等一次車，就讀完一篇小說

法國新創公司Short Édition的閱讀販賣機

販賣機可以買現煮咖啡和泡麵不稀奇，法國機場、車站裡的販賣機，發放免費短篇小說，選擇閱讀時間長短，機器就會印出一篇長度適中的短篇小說給你。這台短篇小說機現在已經出現在澳洲、美國和香港。進入本文前，想想以下單字英文怎麼說：(A) 自動販賣機 (B) 隨機的 (C)誘惑力

"Inventive (A) vending machines have been (1)popping up around France. Instead of dispensing sweet treats or sugary drinks, however, these kiosks distribute short stories. Created by literature-loving company Short Édition, these savvy stalls promise to help pass the time, whether you're waiting at the airport, stuck at the train station, or even accompanying your (2) significant other on a particularly trying trip to the mall."- My Modern Met

一種別出心裁的販賣機在法國各處冒出。它不賣糖果或含糖飲料，而是發放短篇小說。短篇小說機由熱愛文學的新創公司Short Édition發明，等飛機、等火車,甚至陪另一半逛街時，這台販賣機就是打發時間的好幫手。My Modern Met報導。

According to The Guardian, "The free stories are available (3) at the touch of a button, printing out on rolls of paper like a till receipt. Readers are able to choose one minute, three minutes or five minutes of fiction."

英國衛報報導「只要按個鈕，免費故事就會印出在收據大小的紙上。讀者可以選擇想讀一分鐘、三分鐘，或五分鐘的小說。」

The "Short Story Dispenser" first debuted at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Two weeks since launch,and more than 10,000 stories had been printed. The dispensers have now been installed in Australia,Hong Kong, and the U.S - first introduced by the renowned director Francis Ford Coppola in his San
Francisco Café.

短篇小說機初次亮相是在巴黎戴高樂機場，兩周內，超過一萬個故事被列印出來。現在它也出現在澳洲、香港、美國--首台機器由知名導演法蘭西斯柯波拉引進，安裝於他在舊金山的咖啡館。

"Short Édition's Loic Giraut says that the (B) random element of the dispenser - you never know which story you'll get of the several thousand the company has curated to date - is one of the (C) allures. They do have the ability to customize, however. The French national train system recently requested all romance tales for the week of Valentine's Day." -The Boston Globe

Short Édition的Loic Giraut對波士頓環球報說，隨機這個元素，是小說機的魅力之一--你永遠不知道幾千個故事裡，哪一個會來到手上。不過，他們也能客製化，法國國鐵就要求在情人節周只發放愛情故事。

"At the moment, the 70,000 stories available on the dispenser are translations of stories submitted by French writers, as Short Édition is based in France. Stories are chosen based on reader feedback and a screening committee's recommendations." - Palm Beach Daily News. Short Édition hopes to open submission to English-speaking writers early next year.
「目前小說機有七萬個故事可提供，由於Short Édition 是法國公司，小說皆由法國作者撰寫，翻譯成英文。故事根據讀者的意見和審查委員會建議選出。」Palm Beach Daily News報導。Short Édition希望明年初對英語作者開放投稿。

1. Pop up 冒出來
I never know where he'll pop up next.
我永遠不知道他會從哪兒冒出來。

2. Significant other 另一半、伴侶
You're welcome to bring your significant other to the event.
歡迎帶你的另一半來參加活動。

3. At/With the touch of a button 只要按個鈕，也就是非常容易操作的意思
You can add categories and recipes at the touch of a button.
按鈕即可添加類別和食譜。

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本文收錄於英語島English Island 2017年9月號
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