Ностромо
Chapter 3
Sometimestherewereintervalsofunaccountablestillnessoutside,andnothingcouldhavebeenmoregailypeacefulthanthenarrowbrightlinesofsunlightfromthecracksintheshutters,ruledstraightacrossthecafeoverthedisarrangedchairsandtablestothewallopposite.OldGiorgiohadchosenthatbare,whitewashedroomforaretreat.Ithadonlyonewindow,anditsonlydoorswungoutuponthetrackofthickdustfencedbyaloehedgesbetweentheharbourandthetown,whereclumsycartsusedtocreakalongbehindslowyokesofoxenguidedbyboysonhorseback.
InapauseofstillnessGiorgiocockedhisgun.Theominoussoundwrungalowmoanfromtherigidfigureofthewomansittingbyhisside.Asuddenoutbreakofdefiantyellingquitenearthehousesankallatoncetoaconfusedmurmurofgrowls.Somebodyranalong;theloudcatchingofhisbreathwasheardforaninstantpassingthedoor;therewerehoarsemuttersandfootstepsnearthewall;ashoulderrubbedagainsttheshutter,effacingthebrightlinesofsunshinepencilledacrossthewholebreadthoftheroom.SignoraTeresa’sarmsthrownaboutthekneelingformsofherdaughtersembracedthemcloserwithaconvulsivepressure.
Themob,drivenawayfromtheCustomHouse,hadbrokenupintoseveralbands,retreatingacrosstheplaininthedirectionofthetown.Thesubduedcrashofirregularvolleysfiredinthedistancewasansweredbyfaintyellsfaraway.
