Старик и море

           Eatthem,fish.Eatthem.Pleaseeatthem. Howfreshtheyareandyoudowntheresixhundredfeetinthatcoldwaterinthedark. Makeanotherturninthedarkandcomebackandeatthem. 

           Hefeltthelightdelicatepullingandthenaharderpullwhenasardine’sheadmusthavebeenmoredifficulttobreakfromthehook. Thentherewasnothing. 

           "Comeon,"theoldmansaidaloud."Makeanotherturn.Justsmellthem.Aren’ttheylovely? Eatthemgoodnowandthenthereisthetuna. Hardandcoldandlovely.Don’tbeshy,fish.Eatthem." 

           Hewaitedwiththelinebetweenhisthumbandhisfinger, watchingitandtheotherlinesatthesametimeforthefishmighthaveswumupordown. Thencamethesamedelicatepullingtouchagain. 

           "He’lltakeit,"theoldmansaidaloud."Godhelphimtotakeit." 

           Hedidnottakeitthough.Hewasgoneandtheoldmanfeltnothing. 

           "Hecan’thavegone,"hesaid."Christknowshecan’thavegone. He’smakingaturn. Maybehehasbeenhookedbeforeandherememberssomethingofit." 

           Thenhefeltthegentletouchonthelineandhewashappy. 

           "Itwasonlyhisturn,"hesaid."He’lltakeit." 

           Hewashappyfeelingthegentlepullingandthenhefeltsomethinghardandunbelievablyheavy. Itwastheweightofthefishandheletthelineslipdown,down,down, unrollingoffthefirstofthetworeservecoils. Asitwentdown,slippinglightlythroughtheoldman’sfingers, hestillcouldfeelthegreatweight,thoughthepressureofhisthumbandfingerwerealmostimperceptible. 

           "Whatafish,"hesaid. "Hehasitsidewaysinhismouthnowandheismovingoffwithit."