Ностромо

           HewasthenonthebridgeofthefirstofBarrios’stransports,andwithinanhour’ssteamingfromSulaco.Barrios,alwaysdelightedwithafeatofdaringandagoodjudgeofcourage,hadtakenagreatlikingtotheCapataz.DuringthepassageroundthecoasttheGeneralkeptNostromonearhisperson,addressinghimfrequentlyinthatabruptandboisterousmannerwhichwasthesignofhishighfavour.

           Nostromo’seyeswerethefirsttocatch,broadonthebow,thetiny,elusivedarkspeck,which,alonewiththeformsoftheThreeIsabelsrightahead,appearedontheflat,shimmeringemptinessofthegulf.Therearetimeswhennofactshouldbeneglectedasinsignificant;asmallboatsofarfromthelandmighthavehadsomemeaningworthfindingout.AtanodofconsentfromBarriosthetransportsweptoutofhercourse,passingnearenoughtoascertainthatnoonemannedthelittlecockle-shell.Itwasmerelyacommonsmallboatgoneadriftwithheroarsinher.ButNostromo,towhosemindDecoudhadbeeninsistentlypresentfordays,hadlongbeforerecognizedwithexcitementthedinghyofthelighter.

           Therecouldbenoquestionofstoppingtopickupthatthing.Everyminuteoftimewasmomentouswiththelivesandfuturesofawholetown.Theheadoftheleadingship,withtheGeneralonboard,fellofftohercourse.Behindher,thefleetoftransports,scatteredhaphazardoveramileorsointheoffing,likethefinishofanoceanrace,pressedon,allblackandsmokingonthewesternsky.