第10章 The Old Mans Return[第4页/共7页]

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.

“I will have everything in order,”the boy said.“ You get your hands well old man.”

“We must get a good killing lance and always have it on board.You can make the blade from a spring leaf from an old Ford.We can grind it in Guanabacoa.It should be sharp and not tempered so it will break.My knife broke.”

“No.I am not lucky.I am not lucky anymore.”

The boy carried the hot can of coffee up to the old man's shack and sat by him until he woke.Once it looked as though he were waking.But he had gone back into heavy sleep and the boy had gone across the road to borrow some wood to heat the coffee.

“Nothing,”he said aloud.“ I went out too far.”

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

“They beat me, Manolin,”he said.“They truly beat me.”

“Pedrico is looking after the skiff and the gear.What do you want done with the head?”

“And the spear?”

She's good,he thought.She is sound and not harmed in any way except for the tiller.That is easily replaced .