Старик и море

           Thenhefellintothewaterwithacrashthatsentsprayovertheoldmanandoveralloftheskiff. 

           Theoldmanfeltfaintandsickandhecouldnotseewell. Butheclearedtheharpoonlineandletitrunslowlythroughhisrawhands and,whenhecouldsee,hesawthefishwasonhisbackwithhissilverbellyup. Theshaftoftheharpoonwasprojectingatananglefromthefish’sshoulder andtheseawasdiscolouringwiththeredofthebloodfromhisheart. Firstitwasdarkasashoalinthebluewaterthatwasmorethanamiledeep. Thenitspreadlikeacloud. Thefishwassilveryandstillandfloatedwiththewaves. 

           Theoldmanlookedcarefullyintheglimpseofvisionthathehad. Thenhetooktwoturnsoftheharpoonlinearoundthebittinthebowandlaidhisheadonhishands. 

           "Keepmyheadclear,"hesaidagainstthewoodofthebow. "Iamatiredoldman. ButIhavekilledthisfishwhichismybrother andnowImustdotheslavework." 

           NowImustpreparethenoosesandtheropetolashhimalongside,hethought. Evenifweweretwoandswampedhertoloadhimandbailedherout, thisskiffwouldneverholdhim. Imustprepareeverything,thenbringhiminandlashhimwell andstepthemastandsetsailforhome. 

           Hestartedtopullthefishintohavehimalongsidesothathecouldpassalinethroughhisgills andouthismouthandmakehisheadfastalongsidethebow. Iwanttoseehim,hethought, andtotouchandtofeelhim. Heismyfortune,hethought.ButthatisnotwhyIwishtofeelhim. IthinkIfelthisheart,hethought. WhenIpushedontheharpoonshaftthesecondtime.