Ностромо
Chapter 6
Theyinvesteditwithaprotectingandinvinciblevirtueasthoughitwereafetishmadebytheirownhands,fortheywereignorant,andinotherrespectsdidnotdifferappreciablyfromtherestofmankindwhichputsinfinitetrustinitsowncreations.Itneverenteredthealcalde’sheadthattheminecouldfailinitsprotectionandforce.PoliticsweregoodenoughforthepeopleofthetownandtheCampo.Hisyellow,roundface,withwidenostrils,andmotionlessinexpression,resembledafiercefullmoon.Helistenedtotheexcitedvapouringsofthemozowithoutmisgivings,withoutsurprise,withoutanyactivesentimentwhatever.
PadreRomansatdejectedlybalancinghimself,hisfeetjusttouchingtheground,hishandsgrippingtheedgeofthehammock.Withlessconfidence,butasignorantashisflock,heaskedthemajorwhatdidhethinkwasgoingtohappennow.
DonPepe,boltuprightinthechair,foldedhishandspeacefullyonthehiltofhissword,standingperpendicularbetweenhisthighs,andansweredthathedidnotknow.Theminecouldbedefendedagainstanyforcelikelytobesenttotakepossession.Ontheotherhand,fromthearidcharacterofthevalley,whentheregularsuppliesfromtheCampohadbeencutoff,thepopulationofthethreevillagescouldbestarvedintosubmission.DonPepeexposedthesecontingencieswithserenitytoFatherRoman,who,asanoldcampaigner,wasabletounderstandthereasoningofamilitaryman.Theytalkedwithsimplicityanddirectness.
