Ностромо
Chapter 7
“Hiswifehasunderstoodit,too.Thatiswhysheissuchagoodallyofmine.SheseizesuponallmysuggestionswithasureinstinctthatintheendtheymakeforthesafetyoftheGouldConcession.Andhedeferstoherbecausehetrustsherperhaps,butIfancyratherasifhewishedtomakeupforsomesubtlewrong,forthatsentimentalunfaithfulnesswhichsurrendersherhappiness,herlife,totheseductionofanidea.Thelittlewomanhasdiscoveredthathelivesforthemineratherthanforher.Butletthembe.Toeachhisfate,shapedbypassionorsentiment.Theprincipalthingisthatshehasbackedupmyadvicetogetthesilveroutofthetown,outofthecountry,atonce,atanycost,atanyrisk.DonCarlos’missionistopreserveunstainedthefairfameofhismine;Mrs.Gould’smissionistosavehimfromtheeffectsofthatcoldandovermasteringpassion,whichshedreadsmorethanifitwereaninfatuationforanotherwoman.Nostromo’smissionistosavethesilver.TheplanistoloaditintothelargestoftheCompany’slighters,andsenditacrossthegulftoasmallportoutofCostaguanaterritoryjustontheothersidetheAzuera,wherethefirstnorthboundsteamerwillgetorderstopickitup.Thewatersherearecalm.WeshallslipawayintothedarknessofthegulfbeforetheEsmeraldarebelsarrive;andbythetimethedaybreaksovertheoceanweshallbeoutofsight,invisible,hiddenbyAzuera,whichitselflooksfromtheSulacoshorelikeafaintbluecloudonthehorizon.