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〃Do they have different personalities？〃
〃Fish？〃 Quint laughed。 〃That's giving them more credit than they're due。 You can't treat 'em like people； even though I guess some people are as dumb as fish。 No。
They do different things sometimes； but after a while you get to know everything they can do。
〃It's not a challenge； then。 You're not fighting an enemy。〃
〃No。 No more 'n a plumber who's trying to unstick a drain。 Maybe he'll cuss at it and hit it with a wrench。 But down deep he don't think he's fighting somebody。
Sometimes I run into an ornery fish that gives me more trouble than other ones； but I just use different tools。〃
〃There are fish you can't catch； aren't there？〃
〃Oh sure； but that don't mean they're smart or sneaky or anything。 It only means they're not hungry when you try to catch 'em； or they're too fast for you； or you're using the wrong bait。〃
Quint fell silent for a moment； then spoke again。 〃Once；〃 he said； 〃a shark almost caught me。 It was about twenty years ago。 I had a fair…size blue shark to gaff and he gave a big yank and hauled me overboard with him。〃
〃What did you do？〃
〃I e up over that transom so fast I don't think my feet touched anything between water and deck。 I was lucky I fell over the stern； where it's fairly low down； near the water。 If I'd of fallen over amidships； I don't know what I would've done。 Anyway； I was out of that water before the fish even knew I was in it。 He was busy trying to shake the gaff。〃
〃Suppose you fell over with this fish。 Is there anything you could do？〃
〃Sure。 Pray。 It'd be like falling out of an airplane without a parachute and hoping you'll land in a haystack。 The only thing that'd save you would be God； and since He pushed you overboard in the first place； I wouldn't give a nickel for your chances。〃
〃There's a woman in Amity who thinks that's why we're having trouble；〃 said Brody。 〃She thinks it's some sort of divine retribution。〃
Quint smiled。 〃Might be。 He made the damn thing； I suppose He can tell it what to do。〃
〃You serious？〃
〃No； not really。 I don't put much stock in religion。〃
〃So why do you think people have been killed。〃
〃Bad luck。〃 Quint pulled back on the throttle。 The boat slowed and settled in the swells。 〃We'll try to change it。〃 He took a piece of paper from his pocket； unfolded it； read the notes； and sighting along his outstretched arm； checked his bearings。 He turned the ignition key； and the engine died。 There was a weight； a thickness； to the sudden silence。 〃Okay； Hooper；〃 he said。 〃Start chuckin' the shit overboard。〃
Hooper took the top off the chum bucket and began to ladle the contents into the sea。 The first ladleful spattered on the still water； and slowly the oily smear spread westward。
By ten o'clock a breeze had e up … not strong； but fresh enough to ripple the water and cool the men； who sat and watched and said nothing。 The only sound was the regular splash as
Hooper poured chum off the stern。
Brody sat in the fighting chair； struggling to stay awake。 He yawned； then recalled that he had left the half…read copy of The Deadly Virgin in a magazine rack below。 He stood； stretched； and went down the three steps into the cabin。 He found the book and started topside again； when his eye caught the ice chest。 He looked at his watch and said to himself； the hell with it； there's no time out here。
〃I'm going to have a beer；〃 he called。 〃Anybody want one？〃
〃No；〃 said Hooper。
〃Sure；〃 said Quint。 〃We can shoot at the cans。〃
Brody took two beers from the chest； removed the metal tabs； and started to climb the stairs。 His foot was on the top step when he heard Quint's flat； calm voice say； 〃There he is。〃
At first； Brody thought Quint was referring to him； but then he saw Hooper jump off the transom and heard him whistle and say； 〃Wow！ He sure is！〃
Brody felt his pulse speed up。 He stepped quickly onto the deck and said； 〃Where？〃 〃Right there；〃 said Quint。 〃Dead off the stern。〃
It took Brody's eyes a moment to adjust； but then he saw the fin … a ragged； brownish…gray triangle that sliced through the water； followed by the scythed tail sweeping left and right with short； spasmodic thrusts。 The fish was at least thirty yards behind the boat； Brody guessed。 Maybe forty。 〃Are you sure it's him？〃 he said。
〃It's him；〃 said Quint。
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃Nothing。 Not till we see what he does。 Hooper； you keep ladling that shit。 Let's bring him in here。〃
Hooper lifted the bucket up onto the transom and scooped the chum into the water。 Quint walked forward and fastened a harpoon head to the wooden shaft。 He picked up a barrel and put it under one arm。 He held the coiled rope over his other arm and clutched the harpoon in his hand。 He carried it all aft and set it on the deck。
The fish cruised back and forth in the slick； seeming to search for the source of the bloody miasma。
〃Reel in those lines；〃 Quint said to Brody。 〃They won't do any good now we've got him up。〃
Brody brought in the lines one by one and let the squid bait fall to the deck。
The fish moved slightly closer to the boat； still cruising slowly。
Quint set the barrel on the transom to the left of Hooper's bucket and arranged the rope beside it。 Then he climbed up on the transom and stood； his right arm cocked； holding the harpoon。 〃e on；〃 he said。 〃e on in here。〃
But the fish would e no closer than fifty feet from the boat。
〃I don't get it；〃 said Quint。 〃He should e in and take a look at us。 Brody； take the cutters out of my back pocket and clip off those squid bait and throw 'em overboard。
Maybe some food'll bring him in。 And splash the hell out of the water when you throw 'em。 Let him know something's there。〃
Brody did as he was told； slapping and roiling the water with a gaff； always keeping the fin in sight； for he imagined the fish suddenly appearing from the deep and seizing him by the arm。
〃Throw some other ones while you're at it；〃 said Quint。 〃They're in the chest there。 And throw those beers over； too。〃
〃The beers？ What for？〃
〃The more we can get in the water； the better。 Don't make no difference what it is； so long as it gets him interested enough to want to find out。〃
Hooper said； 〃What about the porpoise？〃
〃Why； Mr。 Hooper；〃 said Quint。 〃I thought you didn't approve。〃
〃Never mind that；〃 Hooper said excitedly。 〃I want to see that fish！〃
〃We'll see；〃 said Quint。 〃If I have to use it； I will。〃
The squid had drifted back toward the shark； and one of the beers bobbed on the surface as it slowly faded aft of the boat。 But still the fish stayed away。
They waited … Hooper ladling； Quint poised on the transom； Brody standing by one of the rods。
〃Shit；〃 said Quint。 〃I guess I got no choice。〃 He set the harpoon down and jumped off the transom。 He flipped the top off the garbage can next to Brody； and Brody saw the lifeless eyes of the tiny porpoise as it swayed in the briny water。 The sight repelled