Ностромо
Chapter 8
Wearenotrunningawayforourlives.Senor,thereisnoharminabravemantryingtosavehimselfwithingenuityandcourage;butyouhaveheardhistale,DonMartin.Hisbeinghereisamiracleoffear—”Nostromopaused.“Thereisnoroomforfearinthislighter,”headdedthroughhisteeth.
Decoudhadnoanswertomake.Itwasnotapositionforargument,foradisplayofscruplesorfeelings.Therewereathousandwaysinwhichapanic-strickenmancouldmakehimselfdangerous.ItwasevidentthatHirschcouldnotbespokento,reasonedwith,orpersuadedintoarationallineofconduct.Thestoryofhisownescapedemonstratedthatclearlyenough.Decoudthoughtthatitwasathousandpitiesthewretchhadnotdiedoffright.Nature,whohadmadehimwhathewas,seemedtohavecalculatedcruellyhowmuchhecouldbearinthewayofatrociousanguishwithoutactuallyexpiring.Somecompassionwasduetosomuchterror.Decoud,thoughimaginativeenoughforsympathy,resolvednottointerferewithanyactionthatNostromowouldtake.ButNostromodidnothing.AndthefateofSenorHirschremainedsuspendedinthedarknessofthegulfatthemercyofeventswhichcouldnotbeforeseen.
TheCapataz,extendinghishand,putoutthecandlesuddenly.ItwastoDecoudasifhiscompanionhaddestroyed,byasingletouch,theworldofaffairs,ofloves,ofrevolution,wherehiscomplacentsuperiorityanalyzedfearlesslyallmotivesandallpassions,includinghisown.
Hegaspedalittle.
