Старик и море

           Theskiffwasstillshakingwiththedestructiontheothersharkwasdoingtothefish andtheoldmanletgothesheetsothattheskiffwouldswingbroadsideandbringthesharkoutfromunder. Whenhesawthesharkheleanedoverthesideandpunchedathim. Hehitonlymeatandthehidewassethardandhebarelygottheknifein. Theblowhurtnotonlyhishandsbuthisshouldertoo. Butthesharkcameupfastwithhisheadout andtheoldmanhithimsquarelyinthecenterofhisflat-toppedheadashisnosecameoutofwaterandlayagainstthefish. Theoldmanwithdrewthebladeandpunchedthesharkexactlyinthesamespotagain. Hestillhungtothefishwithhisjawshookedandtheoldmanstabbedhiminhislefteye. Thesharkstillhungthere. 

           "No?"theoldmansaidandhedrovethebladebetweenthevertebraeandthebrain. Itwasaneasyshotnowandhefeltthecartilagesever. Theoldmanreversedtheoarandputthebladebetweentheshark’sjawstoopenthem. Hetwistedthebladeandasthesharkslidloosehesaid, "Goon,galano.Slidedownamiledeep. Goseeyourfriend,ormaybeit’syourmother." 

           Theoldmanwipedthebladeofhisknifeandlaiddowntheoar. Thenhefoundthesheetandthesailfilledandhebroughttheskiffontohercourse. 

           "Theymusthavetakenaquarterofhimandofthebestmeat,"hesaidaloud. "IwishitwereadreamandthatIhadneverhookedhim. I’msorryaboutit,fish.Itmakeseverythingwrong." Hestoppedandhedidnotwanttolookatthefishnow.