Ностромо
Chapter 8
Decoudwasaffectedbythenoveltyofhisposition.Intellectuallyself-confident,hesufferedfrombeingdeprivedoftheonlyweaponhecouldusewitheffect.NointelligencecouldpenetratethedarknessofthePlacidGulf.Thereremainedonlyonethinghewascertainof,andthatwastheoverweeningvanityofhiscompanion.Itwasdirect,uncomplicated,naive,andeffectual.Decoud,whohadbeenmakinguseofhim,hadtriedtounderstandhismanthoroughly.Hehaddiscoveredacompletesinglenessofmotivebehindthevariedmanifestationsofaconsistentcharacter.Thiswaswhythemanremainedsoastonishinglysimpleinthejealousgreatnessofhisconceit.Andnowtherewasacomplication.Itwasevidentthatheresentedhavingbeengivenataskinwhichthereweresomanychancesoffailure.“Iwonder,”thoughtDecoud,“howhewouldbehaveifIwerenothere.”
HeheardNostromomutteragain,“No!thereisnoroomforfearonthislighter.Courageitselfdoesnotseemgoodenough.Ihaveagoodeyeandasteadyhand;nomancansayheeversawmetiredoruncertainwhattodo;butporDios,DonMartin,Ihavebeensentoutintothisblackcalmonabusinesswhereneitheragoodeye,norasteadyhand,norjudgmentareanyuse....”HesworeastringofoathsinSpanishandItalianunderhisbreath.“Nothingbutsheerdesperationwilldoforthisaffair.”
Thesewordswereinstrangecontrasttotheprevailingpeace—tothisalmostsolidstillnessofthegulf.
