Старик и море

           Othersletthemdriftwiththecurrentandsometimestheywereatsixtyfathomswhenthefishermenthoughttheywereatahundred. 

           But,hethought,Ikeepthemwithprecision. OnlyIhavenoluckanymore.Butwhoknows? Maybetoday.Everydayisanewday. Itisbettertobelucky.ButIwouldratherbeexact. Thenwhenluckcomesyouareready. 

           Thesunwastwohourshighernowanditdidnothurthiseyessomuchtolookintotheeast. Therewereonlythreeboatsinsightnowandtheyshowedverylowandfarinshore. 

           Allmylifetheearlysunhashurtmyeyes,hethought. Yettheyarestillgood. IntheeveningIcanlookstraightintoitwithoutgettingtheblackness. Ithasmoreforceintheeveningtoo. Butinthemorningitispainful. 

           Justthenhesawaman-of-warbirdwithhislongblackwingscirclingintheskyaheadofhim. Hemadeaquickdrop,slantingdownonhisback-sweptwings,andthencircledagain. 

           "He’sgotsomething,"theoldmansaidaloud."He’snotjustlooking." 

           Herowedslowlyandsteadilytowardwherethebirdwascircling. Hedidnothurryandhekepthislinesstraightupanddown. Buthecrowdedthecurrentalittlesothathewasstillfishingcorrectlythoughfasterthanhewouldhavefishedifhewasnottryingtousethebird. 

           Thebirdwenthigherintheairandcircledagain,hiswingsmotionless. Thenhedovesuddenlyandtheoldmansawflyingfishspurtoutofthewaterandsaildesperatelyoverthesurface. 

           "Dolphin,"theoldmansaidaloud."Bigdolphin." 

           Heshippedhisoarsandbroughtasmalllinefromunderthebow.