Ностромо
Chapter 8
ButoneofmyCargadores,whohadbeenasoldier,toldmethathehadonceorderedamantobeflayedaliveintheremoteCampo,wherehewassentrecruitingamongstthepeopleoftheEstancias.IthasneverenteredhisheadthattheCompaniahadamancapableofbafflinghisgame.”
ThemurmuringloquacityoftheCapatazdisturbedDecoudlikeahintofweakness.Andyet,talkativeresolutionmaybeasgenuineasgrimsilence.
“Sotilloisnotbaffledsofar,”hesaid.“Haveyouforgottenthatcrazymanforward?”
NostromohadnotforgottenSenorHirsch.Hereproachedhimselfbitterlyfornothavingvisitedthelightercarefullybeforeleavingthewharf.HereproachedhimselffornothavingstabbedandflungHirschoverboardattheverymomentofdiscoverywithoutevenlookingathisface.Thatwouldhavebeenconsistentwiththedesperatecharacteroftheaffair.Whateverhappened,Sotillowasalreadybaffled.Evenifthatwretch,nowassilentasdeath,didanythingtobetraythenearnessofthelighter,Sotillo—ifSotilloitwasincommandofthetroopsonboard—wouldbestillbaffledofhisplunder.
“Ihaveanaxeinmyhand,”Nostromowhispered,wrathfully,“thatinthreestrokeswouldcutthroughthesidedowntothewater’sedge.Moreover,eachlighterhasapluginthestern,andIknowexactlywhereitis.Ifeelitunderthesoleofmyfoot.
