Старик и море

           Thelinewentoutandoutandoutbutitwasslowingnowandhewasmakingthefishearneachinchofit. Nowhegothisheadupfromthewoodandoutofthesliceoffishthathischeekhadcrushed. Thenhewasonhiskneesandthenheroseslowlytohisfeet. Hewascedinglinebutmoreslowlyallthetime. Heworkedbacktowherehecouldfeelwithhisfootthecoilsoflinethathecouldnotsee. Therewasplentyoflinestillandnowthefishhadtopullthefrictionofallthatnewlinethroughthewater. 

           Yes,hethought. Andnowhehasjumpedmorethanadozentimesandfilledthesacksalonghisbackwithair andhecannotgodowndeeptodiewhereIcannotbringhimup. HewillstartcirclingsoonandthenImustworkonhim. Iwonderwhatstartedhimsosuddenly? Couldithavebeenhungerthatmadehimdesperate,orwashefrightenedbysomethinginthenight? Maybehesuddenlyfeltfear. Buthewassuchacalm,strongfish andheseemedsofearlessandsoconfident.Itisstrange. 

           "Youbetterbefearlessandconfidentyourself,oldman,"hesaid. "You’reholdinghimagainbutyoucannotgetline. Butsoonhehastocircle." 

           Theoldmanheldhimwithhislefthandandhisshouldersnow andstoopeddownandscoopedupwaterinhisrighthandtogetthecrusheddolphinfleshoffofhisface. Hewasafraidthatitmightnauseatehimandhewouldvomitandlosehisstrength. Whenhisfacewascleanedhewashedhisrighthandinthewaterovertheside andthenletitstayinthesaltwaterwhilehewatchedthefirstlightcomebeforethesunrise.