Ностромо
Chapter 8
Thetree-fernsthathadluxuriatedinitssprayhaddiedaroundthedried-uppool,andthehighravinewasonlyabigtrenchhalffilledupwiththerefuseofexcavationsandtailings.Thetorrent,dammedupabove,sentitswaterrushingalongtheopenflumesofscoopedtreetrunksstridingontrestle-legstotheturbinesworkingthestampsonthelowerplateau—themesagrandeoftheSanTomemountain.Onlythememoryofthewaterfall,withitsamazingfernery,likeahanginggardenabovetherocksofthegorge,waspreservedinMrs.Gould’swater-coloursketch;shehadmadeithastilyonedayfromaclearedpatchinthebushes,sittingintheshadeofaroofofstrawerectedforheronthreeroughpolesunderDonPepe’sdirection.
Mrs.Gouldhadseenitallfromthebeginning:theclearingofthewilderness,themakingoftheroad,thecuttingofnewpathsuptheclifffaceofSanTome.Forweekstogethershehadlivedonthespotwithherhusband;andshewassolittleinSulacoduringthatyearthattheappearanceoftheGouldcarriageontheAlamedawouldcauseasocialexcitement.Fromtheheavyfamilycoachesfullofstatelysenorasandblack-eyedsenoritasrollingsolemnlyintheshadedalleywhitehandswerewavedtowardsherwithanimationinaflutterofgreetings.DonaEmiliawas“downfromthemountain.”
Butnotforlong.DonaEmiliawouldbegone“uptothemountain”inadayortwo,andhersleekcarriagemuleswouldhaveaneasytimeofitforanotherlongspell.
