Ностромо
Chapter 5
Ithadbeenlyingforagesensconcedbehinditsnaturalbarriers,repellingmodernenterprisebytheprecipicesofitsmountainrange,byitsshallowharbouropeningintotheeverlastingcalmsofagulffullofclouds,bythebenightedstateofmindoftheownersofitsfertileterritory—allthesearistocraticoldSpanishfamilies,allthoseDonAmbrosiosthisandDonFernandosthat,whoseemedactuallytodislikeanddistrustthecomingoftherailwayovertheirlands.Ithadhappenedthatsomeofthesurveyingpartiesscatteredallovertheprovincehadbeenwarnedoffwiththreatsofviolence.Inothercasesoutrageouspretensionsastopricehadbeenraised.Butthemanofrailwayspridedhimselfonbeingequaltoeveryemergency.SincehewasmetbytheinimicalsentimentofblindconservatisminSulacohewouldmeetitbysentiment,too,beforetakinghisstandonhisrightalone.TheGovernmentwasboundtocarryoutitspartofthecontractwiththeboardofthenewrailwaycompany,evenifithadtouseforceforthepurpose.Buthedesirednothinglessthananarmeddisturbanceinthesmoothworkingofhisplans.Theyweremuchtoovastandfar-reaching,andtoopromisingtoleaveastoneunturned;andsoheimaginedtogetthePresident-Dictatoroverthereonatourofceremoniesandspeeches,culminatinginagreatfunctionattheturningofthefirstsodbytheharbourshore.Afterallhewastheirowncreature—thatDonVincente.HewastheembodiedtriumphofthebestelementsintheState.
