登陆注册
724800000011

第11章 英文版 (1)

The Old Man and the Sea

He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days without a fish the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky, and the boy had gone at their orders in another boat which caught three good fish the first week. It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his skiff empty and he always went down to help him carry either the coiled lines or the gaff and harpoon and the sail that was furled around the mast. The sail was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat.

The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. The brown blotches of the benevolent skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks. The blotches ran well down the sides of his face and his hands had the deep-creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords. But none of these scars were fresh. They were as old as erosions in a fishless desert.

Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.

“Santiago,” the boy said to him as they climbed the bank from where the skiff was hauled up. “I could go with you again. We’ve made some money.”

The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him.

“No,” the old man said. “You’re with a lucky boat. Stay with them.”

“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.”

“It was papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him.”

“I know,” the old man said. “It is quite normal.”

“He hasn’t been much faith.”

“No,” the old man said. “But we have, haven’t we?”

‘Yes,” the boy said. “Can I offer you a beer on the Terrace and then we’ll take the stuff home?”

“Why not?” the old man said. “Between fishermen.”

They sat on the Terrace and many of the fishermen made fun of the old man and he was not angry. Others, of the older fishermen, looked at him and were sad. But they did not show it and they spoke politely about the current and the depths they had drifted their lines at and the steady good weather and of what they had seen. The successful fishermen of that day were already in and had butchered their marlin out and carried them laid full length across two planks, with two men staggering at the end of each plank, to the fish house where they waited for the ice truck to carry them to the market in Havana. Those who had caught sharks had taken them to the shark factory on the other side of the cove where they were hoisted on a block and tackle, their livers removed, their fins cut off and their hides skinned out and their flesh cut into strips for salting.

When the wind was in the east a smell came across the harbour from the shark factory; but today there was only the faint edge of the odour because the wind had backed into the north and then dropped off and it was pleasant and sunny on the Terrace.

“Santiago,” the boy said.

“Yes,” the old man said. He was holding his glass and thinking of many years ago.

“Can I go out to get sardines for you for tomorrow?”

“No. Go and play baseball. I can still row and Rogelio will throw the net.”

“I would like to go. If I cannot fish with you. I would like to serve in some ways.”

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

“How old was I when you first took me in a boat?”

“Five and you nearly were killed when I brought the fish in too green and he nearly tore the boat to pieces. Can you remember?”

“I can remember the tail slapping and banging and the thwart breaking and the noise of the clubbing. I can remember you throwing me into the bow where the wet coiled lines were and feeling the whole boat shiver and the noise of you clubbing him like chopping a tree down and the sweet blood smell all over me.”

“Can you really remember that or did I just tell it to you?”

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

The old man looked at him with his sun-burned, confident loving eyes.

“If you were my boy I’d take you out and gamble,” he said. “But you are your father’s and your mother’s and you are in a lucky boat.”

“May I get the sardines? I know where I can get four baits too.”

“I have mine left from today. I put them in salt in the box.”

“Let me get four fresh ones.”

“One,” the old man said. His hope and his confidence had never gone. But now they were freshening as when the breeze risen.

“Two,” the boy said.

“Two,” the old man agreed. “You didn’t steal them?”

“I would,” the boy said. “But I bought these.”

“Thank you,” the old man said. He was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride.

“Tomorrow is going to be a good day with this current,” he said.

“Where are you going?” the boy asked.

“Far out to come in when the wind shifts. I want to be out before it is light.”

“I’ll try to get him to work far out,” the boy said. “Then if you hook something truly big we can come to your aid.”

“He does not like to work too far out.”

“No,” the boy said. “But I will see something that he cannot see such as a bird working and get him to come out after dolphin.”

“Are his eyes that bad?”

“He is almost blind.”

“It is strange,” the old man said. “He never went turtle-ing. That is what kills the eyes.”

“But you went turtle-ing for years off the Mosquito Coast and your eyes are good.”

“I am a strange old man.”

“But are you strong enough now for a truly big fish?”

“I think so. And there are many tricks.”

“Let us take the stuff home,” the boy said. “So I can get the cast net and go after the sardines.”

同类推荐
  • 古龙文集:名剑风流(上)

    古龙文集:名剑风流(上)

    江湖名门“先天无极派”掌门人俞放鹤于家中遭人毒手,其子俞佩玉亲眼目睹父亲惨死却无力相助;后遇未婚妻林黛羽才得知父亲的好友也一一被人杀害。而最让人难以置信的是就在同一天晚上,这些人却又奇迹般的“起死回生”。是有人恶意的玩笑,还是这“复生”背后隐藏了不为人知的阴谋?
  • 婚姻版潜伏

    婚姻版潜伏

    李嘉要打一场婚姻保卫战——老公罗可出轨了,小三儿竟是闺蜜小雅,为了拯救婚姻,李嘉没有揭穿他们,而是暗中不断制造麻烦希望他们知难而退,但又总被乐不思蜀的罗可巧妙化解……
  • 胡雪岩外传

    胡雪岩外传

    本书记叙胡雪岩的秘史,是一部豪门生活纪实。作者不从人物的事业和社会活动着眼去写,而只从胡雪岩豪奢靡烂的私生活去写,以印证所谓盛极必衰的循环之理。
  • 中国微型小说百年经典(第3卷)

    中国微型小说百年经典(第3卷)

    微型小说,在我国虽然自古有之,如《世说新语》《唐元话本》《聊斋志异》等,但一直属于短篇小说的范畴,未能从短篇小说中独立出来。上世纪80年代,随着改革开放和人们生活节奏加快,读者没时间看长篇大论,喜欢看短小精悍的小说。微型小说便很快盛兴繁荣起来,受到读者的喜爱。因而一些报刊纷纷开辟微型小说栏目,据不完全统计,现在发表微型小说的报刊有两千家左右,每年发表的微型小说达七八万篇。《中国微型小说百年经典》以微型小说是一种独立的文体的眼光,重新审视了过去混杂在短篇小说中的微型作品,精心筛选了一个世纪以来的微型小说经典佳作。较之近来出版的一些标榜微型小说经典选集,更具有综合性、经典性和权威性。
  • 黄泉眼之印1:海怪事件调查手记

    黄泉眼之印1:海怪事件调查手记

    因为工作的关系,邹凯男经常要出海。一次,公司领导孟洋重金邀请他出海一起从事一项生物技术的研发,自从踏上黄泉眼岛之后,接连发生的一连串怪事使邹凯男疑窦丛生。鬼发水母、异岛巨蟒、潜艇坟场、死亡日记……这些尘封已久的历史密件一一浮出水面,原来一路上遇到到的那些鬼魅、令人惊悚的海怪都是常见的动物基因嫁接的产物,用来作为二战时期的生化武器;原来孟洋出海并不是做药品开发,而是寻找当年生产生化武器遗留的隐性资料;原来王晨飞是当年一起上岛的科学家王际遇的儿子,原来赵边城和韩西城是亲兄弟,原来所有的一切都不是最初所理解的那样,原来每个人都有一个别人不知道的身份,原来邹凯男也有另一个身份,只是他自己还不知道……
热门推荐
  • 嫡女非名门

    嫡女非名门

    她只是卑微奴婢,怎料可得侯门嫡子垂青?灵魂交换,她与主子身份逆转,小丫鬟竟成了侯门千金。以为从此可与他门当户对,他竟与成为了奴婢的主子联成了一线。她一心想要放开他,阴差阳错,她还是为他堕入了不见刀枪的战火之中。这一场篡改了容颜身份的爱情,究竟是皮囊的蛊惑,还是波云诡谲的尔虞我诈?
  • 盛世嫡女

    盛世嫡女

    【文艺版简介】谁说嫡女就要温柔大方,甘被人欺,最后华丽丽的挂掉?一场盛宴、一杯鸩毒、一抹白帆、一座灵堂,魂断香消。是谁的怨念在午夜徘徊,是谁的灵魂重生了谁的肉体,又最终是谁拯救了谁的世界?她说:花非花,雾非雾,夜半来,天明去。来如春梦几多时?去似朝云无觅处。白就要白的澄澈无暇。红便就要红的惊心动魄。那些血流成江海,沾染了她的白裳,迫她拿起利器,撕裂命运盖下的穹布,从此至高无上。那肩膀宽大温暖,冰释了她的霜雪,让她安心躲避,成为她躲避风雨的港湾,自此风雨不侵。【抽风版简介】将军府中嫡女重生,她的肉体,她的灵魂。强势重生,穿越归来!庶母恶毒——魂飞魄散不心软庶兄迫害——断你手臂没商量爹爹无良,敢伤娘心——找个二爹迫在眉睫天生仙骨?玄派秘宝?能看!敢抢?灭你满门要不要!绝世美男,追着跑?尼玛,泼妇你们也要!这黑乎乎的毛团嘛东西?纳尼,哈上一只黑狐狸。。。快跑!她只想做个米虫,天下第一,无人敢侵。一不当心名震太下,各路妖孽竞相杀来!卧槽!赶集还是抢亲啊!没聘礼也敢上门?来人,打出去!片段一:接到圣旨之后,某太子提着剑怒气冲冲的闯进某女的闺房,“沐云潇,你我自幼定亲。你是生是本宫的人,死是本宫的鬼。”某女抱着肉包,喝着小茶,翘着二郎腿,悠闲自在的道:“休书都送到家门口了,太子殿下是不认字还是觉悟太低看不懂?”顺便附赠一计断子绝孙腿,将某渣出踢门外。片段二:邻国皇帝看着某女银眸幽深,含着从来未有过的情感,声线带着性感。“普天之下,只有你配得上吾,也唯有你能站在吾的身旁。”某女看着满室的天材地宝,仙级装备,双眼冒星,口水大流。依旧义正言辞的看着某皇帝:“可是我觉得你配不上我怎么办?”某皇帝:“那好,来人把聘礼抬走,打道回府。”某女急了:“等一下!你看你一下子不经过人家同意就擅自下聘,惊吓到了我脆弱的小心脏,。好不容易我习惯了这些东西,你又要拿走,再一次惊吓到了我敏感的小神经。这样好了,看在你还有点眼光的份上。我也不和你计较了。聘礼留下,就当是本小姐的精神损失费了。”某皇帝奸笑:“收了吾的聘礼,那就是吾的人了。皇后,交配吧。”片段三:某只肥嘟嘟的黑狐狸,跳到某人的怀中,缩成一个肉团,蹭啊蹭啊,蹭啊蹭啊。。。娘亲的怀抱最温暖了,喜欢喜欢。。。某人温柔的抚摸着怀中的肥狐狸。
  • 好身体离不开养生学

    好身体离不开养生学

    中医养生虽然听起来似乎很陌生,但是如果能把其中的方式方法为己所用,确实有着不可低估的功效。要不为什么在漫长的封建社会里,皇亲贵族们都有自己秘不外传的“私家医生”呢?翻开本书中的内容你会发现,原来中医其实是一本好玩的故事书,而养生更是在日常的闲话中就可以轻轻松松实现的。
  • 爆笑之媒婆很忙

    爆笑之媒婆很忙

    男女主身心干净,全文无虐。————她是无良媒婆,遇美男必垂涎之。他是腹黑馆主,时男时女难辨之。他是冷魅王爷,对女人敬而远之。他是第一庄主,弹指令敌毙命也。他是暗黑魔君,扮萌伪善任欺也。他是邪魅太子,妖孽摄心又勾魂。当他们遭遇她,才深知,有理说不清。——招蜂引蝶——“小哥,长的不错,娶妻了没?”某男厌恶皱眉。“我不是坏人,这是我的媒婆资格证。”某男松气,“不需要。”“小哥,我看你面色蜡黄,精神萎靡不振,是长久压抑的所造成,还是极早抒发的好。”某男青筋暴露,“滚……”——愿者上钩——;——吾凰万岁——;某女:这皇位你要还是不要?某男笃定:不要。某女喜上眉梢:那我要了!万臣朝拜:吾凰万岁万岁万万岁!——桃花满园——某公公:凰上,下月初八是选秀的日子了。某女:下月初八?免了……身旁众男欣喜。某女:改为本月十八。众男狂汗:凰上,后宫满了……——碎碎念——乔乔的书名和简介不是强项,所以文文好不好看点进去了才知道,全文无虐,男女主均身心干净,男女腹黑,你强我强大家强。
  • 一生一遇

    一生一遇

    有些人,有些机会,一生一遇。你永远也不可能知道哪一天会与命运相遇。
  • 无敌大小姐

    无敌大小姐

    当现代阴狠毒辣,手段极多的火家大小姐火无情,穿越到一个好色如命,花痴草包大小姐身上,会发生怎样的化学反应?火无情一醒过来就发现,自己竟然在众目睽睽之下上演脱衣秀。周围还有一群围观者。这一发现,让她极为不爽。刚刚穿好衣服,便看到一个声称是自家老头的老不死气势汹汹的跑来问罪。刚上来,就要打她。这还得了?她火无情从生自死,都是王者。敢动她的人,都在和阎王喝茶。于是,她一怒之下,打了老爹。众人皆道:火家小姐阴狠毒辣,竟然连老爹都不放在眼里。就这样,她的罪名又多了一条。蛇蝎美人。穿越后,火无情的麻烦不断。第一天,打了爹。第二天,毁了姐姐的容。第三天,骂了二娘。第四天,当众轻薄了天下第一公子。第五天,火家贴出招亲启事:但凡愿意娶火家大小姐者,皆可去火府报名。来者不限。不怕死,不想活的,欢迎前来。警示:但凡来此,生死皆与火家无关。若有残病者火家一律不负法律责任。本以为无人敢到,岂料是桃花朵朵。美男个个很妖娆一号美人:火无炎。火家大少爷。为人不清楚,手段不清楚。容貌不清楚。唯一清楚的是,他有钱。有多多的钱。火无情语录:钱是好东西。娶了。(此美男,由美瞳掩饰不了你眼神的空洞领养。)火老爷一气之下,昏了过去。家门不幸,家门不幸啊。二号美人:竹清月。江湖人称天上神仙,地上无月。大国师一枚。美得惊天动地。火无情语录:美人好,尤其是自带嫁妆又会预测未来的美人,娶了。(此美男,由东de琳琳领养)三号美人:轩辕子玉。当朝七皇子,游历四国。一张可爱无敌的脸。单纯至极。火无情语录:可爱的孩子好,可爱又乖巧的孩子更好。可爱乖巧又不用给钱的孩子,娶了。(此美男,由刘千绮领养)皇帝听闻,两眼一抹黑。他的儿啊。怎么就这么不争气呢。四号美人:天下第一美男。性格不详,籍贯不详。火无情语录:谜一样的美人,她喜欢。每天都有新鲜感。娶了。(此美男,由告别的爱情li领养。)五号美人:天下第一名伶。火无情语录:解风情的美男,如果没钱花把他卖了都不用调教。娶了。(此美男由伊眸领养。)六号美男:解忧楼楼主。相貌不详,身世不详。爱好杀人。火无情语录:凶恶的美人,她喜欢。娶了。(此美男由陈铭铭领养)七号美男:琴圣。貌如谪仙,琴音杀人。冷清眸子中,百转千回,说尽风流。(此美男由伊眸领养)夜杀:天下第一杀手。(此美男由静寂之夜领养)
  • 萝莉太狂野

    萝莉太狂野

    女子柔软如棉的声音发出一个冷漠的单音:“嗯。”墨镜男一阵为难,却又不得不问:“大姐,哪些方面要改进的。”如棉的声音,带着冰窖般的声音响起:“时间太紧,我要休息两个小时,订婚宴我只出席一个小时,其他你自己看着办。”墨镜男依旧为难着:“可是,瑞克先生那边……”夙魅忽然停下脚步,那双带着黑色墨镜的眼,忽然盯着身边的墨镜男,明明她带着墨镜,看不清她的眸光,然……
  • 最后的太古神魔

    最后的太古神魔

    洪荒的神魔纷纷醒来。满天的仙佛纷纷涅磐。日月同空,雪夜惊雷。一场惨无人寰的屠杀过后,孤独的我该何去何从?风华正茂的佳人,荡气回肠的爱情,豪气云天的兄弟情,神秘的幻境,惊险刺激的世途,神秘的洪荒传说,没落的太古神话,强大的神器、无敌的仙。
  • 明治天皇:孝明帝驾崩卷(下册)

    明治天皇:孝明帝驾崩卷(下册)

    《明治天皇》再现了日本从幕末走向明治维新的历史变革,以优美的文笔,宏大的场景,详细描绘了日本近代决定国运的倒幕运动的整个过程。本书塑造了一个个鲜活的日本近代史人物形象,以及他们的坚定信念,对“安政大狱”、“樱田门之变”等重大历史事件的描述详实生动,是一部了解近代日本不可多得的佳作。
  • 明治天皇:孝明帝驾崩卷(下册)

    明治天皇:孝明帝驾崩卷(下册)

    《明治天皇》再现了日本从幕末走向明治维新的历史变革,以优美的文笔,宏大的场景,详细描绘了日本近代决定国运的倒幕运动的整个过程。本书塑造了一个个鲜活的日本近代史人物形象,以及他们的坚定信念,对“安政大狱”、“樱田门之变”等重大历史事件的描述详实生动,是一部了解近代日本不可多得的佳作。