Старик и море

           "Therewillbebadweatherinthreeorfourdays,"hesaid. "Butnottonightandnottomorrow. Rignowtogetsomesleep,oldman,whilethefishiscalmandsteady." 

           Heheldthelinetightinhisrighthandandthenpushedhisthighagainsthisrighthandasheleanedallhisweightagainstthewoodofthebow. Thenhepassedthelinealittleloweronhisshouldersandbracedhislefthandonit. 

           Myrighthandcanholditaslongasitisbraced,hethought. Ifitrelaxesinsleepmylefthandwillwakemeasthelinegoesout. Itishardontherighthand. Butheisusedtopunishment. EvenifIsleeptwentyminutesorahalfanhouritisgood. Helayforwardcrampinghimselfagainstthelinewithallofhisbody,puttingallhisweightontohisrighthand,andhewasasleep. 

           Hedidnotdreamofthelionsbutinsteadofavastschoolofporpoisesthatstretchedforeightortenmiles anditwasinthetimeoftheirmatingandtheywouldleaphighintotheair andreturnintothesameholetheyhadmadeinthewaterwhentheyleaped. 

           Thenhedreamedthathewasinthevillageonhisbedandtherewasanortherandhewasverycold andhisrightarmwasasleepbecausehisheadhadrestedonitinsteadofapillow. 

           Afterthathebegantodreamofthelongyellowbeach andhesawthefirstofthelionscomedownontoitintheearlydarkandthentheotherlionscame andherestedhischinonthewoodofthebowswheretheshiplayanchoredwiththeeveningoff-shorebreeze andhewaitedtoseeiftherewouldbemorelionsandhewashappy.