Ностромо
Chapter 8
Hewasasreadytobecomethepreyofanybelief,superstition,ordesireasachild.
Thefactsofhissituationhecouldappreciatelikeamanwithadistinctexperienceofthecountry.Hesawthemclearly.Hewasasifsoberedafteralongboutofintoxication.Hisfidelityhadbeentakenadvantageof.HehadpersuadedthebodyofCargadorestosidewiththeBlancosagainsttherestofthepeople;hehadhadinterviewswithDonJose;hehadbeenmadeuseofbyFatherCorbelanfornegotiatingwithHernandez;itwasknownthatDonMartinDecoudhadadmittedhimtoasortofintimacy,sothathehadbeenfreeoftheofficesofthePorvenir.Allthesethingshadflatteredhimintheusualway.Whatdidhecareabouttheirpolitics?Nothingatall.Andattheendofitall—NostromohereandNostromothere—whereisNostromo?Nostromocandothisandthat—workalldayandrideallnight—behold!hefoundhimselfamarkedRibieristforanysortofvengeanceGamacho,forinstance,wouldchoosetotake,nowtheMonteroparty,had,afterall,masteredthetown.TheEuropeanshadgivenup;theCaballeroshadgivenup.DonMartinhadindeedexplaineditwasonlytemporary—thathewasgoingtobringBarriostotherescue.Wherewasthatnow—withDonMartin(whoseironicmanneroftalkhadalwaysmadetheCapatazfeelvaguelyuneasy)strandedontheGreatIsabel?Everybodyhadgivenup.EvenDonCarloshadgivenup.Thehurriedremovalofthetreasureouttoseameantnothingelsethanthat.
