Ностромо
Chapter 3
Hementionedproudlythattheofficialshadputapriceuponhishead,too;butitdidnotpreventitgettingsprinkledwithgreyuponhisshoulders.Andnowhehadlivedlongenoughtoseehiscompadremadeageneral.
Hehadaburstofmuffledlaughter.“Andnowfromrobberswehavebecomesoldiers.Butlook,Caballero,atthosewhomadeussoldiersandhimageneral!Lookatthesepeople!”
Ignacioshouted.Thelightofthecarriagelamps,runningalongthenopalhedgesthatcrownedthebankoneachside,flasheduponthescaredfacesofpeoplestandingasideintheroad,sunkdeep,likeanEnglishcountrylane,intothesoftsoiloftheCampo.Theycowered;theireyesglistenedverybigforasecond;andthenthelight,runningon,felluponthehalf-denudedrootsofabigtree,onanotherstretchofnopalhedge,caughtupanotherbunchoffacesglaringbackapprehensively.Threewomen—ofwhomonewascarryingachild—andacoupleofmeninciviliandress—onearmedwithasabreandanotherwithagun—weregroupedaboutadonkeycarryingtwobundlestiedupinblankets.FurtheronIgnacioshoutedagaintopassacarreta,alongwoodenboxontwohighwheels,withthedooratthebackswingingopen.Someladiesinitmusthaverecognizedthewhitemules,becausetheyscreamedout,“Isityou,DonaEmilia?”
Attheturnoftheroadtheglareofabigfirefilledtheshortstretchvaultedoverbythebranchesmeetingoverhead.
