Ностромо
Chapter 9
HowcouldIfailtocomeback——?”
Hefinishedthethoughtmentally:“Sinceshehasprophesiedformeanendofpoverty,misery,andstarvation.”ThesewordsofTeresa’sanger,fromthecircumstancesinwhichtheyhadbeenuttered,likethecryofasoulpreventedfrommakingitspeacewithGod,stirredtheobscuresuperstitionofpersonalfortunefromwhicheventhegreatestgeniusamongstmenofadventureandactionisseldomfree.TheyreignedoverNostromo’smindwiththeforceofapotentmalediction.Andwhatacurseitwasthatwhichherwordshadlaiduponhim!Hehadbeenorphanedsoyoungthathecouldremembernootherwomanwhomhecalledmother.Henceforththerewouldbenoenterpriseinwhichhewouldnotfail.Thespellwasworkingalready.Deathitselfwouldeludehimnow....Hesaidviolently—
“Come,viejo!Getmesomethingtoeat.Iamhungry!SangredeDios!Theemptinessofmybellymakesmelightheaded.”
Withhischindroppedagainuponhisbarebreastabovehisfoldedarms,barefooted,watchingfromunderagloomybrowthemovementsofoldViolaforagingamongstthecupboards,heseemedasifindeedfallenunderacurse—aruinedandsinisterCapataz.
OldViolawalkedoutofadarkcorner,and,withoutaword,emptieduponthetableoutofhishollowedpalmsafewdrycrustsofbreadandhalfarawonion.
