Ностромо
Chapter 7
Whatwastheuseofwastingtime?Butshe—shebelievesinthem.Thethingsticksinmythroat.Shemaybedeadalready,andherewearefloatinghelplesswithnowindatall.Curseonallsuperstition.ShediedthinkingIdeprivedherofParadise,Isuppose.Itshallbethemostdesperateaffairofmylife.”
Decoudremainedlostinreflection.Hetriedtoanalyzethesensationsawakedbywhathehadbeentold.ThevoiceoftheCapatazwasheardagain:
“Now,DonMartin,letustakeupthesweepsandtrytofindtheIsabels.Itiseitherthatorsinkingthelighterifthedayovertakesus.WemustnotforgetthatthesteamerfromEsmeraldawiththesoldiersmaybecomingalong.Wewillpullstraightonnow.Ihavediscoveredabitofacandlehere,andwemusttaketheriskofasmalllighttomakeacoursebytheboatcompass.Thereisnotenoughwindtoblowitout—maythecurseofHeavenfalluponthisblindgulf!”
Asmallflameappearedburningquitestraight.Itshowedfragmentarilythestoutribsandplankinginthehollow,emptypartofthelighter.DecoudcouldseeNostromostandinguptopull.Hesawhimashighastheredsashonhiswaist,withagleamofawhite-handledrevolverandthewoodenhaftofalongknifeprotrudingonhisleftside.Decoudnervedhimselffortheeffortofrowing.Certainlytherewasnotenoughwindtoblowthecandleout,butitsflameswayedalittletotheslowmovementoftheheavyboat.
