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VOA Short Stories., A Horseman in the Sky

A Horseman in the Sky

Announcer: Now, the Special English program, AMERICAN STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Our story today is called, "A Horseman in the Sky.

" It was written by Ambrose Bierce. Here is Roy Depew with the story. (MUSIC)

Narrator: Carter Druse was born in Virginia.

He loved his parents, his home and the south. But he loved his country, too. And in the autumn of eighteen sixty-one, when the United States was divided by a terrible civil war, Carter Druse, a southerner, decided to join the Union Army of the north. He told his father about his decision one morning at breakfast.

The older man looked at his only son for a moment, too shocked to speak.

Then he said, "As of this moment you are a traitor to the south. Please don't tell your mother about your decision. She is sick, and we both know she has only a few weeks to live. Carter's father paused, again looking deep into his son's eyes.

"Carter," he said, "No matter what happens -- be sure you always do what you think is your duty. Both Carter Druse and his father left the table that morning with broken hearts.

And Carter soon left his home, and everyone he loved to wear the blue uniform of the Union soldier. One sunny afternoon, a few weeks later, Carter Druse lay with his face in the dirt by the side of a road.

He was on his stomach, his arms still holding his gun. Carter would not receive a medal for his actions. In fact, if his commanding officer were to see him, he would order Carter shot immediately. For Carter was not dead or wounded.

He was sleeping while on duty. Fortunately, no one could see him. He was hidden by some bushes, growing by the side of the road. The road Carter Druse had been sent to guard was only a few miles from his father's house.

It began in a forest, down in the valley, and climbed up the side of a huge rock.

Anyone standing on the top of this high rock would be able to see down into the valley. And that person would feel very dizzy, looking down. If he dropped a stone from the edge of this cliff, it would fall for six hundred meters before disappearing into the forest in the valley below. Giant cliffs, like the one Carter lay on, surrounded the valley.

Hidden in the valley's forest were five union regiments -- thousands of Carter's fellow soldiers.

They had marched for thirty-six hours. Now they were resting. But at midnight they would climb that road up the rocky cliff. Their plan was to attack by surprise an army of southerners, camped on the other side of the cliff.

But if their enemy learned about the Union Army hiding in the forest, the soldiers would find themselves in a trap with no escape. That was why Carter Druse had been sent to guard the road. It was his duty to be sure that no enemy soldier, dressed in gray, spied on the valley, where the union army was hiding.

But Carter Druse had fallen asleep.

Suddenly, as if a messenger of fate came to touch him on the shoulder, the young man opened his eyes. As he lifted his head, he saw a man on horseback standing on the huge rocky cliff that looked down into the valley. The rider and his horse stood so still that they seemed made of stone.

The man's gray uniform blended with the blue sky and the white clouds behind him. He held a gun in his right hand, and the horse's reins in the other. Carter could not see the man's face, because the rider was looking down into the valley.

But the man and his horse seemed to be of heroic, almost gigantic size, standing there motionless against the sky. Carter discovered he was very much afraid, even though he knew the enemy soldier could not see him hiding in the bushes. Suddenly the horse moved, pulling back its head from the edge of the cliff.

Carter was completely awake now. He raised his gun, pushing its barrel through the bushes. And he aimed for the horseman's heart. A small squeeze of the trigger, and Carter Druse would have done his duty. At that instant, the horseman turned his head and looked in Carter's direction.

He seemed to look at Carter's face, into his eyes, and deep into his brave, generous heart. Carter's face became very white.

His entire body began shaking. His mind began to race, and in his fantasy, the horse and rider became black figures, rising and falling in slow circles against a fiery red sky. Carter did not pull the trigger.

Instead, he let go of his gun and slowly dropped his face until it rested again in the dirt. Brave and strong as he was, Carter almost fainted from the shock of what he had seen.

Is it so terrible to kill an enemy who might kill you and your friends?

Carter knew that this man must be shot from ambush -- without warning. This man must die without a moment to prepare his soul; without even the chance to say a silent prayer. Slowly, a hope began to form in Carter Druse's mind.

Perhaps the southern soldier had not seen the northern troops. Perhaps he was only admiring the view.

Perhaps he would now turn and ride carelessly away. Then Carter looked down into the valley so far below.

He saw a line of men in blue uniforms and their horses, slowly leaving the protection of the forest. A foolish Union officer had permitted his soldiers to bring their horses to drink at a small stream near the forest. And there they were -- in plain sight! Carter Druse looked back to the man and horse standing there against the sky.

Again he took aim. But this time he pointed his gun at the horse. Words rang in his head -- the last words his father ever spoke to him: "No matter what happens, be sure you always do what you think is your duty. Carter Druse was calm as he pulled the trigger of his gun.

At that moment, a Union officer happened to look up from his hiding place near the edge of the forest.

His eyes climbed to the top of the cliff that looked over the valley. Just looking at the top of the gigantic rock, so far above him, made the soldier feel dizzy. And then the officer saw something that filled his heart with horror.

A man on a horse was riding down into the valley through the air! The rider sat straight in his saddle.

His hair streamed back, waving in the wind. His left hand held his horse's reins while his right hand was hidden in the cloud of the horse's mane. The horse looked as if it were galloping across the earth. Its body was proud and noble. As the frightened Union officer watched this horseman in the sky, he almost believed he was witnessing a messenger from heaven.

A messenger who had come to announce the end of the world. The officer's legs grew weak, and he fell. At almost the same instant, he heard a crashing sound in the trees. The sound died without an echo. And all was silent. The officer got to his feet, still shaking.

He went back to his camp. But he didn't tell anyone what he had seen. He knew no one would ever believe him. Soon after firing his gun, Carter Druse was joined by a Union sergeant.

Carter did not turn his head as the sergeant kneeled beside him. "Did you fire?

The sergeant whispered. "Yes.

"At what?

"A horse.

It was on that rock. It's not there now. It went over the cliff." Carter's face was white. But he showed no other sign of emotion. The sergeant did not understand. "See here, Druse," he said, after a moment's silence.

"Why are you making this into a mystery. I order you to report. Was there anyone on the horse? "Yes.

"Who?

"My father.

(MUSIC)

Announcer: You have heard the story called, "A Horseman in the Sky.

It was written by Ambrose Bierce, and adapted for Special English by Dona de Sanctis. Your storyteller was Roy Depew. For VOA Special English, this is Shirley Griffith.

(MUSIC)

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A Horseman in the Sky Un cavaliere nel cielo 天空の騎手 Raitelis danguje Gökyüzünde Bir Atlı Вершник у небі 天空中的骑士 天空中的騎士

Announcer:  Now, the Special English program, AMERICAN STORIES. |||Special Edition|language||| Apresentador: Agora, o programa de inglês especial, AMERICAN STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Our story today is called, "A Horseman in the Sky. Nossa história hoje se chama "Um Cavaleiro no Céu.

"  It was written by Ambrose Bierce. "Foi escrito por Ambrose Bierce. Here is Roy Depew with the story. Aqui está Roy Depew com a história. (MUSIC)

Narrator: Carter Druse was born in Virginia. ||||came into existence||Virginia state Narrador: Carter Druse nasceu na Virgínia.

He loved his parents, his home and the south. |||||household|||southern region Ele amava seus pais, sua casa e o sul. But he loved his country, too. And in the autumn of eighteen sixty-one, when the United States was divided by a terrible civil war, Carter Druse, a southerner, decided to join the Union Army of the north. E no outono de dezoito e sessenta e um, quando os Estados Unidos foram divididos por uma terrível guerra civil, Carter Druse, um sulista, decidiu se juntar ao exército da União do norte. He told his father about his decision one morning at breakfast. Ele contou ao pai sobre sua decisão uma manhã no café da manhã.

The older man looked at his only son for a moment, too shocked to speak. O homem mais velho olhou para o único filho por um momento, chocado demais para falar.

Then he said, "As of this moment you are a traitor to the south. Então ele disse: "A partir deste momento você é um traidor ao sul. Please don’t tell your mother about your decision. She is sick, and we both know she has only a few weeks to live. Ela está doente, e nós dois sabemos que ela tem apenas algumas semanas de vida. Carter’s father paused, again looking deep into his son’s eyes. O pai de Carter fez uma pausa, novamente olhando profundamente nos olhos do filho.

"Carter," he said, "No matter what happens -- be sure you always do what you think is your duty. 「カーター」と彼は言った。 "Carter", disse ele, "não importa o que aconteça - certifique-se de sempre fazer o que acha que é seu dever. Both Carter Druse and his father left the table that morning with broken hearts. Carter Druse e seu pai deixaram a mesa naquela manhã com o coração partido.

And Carter soon left his home, and everyone he loved to wear the blue uniform of the Union soldier. E Carter logo deixou sua casa, e todo mundo que ele adorava usar o uniforme azul do soldado da União. One sunny afternoon, a few weeks later, Carter Druse lay with his face in the dirt by the side of a road. Uma tarde ensolarada, algumas semanas depois, Carter Druse estava deitado com o rosto na terra ao lado de uma estrada.

He was on his stomach, his arms still holding his gun. Ele estava de bruços, com os braços ainda segurando a arma. Carter would not receive a medal for his actions. Carter não receberia uma medalha por suas ações. In fact, if his commanding officer were to see him, he would order Carter shot immediately. De fato, se o seu comandante o visse, ele ordenaria que Carter fosse morto imediatamente. For Carter was not dead or wounded. Pois Carter não estava morto ou ferido.

He was sleeping while on duty. Ele estava dormindo enquanto estava de serviço. Fortunately, no one could see him. Felizmente, ninguém podia vê-lo. He was hidden by some bushes, growing by the side of the road. Ele estava escondido por alguns arbustos, crescendo à beira da estrada. The road Carter Druse had been sent to guard was only a few miles from his father’s house. A estrada que Carter Druse fora enviada para guardar ficava a poucos quilômetros da casa de seu pai.

It began in a forest, down in the valley, and climbed up the side of a huge rock. Começou em uma floresta, no vale, e subiu ao lado de uma enorme rocha.

Anyone standing on the top of this high rock would be able to see down into the valley. Qualquer um que estivesse no topo desta rocha alta seria capaz de ver o vale. And that person would feel very dizzy, looking down. E essa pessoa se sentiria muito tonta, olhando para baixo. If he dropped a stone from the edge of this cliff, it would fall for six hundred meters before disappearing into the forest in the valley below. Se ele derrubasse uma pedra da beira do penhasco, ela cairia seiscentos metros antes de desaparecer na floresta no vale abaixo. Giant cliffs, like the one Carter lay on, surrounded the valley. Penhascos gigantes, como o que Carter estava, cercavam o vale.

Hidden in the valley’s forest were five union regiments -- thousands of Carter’s fellow soldiers. Escondidos na floresta do vale, havia cinco regimentos sindicais - milhares de companheiros soldados de Carter.

They had marched for thirty-six hours. Eles marcharam trinta e seis horas. Now they were resting. Agora eles estavam descansando. But at midnight they would climb that road up the rocky cliff. Mas à meia-noite eles subiam a estrada no penhasco rochoso. Their plan was to attack by surprise an army of southerners, camped on the other side of the cliff. O plano deles era atacar de surpresa um exército de sulistas, acampados do outro lado do penhasco.

But if their enemy learned about the Union Army hiding in the forest, the soldiers would find themselves in a trap with no escape. Mas se o inimigo soubesse sobre o exército da União escondido na floresta, os soldados se encontrariam em uma armadilha sem escapatória. That was why Carter Druse had been sent to guard the road. Foi por isso que Carter Druse foi enviado para vigiar a estrada. It was his duty to be sure that no enemy soldier, dressed in gray, spied on the valley, where the union army was hiding. Era seu dever garantir que nenhum soldado inimigo, vestido de cinza, espiasse no vale, onde o exército da união estava escondido.

But Carter Druse had fallen asleep. Mas Carter Druse havia adormecido.

Suddenly, as if a messenger of fate came to touch him on the shoulder, the young man opened his eyes. De repente, como se um mensageiro do destino o tocasse no ombro, o jovem abriu os olhos. As he lifted his head, he saw a man on horseback standing on the huge rocky cliff that looked down into the valley. Ao erguer a cabeça, viu um homem a cavalo no imenso penhasco que dava para o vale. The rider and his horse stood so still that they seemed made of stone. O cavaleiro e seu cavalo ficaram tão imóveis que pareciam feitos de pedra.

The man’s gray uniform blended with the blue sky and the white clouds behind him. O uniforme cinza do homem se misturava com o céu azul e as nuvens brancas atrás dele. He held a gun in his right hand, and the horse’s reins in the other. |||||||||||the reins||| Ele segurava uma arma na mão direita e as rédeas do cavalo na outra. Carter could not see the man’s face, because the rider was looking down into the valley. Carter não conseguia ver o rosto do homem, porque o cavaleiro estava olhando para o vale.

But the man and his horse seemed to be of heroic, almost gigantic size, standing there motionless against the sky. Mas o homem e seu cavalo pareciam ter um tamanho heróico, quase gigantesco, parado ali imóvel contra o céu. Carter discovered he was very much afraid, even though he knew the enemy soldier could not see him hiding in the bushes. Carter descobriu que estava com muito medo, mesmo sabendo que o soldado inimigo não podia vê-lo escondido nos arbustos. Suddenly the horse moved, pulling back its head from the edge of the cliff. De repente, o cavalo se moveu, afastando a cabeça da beira do penhasco.

Carter was completely awake now. Carter estava completamente acordado agora. He raised his gun, pushing its barrel through the bushes. ||||||muzzle||| Ele levantou a arma, empurrando o cano através dos arbustos. And he aimed for the horseman’s heart. E ele apontou para o coração do cavaleiro. A small squeeze of the trigger, and Carter Druse would have done his duty. Um pequeno aperto no gatilho, e Carter Druse teria cumprido seu dever. At that instant, the horseman turned his head and looked in Carter’s direction. Nesse instante, o cavaleiro virou a cabeça e olhou na direção de Carter.

He seemed to look at Carter’s face, into his eyes, and deep into his brave, generous heart. Ele parecia olhar para o rosto de Carter, em seus olhos, e profundamente em seu coração corajoso e generoso. Carter’s face became very white. O rosto de Carter ficou muito branco.

His entire body began shaking. Todo o seu corpo começou a tremer. His mind began to race, and in his fantasy, the horse and rider became black figures, rising and falling in slow circles against a fiery red sky. Sua mente começou a correr e, em sua fantasia, o cavalo e o cavaleiro tornaram-se figuras negras, subindo e descendo em círculos lentos contra um céu vermelho ardente. 他的思緒開始飛速運轉,在他的幻想中,馬和騎手變成了黑色的身影,在火紅的天空中緩慢上升和下降。 Carter did not pull the trigger. Carter não puxou o gatilho.

Instead, he let go of his gun and slowly dropped his face until it rested again in the dirt. Em vez disso, ele soltou a arma e lentamente abaixou o rosto até descansar novamente na terra. Brave and strong as he was, Carter almost fainted from the shock of what he had seen. Corajoso e forte como ele era, Carter quase desmaiou com o choque do que tinha visto. Картер, как ни был храбр и силен, едва не потерял сознание от потрясения увиденным.

Is it so terrible to kill an enemy who might kill you and your friends? É tão terrível matar um inimigo que pode matar você e seus amigos?

Carter knew that this man must be shot from ambush -- without warning. |||||||||hidden position|| Carter sabia que esse homem deveria ser baleado por emboscada - sem aviso prévio. This man must die without a moment to prepare his soul; without even the chance to say a silent prayer. Este homem deve morrer sem um momento para preparar sua alma; sem sequer a chance de fazer uma oração silenciosa. Slowly, a hope began to form in Carter Druse’s mind. Lentamente, uma esperança começou a se formar na mente de Carter Druse.

Perhaps the southern soldier had not seen the northern troops. Talvez o soldado do sul não tivesse visto as tropas do norte. Perhaps he was only admiring the view. Talvez ele estivesse apenas admirando a vista.

Perhaps he would now turn and ride carelessly away. Talvez ele agora se virasse e partisse descuidadamente. Then Carter looked down into the valley so far below. Então Carter olhou para o vale tão abaixo.

He saw a line of men in blue uniforms and their horses, slowly leaving the protection of the forest. Ele viu uma fila de homens de uniforme azul e seus cavalos, deixando lentamente a proteção da floresta. A foolish Union officer had permitted his soldiers to bring their horses to drink at a small stream near the forest. Um oficial tolo da União havia permitido que seus soldados levassem seus cavalos para beber em um pequeno riacho perto da floresta. And there they were -- in plain sight! E lá estavam eles - à vista de todos! Carter Druse looked back to the man and horse standing there against the sky. Carter Druse olhou de volta para o homem e o cavalo em pé lá no céu.

Again he took aim. Mais uma vez ele mirou. But this time he pointed his gun at the horse. Mas desta vez ele apontou a arma para o cavalo. Words rang in his head -- the last words his father ever spoke to him: "No matter what happens, be sure you always do what you think is your duty. As palavras ecoaram em sua cabeça - as últimas palavras que seu pai falou com ele: "Não importa o que aconteça, certifique-se de sempre fazer o que acha que é seu dever. Carter Druse was calm as he pulled the trigger of his gun. Carter Druse estava calmo quando ele puxou o gatilho da arma.

At that moment, a Union officer happened to look up from his hiding place near the edge of the forest. Naquele momento, um oficial da União levantou os olhos de seu esconderijo, perto da borda da floresta.

His eyes climbed to the top of the cliff that looked over the valley. Seus olhos subiram para o topo do penhasco que dava para o vale. Just looking at the top of the gigantic rock, so far above him, made the soldier feel dizzy. Só de olhar o topo da rocha gigantesca, tão acima dele, o soldado ficou tonto. And then the officer saw something that filled his heart with horror. E então o oficial viu algo que encheu seu coração de horror.

A man on a horse was riding down into the valley through the air! Um homem montado num cavalo descia pelo vale através do ar! The rider sat straight in his saddle. O cavaleiro sentou-se reto na sela.

His hair streamed back, waving in the wind. Seus cabelos caíam para trás, balançando ao vento. His left hand held his horse’s reins while his right hand was hidden in the cloud of the horse’s mane. A mão esquerda segurava as rédeas do cavalo, enquanto a mão direita estava escondida na nuvem da crina do cavalo. The horse looked as if it were galloping across the earth. O cavalo parecia galopar pela terra. Its body was proud and noble. Seu corpo era orgulhoso e nobre. As the frightened Union officer watched this horseman in the sky, he almost believed he was witnessing a messenger from heaven. Enquanto o assustado oficial da União observava o cavaleiro no céu, ele quase acreditou que estava testemunhando um mensageiro do céu.

A messenger who had come to announce the end of the world. Um mensageiro que veio anunciar o fim do mundo. The officer’s legs grew weak, and he fell. As pernas do policial ficaram fracas e ele caiu. At almost the same instant, he heard a crashing sound in the trees. Quase no mesmo instante, ele ouviu um som batendo nas árvores. The sound died without an echo. O som morreu sem eco. And all was silent. E tudo ficou em silêncio. The officer got to his feet, still shaking. O policial se levantou, ainda tremendo.

He went back to his camp. Ele voltou para o acampamento. But he didn’t tell anyone what he had seen. Mas ele não contou a ninguém o que tinha visto. He knew no one would ever believe him. Ele sabia que ninguém iria acreditar nele. Soon after firing his gun, Carter Druse was joined by a Union sergeant. Logo após disparar sua arma, Carter Druse foi acompanhado por um sargento da União. Вскоре после выстрела к Картеру Друзе присоединился сержант Союза.

Carter did not turn his head as the sergeant kneeled beside him. ||||||||military rank|bent down|next to| Carter não virou a cabeça quando o sargento se ajoelhou ao lado dele. "Did you fire? "Você atirou?

The sergeant whispered. |military rank|spoke softly O sargento sussurrou. "Yes.

"At what? "Em que?

"A horse. "Um cavalo.

It was on that rock. Foi nessa pedra. It’s not there now. |||at this time Não está lá agora. It went over the cliff." |moved||| Foi sobre o penhasco. " Carter’s face was white. O rosto de Carter estava branco. But he showed no other sign of emotion. ||displayed||additional|||feeling Mas ele não mostrou outro sinal de emoção. The sergeant did not understand. |military rank|past tense auxiliary|past tense| "See here, Druse," he said, after a moment’s silence. "Veja aqui, Druse", disse ele, depois de um momento de silêncio.

"Why are you making this into a mystery. "Por que você está transformando isso em um mistério. I order you to report. Eu ordeno que você informe. Was there anyone on the horse? Havia alguém no cavalo? "Yes.

"Who?

"My father. "Meu pai.

(MUSIC)

Announcer: You have heard the story called, "A Horseman in the Sky. ||||||||Horseman||| Apresentador: Você ouviu a história chamada "Um Cavaleiro no Céu.

It was written by Ambrose Bierce, and adapted for Special English by Dona de Sanctis. ||||Ambrose Bierce|Ambrose Bierce||modified||Special English||||| Foi escrito por Ambrose Bierce e adaptado para inglês especial por Dona de Sanctis. Your storyteller was Roy Depew. Seu contador de histórias foi Roy Depew. For VOA Special English, this is Shirley Griffith. ||broadcast|VOA Special English|||Shirley Griffith|Shirley Griffith

(MUSIC)