Ностромо
Chapter 9
Hewasupinamoment,jarred,shaken,withaqueerimpressionoftheterrestrialglobehavingbeenflungathisheadinthedark.ButitwantedmorethanthattostopDr.Monygham’sbody,possessedbytheexaltationofself-sacrifice;areasonableexaltation,determinednottolosewhateveradvantagechanceputintoitsway.Heranwithheadlong,totteringswiftness,hisarmsgoinglikeawindmillinhisefforttokeephisbalanceonhiscrippledfeet.Helosthishat;thetailsofhisopengaberdineflewbehindhim.Hehadnomindtolosesightoftheindispensableman.Butitwasalongtime,andalongwayfromtheCustomHouse,beforehemanagedtoseizehisarmfrombehind,roughly,outofbreath.
“Stop!Areyoumad?”
AlreadyNostromowaswalkingslowly,hisheaddropping,asifcheckedinhispacebythewearinessofirresolution.
“Whatisthattoyou?Ah!Iforgotyouwantmeforsomething.Always.SiempreNostromo.”
“Whatdoyoumeanbytalkingofstranglingme?”pantedthedoctor.
“WhatdoImean?Imeanthatthekingofthedevilshimselfhassentyououtofthistownofcowardsandtalkerstomeetmeto-nightofallthenightsofmylife.”
UnderthestarryskytheAlbergod’ltaliaUnaemerged,blackandlow,breakingthedarkleveloftheplain.Nostromostoppedaltogether.
“Thepriestssayheisatempter,dotheynot?”headded,throughhisclenchedteeth.
“Mygoodman,youdrivel.
