Старик и море

           Whenthewindwasintheeastasmellcameacrosstheharbourfromthesharkfactory;buttodaytherewasonlythefaintedgeoftheodourbecausethewindhadbackedintothenorthandthendroppedoffanditwaspleasantandsunnyontheTerrace. 

           "Santiago,"theboysaid. 

           "Yes,"theoldmansaid.Hewasholdinghisglassandthinkingofmanyyearsago. 

           "CanIgoouttogetsardinesforyoufortomorrow?" 

           "No.Goandplaybaseball.IcanstillrowandRogeliowillthrowthenet." 

           "Iwouldliketogo.IfIcannotfishwithyou,Iwouldliketoserveinsomeway." 

           "Youboughtmeabeer,"theoldmansaid."Youarealreadyaman." 

           "HowoldwasIwhenyoufirsttookmeinaboat?" 

           "FiveandyounearlywerekilledwhenIbroughtthefishintoogreenandhenearlytoretheboattopieces.Canyouremember?" 

           "Icanrememberthetailslappingandbangingandthethwartbreakingandthenoiseoftheclubbing. Icanrememberyouthrowingmeintothebowwherethewetcoiledlineswereandfeelingthewholeboatshiverandthenoiseofyouclubbinghimlikechoppingatreedownandthesweetbloodsmellalloverme." 

           "CanyoureallyrememberthatordidIjusttellittoyou?" 

           "Iremembereverythingfromwhenwefirstwenttogether." 

           Theoldmanlookedathimwithhissun-burned,confidentlovingeyes. 

           "IfyouweremyboyI’dtakeyououtandgamble,"hesaid."Butyouareyourfather’sandyourmother’sandyouareinaluckyboat." 

           "MayIgetthesardines?IknowwhereIcangetfourbaitstoo." 

           "Ihavemineleftfromtoday.Iputtheminsaltinthebox."