Ностромо
Chapter 8
Hisabjectterrorwasmutenow,buttherewasnosayingfromwhatcauseitmightsuddenlyfindventinshrieks.
ThisverymadnessoffearwhichbothDecoudandNostromohadseeninthewildandirrationalglances,andinthecontinuoustwitchingsofhismouth,protectedSenorHirschfromthecruelnecessitiesofthisdesperateaffair.Themomentofsilencinghimforeverhadpassed.AsNostromoremarked,inanswertoDecoud’sregrets,itwastoolate!Itcouldnotbedonewithoutnoise,especiallyintheignoranceoftheman’sexactposition.Whereverhehadelectedtocrouchandtremble,itwastoohazardoustogonearhim.Hewouldbeginprobablytoyellformercy.Itwasmuchbettertoleavehimquitealonesincehewaskeepingsostill.ButtotrusttohissilencebecameeverymomentagreaterstrainuponDecoud’scomposure.
“Iwish,Capataz,youhadnotlettherightmomentpass,”hemurmured.
“What!Tosilencehimforever?Ithoughtitgoodtohearfirsthowhecametobehere.Itwastoostrange.Whocouldimaginethatitwasallanaccident?Afterwards,senor,whenIsawyougivinghimwatertodrink,Icouldnotdoit.NotafterIhadseenyouholdingupthecantohislipsasthoughhewereyourbrother.Senor,thatsortofnecessitymustnotbethoughtoftoolong.Andyetitwouldhavebeennocrueltytotakeawayfromhimhiswretchedlife.Itisnothingbutfear.Yourcompassionsavedhimthen,DonMartin,andnowitistoolate.Itcouldn’tbedonewithoutnoise.
