老人与海3（英文版）

the boy said. "But what about the eighty-seven of your great 
record?" 
"It could not happen twice. Do you think you can find an eighty-five?" 
"I can order one. " 
"One sheet. That's two dollars and a half. Who can we borrow that from?" 
"That's easy. I can always borrow two dollars and a half. " 
"I think perhaps I can too. But I try not to borrow. First you borrow. Then you 
beg. " 
"Keep warm old man,” the boy said. "Remember we are in September. " 
"The month when the great fish come, ” the old man said. "Anyone can be a 
fisherman in May. " 
"I go now for the sardines, "the boy said. 
When the boy came back the old man was asleep in the chair and the sun was down. The boy took the old army blanket off the bed and spread it over the back of the chair and over the old man's shoulders. They were strange shoulders, still powerful although very old, and the neck was still strong too and the creases did not show so much when the old man was asleep and his head fallen forward. His shirt had been patched so many times that it was like the sail and the patches were faded to many different shades by the sun. The old man's head was very old though and with his eyes closed there was no life in his face. The newspaper lay across his knees and the weight of his arm held it there in the evening breeze. He was barefooted. 
The boy left him there and when he came back the old man was still asleep. 
"Wake up old man, ” 
the boy said and put his hand on one of the old man's knees. 
The old man opened his eyes and for a moment he was coming back from a long way away. Then he smiled. 
"What have you got? " he asked. 
"Supper,” said the boy. "We're going to have supper. " 
"I'm not very hungry. " 
"Come on and eat. You can't fish and not eat. " 
"I have, ” the old man said getting up and taking the newspaper and folding it. 
Then he started to fold the blanket. 
"Keep the blanket around you, ” 
the boy said. You'll not fish without eating while I'm alive. " 
“Then live a long time and take care of yourself, "the old man said. "What are we 
eating?" 
“Black beans and rice, fried bananas, and some stew. "(black beans and rice, fried bananas: staple foods of the Caribbean islands.) 
The boy had brought them in a two-decker metal container from the Terrace . Thetwo sets of knives and forks and spoons were in his pocket with a paper - napkin wrapped around each set. 
"Who gave this to you?" 
"Martin. The owner. " 
"I must thank him. " 
" I thanked him already," the boy said. " You don't need to thank him. " 
"I'll give him the belly meat of a big fish, ” 
the old man said . "' Has he done this for us more than once?" 
"I think so. " 
"I must give him something more than the belly meat then. He is very thoughtful 
for us. " 
"He sent two beers. " 
"I like the beer in cans best. " 
"I know. But this is in bottles, Hatuey beer, and I take back the bottles. " 
"That's very kind of you, ” 
the old man said. "Should we eat?" 
"I've been asking you to, ” 
the boy told him gently. "I have not wished to open the container until you were ready. " 
"I'm ready now, ” 
the old man said. "I only needed time to wash. " 
Where did you wash? The boy thought. The village water supply was two streets down the road. I must have water here for him, the boy thought, and soap and a good towel. Why am I so thoughtless? I must get him another shirt and a jacket for the winter and some sort of shoes and another blanket. (the village water supply: a community tap or well.) 
"Your stew is excellent, "the old man said. 
"Tell me about the baseball, "The boy asked him. 
"In the American League it is the Yankees as I said, "the old man said happily. 
"They lost today, "the boy told him. "That means nothing. The great DiMaggio is himself again. " 
"They have other men on the team. " 
"Naturally. But he makes the difference. In the other league, between Brooklyn and Philadelphia I must take Brooklyn. But then I think of Dick Sisler and those great drives in the old park. "(the other league: the National League, to which the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies belonged.)(Dick Sisler: player for Philadelphia from 1948 to 1951 and for other teams before and after these years(His father, George Sisler, was a well-known player for St.Louis and Boston.) 
"There was nothing ever like them. He hits the longtest ball I have ever seen. " 
"Do you remember when he used to come to the Terrace? I wanted to take him fishing but I was too timid to ask him. Then I asked you to ask him and you were too timid. " 
“I know. It was a great mistake. He might have gone with us. Then we would have that for all of our lives. " 
"I would like to take the great DiMaggio fishing, "the old man said. "They say his father was a fisherman. Maybe he was as poor as we are and would understand. "