Ностромо

           Herevivedafteranextraordinarilyshorttime,andscrambleduptohisfeetwildly.Nostromo,inanangryandthreateningvoice,orderedhimforward.Hirschwasoneofthosemenwhomfearlasheslikeawhip,andhemusthavehadanappallingideaoftheCapataz’sferocity.Hedisplayedanextraordinaryagilityindisappearingforwardintothedarkness.Theyheardhimgettingoverthetarpaulin;thentherewasthesoundofaheavyfall,followedbyawearysigh.Afterwardsallwasstillinthefore-partofthelighter,asthoughhehadkilledhimselfinhisheadlongtumble.Nostromoshoutedinamenacingvoice—

           “Liestillthere!Donotmovealimb.IfIhearasmuchasaloudbreathfromyouIshallcomeoverthereandputabulletthroughyourhead.”

           Themerepresenceofacoward,howeverpassive,bringsanelementoftreacheryintoadangeroussituation.Nostromo’snervousimpatiencepassedintogloomythoughtfulness.Decoud,inanundertone,asifspeakingtohimself,remarkedthat,afterall,thisbizarreeventmadenogreatdifference.Hecouldnotconceivewhatharmthemancoulddo.Atmosthewouldbeintheway,likeaninanimateanduselessobject—likeablockofwood,forinstance.

           “Iwouldthinktwicebeforegettingridofapieceofwood,”saidNostromo,calmly.“Somethingmayhappenunexpectedlywhereyoucouldmakeuseofit.Butinanaffairlikeoursamanlikethisoughttobethrownoverboard.Evenifhewereasbraveasalionwewouldnotwanthimhere.