A line of men tugged on ropes and dropped from the ship into the sea, with a group of Saibs prepared to pull them later from the sea bottom. Nasser, one of the divers, climbed over the railing of the ship and his Saib emptied his basket full of shells onto the deck.
“Get me something to fill my stomach with, boy.” I knew he was teasing as he is my father’s good friend.
“But I’m no longer an errand boy. I’m a diver, like my father was.”
“Your father was bald and deaf, like the rest of us,” Nasser laughed.
The salty Arabian Gulf produced the finest pearls in the world while the salty water also made divers lose their hair. Let alone the high pressure which cost them their hearing. I had shaved my head, in which way I felt more like a real diver. Of course, there’s no need for me to worry about the hair problem.
“I’ve dived the shallow seas before, and I can hold my breath fora whole minute.”
“Just pull your rope before you feel breathless.” He then disappeared into the water again.
I tied a heavy stone to my foot with a rope. Taking one more deep breath. I plugged my nose and jumped. With the stone finally hitting the seabed with a thump. I freed my foot from the rope. I scratched at the rocky ridge (脊), when three oysters dropped into my hands. I even didn’t have enough time to feel surprised at how easy the job was before I felt breathless.
Out of honor, I dragged the rope. Knowing that, tar above, the Saib’s strong arms strained to pull me toward the surface. I reminded myself to endure for a little more time. Just when I thought my lungs would burst, my cars popped and there was light.
Nasser burst through the water. He removed his nose plug and grinned at me looking at the three pitiful shells on the deck. “Not bad for an errand boy.” Seeing me upset with my head down, he patted me “It’s your first for such a depth. You did better than all of us.” Cheering up, I wrapped the empty basket around my neck and raised my chin, “I’m a pearl diver.”
【小题1】According to Nasser, what did an errand boy usually do?| A．Pull divers from the sea. | B．Empty baskets for divers. |
| C．Serve snacks for divers. | D．Dive for shells. |
| A．Because he tried to avoid losing hair. |
| B．Because all divers had shaved hair. |
| C．Because high pressure made him bald. |
| D．Because he wanted to look professional. |
| A．Because there were not many pearls in the area. |
| B．Because he still lacked experience in the job. |
| C．Because the Saib pulled him up too early without permission. |
| D．Because the rocky ridge was too rough. |
