Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Ileanedaroundtolook,butallIsawwasabigdriftinglogandthoseblackseagullscirclinganddivingaroundthelog,likeblackleavescaughtupinadustdevil.Georgespeededupsome,headingintotheplacewherethebirdscircled,andthespeedoftheboatdraggedmylineuntilIcouldn’tseehowyou’dbeabletotellifyoudidgetabite.

           "Thosefellas,thosecormorants,theygoafteraschoolofcandlefishes,"Georgetoldusashedrove."Littlewhitefishesthesizeofyourfinger.Youdrythemandtheyburnjoostlikeacandle.Theyarefoodfish,chumfish.Andyoubetwherethere’sabigschoolofthemcandlefishyoufindthesilversalmonfeeding."

           Hedroveintothebirds,missingthefloatinglog,andsuddenlyallaroundmethesmoothslopesofchromewereshatteredbydivingbirdsandchurningminnows,andthesleeksilver-bluetorpedobacksofthesalmonslicingthroughitall.Isawoneofthebackscheckitsdirectionandturnandsetcourseforaspotthirtyyardsbehindtheendofmypole,wheremyherringwouldbe.Ibraced,myheartringing,andthenfeltajoltupbotharmsasifsomebody’dhitthepolewithaballbat,andmylinewentburningoffthereelfromundermythumb,redasblood."Usethestardrag!"Georgeyelledatme,butwhatIknewaboutstardragsyoucouldputinyoureyesoIjustmashedharderwithmythumbuntilthelineturnedbacktoyellow,thenslowedandstopped.