“Takeagoodrest,smallbird,”hesaid.“Thengoinandtakeyourcelikeanymanorbirdorfish.”
Itencedhimtotalkbecausehisbackhadstiffehenightandithurttrulynow.
“Stayatmyhouseifyoulike,bird,”hesaid.“IamsorryIothoistthesailandtakeyouinwiththesmallbreezethatisrising.ButIamwithafriend.”
Justthenthefishgaveasuddenlurchthatpulledtheoldmandownontothebowandwouldhavepulledhimoverboardifhehadnotbracedhimselfandgivensomeline.
Thebirdhadflownupwhenthelinejerkedandtheoldmanhadnotevenseenhimgo.Hefeltthelinecarefullywithhisrighthandandnoticedhishandwasbleeding.
“Somethinghurthimthen,”hesaidaloudandpulledbathelioseeifhecouldturnthefish.Butwheougthebreakingpointheheldsteadyaledbackagainstthestrainoftheline.
“You’refeelingitnow,fish,”hesaid.“Andso,Godknows,amI.”
Helookedaroundforthebirdnowbecausehewouldhavelikedhimforpany.Thebirdwasgone.
Youdidnotstaylong,themanthought.Butitisrougherwhereyoinguntilyoumaketheshore.HowdidIletthefishcutmewiththatonequickpullhemade?Imustbegettiupid.OrperhapsIwaslookingatthesmallbirdandthinkingofhim.NowIwillpayattentiontomyworkandthenImusteatthetunasothatIwillnothaveafailureth.
“IwishtheboywerehereandthatIhadsomesalt,”hesaidaloud.
Shiftingtheweightoftheliohisleftshoulderandkneelingcarefullyhewashedhishandintheoathere,submerged,formorethanamigthebloodtrailawayaeadymovementofthewateragainsthishandastheboatmoved.
“Hehasslowedmuch,”hesaid.
Theoldmanwouldhavelikedtokeephishandiwaterlohewasafraidofanothersuddenlurchbythefishaoodupandbracedhimselfandheldhishandupagainstthesun.Itwasonlyalineburnthathadcuthisflesh.Butitwasinthewpartofhishand.Heknewhewouldneedhishandsbeforethiswasoverandhedidnotliketobecutbeforeitstarted.
“Now,”hesaid,whenhishandhaddried,“Imusteatthesmalltuna.Ireachhimwiththegaffahimhereinfort.”
Hekdownandfouunauhesternwiththegaffaowardhimkeepingitclearofthecoiledlines.Holdingthelihhisleftshoulderagain,andbragonhislefthandandarm,hetookthetunaoffthegaffhookandputt
>>>点击查看《老人与海》最新章节