Ностромо
Chapter 8
Hewhined,offeringtheSenorCapatazhalfhisdailypayfortheprivilegeofbeingadmittedtotheswaggeringfraternityofCargadores;theotherhalfwouldbeenoughforhim,heprotested.ButCaptainMitchell’sright-handman—“invaluableforourwork—aperfectlyincorruptiblefellow”—afterlookingdowncriticallyattheraggedmozo,shookhisheadwithoutawordintheuproargoingonaround.
Themanfellback;andalittlefurtheronNostromohadtopullup.Fromthedoorsofthedancehallmenandwomenemergedtottering,streamingwithsweat,tremblingineverylimb,tolean,panting,withstaringeyesandpartedlips,againstthewallofthestructure,wheretheharpsandguitarsplayedonwithmadspeedinanincessantrollofthunder.Hundredsofhandsclappedinthere;voicesshrieked,andthenallatoncewouldsinklow,chantinginunisontherefrainofalovesong,withadyingfall.Aredflower,flungwithagoodaimfromsomewhereinthecrowd,strucktheresplendentCapatazonthecheek.
Hecaughtitasitfell,neatly,butforsometimedidnotturnhishead.Whenatlasthecondescendedtolookround,thethrongnearhimhadpartedtomakewayforaprettyMorenita,herhairheldupbyasmallgoldencomb,whowaswalkingtowardshimintheopenspace.
Herarmsandneckemergedplumpandbarefromasnowychemisette;thebluewoollenskirt,withallthefullnessgatheredinfront,scantyonthehipsandtightacrosstheback,disclosedtheprovokingactionofherwalk.
