Старик и море

           HesawthephosphorescenceoftheGulfweedinthewaterasherowedoverthepartoftheoceanthatthefishermencalledthegreat wellbecausetherewasasuddendeepofsevenhundredfathoms whereallsortsoffishcongregatedbecauseoftheswirlthecurrentmadeagainstthesteepwallsoftheflooroftheocean. Heretherewereconcentrationsofshrimpandbaitfish andsometimesschoolsofsquidinthedeepestholesandtheseroseclosetothesurfaceatnightwhereallthewanderingfishfedonthem. 

           Inthedarktheoldmancouldfeelthemorningcoming andasherowedheheardthetremblingsoundasflyingfishleftthewaterandthehissingthattheirstiffsetwingsmadeastheysoaredawayinthedarkness. Hewasveryfondofflyingfishastheywerehisprincipalfriendsontheocean. Hewassorryforthebirds,especiallythesmalldelicatedarkternsthatwerealwaysflyingandlookingandalmostneverfinding,andhethought, "Thebirdshaveaharderlifethanwedoexceptfortherobberbirdsandtheheavystrongones. Whydidtheymakebirdssodelicateandfineasthoseseaswallowswhentheoceancanbesocruel? Sheiskindandverybeautiful.Butshecanbesocruelanditcomessosuddenlyandsuchbirdsthatfly, dippingandhunting,withtheirsmallsadvoicesaremadetoodelicatelyforthesea." 

           HealwaysthoughtoftheseaaslamarwhichiswhatpeoplecallherinSpanishwhentheyloveher. Sometimesthosewholovehersaybadthingsofherbuttheyarealwayssaidasthoughshewereawoman.