He could not talk to the fish anymore because the fish had been ruined too badly. Then something came into his head

"Half fish," he said. "Fish that you were. I am sorry that I went too far out. I ruined us both. But we have killed many sharks, you and I, and ruined many others. How many did you ever kill, old fish? You do not have that spear on your head for nothing."

He liked to think of the fish (ему нравилось думать о рыбе) and what he could do to a shark if he were swimming free (и что она могла сделать с акулой, если бы свободно плавала). I should have chopped the bill off (мне следовало отрубить ее меч) to fight them with (чтобы драться им), he thought. But there was no hatchet (но не было топора) and then there was no knife (а затем не было ножа = а затем и нож был утрачен).

But if I had (но если бы я так сделал), and could have lashed it to an oar butt (и сумел бы привязать его к рукоятке весла), what a weapon (что это было бы за оружие). Then we might have fought them together (тогда мы могли бы драться с ними вместе). What will you do now if they come in the night (что ты будешь делать, если они придут ночью)? What can you do (что ты сможешь сделать)?

"Fight them (драться с ними)," he said. "I'll fight them until I die (я буду драться с ними, пока не умру)."

But in the dark now (но сейчас в темноте) and no glow showing and no lights (и /при том, что/ ни зарева, ни огней не было видно) and only the wind and the steady pull of the sail (и /при том, что были/ только ветер и надутый им парус: «спокойная тяга паруса») he felt that perhaps he was already dead (и ему почудилось, что, возможно, он уже мертв). He put his two hands together and felt the palms (он соединил руки вместе и почувствовал ладони). They were not dead (они не были мертвы) and he could bring the pain of life (и он мог вернуть боль жизни) by simply opening and closing them (просто разжимая и сжимая их). He leaned his back against the stern (он прислонился спиной к корме) and knew he was not dead (и понял, что он не мертв). His shoulders told him (его плечи сказали ему об этом).

He liked to think of the fish and what he could do to a shark if he were swimming free. I should have chopped the bill off to fight them with, he thought. But there was no hatchet and then there was no knife.

But if I had, and could have lashed it to an oar butt, what a weapon. Then we might have fought them together. What will you do now if they come in the night? What can you do?

"Fight them," he said. "I'll fight them until I die."

But in the dark now and no glow showing and no lights and only the wind and the steady pull of the sail he felt that perhaps he was already dead. He put his two hands together and felt the palms. They were not dead and he could bring the pain of life by simply opening and closing them. He leaned his back against the stern and knew he was not dead. His shoulders told him.

I have all those prayers I promised if I caught the fish (мне нужно прочесть все те молитвы, которые я пообещал прочесть, если поймаю рыбу), he thought. But I am too tired to say them now (но я слишком устал, чтобы читать их сейчас). I better get the sack (я лучше достану мешок) and put it over my shoulders (и прикрою им плечи: «надену его на плечи»).

He lay in the stern (он лежал на корме) and steered (и правил /лодкой/) and watched for the glow to come in the sky (и ждал, когда появиться сияние в небе /от огней Гаваны/). I have half of him (у меня есть ее половина), he thought. Maybe I'll have the luck to bring the forward half in (может, мне повезет, и я привезу ее переднюю половину). I should have some luck (должно же мне повезти). No, he said. You violated your luck when you went too far outside (ты испортил свою удачу, когда зашел слишком далеко в море; to violate — осквернять, нарушать).

"Don't be silly (не будь глупым)," he said aloud. "And keep awake and steer (не спи: «сохраняй бодрствование» и правь; awake — бодрствующий). You may have much luck yet (у тебя, может быть, еще осталось много удачи)."

"I'd like to buy some if there's any place they sell it (я бы хотел купить немного удачи, если бы было место, где ее продают)," he said.

What could I buy it with (на что бы я ее купил)? he asked himself. Could I buy it with a lost harpoon (купил бы я ее на потерянный гарпун) and a broken knife and two bad hands (или на сломанный нож и две плохие руки)?

"You might (ты мог бы)," he said. "You tried to buy it with eighty-four days at sea (ты пробовал купить ее, проведя восемьдесят четыре дня в море). They nearly sold it to you too (они практически продали ее тебе).