Ностромо
Chapter 1
Decoud’splanofacounter-revolutionmaybepracticableornot,itmayhaveachance,oritmaynothaveachance.Withallmyexperienceofthisrevolutionarycontinent,Icanhardlyyetlookattheirmethodsseriously.Decoudhasbeenreadingtoushisdraftofaproclamation,andtalkingverywellfortwohoursabouthisplanofaction.Hehadargumentswhichshouldhaveappearedsolidenoughifwe,membersofold,stablepoliticalandnationalorganizations,werenotstartledbythemereideaofanewStateevolvedlikethisoutoftheheadofascoffingyoungmanfleeingforhislife,withaproclamationinhispocket,toarough,jeering,half-bredswashbuckler,whointhispartoftheworldiscalledageneral.Itsoundslikeacomicfairytale—andbehold,itmaycomeoff;becauseitistruetotheveryspiritofthecountry.”
“Isthesilvergoneoff,then?”askedthedoctor,moodily.
Thechiefengineerpulledouthiswatch.“ByCaptainMitchell’sreckoning—andheoughttoknow—ithasbeengonelongenoughnowtobesomethreeorfourmilesoutsidetheharbour;and,asMitchellsays,Nostromoisthesortofseamantomakethebestofhisopportunities.”Herethedoctorgruntedsoheavilythattheotherchangedhistone.
“Youhaveapooropinionofthatmove,doctor?Butwhy?CharlesGouldhasgottoplayhisgameout,thoughheisnotthemantoformulatehisconducteventohimself,perhaps,letalonetoothers.
