Ностромо
Chapter 5
Inthesilenceofthesleepingcampuponthemoonlitplateauformingthetopofthepasslikethefloorofavastarenasurroundedbythebasaltwallsofprecipices,twostrollingfiguresinthickulstersstoodstill,andthevoiceoftheengineerpronounceddistinctlythewords—
“Wecan’tmovemountains!”
SirJohn,raisinghisheadtofollowthepointinggesture,feltthefullforceofthewords.ThewhiteHiguerotasoaredoutoftheshadowsofrockandearthlikeafrozenbubbleunderthemoon.Allwasstill,tillnearby,behindthewallofacorralforthecampanimals,builtroughlyofloosestonesintheformofacircle,apackmulestampedhisforefootandblewheavilytwice.
Theengineer-in-chiefhadusedthephraseinanswertothechairman’stentativesuggestionthatthetracingofthelinecould,perhaps,bealteredindeferencetotheprejudicesoftheSulacolandowners.Thechiefengineerbelievedthattheobstinacyofmenwasthelesserobstacle.Moreover,tocombatthattheyhadthegreatinfluenceofCharlesGould,whereastunnellingunderHiguerotawouldhavebeenacolossalundertaking.
“Ah,yes!Gould.Whatsortofamanishe?”
SirJohnhadheardmuchofCharlesGouldinSta.Marta,andwantedtoknowmore.Theengineer-in-chiefassuredhimthattheadministratoroftheSanTomesilverminehadanimmenseinfluenceoveralltheseSpanishDons.HehadalsooneofthebesthousesinSulaco,andtheGouldhospitalitywasbeyondallpraise.
