Старик и море

           NowthebadtimeiscomingandIdonotevenhavetheharpoon. Thedentusoiscruelandableandstrongandintelligent. ButIwasmoreintelligentthathewas. Perhapsnot,hethought. PerhapsIwasonlybetterarmed. 

           "Don’tthink,oldman,"hesaidaloud. "Sailonthiscourseandtakeitwhenitcomes." 

           ButImustthink,hethought. BecauseitisallIhaveleft. Thatandbaseball. IwonderhowthegreatDiMaggiowouldhavelikedthewayIhithiminthebrain? Itwasnogreatthing,hethought.Anymancoulddoit. Butdoyouthinkmyhandswereasgreatahandicapasthebonespurs? Icannotknow. IneverhadanythingwrongwithmyheelexceptthetimethestingraystungitwhenIsteppedonhimwhenswimming andparalyzedthelowerlegandmadetheunbearablepain. 

           "Thinkaboutsomethingcheerful,oldman,"hesaid. "Everyminutenowyouareclosertohome. Yousaillighterforthelossoffortypounds." 

           Heknewquitewellthepatternofwhatcouldhappenwhenhereachedtheinnerpartofthecurrent. Buttherewasnothingtobedonenow. 

           "Yesthereis,"hesaidaloud. "Icanlashmyknifetothebuttofoneoftheoars." 

           Sohedidthatwiththetillerunderhisarmandthesheetofthesailunderhisfoot. 

           "Now,"hesaid. "Iamstillanoldman.ButIamnotunarmed." 

           Thebreezewasfreshnowandhesailedonwell. Hewatchedonlytheforwardpartofthefishandsomeofhishopereturned. 

           Itissillynottohope,hethought. BesidesIbelieveitisasin. Donotthinkaboutsin,hethought. Thereareenoughproblemsnowwithoutsin. AlsoIhavenounderstandingofit.