Старик и море

           Then,whiletheoldmanwasclearingthelinesandpreparingtheharpoon, themalefishjumpedhighintotheairbesidetheboattoseewherethefemalewasandthenwentdowndeep,hislavenderwings, thatwerehispectoralfins,spreadwideandallhiswidelavenderstripesshowing. Hewasbeautiful,theoldmanremembered, andhehadstayed. 

           ThatwasthesaddestthingIeversawwiththem,theoldmanthought. Theboywassadtooandwebeggedherpardonandbutcheredherpromptly. 

           "Iwishtheboywashere,"hesaidaloudandsettledhimselfagainsttheroundedplanksofthebow andfeltthestrengthofthegreatfishthroughthelineheheldacrosshisshouldersmovingsteadilytowardwhateverhehadchosen. 

           Whenonce,throughmytreachery,ithadbeennecessarytohimtomakeachoice,theoldmanthought. 

           Hischoicehadbeentostayinthedeepdarkwaterfaroutbeyondallsnaresandtrapsandtreacheries. Mychoicewastogotheretofindhimbeyondallpeople. Beyondallpeopleintheworld. Nowwearejoinedtogetherandhavebeensincenoon. Andnoonetohelpeitheroneofus. 

           PerhapsIshouldnothavebeenafisherman,hethought. ButthatwasthethingthatIwasbornfor. Imustsurelyremembertoeatthetunaafteritgetslight. 

           Sometimebeforedaylightsomethingtookoneofthebaitsthatwerebehindhim. Heheardthestickbreakandthelinebegintorushoutoverthegunwaleoftheskiff.