I'm clear enough in the head, he thought. Too clear. I am as clear as the stars that are my brothers. Still I must sleep. They sleep and the moon and the sun sleep and even the ocean sleeps sometimes on certain days when there is no current and a flat calm.
But remember to sleep, he thought. Make yourself do it and devise some simple and sure way about the lines. Now go back and prepare the dolphin. It is too dangerous to rig the oars as a drag if you must sleep.
I could go without sleeping, he told himself. But it would be too dangerous.
He started to work his way back to the stern on his hands and knees (он начал свой путь к корме на руках и коленях = на четвереньках), being careful not to jerk against the fish (стараясь не дернуть рыбу;
Back in the stern (добравшись до кормы) he turned so that his left hand held the strain of the line across his shoulders (он повернулся так, что его левая рука держала натяжение лесы, перекинутой через плечи) and drew his knife from its sheath with his right hand (и вытащил из ножен нож правой рукой). The stars were bright now (звезды светили ярко теперь) and he saw the dolphin clearly (и он видел дорадо отчетливо) and he pushed the blade of his knife into his head (и он воткнул лезвие ножа в ее голову) and drew him out from under the stern (и вытащил ее из под /настила/ кормы). He put one of his feet on the fish (он поставил одну из своих ног на рыбу) and slit him quickly (и разрезал ее быстро) from the vent up to the tip of his lower jaw (от хвоста до кончика ее нижней челюсти;
vent [vent], scoop [skHp], сlear [klIq]
He started to work his way back to the stern on his hands and knees, being careful not to jerk against the fish. He may be half asleep himself, he thought. But I do not want him to rest. He must pull until he dies.
Back in the stern he turned so that his left hand held the strain of the line across his shoulders and drew his knife from its sheath with his right hand. The stars were bright now and he saw the dolphin clearly and he pushed the blade of his knife into his head and drew him out from under the stern. He put one of his feet on the fish and slit him quickly from the vent up to the tip of his lower jaw. Then he put his knife down and gutted him with his right hand, scooping him clean and pulling the gills clear.
He felt the maw heavy and slippery in his hands (желудок был тяжелым и скользким в его руках;