Hello I know this short story. The problem is that you didn't cite the passages correctly except for the first one. Staubgewölke flimmerte zwischen den steilgereckten Schornsteinresten. So..one has to keep in mind that this story is part of the "Deutsche Nachkriegsliteratur". Therefore it describes conditions in Germany after World War 2. 1.) Staubgewölke: Staub=dust Gewölke derives from Wolke=cloud I would hence translate Staubgewölke as dustclouds. steilgereckt = steeply errected or steeply raised keep in mind that the form of expression here is very literary. Schornsteinrest is what is left of a chimney of a house that has been blown to smithereens. Its not a common expression, its the authors choice of words to deliver a certain image to the reader. 2.)Die standen ziemlich krumm vor ihm, dass er zwischen ihnen hindurchsehen konnte. Er riskierte ein kleines Geblinzel an den Hosenbeinen hoch und erkannte einen älteren Mann. Geblinzel is when you blink your eyes. Hosenbein is simply the leg of your pants,..one of the two. 3.)Du schläfst hier wohl, was? fragte der Mann und sah von oben auf das Haargestrüpp herunter. Again literary speech. Haar=hair Gestrüpp=bush Definitely not a text you want to read as a beginner, but a nice story nonetheless.