Старик и море

           Buthecouldnotanditstayedatthehardnessandwater-dropshiveringthatprecededbreaking. Theboatmovedaheadslowlyandhewatchedtheairplaneuntilhecouldnolongerseeit. 

           Itmustbeverystrangeinanairplane,hethought. Iwonderwhatthesealookslikefromthatheight? Theyshouldbeabletoseethefishwelliftheydonotflytoohigh. Iwouldliketoflyveryslowlyattwohundredfathomshighandseethefishfromabove. IntheturtleboatsIwasinthecross-treesofthemast-headandevenatthatheightIsawmuch. Thedolphinlookgreenerfromthereandyoucanseetheirstripesandtheirpurplespotsandyoucanseealloftheschoolastheyswim. Whyisitthatallthefast-movingfishofthedarkcurrenthavepurplebacksandusuallypurplestripesorspots? Thedolphinlooksgreenofcoursebecauseheisreallygolden. Butwhenhecomestofeed,trulyhungry,purplestripesshowonhissidesasonamarlin. Canitbeanger,orthegreaterspeedhemakesthatbringsthemout? 

           Justbeforeitwasdark,astheypassedagreatislandofSargassoweedthatheaved andswunginthelightseaasthoughtheoceanweremakinglovewithsomethingunderayellowblanket, hissmalllinewastakenbyadolphin. Hesawitfirstwhenitjumpedintheair,truegoldinthelastofthesun andbendingandflappingwildlyintheair.