第24章 英文版 (14) 文 / 歐內斯特·海明威

    I』mclearenoughinthehead,hethought.Tooclear.Iamasclearasthestarsthataremybrothers.StillImustsleep.Theysleepandthemoonandthesunsleepandeventheoceansleepssometimesoncertaindayswhenthereisnocurrentandaflatcalm.

    Butremembertosleep,hethought.Makeyourselfdoitanddevisesomesimpleandsurewayaboutthelines.Nowgobackandpreparethedolphin.Itistoodangeroustorigtheoarsasadragifyoumustsleep.

    Icouldgowithoutsleeping,hetoldhimself.Butitwouldbetoodangerous.

    Hestartedtoworkhiswaybacktothesternonhishandsandknees,beingcarefulnottojerkagainstthefish.Hemaybehalfasleephimself,hethought.ButIdonotwanthimtorest.Hemustpulluntilhedies.

    Backinthesternheturnedsothathislefthandheldthestrainofthelineacrosshisshouldersanddrewhisknifefromitssheathwithhisrighthand.Thestarswerebrightnowandhesawthedolphinclearlyandhepushedthebladeofhisknifeintohisheadanddrewhimoutfromunderthestern.Heputoneofhisfeetonthefishandslithimquicklyfromtheventuptothetipofhislowerjaw.Thenheputhisknifedownandguttedhimwithhisrighthand,scoopinghimcleanandpullingthegillsclear.

    Hefeltthemawheavyandslipperyinhishandsandheslititopen.Thereweretwoflyingfishinside.Theywerefreshandhardandhelaidthemsidebysideanddroppedthegutsandthegillsoverthestern.Theysankleavingatrailofphosphorescenceinthewater.Thedolphinwascoldandaleprousgray-whitenowinthestarlightandtheoldmanskinnedonesideofhimwhileheheldhisrightfootonthefish』shead.Thenheturnedhimoverandskinnedtheothersideandcuteachsideofffromtheheaddowntothetail.

    Heslidthecarcassoverboardandlookedtoseeiftherewasanyswirlinthewater.Buttherewasonlythelightofitsslowdescent.Heturnedthenandplacedthetwoflyingfishinsidethetwofilletsoffishandputtinghisknifebackinitssheath,heworkedhiswayslowlybacktothebow.Hisbackwasbentwiththeweightofthelineacrossitandhecarriedthefishinhisrighthand.

    Backinthebowhelaidthetwofilletsoffishoutonthewoodwiththeflyingfishbesidethem.Afterthathesettledthelineacrosshisshouldersinanewplaceandhelditagainwithhislefthandrestingonthegunwale.Thenheleanedoverthesideandwashedtheflyingfishinthewater,notingthespeedofthewateragainsthishand.Hishandwasphosphorescentfromskinningthefishandhewatchedtheflowofthewateragainstit.Theflowwaslessstrongandasherubbedthesideofhishandagainsttheplankingoftheskiff,particlesofphosphorusfloatedoffanddriftedslowlyastern.

    「Heistiringorheisresting,」theoldmansaid.「Nowletmegetthroughtheeatingofthisdolphinandgetsomerestandalittlesleep.」

    Underthestarsandwiththenightcolderallthetimeheatehalfofoneofthedolphinfilletsandoneoftheflyingfish,guttedandwithitsheadcutoff.

    「Whatanexcellentfishdolphinistoeatcooked,」hesaid.「Andwhatamiserablefishraw.Iwillnevergoinaboatagainwithoutsaltorlimes.」

    IfIhadbrainsIwouldhavesplashedwateronthebowalldayanddrying,itwouldhavemadesalt,hethought.ButthenIdidnothookthedolphinuntilalmostsunset.Stillitwasalackofpreparation.ButIhavecheweditallwellandIamnotnauseated.

    Theskywascloudingovertotheeastandoneafteranotherthestarsheknewweregone.Itlookednowasthoughheweremovingintoagreatcanyonofcloudsandthewindhaddropped.

    「Therewillbebadweatherinthreeorfourdays,」hesaid.「Butnottonightandnottomorrow.Rignowtogetsomesleep,oldman,whilethefishiscalmandsteady.」

    Heheldthelinetightinhisrighthandandthenpushedhisthighagainsthisrighthandasheleanedallhisweightagainstthewoodofthebow.Thenhepassedthelinealittleloweronhisshouldersandbracedhislefthandonit.

    Myrighthandcanholditaslongasitisbraced,hethoughtIfitrelaxesinsleepmylefthandwillwakemeasthelinegoesout.Itishardontherighthand.ButheisusedtopunishmentEvenifIsleeptwentyminutesorahalfanhouritisgood.Helayforwardcrampinghimselfagainstthelinewithallofhisbody,puttingallhisweightontohisrightband,andhewasasleep.

    Hedidnotdreamofthelionsbutinsteadofavastschoolofporpoisesthatstretchedforeightortenmilesanditwasinthetimeoftheirmatingandtheywouldleaphighintotheairandreturnintothesameholetheyhadmadeinthewaterwhentheyleaped.

    Thenhedreamedthathewasinthevillageonhisbedandtherewasanortherandhewasverycoldandhisrightarmwasasleepbecausehisheadhadrestedonitinsteadofapillow.

    Afterthathebegantodreamofthelongyellowbeachandhesawthefirstofthelionscomedownontoitintheearlydarkandthentheotherlionscameandherestedhischinonthewoodofthebowswheretheshiplayanchoredwiththeeveningoff-shorebreezeandhewaitedtoseeiftherewouldbemorelionsandhewashappy.

    Themoonhadbeenupforalongtimebuthesleptonandthefishpulledonsteadilyandtheboatmovedintothetunnelofclouds.