“Thanks,”the boy said.
“And the spear?”
“What's that?”she asked a waiter and pointed to the long backbone of the great fish that was now just garbage waiting to go out with the tide.
“No.Afterwards I will see what he can eat.”
“Don't forget to tell Pedrico the head is his.”
“I didn't either,”her male companion said.
He started to climb again and at the top he fell and lay for some time with the mast across his shoulder.
“Anything more?”
Finally the old man woke.
“Pedrico is looking after the skiff and the gear.What do you want done with the head?”
He knew he was beaten now finally and without remedy and he went back to the stern and found the jagged end of the tiller would fit in the slot of the rudder well enough for him to steer.He settled the sack around his shoulders and put the skiff on her course. He sailed lightly now and he had no thoughts nor any feelings of any kind.He was past everything now and he sailed the skiff to make his home port as well and as intelligently as he could.In the night sharks hit the carcass as someone might pick up crumbs from the table.The old man paid no attention to them and did not pay any attention to anything except steering.He only noticed how lightly and how well the skiff sailed now there was no great weight beside her.