Ностромо
Chapter 9
Monyghamstoppedshortinthedoorwayasifintimidatedbythedifficulty.Hehadmadethesacrificeofhislife.Heconsideredthisafittingopportunity.Buthedidnotwanttothrowhislifeawaytoosoon.InhisqualityofbetrayerofDonCarlos’confidence,hewouldhaveultimatelytoindicatethehiding-placeofthetreasure.Thatwouldbetheendofhisdeception,andtheendofhimselfaswell,atthehandsoftheinfuriatedcolonel.Hewantedtodelayhimtotheverylastmoment;andhehadbeenrackinghisbrainstoinventsomeplaceofconcealmentatonceplausibleanddifficultofaccess.
HeimpartedhistroubletoNostromo,andconcluded—
“Doyouknowwhat,Capataz?Ithinkthatwhenthetimecomesandsomeinformationmustbegiven,IshallindicatetheGreatIsabel.ThatisthebestplaceIcanthinkof.Whatisthematter?”
AlowexclamationhadescapedNostromo.Thedoctorwaited,surprised,andafteramomentofprofoundsilence,heardathickvoicestammerout,“Utterfolly,”andstopwithagasp.
“Whyfolly?”
“Ah!Youdonotseeit,”beganNostromo,scathingly,gatheringscornashewenton.“Threemeninhalfanhourwouldseethatnogroundhadbeendisturbedanywhereonthatisland.Doyouthinkthatsuchatreasurecanbeburiedwithoutleavingtracesofthework—eh!senordoctor?Why!youwouldnotgainhalfadaymorebeforehavingyourthroatcutbySotillo.
