Lakhasly

The town was on a yellow-sand beach.Early in the morning, Kino and Juana came slowly down the beach to Kinos canoe.Juana put Coyotito in the canoe.Juana prayed for a pearl to pay the doctor.Now Kino and Juana pushed the canoe down the beach to the water.Juana climbed in. Kino pushed it into deeper water and then got in, too.Beautiful wooden canoes lay across the beach, painted blue and white.The canoes were very important to the fishermen.Juana went to the water and walked in. She picked some plants from the sea and placed them on the baby's red shoulder.This was her people's usual way with scorpion bites, and it was probably as good as the doctor's medicine.Their canoes were far out in the sea, above the oyster bed.If the sand is caught in an oyster, it will, in time, change into a pearl.For hundreds of years, men have searched the sea for pearls.Kino had two ropes.It was the only thing worth money that Kino owned.And Kino's father gave it to Kino.

The town was on a yellow-sand beach. Beautiful wooden canoes lay across
the beach, painted blue and white.
Early in the morning, Kino and Juana came slowly down the beach to Kinos
canoe. It was the only thing worth money that Kino owned. It was very old.
Kino’s grandfather bought it, and then he gave it to Kino’s father. And Kino’s
father gave it to Kino. The canoes were very important to the fishermen. A man
with a boat can be sure of pearls to sell, and food.
Juana put Coyotito in the canoe. He was quiet, but his shoulder and face
were still red. Juana went to the water and walked in. She picked some plants
from the sea and placed them on the baby’s red shoulder. This was her people’s
usual way with scorpion bites, and it was probably as good as the doctor’s
medicine. But the plants were simple and did not cost anything. Juana prayed
for a pearl to pay the doctor.
Now Kino and Juana pushed the canoe down the beach to the water. Juana
climbed in. Kino pushed it into deeper water and then got in, too. The other
pearlers were already at work. Kino could see them. Their canoes were far out in
the sea, above the oyster bed.
A pearl begins as one piece of sand. If the sand is caught in an oyster, it will,
in time, change into a pearl. Some pearls are small and worth little money, but a
few are large and beautiful and white and expensive. For hundreds of years, men
have searched the sea for pearls. But success is luck, a gift from God.
Kino had two ropes. One was tied to a heavy rock, the other to a bag. He
took off his shirt and pants and put his hat in the bottom of the canoe. He took
the rock in one hand and his bag in the other, then he jumped into the sea. The
rock carried him to the bottom.
Kino moved slowly because he wanted the water to stay clear. But his hands
worked quickly. He pulled the oysters from the ocean floor and put them into
his bag