Ностромо
Chapter 8
Ashowerfellwithanabruptwhisperingsoundallroundtheboat,andDecoudtookoffhishat,and,lettinghisheadgetwet,feltgreatlyrefreshed.Presentlyasteadylittledraughtofaircaressedhischeek.Thelighterbegantomove,buttheshowerdistancedit.Thedropsceasedtofalluponhisheadandhands,thewhisperingdiedoutinthedistance.Nostromoemittedagruntofsatisfaction,andgraspingthetiller,chirrupedsoftly,assailorsdo,toencouragethewind.NeverforthelastthreedayshadDecoudfeltlesstheneedforwhattheCapatazwouldcalldesperation.
“IfancyIhearanothershoweronthewater,”heobservedinatoneofquietcontent.“Ihopeitwillcatchusup.”
Nostromoceasedchirrupingatonce.“Youhearanothershower?”hesaid,doubtfully.Asortofthinningofthedarknessseemedtohavetakenplace,andDecoudcouldseenowtheoutlineofhiscompanion’sfigure,andeventhesailcameoutofthenightlikeasquareblockofdensesnow.
ThesoundwhichDecoudhaddetectedcamealongthewaterharshly.Nostromorecognizedthatnoisepartakingofahissandarustlewhichspreadsoutonallsidesofasteamermakingherwaythroughasmoothwateronaquietnight.ItcouldbenothingelsebutthecapturedtransportwithtroopsfromEsmeralda.Shecarriednolights.
