Ностромо

           Hecouldnotrestrainhimselfanylonger.Whilesheshrankfromhisapproach,herarmswentouttohim,abandonedandregalinthedignityofherlanguidsurrender.Heheldherheadinhistwohands,andshoweredrapidkissesupontheupturnedfacethatgleamedinthepurpledusk.Masterfulandtender,hewasenteringslowlyuponthefulnessofhispossession.Andheperceivedthatshewascrying.ThentheincomparableCapataz,themanofcarelessloves,becamegentleandcaressing,likeawomantothegriefofachild.Hemurmuredtoherfondly.Hesatdownbyherandnursedherfairheadonhisbreast.Hecalledherhisstarandhislittleflower.

           Ithadgrowndark.Fromtheliving-roomofthelight-keeper’scottage,whereGiorgio,oneoftheImmortalThousand,wasbendinghisleonineandheroicheadoveracharcoalfire,therecamethesoundofsizzlingandthearomaofanartisticfrittura.

           Intheobscuredisarrayofthatthing,happeninglikeacataclysm,itwasinherfeminineheadthatsomegleamofreasonsurvived.Hewaslosttotheworldintheirembracedstillness.Butshesaid,whisperingintohisear—

           “Godofmercy!Whatwillbecomeofme—here—now—betweenthisskyandthiswaterIhate?Linda,Linda—Iseeher!”...Shetriedtogetoutofhisarms,suddenlyrelaxedatthesoundofthatname.Buttherewasnooneapproachingtheirblackshapes,enlacedandstrugglingonthewhitebackgroundofthewall.