第1章 The Old Mans Hard Life[第1頁/共12頁]

The boy did not know whether yesterday's paper was a fiction too.But the old man brought it out from under the bed.

“Eighty-five is a lucky number,”the old man said.“ How would you like to see me bring one in that dressed out over a thousand pounds?”

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

“I am a strange old man.”

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

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

“Are his eyes that bad?”

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

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

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

“Santiago,”the boy said.

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

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

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