Ностромо

           WehaveheardthisbymeansofthetelegraphistoftheCableCompany,whocametotheCasaGouldintheearlymorningwiththenews.Infact,itwassoearlythatthedayhadnotyetquitebrokenoverSulaco.HiscolleagueinEsmeraldahadcalledhimuptosaythatthegarrison,aftershootingsomeoftheirofficers,hadtakenpossessionofaGovernmentsteamerlaidupintheharbour.Itisreallyaheavyblowforme.IthoughtIcoulddependoneverymaninthisprovince.Itwasamistake.ItwasaMonteristRevolutioninEsmeralda,justsuchaswasattemptedinSulaco,onlythatthatonecameoff.ThetelegraphistwassignallingtoBernhardtallthetime,andhislasttransmittedwordswere,‘Theyareburstinginthedoor,andtakingpossessionofthecableoffice.Youarecutoff.Candonomore.’

           “But,asamatteroffact,hemanagedsomehowtoescapethevigilanceofhiscaptors,whohadtriedtostopthecommunicationwiththeouterworld.Hedidmanageit.HowitwasdoneIdon’tknow,butafewhoursafterwardshecalledupSulacoagain,andwhathesaidwas,‘TheinsurgentarmyhastakenpossessionoftheGovernmenttransportinthebayandarefillingherwithtroops,withtheintentionofgoingroundthecoasttoSulaco.Thereforelookoutforyourselves.Theywillbereadytostartinafewhours,andmaybeuponyoubeforedaybreak.’

           “Thisisallhecouldsay.Theydrovehimawayfromhisinstrumentthistimeforgood,becauseBernhardthasbeencallingupEsmeraldaeversincewithoutgettingananswer.