第2章 Talking Before the Sea[第1页/共7页]

“Black beans and rice,fried bananas,and some stew.”

“Wake up old man,”the boy said and put his hand on one of the old man's knees.

“He was a great manager,”the boy said.“My father thinks he was the greatest.”

“Who gave this to you?”

“I know it,”the boy said.“I'll be right back. Have another coffee.We have credit here.”

“So do I,”the boy said.“Now I must get your sardines and mine and your fresh baits.He brings our gear himself.He never wants anyone to carry anything.”

“No.I know others better.”

The old man opened his eyes and for a moment he was coming back from a long way away.Then he smiled.

“Very well,Manolin,”the old man said.“ I feel confident today.”

“I'll give him the belly meat of a big fish,”the old man said.“ Has he done this for us more than once?”

“You ought to go to bed now so that you will be fresh in the morning.I will take the things back to the Terrace.”

“Martin.The owner.”

“I don't know,”the boy said.“All I know is that young boys sleep late and hard.”

“Because he came here the most times,”the old man said.“If Durocher had continued to come here each year your father would think him the greatest manager.”

The boy was back now with the sardines and the two baits wrapped in a newspaper and they went down the trail to the skiff,feeling the pebbled sand under their feet,and lifted the skiff and slid her into the water.