Старик и море

           MaybeifIcanincreasethetensionjustalittleitwillhurthimandhewilljump,hethought. Nowthatitisdaylightlethimjump sothathe’llfillthesacksalonghisbackbonewithairandthenhecannotgodeeptodie. 

           Hetriedtoincreasethetension,butthelinehadbeentautuptotheveryedgeofthebreakingpointsincehehadhookedthefish andhefelttheharshnessasheleanedbacktopullandknewhecouldputnomorestrainonit. Imustnotjerkitever,hethought. Eachjerkwidensthecutthehookmakesandthenwhenhedoesjumphemightthrowit. AnywayIfeelbetterwiththesunandforonceIdonothavetolookintoit. 

           Therewasyellowweedonthelinebuttheoldmanknewthatonlymadeanaddeddragandhewaspleased. ItwastheyellowGulfweedthathadmadesomuchphosphorescenceinthenight. 

           "Fish,"hesaid,"Iloveyouandrespectyouverymuch. ButIwillkillyoudeadbeforethisdayends." 

           Letushopeso,hethought. 

           Asmallbirdcametowardtheskifffromthenorth. Hewasawarblerandflyingverylowoverthewater. Theoldmancouldseethathewasverytired. 

           Thebirdmadethesternoftheboatandrestedthere. Thenheflewaroundtheoldman’sheadandrestedonthelinewherehewasmorecomfortable. 

           "Howoldareyou?"theoldmanaskedthebird. "Isthisyourfirsttrip?" 

           Thebirdlookedathimwhenhespoke. Hewastootiredeventoexaminethelineandheteeteredonitashisdelicatefeetgrippeditfast. 

           "It’ssteady,"theoldmantoldhim. "It’stoosteady. Youshouldn’tbethattiredafterawindlessnight. Whatarebirdscomingto?"