Ностромо
Chapter 8
Hecouldnotunderstandofwhatuseitcouldbeforfindingtheway.Tothevehementprotestationsoftheship’scaptain,hestampedhisfootandtappedthehandleofhissword.“Aha!Ihaveunmaskedyou,”hecried,triumphantly.“Youaretearingyourhairfromdespairatmyacuteness.AmIachildtobelievethatalightinthatbrassboxcanshowyouwheretheharbouris?Iamanoldsoldier,Iam.Icansmellatraitoraleagueoff.YouwantedthatgleamtobetrayourapproachtoyourfriendtheEnglishman.Athinglikethatshowyoutheway!Whatamiserablelie!Quepicardia!YouSulacopeopleareallinthepayofthoseforeigners.Youdeservetoberunthroughthebodywithmysword.”Otherofficers,crowdinground,triedtocalmhisindignation,repeatingpersuasively,“No,no!Thisisanapplianceofthemariners,major.Thisisnotreachery.”Thecaptainofthetransportflunghimselffacedownwardsonthebridge,andrefusedtorise.“Putanendtomeatonce,”herepeatedinastifledvoice.Sotillohadtointerfere.
Theuproarandconfusiononthebridgebecamesogreatthatthehelmsmanfledfromthewheel.Hetookrefugeintheengine-room,andalarmedtheengineers,who,disregardingthethreatsofthesoldierssetonguardoverthem,stoppedtheengines,protestingthattheywouldratherbeshotthanruntheriskofbeingdrowneddownbelow.
ThiswasthefirsttimeNostromoandDecoudheardthesteamerstop.
