Старик и море

           Thedoorofthehousewheretheboylivedwasunlockedandheopeneditandwalkedinquietlywithhisbarefeet. Theboywasasleeponacotinthefirstroomandtheoldmancouldseehimclearlywiththelightthatcameinfromthedyingmoon. Hetookholdofonefootgentlyandheldituntiltheboywokeandturnedandlookedathim. Theoldmannoddedandtheboytookhistrousersfromthechairbythebedand,sittingonthebed,pulledthemon. 

           Theoldmanwentoutthedoorandtheboycameafterhim. Hewassleepyandtheoldmanputhisarmacrosshisshouldersandsaid, "Iamsorry." 

           "Quéva,"theboysaid."Itiswhatamanmustdo." 

           Theywalkeddowntheroadtotheoldman’sshackandallalongtheroad,inthedark,barefootmenweremoving,carryingthemastsoftheirboats. 

           Whentheyreachedtheoldman’sshacktheboytooktherollsoflineinthebasket andtheharpoonandgaffandtheoldmancarriedthemastwiththefurledsailonhisshoulder. 

           "Doyouwantcoffee?"theboyasked. 

           "We’llputthegearintheboatandthengetsome." 

           Theyhadcoffeefromcondensedmilkcansatanearlymorningplacethatservedfishermen. 

           "Howdidyousleepoldman?"theboyasked. Hewaswakingupnowalthoughitwasstillhardforhimtoleavehissleep. 

           "Verywell,Manolin,"theoldmansaid."Ifeelconfidenttoday." 

           "SodoI,"theboysaid."NowImustgetyoursardinesandmineandyourfreshbaits. Hebringsourgearhimself.Heneverwantsanyonetocarryanything." 

           "We’redifferent,"theoldmansaid."Iletyoucarrythingswhenyouwerefiveyearsold."