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Chapter 9
TellhimyoufoundoutthatIhadordersfromDonCarlosGouldtolowerthecasesquietlyoverboardsomewhereinalinebetweentheendofthejettyandtheentrance.Thedepthisnottoogreatthere.Hehasnodivers,buthehasaship,boats,ropes,chains,sailors—ofasort.Lethimfishforthesilver.Lethimsethisfoolstodragbackwardsandforwardsandcrosswayswhilehesitsandwatchestillhiseyesdropoutofhishead.”
“Really,thisisanadmirableidea,”mutteredthedoctor.
“Si.Youtellhimthat,andseewhetherhewillnotbelieveyou!Hewillspenddaysinrageandtorment—andstillhewillbelieve.Hewillhavenothoughtforanythingelse.Hewillnotgiveuptillheisdrivenoff—why,hemayevenforgettokillyou.Hewillneithereatnorsleep.He—”
“Theverything!Theverything!”thedoctorrepeatedinanexcitedwhisper.“Capataz,Ibegintobelievethatyouareagreatgeniusinyourway.”
Nostromohadpaused;thenbeganagaininachangedtone,sombre,speakingtohimselfasthoughhehadforgottenthedoctor’sexistence.
“Thereissomethinginatreasurethatfastensuponaman’smind.Hewillprayandblasphemeandstillpersevere,andwillcursethedayheeverheardofit,andwilllethislasthourcomeuponhimunawares,stillbelievingthathemisseditonlybyafoot.Hewillseeiteverytimehecloseshiseyes.
