Старик и море

           Whenhehadcutsixstripshespreadthemoutonthewoodofthebow,wipedhisknifeonhistrousers,andliftedthecarcassofthebonitobythetailanddroppeditoverboard. 

           "Idon’tthinkIcaneatanentireone,"hesaidanddrewhisknifeacrossoneofthestrips. Hecouldfeelthesteadyhardpullofthelineandhislefthandwascramped. Itdrewuptightontheheavycordandhelookedatitindisgust. 

           "Whatkindofahandisthat,"hesaid. "Crampthenifyouwant. Makeyourselfintoaclaw.Itwilldoyounogood." 

           Comeon,hethoughtandlookeddownintothedarkwaterattheslantoftheline. Eatitnowanditwillstrengthenthehand. Itisnotthehand’sfaultandyouhavebeenmanyhourswiththefish. Butyoucanstaywithhimforever. Eatthebonitonow. 

           Hepickedupapieceandputitinhismouthandcheweditslowly. Itwasnotunpleasant. 

           Chewitwell,hethought,andgetallthejuices. Itwouldnotbebadtoeatwithalittlelimeorwithlemonorwithsalt. 

           "Howdoyoufeel,hand?"heaskedthecrampedhandthatwasalmostasstiffasrigormortis. "I’lleatsomemoreforyou." 

           Heatetheotherpartofthepiecethathehadcutintwo. Hecheweditcarefullyandthenspatouttheskin. 

           "Howdoesitgo,hand?Orisittooearlytoknow?" 

           Hetookanotherfullpieceandchewedit. 

           "Itisastrongfull-bloodedfish,"hethought. "Iwasluckytogethiminsteadofdolphin. Dolphinistoosweet.Thisishardlysweetatallandallthestrengthisstillinit." 

           Thereisnosenseinbeinganythingbutpracticalthough,hethought.