Ностромо
Chapter 7
Shedidnotmoveherhead;onlyhereyesranintothecornerstowatchtheCapatazstandingbythesideofherbed.“Wouldyougotofetchapriestformenow?Think!Adyingwomanasksyou!”
Nostromoshookhisheadresolutely.Hedidnotbelieveinpriestsintheirsacerdotalcharacter.Adoctorwasanefficaciousperson;butapriest,aspriest,wasnothing,incapableofdoingeithergoodorharm.NostromodidnotevendislikethesightofthemasoldGiorgiodid.Theutteruselessnessoftheerrandwaswhatstruckhimmost.
“Padrona,”hesaid,“youhavebeenlikethisbefore,andgotbetterafterafewdays.IhavegivenyoualreadytheverylastmomentsIcanspare.AskSenoraGouldtosendyouone.”
Hewasfeelinguneasyattheimpietyofthisrefusal.ThePadronabelievedinpriests,andconfessedherselftothem.Butallwomendidthat.Itcouldnotbeofmuchconsequence.Andyethisheartfeltoppressedforamoment—atthethoughtwhatabsolutionwouldmeantoherifshebelievedinitonlyeversolittle.Nomatter.Itwasquitetruethathehadgivenheralreadytheverylastmomenthecouldspare.
“Yourefusetogo?”shegasped.“Ah!youarealwaysyourself,indeed.”
“Listentoreason,Padrona,”hesaid.“Iamneededtosavethesilverofthemine.Doyouhear?AgreatertreasurethantheonewhichtheysayisguardedbyghostsanddevilsonAzuera.Itistrue.
