Ностромо
Chapter 1
ItmaybethatthegamehasbeenpartlysuggestedtohimbyHolroyd;butitaccordswithhischaracter,too;andthatiswhyithasbeensosuccessful.Haven’ttheycometocallinghim‘ElReydeSulaco’inSta.Marta?Anicknamemaybethebestrecordofasuccess.That’swhatIcallputtingthefaceofajokeuponthebodyofatruth.Mydearsir,whenIfirstarrivedinSta.MartaIwasstruckbythewayallthosejournalists,demagogues,membersofCongress,andallthosegeneralsandjudgescringedbeforeasleepy-eyedadvocatewithoutpracticesimplybecausehewastheplenipotentiaryoftheGouldConcession.SirJohnwhenhecameoutwasimpressed,too.”
“AnewState,withthatplumpdandy,Decoud,forthefirstPresident,”musedDr.Monygham,nursinghischeekandswinginghislegsallthetime.
“Uponmyword,andwhynot?”thechiefengineerretortedinanunexpectedlyearnestandconfidentialvoice.ItwasasifsomethingsubtleintheairofCostaguanahadinoculatedhimwiththelocalfaithin“pronunciamientos.”Allatoncehebegantotalk,likeanexpertrevolutionist,oftheinstrumentreadytohandintheintactarmyatCayta,whichcouldbebroughtbackinafewdaystoSulacoifonlyDecoudmanagedtomakehiswayatoncedownthecoast.ForthemilitarychieftherewasBarrios,whohadnothingbutabullettoexpectfromMontero,hisformerprofessionalrivalandbitterenemy.Barrios’sconcurrencewasassured.
