Ностромо
Chapter 12
“Linda!PoorLinda!Itremble!IshalldieoffearbeforemypoorsisterLinda,betrothedto-daytoGiovanni—mylover!Giovanni,youmusthavebeenmad!Icannotunderstandyou!Youarenotlikeothermen!Iwillnotgiveyouup—never—onlytoGodhimself!Butwhyhaveyoudonethisblind,mad,cruel,frightfulthing?”
Released,shehungherhead,letfallherhands.Thealtar-cloth,asiftossedbyagreatwind,layfarawayfromthem,gleamingwhiteontheblackground.
“Fromfearoflosingmyhopeofyou,”saidNostromo.
“Youknewthatyouhadmysoul!Youknoweverything!Itwasmadeforyou!Butwhatcouldstandbetweenyouandme?What?Tellme!”sherepeated,withoutimpatience,insuperbassurance.
“Yourdeadmother,”hesaid,verylow.
“Ah!...Poormother!Shehasalways...Sheisasaintinheavennow,andIcannotgiveyouuptoher.No,Giovanni.OnlytoGodalone.Youweremad—butitisdone.Oh!whathaveyoudone?Giovanni,mybeloved,mylife,mymaster,donotleavemehereinthisgraveofclouds.Youcannotleavemenow.Youmusttakemeaway—atonce—thisinstant—inthelittleboat.Giovanni,carrymeoffto-night,frommyfearofLinda’seyes,beforeIhavetolookatheragain.”
Shenestledclosetohim.TheslaveoftheSanTomesilverfelttheweightasofchainsuponhislimbs,apressureasofacoldhanduponhislips.Hestruggledagainstthespell.
