00:00
Support comes from WISE, the smart way to sendmoney around the world.
Your life is global. Your money should be, too.
Some providers promise no fees on overseastransfers,
but extra costs often hide in bloated exchangerates.
Choose WISE. You can send money overseas foreducation
or spend in over 40 currencies while traveling.
Get the exchange rate that you'd usually see onGoogle.
Plus, count on 24-7 customer support.
Be smart. Get WISE. Visit WISE.com. T's and C'sapply.
Welcome to Short Stories with Peter from YourEnglish Toolbox.
Today, The Fire on the Hill, a story of couragefrom Japan.
This is an abridged adaptation of the Hamaguchistory
In a Living God by Lafcardio Hearn.
Our story follows his literary version, inspiredby events in Japan.
Listen for a decision that nobody understands atfirst.
The afternoon sun lay warm across the rice fieldsabove the village.
Below, families were preparing a celebrationbeside the sea.
On the hill, Gohei stood with his grandson Tada.
Behind them stood the dry bundles of his harvest,
enough to support his family for months.
Grandfather, can we go down to the village now?
In a little while, Tada. Let me rest here first.
Then the ground began to move beneath their feet.
The wooden house creaked, and a cup trembled onthe floor.
Gohei steadied the boy, but his eyes were fixed onthe water.
The sea was drawing back, leaving unfamiliar rocksbare.
People were walking towards the shore to watch.
Gohei remembered a warning his own grandfather hadtold him long ago.
He understood the danger, and there was no time tolose.
Tada, bring me a burning torch.
03:03
A torch, grandfather?
Trust me, and bring it now.
Boy hurried inside, then returned with the flame.
Gohei carried it to the nearest bundle of rice.
He lowered the torch, and the dry stalks caughtfire.
Stop, grandfather. That is our harvest.
But Gohei moved to the next bundle, and then thenext.
Smoke rose above the hill as the breeze carriedthe flames through the field.
At the temple, someone saw the fire and rang thegreat bell.
Fire on the hill!
Bring water and come with us!
They ran away from the shore and began to climb.
The first villagers arrived, breathing hard andreaching for their buckets.
Leave the fire alone. We need everyone up here.
But your rice will be destroyed.
Help the others up the path.
Older neighbors, while parents carried theirchildren,
Gohei watched the path and counted the families asthey came.
Tada stood beside him, frightened by the flamesand by the silence on his grandfather's face.
Why did you burn it on purpose?
Before Gohei could answer, a dark line rose beyondthe empty shore.
It grew taller and wider, racing towards thevillage.
Stay up here and keep back from the edge.
The sea returned with a roar that swallowed everyother sound.
Water struck the houses below and swept throughthe narrow streets.
On the hill, the villagers held one another andwaited.
06:05
At last, the water drew away again.
Their homes were gone, but the people had reachedsafety.
That is why I set fire to the rice.
Gohei slipped his hand into his grandfather'shand.
I thought you had made a terrible mistake.
We can plant rice again.
We cannot bring back the people we lose.
A neighbor looked from the ruined village to theold man's house.
Where will everyone sleep tonight?
My house is still standing.
There is room for many and the temple can shelterthe others.
Then he led them towards his door.
His harvest was gone, but his neighbors werealive.
End of the story.
Dive into the language and break down some of thekey vocabulary from the story.
First, there was no time to lose.
This means that action was needed immediately.
The last train leaves soon, so there is no time tolose.
The rice caught fire.
Catch fire means to begin burning, while set fireto something means to make it burn.
The dry grass caught fire when a spark landed onit.
Finally, Tada asked why Gohei had acted onpurpose,
and purpose means deliberately, rather than byaccident.
I left the door open on purpose so you could comeinside.
Here is a question to take with you.
What does Gohei's decision tell us about thedifference between owning something and caring for
someone?
09:01
Find the story.
Translations.
More vocabulary and practice at yourenglishtoolbox.com
Thank you for listening with me.
This is Peter. We'll see you next time.
