Ностромо
Chapter 7
Asitwasatthesametimethebedroomoftheengineer-in-chargethere,MonterohadthrownhimselfonhiscleanblanketsandlaythereshiveringanddictatingrequisitionstobetransmittedbywiretoSulaco.Hedemandedatrainofcarstobesentdownatoncetotransporthismenup.
“‘TothisIansweredfrommyend,’theengineer-in-chiefrelatedtous,‘thatIdarednotrisktherolling-stockintheinterior,astherehadbeenattemptstowrecktrainsallalongthelineseveraltimes.Ididthatforyoursake,Gould,’saidthechiefengineer.‘Theanswertothiswas,inthewordsofmysubordinate,“Thefilthybruteonmybedsaid,‘SupposeIweretohaveyoushot?’”Towhichmysubordinate,who,itappears,washimselfoperating,remarkedthatitwouldnotbringthecarsup.Uponthat,theother,yawning,said,“Nevermind,thereisnolackofhorsesontheCampo.”And,turningover,wenttosleeponHarris’sbed.’
“Thisiswhy,mydeargirl,Iamafugitiveto-night.ThelastwirefromrailheadsaysthatPedroMonteroandhismenleftatdaybreak,afterfeedingonasadobeefallnight.Theytookallthehorses;theywillfindmoreontheroad;they’llbehereinlessthanthirtyhours,andthusSulacoisnoplaceeitherformeorthegreatstoreofsilverbelongingtotheGouldConcession.
“Butthatisnottheworst.ThegarrisonofEsmeraldahasgoneovertothevictoriousparty.
