Ностромо
Chapter 8
HalfabatteryoffieldgunshadbeenhurriedovertherefromtheSulacobarracksforthepurposeoffiringtheregulationsalutesforthePresident-DictatorandtheWarMinister.Asthemail-boatheadedthroughthepass,thebadlytimedreportsannouncedtheendofDonVincenteRibiera’sfirstofficialvisittoSulaco,andforCaptainMitchelltheendofanother“historicoccasion.”Nexttimewhenthe“Hopeofhonestmen”wastocomethatway,ayearandahalflater,itwasunofficially,overthemountaintracks,fleeingafteradefeatonalamemule,tobeonlyjustsavedbyNostromofromanignominiousdeathatthehandsofamob.Itwasaverydifferentevent,ofwhichCaptainMitchellusedtosay—
“Itwashistory—history,sir!Andthatfellowofmine,Nostromo,youknow,wasrightinit.Absolutelymakinghistory,sir.”
Butthisevent,creditabletoNostromo,wastoleadimmediatelytoanother,whichcouldnotbeclassedeitheras“history”oras“amistake”inCaptainMitchell’sphraseology.Hehadanotherwordforit.
“Sir”heusedtosayafterwards,“thatwasnomistake.Itwasafatality.Amisfortune,pureandsimple,sir.Andthatpoorfellowofminewasrightinit—rightinthemiddleofit!Afatality,ifevertherewasone—andtomymindhehasneverbeenthesamemansince.”
