Ностромо
Chapter 9
AndSidonitheengine-driversaysyouhaveanevileye.”
“Heoughttoknow.Isavedhisbrokenlegforhimlastyear,”thedoctorsaid,stoically.Hefeltonhisshoulderstheweightofthesehandsfamedamongstthepopulaceforsnappingthickropesandbendinghorseshoes.“AndtoyouIofferthebestmeansofsavingyourself—letmego—andofretrievingyourgreatreputation.YouboastedofmakingtheCapatazdeCargadoresfamousfromoneendofAmericatotheotheraboutthiswretchedsilver.ButIbringyouabetteropportunity—letmego,hombre!”
Nostromoreleasedhimabruptly,andthedoctorfearedthattheindispensablemanwouldrunoffagain.Buthedidnot.Hewalkedonslowly.Thedoctorhobbledbyhissidetill,withinastone’sthrowfromtheCasaViola,Nostromostoppedagain.
Silentininhospitabledarkness,theCasaViolaseemedtohavechangeditsnature;hishomeappearedtorepelhimwithanairofhopelessandinimicalmystery.Thedoctorsaid—
“Youwillbesafethere.Goin,Capataz.”
“HowcanIgoin?”Nostromoseemedtoaskhimselfinalow,inwardtone.“Shecannotunsaywhatshesaid,andIcannotundowhatIhavedone.”
“Itellyouitisallright.Violaisallaloneinthere.IlookedinasIcameoutofthetown.YouwillbeperfectlysafeinthathousetillyouleaveittomakeyournamefamousontheCampo.
