Ностромо
Chapter 10
“MiGeneral,”Nostromo’svoicerangoutloud,butquiet,frombehindagroupofofficers,“Ishouldliketosavethatlittleboat.PorDios,Iknowher.ShebelongstomyCompany.”
“And,porDios,”guffawedBarrios,inanoisy,goodhumouredvoice,“youbelongtome.Iamgoingtomakeyouacaptainofcavalrydirectlywegetwithinsightofahorseagain.”
“IcanswimfarbetterthanIcanride,miGeneral,”criedNostromo,pushingthroughtotherailwithasetstareinhiseyes.“Letme——”
“Letyou?Whataconceitedfellowthatis,”banteredtheGeneral,jovially,withoutevenlookingathim.“Lethimgo!Ha!ha!ha!HewantsmetoadmitthatwecannottakeSulacowithouthim!Ha!ha!ha!Wouldyouliketoswimofftoher,myson?”
Atremendousshoutfromoneendoftheshiptotheotherstoppedhisguffaw.Nostromohadleapedoverboard;andhisblackheadbobbedupfarawayalreadyfromtheship.TheGeneralmutteredanappalled“Cielo!SinnerthatIam!”inathunderstrucktone.OneanxiousglancewasenoughtoshowhimthatNostromowasswimmingwithperfectease;andthenhethunderedterribly,“No!no!Weshallnotstoptopickupthisimpertinentfellow.Lethimdrown—thatmadCapataz.”
NothingshortofmainforcewouldhavekeptNostromofromleapingoverboard.
