Ностромо
Chapter 8
Theprospectoffindinghimselfinthewaterandswimming,overwhelmedbyignoranceanddarkness,probablyinacircle,tillhesankfromexhaustion,wasrevolting.Thebarrenandcruelfutilityofsuchanendintimidatedhisaffectationofcarelesspessimism.Incomparisontoit,thechanceofbeingleftfloatinginaboat,exposedtothirst,hunger,discovery,imprisonment,execution,presenteditselfwithanaspectofamenityworthsecuringevenatthecostofsomeself-contempt.HedidnotacceptNostromo’sproposalthatheshouldgetintotheboatatonce.“Somethingsuddenmayoverwhelmus,senor,”theCapatazremarkedpromisingfaithfully,atthesametime,toletgothepainteratthemomentwhenthenecessitybecamemanifest.
ButDecoudassuredhimlightlythathedidnotmeantotaketotheboattilltheverylastmoment,andthatthenhemeanttheCapataztocomealong,too.Thedarknessofthegulfwasnolongerforhimtheendofallthings.Itwaspartofalivingworldsince,pervadingit,failureanddeathcouldbefeltatyourelbow.Andatthesametimeitwasashelter.Heexultedinitsimpenetrableobscurity.“Likeawall,likeawall,”hemutteredtohimself.
TheonlythingwhichcheckedhisconfidencewasthethoughtofSenorHirsch.NottohaveboundandgaggedhimseemedtoDecoudnowtheheightofimprovidentfolly.Aslongasthemiserablecreaturehadthepowertoraiseayellhewasaconstantdanger.
