Ностромо

           Thesweatoftorturefellindropsonhercheeks,whilethemoonlightintheoffingclosedasifwithacolossalbarofsilvertheentranceofthePlacidGulf—thesombrecavernofcloudsandstillnessinthesurf-frettedseaboard.

           LindaViolastoodupsuddenlywithafingeronherlip.Helovedneitherhernorhersister.Thewholethingseemedsoobjectlessastofrightenher,andalsogivehersomehope.Whydidhenotcarryheroff?Whatpreventedhim?Hewasincomprehensible.Whatweretheywaitingfor?Forwhatendwerethesetwolyinganddeceiving?Notfortheendsoftheirlove.Therewasnosuchthing.Thehopeofregaininghimforherselfmadeherbreakhervowofnotleavingthetowerthatnight.Shemusttalkatoncetoherfather,whowaswise,andwouldunderstand.Sherandownthespiralstairs.AtthemomentofopeningthedooratthebottomsheheardthesoundofthefirstshoteverfiredontheGreatIsabel.

           Shefeltashock,asthoughthebullethadstruckherbreast.Sheranonwithoutpausing.Thecottagewasdark.Shecriedatthedoor,“Giselle!Giselle!”thendashedroundthecornerandscreamedhersister’snameattheopenwindow,withoutgettingananswer;butasshewasrushing,distracted,roundthehouse,Gisellecameoutofthedoor,anddartedpasther,runningsilently,herhairloose,andhereyesstaringstraightahead.Sheseemedtoskimalongthegrassasifontiptoe,andvanished.

           Lindawalkedonslowly,withherarmsstretchedoutbeforeher.