Ностромо

           Thenoiseofhersteaming,growingloudereveryminute,wouldstopattimesaltogether,andthenbeginagainabruptly,andsoundstartlinglynearer;asifthatinvisiblevessel,whosepositioncouldnotbepreciselyguessed,weremakingstraightforthelighter.Meantime,thatlastkeptonsailingslowlyandnoiselesslybeforeabreezesofaintthatitwasonlybyleaningoverthesideandfeelingthewaterslipthroughhisfingersthatDecoudconvincedhimselftheyweremovingatall.Hisdrowsyfeelinghaddeparted.Hewasgladtoknowthatthelighterwasmoving.Aftersomuchstillnessthenoiseofthesteamerseemeduproariousanddistracting.Therewasaweirdnessinnotbeingabletoseeher.Suddenlyallwasstill.Shehadstopped,butsoclosetothemthatthesteam,blowingoff,sentitsrumblingvibrationrightovertheirheads.

           “Theyaretryingtomakeoutwheretheyare,”saidDecoudinawhisper.Againheleanedoverandputhisfingersintothewater.“Wearemovingquitesmartly,”heinformedNostromo.

           “Weseemtobecrossingherbows,”saidtheCapatazinacautioustone.“Butthisisablindgamewithdeath.Movingonisofnouse.Wemustn’tbeseenorheard.”

           Hiswhisperwashoarsewithexcitement.Ofallhisfacetherewasnothingvisiblebutagleamofwhiteeyeballs.HisfingersgrippedDecoud’sshoulder.“Thatistheonlywaytosavethistreasurefromthissteamerfullofsoldiers.Anyotherwouldhavecarriedlights.