Tell-Tale Heart

The Tell-Tale Heart

Now, the VOA Special English program AMERICAN STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Today we present the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Here is Shep O'Neal with the story. (MUSIC)

STORYTELLER:

True!

Nervous -- very, very nervous I had been and am! But why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses -- not destroyed them. Above all was the sense of hearing.

I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in the underworld. How, then, am I mad? Observe how healthily -- how calmly I can tell you the whole story. It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a bird, a vulture -- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell on me, my blood ran cold; and so -- very slowly -- I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and free myself of the eye forever. Now this is the point.

You think that I am mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely and carefully I went to work! (MUSIC)

I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, late at night, I turned the lock of his door and opened it – oh, so gently! And then, when I had made an opening big enough for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed that no light shone out, and then I stuck in my head. I moved it slowly, very slowly, so that I might not interfere with the old man's sleep. And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern just so much that a single thin ray of light fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights -- but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who was a problem for me, but his Evil Eye. On the eighth night, I was more than usually careful in opening the door. I had my head in and was about to open the lantern, when my finger slid on a piece of metal and made a noise. The old man sat up in bed, crying out "Who's there? I kept still and said nothing. I did not move a muscle for a whole hour. During that time, I did not hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening -- just as I have done, night after night. Then I heard a noise, and I knew it was the sound of human terror. It was the low sound that arises from the bottom of the soul. I knew the sound well. Many a night, late at night, when all the world slept, it has welled up from deep within my own chest. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and felt sorry for him, although I laughed to myself. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. When I had waited a long time, without hearing him lie down, I decided to open a little -- a very, very little -- crack in the lantern. So I opened it. You cannot imagine how carefully, carefully. Finally, a single ray of light shot from out and fell full upon the vulture eye. It was open -- wide, wide open -- and I grew angry as I looked at it. I saw it clearly -- all a dull blue, with a horrible veil over it that chilled my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person. For I had directed the light exactly upon the damned spot. (MUSIC)

And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but a kind of over-sensitivity? Now, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my anger. But even yet I kept still.

I hardly breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I attempted to keep the ray of light upon the eye. But the beating of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every second. The old man's terror must have been extreme! The beating grew louder, I say, louder every moment! And now at the dead hour of the night, in the horrible silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new fear seized me -- the sound would be heard by a neighbor! The old man's hour had come! With a loud shout, I threw open the lantern and burst into the room. He cried once -- once only. Without delay, I forced him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled, to find the action so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a quiet sound. This, however, did not concern me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length, it stopped. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the body. I placed my hand over his heart and held it there many minutes. There was no movement. He was stone dead. His eye would trouble me no more. (MUSIC)

If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise steps I took for hiding the body. I worked quickly, but in silence. First of all, I took apart the body. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. I then took up three pieces of wood from the flooring, and placed his body parts under the room. I then replaced the wooden boards so well that no human eye -- not even his -- could have seen anything wrong. There was nothing to wash out -- no mark of any kind -- no blood whatever. I had been too smart for that. A tub had caught all -- ha! ha! When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock in the morning. As a clock sounded the hour, there came a noise at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart -- for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who said they were officers of the police. A cry had been heard by a neighbor during the night; suspicion of a crime had been aroused; information had been given at the police office, and the officers had been sent to search the building. I smiled -- for what had I to fear? The cry, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I said, was not in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I told them to search -- search well. I led them, at length, to his room. I brought chairs there, and told them to rest. I placed my own seat upon the very place under which lay the body of the victim. The officers were satisfied.

I was completely at ease. They sat, and while I answered happily, they talked of common things. But, after a while, I felt myself getting weak and wished them gone. My head hurt, and I had a ringing in my ears; but still they sat and talked. The ringing became more severe. I talked more freely to do away with the feeling. But it continued until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears. I talked more and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased -- and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound like a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton. I had trouble breathing -- and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly -- more loudly; but the noise increased. I stood up and argued about silly things, in a high voice and with violent hand movements. But the noise kept increasing. Why would they not be gone? I walked across the floor with heavy steps, as if excited to anger by the observations of the men -- but the noise increased. What could I do? I swung my chair and moved it upon the floor, but the noise continually increased. It grew louder -- louder -- louder! And still the men talked pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? No, no! They heard! They suspected! They knew! They were making a joke of my horror! This I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this pain! I could bear those smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! And now -- again! Louder! Louder! Louder! "Villains!

I cried, "Pretend no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the floor boards! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart! (MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER:

You have heard the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal. This story was adapted by Shelley Gollust. It was produced by Lawan Davis. Listen again next week for another American story in VOA Special English. I'm Faith Lapidus.

The Tell-Tale Heart The Tell-Tale Heart 告げ口心臓 Pasakiška širdis (The Tell-Tale Heart) The Tell-Tale Heart O coração que conta histórias Сердце-обличитель The Tell-Tale Heart Серце-обличитель 多愁善感的心

Now, the VOA Special English program AMERICAN STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Today we present the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. 本日は、エドガーアランポーの短編小説 "The Tell-Tale Heart"を紹介します。 Сегодня мы представляем рассказ Эдгара Аллана По «Сердце-обличитель».

Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. (MUSIC)

STORYTELLER:

True! Правда!

Nervous -- very, very nervous I had been and am! 緊張-とても緊張していました。 Нервничала - очень, очень нервничала, я была и остаюсь! But why will you say that I am mad? しかし、なぜ私が怒っていると言うのですか? Но почему ты скажешь, что я сумасшедший? The disease had sharpened my senses -- not destroyed them. 病気は私の感覚を研ぎ澄ましました-それらを破壊しませんでした。 Болезнь обострила мои чувства, а не уничтожила их. Above all was the sense of hearing. 何より聴覚が良かったです。 Прежде всего, слух.

I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. 私は天と地のすべてのものを聞いた。 Я слышал все, что есть на небе и на земле. I heard many things in the underworld. How, then, am I mad? Как же я злюсь? Observe how healthily -- how calmly I can tell you the whole story. Обратите внимание, как здорово - как спокойно я могу рассказать вам всю историю. It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain. Невозможно сказать, как впервые эта идея пришла мне в голову. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. Он никогда не обидел меня. He had never given me insult. Он никогда не оскорблял меня. For his gold I had no desire. Его золота у меня не было никакого желания. I think it was his eye! Думаю, это его глаз! Yes, it was this! Да именно это было! He had the eye of a bird, a vulture -- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. У него был птичий глаз, стервятник - бледно-голубой глаз, покрытый пленкой. Whenever it fell on me, my blood ran cold; and so -- very slowly -- I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and free myself of the eye forever. Всякий раз, когда он падал на меня, моя кровь становилась холодной; и поэтому - очень медленно - я решил лишить старика жизни и навсегда избавиться от глаз. Now this is the point. Вот в чем суть.

You think that I am mad. Madmen know nothing. Безумцы ничего не знают. But you should have seen me. Но вы бы меня видели. You should have seen how wisely and carefully I went to work! (MUSIC)

I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. Я никогда не был добрее к старику, чем за всю неделю до его убийства. And every night, late at night, I turned the lock of his door and opened it – oh, so gently! И каждую ночь, поздно вечером, я поворачивал замок его двери и открывал ее - о, как нежно! And then, when I had made an opening big enough for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed that no light shone out, and then I stuck in my head. А затем, когда я сделал отверстие, достаточно большое для моей головы, я поставил темный фонарь, полностью закрытый, чтобы не светил свет, а затем я засунул в голову. I moved it slowly, very slowly, so that I might not interfere with the old man’s sleep. Я двигал его медленно, очень медленно, чтобы не мешать старику спать. And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern just so much that a single thin ray of light fell upon the vulture eye. E então, quando a minha cabeça estava bem dentro do quarto, abri a lanterna de tal forma que um único e fino raio de luz caiu sobre o olho do abutre. А потом, когда моя голова окунулась в комнату, я расстегнул фонарь настолько, что единственный тонкий луч света упал на глаз стервятника. And this I did for seven long nights -- but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who was a problem for me, but his Evil Eye. И так я делал семь долгих ночей - но обнаружил, что глаза всегда закрыты; и поэтому работать было невозможно; для меня проблемой был не старик, а его сглаз. On the eighth night, I was more than usually careful in opening the door. На восьмую ночь я открывал дверь более чем обычно осторожно. I had my head in and was about to open the lantern, when my finger slid on a piece of metal and made a noise. Eu tinha a cabeça para dentro e estava prestes a abrir a lanterna, quando o meu dedo deslizou sobre um pedaço de metal e fez um barulho. Я просунул голову и собирался открыть фонарь, когда мой палец скользнул по металлическому предмету и издал звук. The old man sat up in bed, crying out "Who’s there? O velho sentou-se na cama e gritou: "Quem é que está aí? Старик сел в постели и крикнул: «Кто там? I kept still and said nothing. Fiquei quieto e não disse nada. Я промолчал и ничего не сказал. I did not move a muscle for a whole hour. Não mexi um músculo durante uma hora inteira. Я не двигал ни одной мышцей целый час. During that time, I did not hear him lie down. Durante esse tempo, não o ouvi deitar-se. Все это время я не слышал, чтобы он ложился. He was still sitting up in the bed listening -- just as I have done, night after night. Ele ainda estava sentado na cama a ouvir - tal como eu tenho feito, noite após noite. Он все еще сидел в постели и слушал - как и я, ночь за ночью. Then I heard a noise, and I knew it was the sound of human terror. Depois ouvi um barulho, e soube que era o som do terror humano. Затем я услышал шум и понял, что это звук человеческого ужаса. It was the low sound that arises from the bottom of the soul. Era o som baixo que surge do fundo da alma. Это был низкий звук, исходящий из глубины души. I knew the sound well. Eu conhecia bem o som. Я хорошо знал звук. Many a night, late at night, when all the world slept, it has welled up from deep within my own chest. Muitas vezes, a altas horas da noite, quando todo o mundo dormia, brotou do fundo do meu peito. Много ночей, поздно ночью, когда весь мир спал, он выливался из глубины моей груди. I say I knew it well. Eu digo que o conhecia bem. Я говорю, что хорошо это знал. I knew what the old man felt, and felt sorry for him, although I laughed to myself. Eu sabia o que o velhote sentia e tinha pena dele, embora me risse para mim próprio. Я знал, что чувствовал старик, и мне было его жалко, хотя я смеялся про себя. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first noise, when he had turned in the bed. Eu sabia que ele estava deitado e acordado desde o primeiro barulho, quando se virou na cama. Я знал, что он лежал без сна с момента первого шума, когда он повернулся в постели. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. С тех пор его страхи нарастали. When I had waited a long time, without hearing him lie down, I decided to open a little -- a very, very little -- crack in the lantern. Depois de ter esperado muito tempo, sem o ouvir deitar-se, decidi abrir uma pequena - muito, muito pequena - fenda na lanterna. Когда я долго ждал, не слыша, как он ложится, я решил приоткрыть небольшую - очень, очень маленькую - трещину в фонаре. So I opened it. Я открыл это. You cannot imagine how carefully, carefully. Вы не представляете, как тщательно, осторожно. Finally, a single ray of light shot from out and fell full upon the vulture eye. Наконец единственный луч света вырвался наружу и упал на глаз стервятника. It was open -- wide, wide open -- and I grew angry as I looked at it. Он был открыт - широко, широко открыт - и я разозлился, глядя на него. I saw it clearly -- all a dull blue, with a horrible veil over it that chilled my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man’s face or person. Я видел это ясно - все тускло-синее, с ужасной вуалью, от которой у меня замерзли кости; но я не мог видеть ничего другого ни лица, ни лица старика. For I had directed the light exactly upon the damned spot. Porque eu tinha dirigido a luz exatamente para o local maldito. Потому что я направил свет именно на это проклятое место. (MUSIC)

And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but a kind of over-sensitivity? E não lhe disse que o que você confunde com loucura é apenas uma espécie de sensibilidade excessiva? И разве я не говорил вам, что то, что вы принимаете за безумие, есть не что иное, как излишняя чувствительность? Now, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton. Agora, chegou aos meus ouvidos um som baixo, monótono e rápido, como um relógio quando dentro de um pedaço de algodão. Теперь до моих ушей донесся низкий, глухой, быстрый звук, какой издают часы, когда они находятся внутри куска хлопка. I knew that sound well, too. Я тоже хорошо знал этот звук. It was the beating of the old man’s heart. Это было биение сердца старика. It increased my anger. Isso aumentou minha raiva. Это увеличило мой гнев. But even yet I kept still. Mas mesmo assim eu fiquei quieta. Но даже пока я не двигался.

I hardly breathed. Eu quase não respirei. Я почти не дышал. I held the lantern motionless. Я держал фонарь неподвижно. I attempted to keep the ray of light upon the eye. Я старался удержать луч света в глазах. But the beating of the heart increased. Но сердцебиение учащалось. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every second. Он становился все быстрее и быстрее, с каждой секундой все громче и громче. The old man’s terror must have been extreme! Ужас старика, должно быть, был ужасен! The beating grew louder, I say, louder every moment! Биение становилось все громче, говорю я, с каждой минутой! And now at the dead hour of the night, in the horrible silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. E agora, na hora morta da noite, no horrível silêncio daquela casa velha, um barulho tão estranho que me excitou com um terror incontrolável. А теперь, в глухой час ночи, в ужасной тишине этого старого дома, такой странный шум взволновал меня до неудержимого ужаса. Yet, for some minutes longer I stood still. Однако еще несколько минут я стоял неподвижно. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. Я думал, что сердце должно разорваться. And now a new fear seized me -- the sound would be heard by a neighbor! И вот меня охватил новый страх - звук услышит сосед! The old man’s hour had come! Настал час старика! With a loud shout, I threw open the lantern and burst into the room. Com um grito alto, abri a lanterna e entrei no quarto. С громким криком я распахнул фонарь и ворвался в комнату. He cried once -- once only. Ele chorou uma vez - apenas uma vez. Он плакал один раз - только один раз. Without delay, I forced him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. Sem demora, forcei-o a cair no chão e puxei a cama pesada sobre ele. Без промедления я повалил его на пол и натянул на него тяжелую кровать. I then smiled, to find the action so far done. Eu então sorri, ao descobrir a ação até agora realizada. Затем я улыбнулся и обнаружил, что действие уже выполнено. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a quiet sound. Но в течение многих минут сердце билось тихо. This, however, did not concern me; it would not be heard through the wall. Isso, no entanto, não me interessou; não seria ouvido através da parede. Но это меня не волновало; это не было бы слышно через стену. At length, it stopped. Por fim, parou. Наконец это остановилось. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the body. I placed my hand over his heart and held it there many minutes. Я положил руку ему на сердце и подержал там много минут. There was no movement. Никакого движения. He was stone dead. Он был мертв как камень. His eye would trouble me no more. Его глаз меня больше не беспокоил. (MUSIC)

If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise steps I took for hiding the body. Se você ainda me acha louca, não pensará mais assim quando descrever os sábios passos que dei para esconder o corpo. Если вы все еще считаете меня сумасшедшим, вы больше не будете так думать, когда я буду описывать мудрые шаги, которые я предпринял, чтобы спрятать тело. I worked quickly, but in silence. Я работал быстро, но молча. First of all, I took apart the body. Первым делом разобрал корпус. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. Я отрезал голову, руки и ноги. I then took up three pieces of wood from the flooring, and placed his body parts under the room. Depois, peguei em três pedaços de madeira do soalho e coloquei as partes do seu corpo debaixo do quarto. Затем я взял с пола три куска дерева и поместил части его тела под комнату. I then replaced the wooden boards so well that no human eye -- not even his -- could have seen anything wrong. Substituí as tábuas de madeira tão bem que nenhum olho humano - nem mesmo o dele - poderia ter visto algo errado. Затем я заменил деревянные доски так хорошо, что ни один человеческий глаз - даже его - не мог увидеть ничего плохого. There was nothing to wash out -- no mark of any kind -- no blood whatever. Смывать было нечего - никаких следов - никакой крови. I had been too smart for that. Я был слишком умен для этого. A tub had caught all -- ha! Uma banheira pegou tudo - ha! В кадке все поймали - ха! ha! When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o’clock in the morning. Когда я закончил эти труды, было четыре часа утра. As a clock sounded the hour, there came a noise at the street door. Когда часы пробили час, у двери послышался шум. I went down to open it with a light heart -- for what had I now to fear? Desci para abri-lo com um coração leve - pois agora eu tinha que temer? Я пошел открывать его с легким сердцем - чего мне теперь бояться? There entered three men, who said they were officers of the police. Вошли трое мужчин, которые сказали, что они сотрудники полиции. A cry had been heard by a neighbor during the night; suspicion of a crime had been aroused; information had been given at the police office, and the officers had been sent to search the building. Um vizinho tinha ouvido um grito durante a noite; a suspeita de um crime tinha sido levantada; a informação tinha sido dada na esquadra da polícia e os agentes tinham sido enviados para revistar o edifício. Ночью сосед услышал крик; возникло подозрение в преступлении; информация была предоставлена в отделении полиции, и офицеры были отправлены на обыск здания. I smiled -- for what had I to fear? Я улыбнулся - чего мне бояться? The cry, I said, was my own in a dream. Я сказал, что этот крик был моим собственным во сне. The old man, I said, was not in the country. Я сказал, что старика нет в деревне. I took my visitors all over the house. Levei meus visitantes por toda a casa. Я водил посетителей по всему дому. I told them to search -- search well. Eu disse a eles para pesquisar - pesquisar bem. Я сказал им искать - ищите хорошо. I led them, at length, to his room. Eu os conduzi longamente para o quarto dele. Наконец я провел их в его комнату. I brought chairs there, and told them to rest. Я принес туда стулья и велел им отдохнуть. I placed my own seat upon the very place under which lay the body of the victim. Coloquei meu próprio lugar no mesmo lugar em que estava o corpo da vítima. Я поставил свое кресло на то самое место, под которым лежало тело жертвы. The officers were satisfied. Офицеры остались довольны.

I was completely at ease. Eu estava completamente à vontade. Я чувствовал себя совершенно непринужденно. They sat, and while I answered happily, they talked of common things. Они сели, и пока я радостно отвечал, они говорили о простых вещах. But, after a while, I felt myself getting weak and wished them gone. Mas, depois de um tempo, senti-me enfraquecido e desejei que fossem embora. Но через некоторое время я почувствовал, что слабею, и пожелал, чтобы они ушли. My head hurt, and I had a ringing in my ears; but still they sat and talked. Голова болела, в ушах звенело; но все же они сидели и говорили. The ringing became more severe. Звон стал сильнее. I talked more freely to do away with the feeling. Eu falei mais livremente para acabar com o sentimento. Я говорил более свободно, чтобы избавиться от этого чувства. But it continued until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears. Но это продолжалось до тех пор, пока, наконец, я не обнаружил, что шум не в моих ушах. I talked more and with a heightened voice. Я говорил больше и повышенным голосом. Yet the sound increased -- and what could I do? Однако звук усилился - и что я мог сделать? It was a low, dull, quick sound like a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton. Era um som baixo, aborrecido e rápido, como um relógio faz quando dentro de um pedaço de algodão. Это был низкий, глухой, быстрый звук, какой издают часы в куске хлопка. I had trouble breathing -- and yet the officers heard it not. Tive dificuldade para respirar - e mesmo assim os policiais não ouviram. У меня были проблемы с дыханием, но офицеры этого не слышали. I talked more quickly -- more loudly; but the noise increased. Я говорил быстрее - громче; но шум увеличился. I stood up and argued about silly things, in a high voice and with violent hand movements. Levantei-me e discuti sobre coisas tolas, em voz alta e com movimentos violentos das mãos. Я встала и спорила о глупостях, высоким голосом и резкими движениями рук. But the noise kept increasing. Но шум продолжал расти. Why would they not be gone? Почему бы им не уйти? I walked across the floor with heavy steps, as if excited to anger by the observations of the men -- but the noise increased. Andei pelo chão com passos pesados, como se estivesse excitado com a raiva pelas observações dos homens - mas o barulho aumentou. Я шел по полу тяжелыми шагами, словно возбужденный до гнева наблюдениями мужчин, но шум усилился. What could I do? Что я мог сделать? I swung my chair and moved it upon the floor, but the noise continually increased. Balancei a minha cadeira e movi-a para o chão, mas o barulho não parava de aumentar. Я качнул стул и передвинул его по полу, но шум постоянно усиливался. It grew louder -- louder -- louder! Стало громче - громче - громче! And still the men talked pleasantly, and smiled. И все же мужчины приятно разговаривали и улыбались. Was it possible they heard not? Неужели они не слышали? No, no! They heard! They suspected! Они подозревали! They knew! They were making a joke of my horror! Они подшучивали над моим ужасом! This I thought, and this I think. Я так думал, так думаю. But anything was better than this pain! Но все было лучше этой боли! I could bear those smiles no longer! Eu não aguentava mais aqueles sorrisos! Я не мог больше выносить эти улыбки! I felt that I must scream or die! Eu senti que devo gritar ou morrer! Я чувствовал, что должен закричать или умереть! And now -- again! А теперь - снова! Louder! Громче! Louder! Louder! "Villains! «Злодеи!

I cried, "Pretend no more! Я закричал: «Не надо больше притворяться! I admit the deed! Я признаю поступок! Tear up the floor boards! Rasgue as tábuas do chão! Рвите половицы! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart! É a batida do seu coração hediondo! Это биение его ужасного сердца! (MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER:

You have heard the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Your storyteller was Shep O’Neal. This story was adapted by Shelley Gollust. It was produced by Lawan Davis. Listen again next week for another American story in VOA Special English. I’m Faith Lapidus.