Ностромо
Chapter 12
”
HeturnedtoGiselle,withachangetoausteretenderness.
“Andyou,littleone,praynottotheGodofpriestsandslaves,buttotheGodoforphans,oftheoppressed,ofthepoor,oflittlechildren,togivetheeamanlikethisoneforahusband.”
HishandrestedheavilyforamomentonNostromo’sshoulder;thenhewentin.ThehopelessslaveoftheSanTomesilverfeltatthesewordsthevenomousfangsofjealousybitingdeepintohisheart.Hewasappalledbythenoveltyoftheexperience,byitsforce,byitsphysicalintimacy.Ahusband!Ahusbandforher!AndyetitwasnaturalthatGiselleshouldhaveahusbandatsometimeorother.Hehadneverrealizedthatbefore.IndiscoveringthatherbeautycouldbelongtoanotherhefeltasthoughhecouldkillthisoneofoldGiorgio’sdaughtersalso.Hemutteredmoodily—
“TheysayyouloveRamirez.”
Sheshookherheadwithoutlookingathim.Copperyglintsrippledtoandfroonthewealthofhergoldhair.Hersmoothforeheadhadthesoft,puresheenofapricelesspearlinthesplendourofthesunset,minglingthegloomofstarryspaces,thepurpleofthesea,andthecrimsonoftheskyinamagnificentstillness.
“No,”shesaid,slowly.“Ineverlovedhim.IthinkInever...Helovesme—perhaps.”
Theseductionofherslowvoicediedoutoftheair,andherraisedeyesremainedfixedonnothing,asifindifferentandwithoutthought.
