Ностромо
Chapter 8
ButwouldGodconsenttoreceivehersoul?Shehaddiedwithoutconfessionorabsolution,becausehehadnotbeenwillingtospareheranothermomentofhistime.Hisscornofpriestsaspriestsremained;butafterall,itwasimpossibletoknowwhetherwhattheyaffirmedwasnottrue.Power,punishment,pardon,aresimpleandcrediblenotions.ThemagnificentCapatazdeCargadores,deprivedofcertainsimplerealities,suchastheadmirationofwomen,theadulationofmen,theadmiredpublicityofhislife,wasreadytofeeltheburdenofsacrilegiousguiltdescenduponhisshoulders.
Bareheaded,inathinshirtanddrawers,hefeltthelingeringwarmthofthefinesandunderthesolesofhisfeet.Thenarrowstrandgleamedfaraheadinalongcurve,definingtheoutlineofthiswildsideoftheharbour.Heflittedalongtheshorelikeapursuedshadowbetweenthesombrepalm-grovesandthesheetofwaterlyingasstillasdeathonhisrighthand.Hestrodewithheadlonghasteinthesilenceandsolitudeasthoughhehadforgottenallprudenceandcaution.Butheknewthatonthissideofthewaterherannoriskofdiscovery.Theonlyinhabitantwasalonely,silent,apatheticIndianinchargeofthepalmarias,whobroughtsometimesaloadofcocoanutstothetownforsale.Helivedwithoutawomaninanopenshed,withaperpetualfireofdrystickssmoulderingnearanoldcanoelyingbottomuponthebeach.Hecouldbeeasilyavoided.
Thebarkingofthedogsaboutthatman’sranchewasthefirstthingthatcheckedhisspeed.
