Ностромо
Chapter 8
Monyghamleaningoutofalightedwindow.
“ComeupandseewhatSotillohasdone.Youneednotfearthemanuphere.”
Heansweredbyaslight,bitterlaugh.Fearaman!TheCapatazoftheSulacoCargadoresfearaman!Itangeredhimthatanybodyshouldsuggestsuchathing.Itangeredhimtobedisarmedandskulkingandindangerbecauseoftheaccursedtreasure,whichwasofsolittleaccounttothepeoplewhohadtieditroundhisneck.Hecouldnotshakeofftheworryofit.ToNostromothedoctorrepresentedallthesepeople....Andhehadneverevenaskedafterit.Notawordofinquiryaboutthemostdesperateundertakingofhislife.
Thinkingthesethoughts,Nostromopassedagainthroughthecavernoushall,wherethesmokewasconsiderablythinned,andwentupthestairs,notsowarmtohisfeetnow,towardsthestreakoflightatthetop.Thedoctorappearedinitforamoment,agitatedandimpatient.
“Comeup!Comeup!”
AtthemomentofcrossingthedoorwaytheCapatazexperiencedashockofsurprise.Themanhadnotmoved.Hesawhisshadowinthesameplace.Hestarted,thensteppedinwithafeelingofbeingabouttosolveamystery.
Itwasverysimple.Foraninfinitesimalfractionofasecond,againstthelightoftwoflaringandgutteringcandles,throughablue,pungent,thinhazewhichmadehiseyessmart,hesawthemanstanding,ashehadimaginedhim,withhisbacktothedoor,castinganenormousanddistortedshadowuponthewall.
