最初の鯨

第6章：最初の鯨

Chapter 6: The First Whale

数週間の航海の後、ついに最初の鯨を発見した。船内の興奮は激しかった。男たちは自分の位置に走り、銛が準備され、小さなボートが水面に下ろされた。

After weeks of sailing, we finally spotted our first whale. The excitement on the ship was intense. Men ran to their positions, harpoons were prepared, and small boats were lowered into the water.

私はクイークェグと同じボートに乗っていた。私たちは期待に胸を躍らせながら、素早く鯨に向かって漕いだ。鯨は巨大で、私が想像していたどんなものよりも大きく、力強く優雅に水中を移動していた。

I was in one of the boats with Queequeg. We rowed quickly toward the whale, our hearts pounding with anticipation. The whale was enormous, bigger than anything I had ever imagined, and it moved through the water with power and grace.

近づくと、クイークェグは完璧な狙いで銛を投げた。銛は深く突き刺さり、鯨は凄まじい力で反応した。鯨が逃げようともがく中、私たちの小さなボートはおもちゃのように振り回された。

As we approached, Queequeg threw his harpoon with perfect aim. The harpoon struck deep, and the whale reacted with tremendous force. Our small boat was tossed around like a toy as the whale fought to escape.