Ностромо

           “Iunderstandyouall!”criedtheotherwithaviolentmovement,asshadowytothedoctor’seyesasthepersistentimmobilityofthelateSenorHirsch.“Apoormanamongstyouhasgottolookafterhimself.Isaythatyoudonotcareforthosethatserveyou.Lookatme!Afteralltheseyears,suddenly,hereIfindmyselflikeoneofthesecursthatbarkoutsidethewalls—withoutakenneloradryboneformyteeth.(Caramba!”Butherelentedwithacontemptuousfairness.“Ofcourse,”hewenton,quietly,“IdonotsupposethatyouwouldhastentogivemeuptoSotillo,forexample.Itisnotthat.ItisthatIamnothing!Suddenly—”Heswunghisarmdownwards.“Nothingtoanyone,”herepeated.

           Thedoctorbreathedfreely.“Listen,Capataz,”hesaid,stretchingouthisarmalmostaffectionatelytowardsNostromo’sshoulder.“Iamgoingtotellyouaverysimplething.Youaresafebecauseyouareneeded.Iwouldnotgiveyouawayforanyconceivablereason,becauseIwantyou.”

           InthedarkNostromobithislip.Hehadheardenoughofthat.Heknewwhatthatmeant.Nomoreofthatforhim.Buthehadtolookafterhimselfnow,hethought.Andhethought,too,thatitwouldnotbeprudenttopartinangerfromhiscompanion.Thedoctor,admittedtobeagreathealer,had,amongstthepopulaceofSulaco,thereputationofbeinganevilsortofman.