Старик и море

           "Letmegetfourfreshones." 

           "One,"theoldmansaid. Hishopeandhisconfidencehadnevergone.Butnowtheywerefresheningaswhenthebreezerises. 

           "Two,"theboysaid. 

           "Two,"theoldmanagreed."Youdidn’tstealthem?" 

           "Iwould,"theboysaid."ButIboughtthese." 

           "Thankyou,"theoldmansaid. Hewastoosimpletowonderwhenhehadattainedhumility.Butheknewhehadattaineditandheknewitwasnotdisgracefulanditcarriednolossoftruepride. 

           "Tomorrowisgoingtobeagooddaywiththiscurrent,"hesaid. 

           "Whereareyougoing?"theboyasked. 

           "Farouttocomeinwhenthewindshifts.Iwanttobeoutbeforeitislight." 

           "I’lltrytogethimtoworkfarout,"theboysaid."Thenifyouhooksomethingtrulybigwecancometoyouraid." 

           "Hedoesnotliketoworktoofarout." 

           "No,"theboysaid."ButIwillseesomethingthathecannotseesuchasabirdworkingandgethimtocomeoutafterdolphin." 

           "Arehiseyesthatbad?" 

           "Heisalmostblind." 

           "Itisstrange,"theoldmansaid."Heneverwentturtle-ing.Thatiswhatkillstheeyes." 

           "Butyouwentturtle-ingforyearsofftheMosquitoCoastandyoureyesaregood." 

           "Iamastrangeoldman." 

           "Butareyoustrongenoughnowforatrulybigfish?" 

           "Ithinkso.Andtherearemanytricks." 

           "Letustakethestuffhome,"theboysaid."SoIcangetthecastnetandgoafterthesardines." 

           Theypickedupthegearfromtheboat.Theoldmancarriedthemastonhisshoulderandtheboycarriedthewoodenboxwiththecoiled,hard-braidedbrownlines,thegaffandtheharpoonwithitsshaft.