Ностромо
Chapter 9
Foraword,foronelittleword,hefelthewouldhaveknelt,cringed,grovelledonthefloorbeforethedrowsy,consciousstareofthosefixedeyeballsstartingoutofthegrimy,dishevelledheadthatdroopedverystillwithitsmouthclosedaskew.Thecolonelgroundhisteethwithrageandstruck.Theropevibratedleisurelytotheblow,likethelongstringofapendulumstartingfromarest.ButnoswingingmotionwasimpartedtothebodyofSenorHirsch,thewell-knownhidemerchantonthecoast.Withaconvulsiveeffortofthetwistedarmsitleapedupafewinches,curlinguponitselflikeafishontheendofaline.SenorHirsch’sheadwasflungbackonhisstrainingthroat;hischintrembled.Foramomenttherattleofhischatteringteethpervadedthevast,shadowyroom,wherethecandlesmadeapatchoflightroundthetwoflamesburningsidebyside.AndasSotillo,stayinghisraisedhand,waitedforhimtospeak,withthesuddenflashofagrinandastrainingforwardofthewrenchedshoulders,hespatviolentlyintohisface.
Theupliftedwhipfell,andthecolonelsprangbackwithalowcryofdismay,asifaspersedbyajetofdeadlyvenom.Quickasthoughthesnatcheduphisrevolver,andfiredtwice.Thereportandtheconcussionoftheshotsseemedtothrowhimatoncefromungovernablerageintoidioticstupor.Hestoodwithdroopingjawandstonyeyes.Whathadhedone,SangredeDios!Whathadhedone?Hewasbaselyappalledathisimpulsiveact,sealingforevertheselipsfromwhichsomuchwastobeextorted.
