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Chapter 12
”Itistimeyou——”
TheGaribaldinoarrestedhimwithanextendedarm.“Thatwasleftforyoutojudge.”
Hegotupslowly.Hisbeard,unclippedsinceTeresa’sdeath,thick,snow-white,coveredhispowerfulchest.Heturnedhisheadtothedoor,andcalledoutinhisstrongvoice—
“Linda.”
Heranswercamesharpandfaintfromwithin;andtheappalledNostromostoodup,too,butremainedmute,gazingatthedoor.Hewasafraid.Hewasnotafraidofbeingrefusedthegirlheloved—nomererefusalcouldstandbetweenhimandawomanhedesired—buttheshiningspectreofthetreasurerosebeforehim,claiminghisallegianceinasilencethatcouldnotbegainsaid.Hewasafraid,because,neitherdeadnoralive,liketheGringosonAzuera,hebelongedbodyandsoultotheunlawfulnessofhisaudacity.Hewasafraidofbeingforbiddentheisland.Hewasafraid,andsaidnothing.
Seeingthetwomenstandingupsidebysidetoawaither,Lindastoppedinthedoorway.Nothingcouldalterthepassionatedeadwhitenessofherface;butherblackeyesseemedtocatchandconcentrateallthelightofthelowsuninaflamingsparkwithintheblackdepths,coveredatoncebytheslowdescentofheavyeyelids.
“Beholdthyhusband,master,andbenefactor.”OldViola’svoiceresoundedwithaforcethatseemedtofillthewholegulf.
Shesteppedforwardwithhereyesnearlyclosed,likeasleep-walkerinabeatificdream.
