Старик и море

           Helifteditaslightlyashecouldbecausehishandsrebelledatthepain. Thenheopenedandclosedthemonitlightlytoloosenthem. Heclosedthemfirmlysotheywouldtakethepainnow andwouldnotflinchandwatchedthesharkscome. Hecouldseetheirwide,flattened,shovel-pointedheadsnowandtheirwhite-tippedwidepectoralfins. Theywerehatefulsharks,badsmelling,scavengersaswellaskillers, andwhentheywerehungrytheywouldbiteatanoarortherudderofaboat. Itwasthesesharksthatwouldcuttheturtles’legsandflippersoffwhentheturtleswereasleeponthesurface, andtheywouldhitamaninthewater,iftheywerehungry,evenifthemanhadnosmelloffishbloodnoroffishslimeonhim. 

           "Ay,"theoldmansaid."Galanos.Comeon,Galanos." 

           Theycame. ButtheydidnotcomeastheMakohadcome. Oneturnedandwentoutofsightundertheskiffandtheoldmancouldfeeltheskiffshakeashejerkedandpulledonthefish. Theotherwatchedtheoldmanwithhisslittedyelloweyes andthencameinfastwithhishalfcircleofjawswidetohitthefishwherehehadalreadybeenbitten. Thelineshowedclearlyonthetopofhisbrownhead andbackwherethebrainjoinedthespinalcordandtheoldmandrovetheknifeontheoarintothejuncture, withdrewit,anddroveitinagainintotheshark’syellowcat-likeeyes. Thesharkletgoofthefishandsliddown,swallowingwhathehadtakenashedied.