Ностромо

           Thecolonelgavehisorders,andpresentlythemiserableHirsch,pushedinbyseveralsoldiers,foundhimfrowningawfullyinabroadarmchair,hatonhead,kneeswideapart,armsakimbo,masterful,imposing,irresistible,haughty,sublime,terrible.

           Hirsch,withhisarmstiedbehindhisback,hadbeenbundledviolentlyintooneofthesmallerrooms.Formanyhoursheremainedapparentlyforgotten,stretchedlifelesslyonthefloor.Fromthatsolitude,fullofdespairandterror,hewastornoutbrutally,withkicksandblows,passive,sunkinhebetude.Helistenedtothreatsandadmonitions,andafterwardsmadehisusualanswerstoquestions,withhischinsunkonhisbreast,hishandstiedbehindhisback,swayingalittleinfrontofSotillo,andneverlookingup.Whenhewasforcedtoholduphishead,bymeansofabayonet-pointproddinghimunderthechin,hiseyeshadavacant,trance-likestare,anddropsofperspirationasbigaspeaswereseenhailingdownthedirt,bruises,andscratchesofhiswhiteface.Thentheystoppedsuddenly.

           Sotillolookedathiminsilence.“Willyoudepartfromyourobstinacy,yourogue?”heasked.Alreadyarope,whoseoneendwasfastenedtoSenorHirsch’swrists,hadbeenthrownoverabeam,andthreesoldiersheldtheotherend,waiting.Hemadenoanswer.Hisheavylowerliphungstupidly.Sotillomadeasign.