Ностромо
Chapter 7
Thegreatmassofcloudfillingtheheadofthegulfhadlongredsmearsamongstitsconvolutedfoldsofgreyandblack,asofafloatingmantlestainedwithblood.ThethreeIsabels,overshadowedandclearcutinagreatsmoothnessconfoundingtheseaandsky,appearedsuspended,purple-black,intheair.Thelittlewaveletsseemedtobetossingtinyredsparksuponthesandybeaches.Theglassybandsofwateralongthehorizongaveoutafieryredglow,asiffireandwaterhadbeenmingledtogetherinthevastbedoftheocean.
Atlasttheconflagrationofseaandsky,lyingembracedandstillinaflamingcontactupontheedgeoftheworld,wentout.TheredsparksinthewatervanishedtogetherwiththestainsofbloodintheblackmantledrapingthesombreheadofthePlacidGulf;asuddenbreezesprangupanddiedoutafterrustlingheavilythegrowthofbushesontheruinedearthworkofthefort.Nostromowokeupfromafourteenhours’sleep,andarosefulllengthfromhislairinthelonggrass.Hestoodkneedeepamongstthewhisperingundulationsofthegreenbladeswiththelostairofamanjustbornintotheworld.Handsome,robust,andsupple,hethrewbackhishead,flunghisarmsopen,andstretchedhimselfwithaslowtwistofthewaistandaleisurelygrowlingyawnofwhiteteeth,asnaturalandfreefromevilinthemomentofwakingasamagnificentandunconsciouswildbeast.Then,inthesuddenlysteadiedglancefixeduponnothingfromunderathoughtfulfrown,appearedtheman.
