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.