第1章 The Old Mans Hard Life[第3页/共8页]

“I go now for the sardines,”the boy said.

“I remember everything from when we first went together.”

“But remember how you went eighty-seven days without fish and then we caught big ones every day for three weeks.”“I remember,”the old man said,“I know you did not leave me because you doubted.”

“I think perhaps I can too.But I try not to borrow.First you borrow.Then you beg.”

They picked up the gear from the boat.The old man carried the mast on his shoulder and the boy carried the wooden box with the coiled,hard-braided brown lines,the gaff and the harpoon with its shaft.The box with the baits was under the stern of the skiff along with the club that was used to subdue the big fish when they were brought alongside.No one would steal from the old man but it was better to take the sail and the heavy lines home as the dew was bad for them and,though he was quite sure no local people would steal from him,the old man thought that a gaff and a harpoon were needless temptations to leave in a boat.

“No.I will make it later on.Or I may eat the rice cold.”

“You bought me a beer,”the old man said.“You are already a man.”

“Keep warm old man,”the boy said.“ Remember we are in September.”

The boy left him there and when he came back the old man was still asleep.