Ностромо

           Hirschdidn’tstaytohearanymore,butcrawlingawaytotheendofthewharf,hidhimselfamongstalotofemptycasks.Afterawhilesomepeoplecamealong,talking,andwithglowingcigarettes.Hedidnotstoptoaskhimselfwhethertheywouldbelikelytodohimanyharm,butboltedincontinentlyalongthejetty,sawalighterlyingmooredattheend,andthrewhimselfintoit.Inhisdesiretofindcoverhecreptrightforwardunderthehalf-deck,andhehadremainedtheremoredeadthanalive,sufferingagoniesofhungerandthirst,andalmostfaintingwithterror,whenheheardnumerousfootstepsandthevoicesoftheEuropeanswhocameinabodyescortingthewagonloadoftreasure,pushedalongtherailsbyasquadofCargadores.Heunderstoodperfectlywhatwasbeingdonefromthetalk,butdidnotdisclosehispresencefromthefearthathewouldnotbeallowedtoremain.Hisonlyideaatthetime,overpoweringandmasterful,wastogetawayfromthisterribleSulaco.Andnowheregretteditverymuch.HehadheardNostromotalktoDecoud,andwishedhimselfbackonshore.Hedidnotdesiretobeinvolvedinanydesperateaffair—inasituationwhereonecouldnotrunaway.TheinvoluntarygroansofhisanguishedspirithadbetrayedhimtothesharpearsoftheCapataz.

           Theyhadproppedhimupinasittingpostureagainstthesideofthelighter,andhewentonwiththemoaningaccountofhisadventurestillhisvoicebroke,hisheadfellforward.“Water,”hewhispered,withdifficulty.Decoudheldoneofthecanstohislips.