Ностромо
Chapter 7
Hehoistedthebigsail;abreathofwindfannedDecoud’scheek.EverythinghadvanishedbutthelightofthelanternCaptainMitchellhadhoisteduponthepostattheendofthejettytoguideNostromooutoftheharbour.
Thetwomen,unabletoseeeachother,keptsilenttillthelighter,slippingbeforethefitfulbreeze,passedoutbetweenalmostinvisibleheadlandsintothestilldeeperdarknessofthegulf.Foratimethelanternonthejettyshoneafterthem.Thewindfailed,thenfannedupagain,butsofaintlythatthebig,half-deckedboatslippedalongwithnomorenoisethanifshehadbeensuspendedintheair.
“Weareoutinthegulfnow,”saidthecalmvoiceofNostromo.Amomentafterheadded,“SenorMitchellhasloweredthelight.”
“Yes,”saidDecoud;“nobodycanfindusnow.”
Agreatrecrudescenceofobscurityembracedtheboat.Theseainthegulfwasasblackasthecloudsabove.Nostromo,afterstrikingacoupleofmatchestogetaglimpseoftheboat-compasshehadwithhiminthelighter,steeredbythefeelofthewindonhischeek.
ItwasanewexperienceforDecoud,thismysteriousnessofthegreatwatersspreadoutstrangelysmooth,asiftheirrestlessnesshadbeencrushedbytheweightofthatdensenight.ThePlacidowassleepingprofoundlyunderitsblackponcho.
Themainthingnowforsuccesswastogetawayfromthecoastandgainthemiddleofthegulfbeforedaybroke.TheIsabelsweresomewhereathand.
