Старик и море

           But,thankGod,theyarenotasintelligentaswewhokillthem; althoughtheyaremorenobleandmoreable. 

           Theoldmanhadseenmanygreatfish. Hehadseenmanythatweighedmorethanathousandpounds andhehadcaughttwoofthatsizeinhislife,butneveralone. Nowalone,andoutofsightofland,hewasfasttothebiggestfish thathehadeverseenandbiggerthanhehadeverheardof,andhislefthandwasstillastightasthegrippedclawsofaneagle. 

           Itwilluncrampthough,hethought. Surelyitwilluncramptohelpmyrighthand. Therearethreethingsthatarebrothers:thefishandmytwohands. Itmustuncramp.Itisunworthyofittobecramped. Thefishhadslowedagainandwasgoingathisusualpace. 

           Iwonderwhyhejumped,theoldmanthought. Hejumpedalmostasthoughtoshowmehowbighewas. Iknownow,anyway,hethought. IwishIcouldshowhimwhatsortofmanIam. Butthenhewouldseethecrampedhand. LethimthinkIammoremanthanIamandIwillbeso. IwishIwasthefish,hethought,witheverythinghehasagainstonlymywillandmyintelligence. 

           Hesettledcomfortablyagainstthewoodandtookhissufferingasitcameandthefishswamsteadilyandtheboatmovedslowlythroughthedarkwater. Therewasasmallsearisingwiththewindcomingupfromtheeast andatnoontheoldman’slefthandwasuncramped. 

           "Badnewsforyou,fish,"hesaidandshiftedthelineoverthesacksthatcoveredhisshoulders. 

           Hewascomfortablebutsuffering,althoughhedidnotadmitthesufferingatall. 

           "Iamnotreligious,"hesaid.