Ностромо
Chapter 8
Thedarknessoftheskyhaddescendedtothelineofthehorizon,envelopingthewholegulf,theislets,andtheloverofAntoniaalonewiththetreasureontheGreatIsabel.TheCapataz,turninghisbackonthesethingsinvisibleandexisting,satdownandtookhisfacebetweenhisfists.Hefeltthepinchofpovertyforthefirsttimeinhislife.Tofindhimselfwithoutmoneyafterarunofbadluckatmonteinthelow,smokyroomofDomingo’sposada,wherethefraternityofCargadoresgambled,sang,anddancedofanevening;toremainwithemptypocketsafteraburstofpublicgenerositytosomepeyned’orogirlorother(forwhomhedidnotcare),hadnoneofthehumiliationofdestitution.Heremainedrichingloryandreputation.Butsinceitwasnolongerpossibleforhimtoparadethestreetsofthetown,andbehailedwithrespectintheusualhauntsofhisleisure,thissailorfelthimselfdestituteindeed.
Hismouthwasdry.Itwasdrywithheavysleepandextremelyanxiousthinking,asithadneverbeendrybefore.ItmaybesaidthatNostromotastedthedustandashesofthefruitoflifeintowhichhehadbittendeeplyinhishungerforpraise.Withoutremovinghisheadfrombetweenhisfists,hetriedtospitbeforehim—“Tfui”—andmutteredacurseupontheselfishnessofalltherichpeople.
SinceeverythingseemedlostinSulaco(andthatwasthefeelingofhiswaking),theideaofleavingthecountryaltogetherhadpresenteditselftoNostromo.
