Ностромо
Chapter 8
Theladieswerethere;andwhenItriedtoexplainwhyIdidnotwishtohaveyouwithme,theypromisedme,bothofthem,greatrewardsforyoursafety.Astrangewaytotalktoamanyouaresendingouttoanalmostcertaindeath.Thosegentlefolkdonotseemtohavesenseenoughtounderstandwhattheyaregivingonetodo.ItoldthemIcoulddonothingforyou.YouwouldhavebeensaferwiththebanditHernandez.Itwouldhavebeenpossibletorideoutofthetownwithnogreaterriskthanachanceshotsentafteryouinthedark.Butitwasasiftheyhadbeendeaf.IhadtopromiseIwouldwaitforyouundertheharbourgate.Ididwait.Andnowbecauseyouareabravemanyouareassafeasthesilver.Neithermorenorless.”
Atthatmoment,asifbywayofcommentuponNostromo’swords,theinvisiblesteamerwentaheadathalfspeedonly,ascouldbejudgedbytheleisurelybeatofherpropeller.Thesoundshifteditsplacemarkedly,butwithoutcomingnearer.Itevengrewalittlemoredistantrightabeamofthelighter,andthenceasedagain.
“TheyaretryingforasightoftheIsabels,”mutteredNostromo,“inordertomakefortheharbourinastraightlineandseizetheCustomHousewiththetreasureinit.HaveyoueverseentheCommandantofEsmeralda,Sotillo?Ahandsomefellow,withasoftvoice.WhenIfirstcamehereIusedtoseehimintheCalletalkingtothesenoritasatthewindowsofthehouses,andshowinghiswhiteteethallthetime.
