Ностромо

           OnthefifthofMay,beingpracticallyaprisonerintheHarbourOfficeofmyCompany,Isuddenlyheardthewhistleofanengineintherailwayyards,aquarterofamileaway.Icouldnotbelievemyears.Imadeonejumpontothebalcony,andbeheldalocomotiveunderagreatheadofsteamrunoutoftheyardgates,screechinglikemad,envelopedinawhitecloud,andthen,justabreastofoldViola’sinn,checkalmosttoastandstill.Imadeout,sir,aman—Icouldn’ttellwho—dashoutoftheAlbergod’ltaliaUna,climbintothecab,andthen,sir,thatengineseemedpositivelytoleapclearofthehouse,andwasgoneinthetwinklingofaneye.Asyoublowacandleout,sir!Therewasafirst-ratedriveronthefoot-plate,sir,Icantellyou.TheywerefiredheavilyuponbytheNationalGuardsinRinconandoneotherplace.Fortunatelythelinehadnotbeentornup.InfourhourstheyreachedtheConstructionCamp.Nostromohadhisstart....Therestyouknow.You’vegotonlytolookroundyou.TherearepeopleonthisAlamedathatrideintheircarriages,orevenarealiveatallto-day,becauseyearsagoIengagedarunawayItaliansailorforaforemanofourwharfsimplyonthestrengthofhislooks.Andthat’safact.Youcan’tgetoverit,sir.