Ностромо
Chapter 5
TheindignationranhighintheknotofdeputiesbehindJoseAvellanos.DonJose,liftinguphisvoice,criedouttothemoverthehighbackofhischair,“Sulacohasansweredbysendingto-dayanarmyuponhisflank.IfalltheotherprovincesshowonlyhalfasmuchpatriotismasweOccidentals—”
Agreatoutburstofacclamationscoveredthevibratingtrebleofthelifeandsouloftheparty.Yes!Yes!Thiswastrue!Agreattruth!Sulacowasintheforefront,asever!Itwasaboastfultumult,thehopefulnessinspiredbytheeventofthedaybreakingoutamongstthosecaballerosoftheCampothinkingoftheirherds,oftheirlands,ofthesafetyoftheirfamilies.Everythingwasatstake....No!ItwasimpossiblethatMonteroshouldsucceed!Thiscriminal,thisshamelessIndio!Theclamourcontinuedforsometime,everybodyelseintheroomlookingtowardsthegroupwhereDonJustehadputonhisairofimpartialsolemnityasifpresidingatasittingoftheProvincialAssembly.Decoudhadturnedroundatthenoise,and,leaninghisbackonthebalustrade,shoutedintotheroomwithallthestrengthofhislungs,“Gran’bestia!”
Thisunexpectedcryhadtheeffectofstillingthenoise.Alltheeyesweredirectedtothewindowwithanapprovingexpectation;butDecoudhadalreadyturnedhisbackupontheroom,andwasagainleaningoutoverthequietstreet.
“Thisisthequintessenceofmyjournalism;thatisthesupremeargument,”hesaidtoAntonia.
