第10章 The Old Mans Return[第4頁/共8頁]

“Tiburon,”the waiter said,“Eshark.”He was meaning to explain what had happened.

He started to climb again and at the top he fell and lay for some time with the mast across his shoulder.

The wind is our friend,anyway,he thought.Then he added,sometimes.And the great sea with our friends and our enemies.And bed,he thought.Bed is my friend.Just bed, he thought.Bed will be a great thing.It is easy when you are beaten,he thought.I never knew how easy it was.And what beat you,he thought.

Many fishermen were around the skiff looking at what was lashed beside it and one was in the water,his trousers rolled up,measuring the skeleton with a length of line.

“No.I will remember.”

“Don't forget to tell Pedrico the head is his.”

Finally he put the mast down and stood up.He picked the mast up and put it on his shoulder and started up the road.He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.

“No,”the boy said.“Tell them not to bother Santiago. I'll be back.”