Старик и море

           Itjumpedagainandagainintheacrobaticsofitsfearandheworkedhiswaybacktothesternandcrouching andholdingthebiglinewithhisrighthandandarm,hepulledthedolphininwithhislefthand, steppingonthegainedlineeachtimewithhisbareleftfoot. Whenthefishwasatthestern,plungingandcuttingfromsidetosideindesperation,theoldmanleanedoverthestern andliftedtheburnishedgoldfishwithitspurplespotsoverthestern. Itsjawswereworkingconvulsivelyinquickbitesagainstthehook anditpoundedthebottomoftheskiffwithitslongflatbody,itstail anditsheaduntilheclubbeditacrosstheshininggoldenheaduntilitshiveredandwasstill. 

           Theoldmanunhookedthefish,rebaitedthelinewithanothersardineandtosseditover. Thenheworkedhiswayslowlybacktothebow. Hewashedhislefthandandwipeditonhistrousers. Thenheshiftedtheheavylinefromhisrighthandtohisleftandwashedhisrighthandinthesea whilehewatchedthesungointotheoceanandtheslantofthebigcord. 

           "Hehasn’tchangedatall,"hesaid. Butwatchingthemovementofthewateragainsthishandhenotedthatitwasperceptiblyslower. 

           "I’lllashthetwooarstogetheracrossthesternandthatwillslowhiminthenight,"hesaid. "He’sgoodforthenightandsoamI." 

           Itwouldbebettertogutthedolphinalittlelatertosavethebloodinthemeat,hethought. Icandothatalittlelaterandlashtheoarstomakeadragatthesametime. Ihadbetterkeepthefishquietnowandnotdisturbhimtoomuchatsunset. Thesettingofthesunisadifficulttimeforallfish.