Старик и море

           He’sheadedalmosteast,hethought. Thatmeansheistiredandgoingwiththecurrent. Soonhewillhavetocircle. Thenourtrueworkbegins. 

           Afterhejudgedthathisrighthandhadbeeninthewaterlongenoughhetookitoutandlookedatit. "Itisnotbad,"hesaid."Andpaindoesnotmattertoaman." 

           Hetookholdofthelinecarefullysothatitdidnotfitintoanyofthefreshlinecuts andshiftedhisweightsothathecouldputhislefthandintotheseaontheothersideoftheskiff. 

           "Youdidnotdosobadlyforsomethingworthless,"hesaidtohislefthand. "ButtherewasamomentwhenIcouldnotfindyou." 

           WhywasInotbornwithtwogoodhands?hethought. Perhapsitwasmyfaultinnottrainingthatoneproperly. ButGodknowshehashadenoughchancestolearn. Hedidnotdosobadlyinthenight,though, andhehasonlycrampedonce. Ifhecrampsagainletthelinecuthimoff. 

           Whenhethoughtthatheknewthathewasnotbeingclear-headed andhethoughtheshouldchewsomemoreofthedolphin. ButIcan’t,hetoldhimself. Itisbettertobelight-headedthantoloseyourstrengthfromnausea. AndIknowIcannotkeepitifIeatitsincemyfacewasinit. Iwillkeepitforanemergencyuntilitgoesbad. Butitistoolatetotryforstrengthnowthroughnourishment. You’restupid,hetoldhimself. Eattheotherflyingfish. 

           Itwasthere,cleanedandready,andhepickeditupwithhislefthand andateitchewingthebonescarefullyandeatingallofitdowntothetail. 

           Ithasmorenourishmentthanalmostanyfish,hethought.