Старик и море

           Themoonhadbeenupforalongtimebuthesleptonandthefishpulledonsteadilyandtheboatmovedintothetunnelofclouds. 

           Hewokewiththejerkofhisrightfistcomingupagainsthisfaceandthelineburningoutthroughhisrighthand. Hehadnofeelingofhislefthandbuthebrakedallhecouldwithhisrightandthelinerushedout. Finallyhislefthandfoundthelineandheleanedbackagainstthelineandnowitburnedhisbackandhislefthand, andhislefthandwastakingallthestrainandcuttingbadly. Helookedbackatthecoilsoflineandtheywerefeedingsmoothly. Justthenthefishjumpedmakingagreatburstingoftheoceanandthenaheavyfall. Thenhejumpedagainandagainandtheboatwasgoingfastalthoughlinewasstillracingout andtheoldmanwasraisingthestraintobreakingpointandraisingittobreakingpointagainandagain. Hehadbeenpulleddowntightontothebowandhisfacewasinthecutsliceofdolphinandhecouldnotmove. 

           Thisiswhatwewaitedfor,hethought. Sonowletustakeit. 

           Makehimpayfortheline,hethought. Makehimpayforit. 

           Hecouldnotseethefish’sjumpsbutonlyheardthebreakingoftheocean andtheheavysplashashefell. Thespeedofthelinewascuttinghishandsbadly buthehadalwaysknownthiswouldhappenandhetriedtokeepthecuttingacrossthecallousedparts andnotletthelineslipintothepalmnorcutthefingers. 

           Iftheboywasherehewouldwetthecoilsofline,hethought. Yes.Iftheboywerehere.Iftheboywerehere.