去看看小说网>老人与海出版社 > 第2章 Talking Before the Sea（第1页）
第2章 Talking Before the Sea（第1页）
“Wakeupoldman，”theboysaidandputhishandononeoftheoldmansknees。
Theoldmanopenedhiseyesandforamomenthewascomingbackfromalongwayaway。Thenhesmiled。
“Whathaveyougot?”heasked。
“Supper，”saidtheboy。“Weregoingtohavesupper。”
“Imnotveryhungry。”
“Comeonandeat。Youcantfishandnoteat。”
“Ihave，”theoldmansaidgettingupandtakingthenewspaperandfoldingit。Thenhestartedtofoldtheblanket。“Keeptheblanketaroundyou，”theboysaid。YoullnotfishwithouteatingwhileImalive。
“Thenlivealongtimeandtakecareofyourself，”theoldmansaid。“Whatareweeating?”
“Blackbeansandrice，friedbananas，andsomestew。”
Theboyhadbroughttheminatwo-deckermetalcontainerfromtheTerrace。Thetwosetsofknivesandforksandspoonswereinhispocketwithapaper-napkinwrappedaroundeachset。
“Whogavethistoyou?”
“Martin。Theowner。”
“Imustthankhim。”
“Ithankedhimalready，”theboysaid。“Youdontneedtothankhim。”
“Illgivehimthebellymeatofabigfish，”theoldmansaid。“Hashedonethisforusmorethanonce?”
“Ithinkso。”
“Imustgivehimsomethingmorethanthebellymeatthen。Heisverythoughtfulforus。”
“Hesenttwobeers。”
“Ilikethebeerincansbest。”
“Iknow。Butthisisinbottles，Hatueybeer，andItakebackthebottles。”
“Thatsverykindofyou，”theoldmansaid。“Shouldweeat?”
“Ivebeenaskingyouto，”theboytoldhimgently。“Ihavenotwishedtoopenthecontaineruntilyouwereready。”“Imreadynow，”theoldmansaid。“Ionlyneededtimetowash。”
Wheredidyouwash?Theboythought。Thevillagewatersupplywastwostreetsdowntheroad。Imusthavewaterhereforhim，theboythought，andsoapandagoodtowel。WhyamIsothoughtless?Imustgethimanothershirtandajacketforthewinterandsomesortofshoesandanotherblanket。
“Yourstewisexcellent，”theoldmansaid。
“Tellmeaboutthebaseball，”Theboyaskedhim。
“IntheAmericanLeagueitistheYankeesasIsaid，”theoldmansaidhappily。
“Theylosttoday，”theboytoldhim。
“Thatmeansnothing。ThegreatDiMaggioishimselfagain。”
“Theyhaveothermenontheteam。”
“Naturally。Buthemakesthedifference。Intheotherleague，betweenBrooklynandPhiladelphiaImusttakeBrooklyn。ButthenIthinkofDickSislerandthosegreatdrivesintheoldpark。”
“Therewasnothingeverlikethem。HehitsthelongestballIhaveeverseen。”
“DoyourememberwhenheusedtocometotheTerrace?IwantedtotakehimfishingbutIwastootimidtoaskhim。ThenIaskedyoutoaskhimandyouweretootimid。”
“Iknow。Itwasagreatmistake。Hemighthavegonewithus。Thenwewouldhavethatforallofourlives。”
“IwouldliketotakethegreatDiMaggiofishing，”theoldmansaid。“Theysayhisfatherwasafisherman。Maybehewasaspoorasweareandwouldunderstand。”
“ThegreatSislersfatherwasneverpoorandhe，thefather，wasplayinginthebigleagueswhenhewasmyage。”
“WhenIwasyourageIwasbeforethemastonasquareriggedshipthatrantoAfricaandIhaveseenlionsonthebeachesintheevening。”
“Iknow。Youtoldme。”
“ShouldwetalkaboutAfricaoraboutbaseball?”
“BaseballIthink，”theboysaid。“TellmeaboutthegreatJohnJ。McGraw。”HesaidJotaforJ。
“HeusedtocometotheTerracesometimestoointheolderdays。Buthewasroughandharsh-spokenanddifficultwhenhewasdrinking。Hismindwasonhorsesaswellasbaseball。Atleasthecarriedlistsofhorsesatalltimesinhispocketandfrequentlyspokethenamesofhorsesonthetelephone。”
