Ностромо

           “HejoinedmeontheharbourroadafterIhadpassedthemunderthedarkarchwaywithoutstopping.Itwasawomanintroublehehadbeentalkingto.ThroughdiscretionIkeptsilentwhilehewalkedbymyside.Afteratimehebegantotalkhimself.ItwasnotwhatIexpected.Itwasonlyanoldwoman,anoldlace-maker,insearchofherson,oneofthestreet-sweepersemployedbythemunicipality.Friendshadcomethedaybeforeatdaybreaktothedooroftheirhovelcallinghimout.Hehadgonewiththem,andshehadnotseenhimsince;soshehadleftthefoodshehadbeenpreparinghalf-cookedontheextinctembersandhadcrawledoutasfarastheharbour,whereshehadheardthatsometownmozoshadbeenkilledonthemorningoftheriot.OneoftheCargadoresguardingtheCustomHousehadbroughtoutalantern,andhadhelpedhertolookatthefewdeadleftlyingaboutthere.Nowshewascreepingback,havingfailedinhersearch.Soshesatdownonthestoneseatunderthearch,moaning,becauseshewasverytired.TheCapatazhadquestionedher,andafterhearingherbrokenandgroaningtalehadadvisedhertogoandlookamongstthewoundedinthepatiooftheCasaGould.Hehadalsogivenheraquarterdollar,hementionedcarelessly.”

           “‘Whydidyoudothat?’Iasked.‘Doyouknowher?’

           “‘No,senor.Idon’tsupposeIhaveeverseenherbefore.HowshouldI?Shehasnotprobablybeenoutinthestreetsforyears.