Старик и море

           IwishIhadsomesalt. AndIdonotknowwhetherthesunwillrotordrywhatisleft,soIhadbettereatitallalthoughIamnothungry. Thefishiscalmandsteady. IwilleatitallandthenIwillbeready. 

           "Bepatient,hand,"hesaid."Idothisforyou." 

           IwishIcouldfeedthefish,hethought.Heismybrother. ButImustkillhimandkeepstrongtodoit. Slowlyandconscientiouslyheateallofthewedge-shapedstripsoffish. 

           Hestraightenedup,wipinghishandonhistrousers. 

           "Now,"hesaid. "Youcanletthecordgo,hand,andIwillhandlehimwiththerightarmaloneuntilyoustopthatnonsense." Heputhisleftfootontheheavylinethatthelefthandhadheldandlaybackagainstthepullagainsthisback. 

           "Godhelpmetohavethecrampgo,"hesaid. "BecauseIdonotknowwhatthefishisgoingtodo." 

           Butheseemscalm,hethought,andfollowinghisplan. Butwhatishisplan,hethought.Andwhatismine? MineImustimprovisetohisbecauseofhisgreatsize. IfhewilljumpIcankillhim. Buthestaysdownforever. ThenIwillstaydownwithhimforever. 

           Herubbedthecrampedhandagainsthistrousersandtriedtogentlethefingers. Butitwouldnotopen.Maybeitwillopenwiththesun,hethought. Maybeitwillopenwhenthestrongrawtunaisdigested. IfIhavetohaveit,Iwillopenit,costwhateveritcosts. ButIdonotwanttoopenitnowbyforce. Letitopenbyitselfandcomebackofitsownaccord. AfterallIabuseditmuchinthenightwhenitwasnecessarytofreeandunitethevariouslines.