Старик и море

           Manyfishermenwerearoundtheskifflookingatwhatwaslashedbesideit andonewasinthewater,histrousersrolledup,measuringtheskeletonwithalengthofline. 

           Theboydidnotgodown. Hehadbeentherebeforeandoneofthefishermenwaslookingaftertheskiffforhim. 

           "Howishe?"oneofthefishermenshouted. 

           "Sleeping,"theboycalled. Hedidnotcarethattheysawhimcrying."Letnoonedisturbhim." 

           "Hewaseighteenfeetfromnosetotail,"thefishermanwhowasmeasuringhimcalled. 

           "Ibelieveit,"theboysaid. 

           HewentintotheTerraceandaskedforacanofcoffee. 

           "Hotandwithplentyofmilkandsugarinit." 

           "Anythingmore?" 

           "No.AfterwardsIwillseewhathecaneat." 

           "Whatafishitwas,"theproprietorsaid."Therehasneverbeensuchafish. Thoseweretwofinefishyoutookyesterdaytoo." 

           "Damnmyfish,"theboysaidandhestartedtocryagain. 

           "Doyouwantadrinkofanykind?"theproprietorasked. 

           "No,"theboysaid."TellthemnottobotherSantiago.I’llbeback." 

           "TellhimhowsorryIam." 

           "Thanks,"theboysaid. 

           Theboycarriedthehotcanofcoffeeuptotheoldman’sshackandsatbyhimuntilhewoke. Onceitlookedasthoughhewerewaking. Buthehadgonebackintoheavysleepandtheboyhadgoneacrosstheroadtoborrowsomewoodtoheatthecoffee. 

           Finallytheoldmanwoke. 

           "Don’tsitup,"theboysaid."Drinkthis."Hepouredsomeofthecoffeeinaglass. 

           Theoldmantookitanddrankit. 

           "Theybeatme,Manolin,"hesaid."Theytrulybeatme." 

           "Hedidn’tbeatyou.Notthefish." 

           "No.Truly.Itwasafterwards."