Старик и море

           Bringhiminnowandmakehimfastandgetthenoosearoundhistail andanotheraroundhismiddletobindhimtotheskiff. 

           "Gettowork,oldman,"hesaid.Hetookaverysmalldrinkofthewater. "Thereisverymuchslaveworktobedonenowthatthefightisover." 

           Helookedupattheskyandthenouttohisfish. Helookedatthesuncarefully. Itisnotmuchmorethannoon,hethought.Andthetradewindisrising. Thelinesallmeannothingnow. TheboyandIwillsplicethemwhenwearehome. 

           "Comeon,fish,"hesaid. Butthefishdidnotcome. Insteadhelaytherewallowingnowintheseasandtheoldmanpulledtheskiffupontohim. 

           Whenhewasevenwithhimandhadthefish’sheadagainstthebowhecouldnotbelievehissize. Butheuntiedtheharpoonropefromthebitt,passeditthroughthefish’sgills andouthisjaws,madeaturnaroundhisswordthenpassedtheropethroughtheothergill,madeanotherturnaroundthebillandknottedthedoublerope andmadeitfasttothebittinthebow. Hecuttheropethenandwentasterntonoosethetail. Thefishhadturnedsilverfromhisoriginalpurpleandsilver, andthestripesshowedthesamepalevioletcolourashistail. Theywerewiderthanaman’shandwithhisfingersspreadandthefish’seyelookedasdetachedasthemirrorsinaperiscope orasasaintinaprocession. 

           "Itwastheonlywaytokillhim,"theoldmansaid. Hewasfeelingbettersincethewater andheknewhewouldnotgoawayandhisheadwasclear.