Старик и море

           "IwishtheboywerehereandthatIhadsomesalt,"hesaidaloud. 

           Shiftingtheweightofthelinetohisleftshoulderandkneelingcarefullyhewashedhishandintheocean andhelditthere,submerged,formorethanaminutewatchingthebloodtrailawayandthesteadymovementofthewateragainsthishandastheboatmoved. 

           "Hehasslowedmuch,"hesaid. 

           Theoldmanwouldhavelikedtokeephishandinthesaltwaterlongerbuthewasafraidofanothersuddenlurchbythefish andhestoodupandbracedhimselfandheldhishandupagainstthesun. Itwasonlyalineburnthathadcuthisflesh. Butitwasintheworkingpartofhishand. Heknewhewouldneedhishandsbeforethiswasoverandhedidnotliketobecutbeforeitstarted. 

           "Now,"hesaid,whenhishandhaddried,"Imusteatthesmalltuna. Icanreachhimwiththegaffandeathimhereincomfort." 

           Hekneltdownandfoundthetunaunderthesternwiththegaff anddrewittowardhimkeepingitclearofthecoiledlines. Holdingthelinewithhisleftshoulderagain,andbracingonhislefthandandarm,hetookthetunaoffthegaffhookandputthegaffbackinplace. Heputonekneeonthefishandcutstripsofdarkredmeatlongitudinallyfromthebackoftheheadtothetail. Theywerewedge-shapedstripsandhecutthemfromnexttothebackbonedowntotheedgeofthebelly.