Ностромо
Chapter 8
”
AndElSenorGobernadorhehadremained,withhissmalljokesuponhisfunctionanduponhisdomain,whereheaffirmedwithhumorousexaggerationtoMrs.Gould—
“NotwostonescouldcometogetheranywherewithouttheGobernadorhearingtheclick,senora.”
Andhewouldtaphisearwiththetipofhisforefingerknowingly.Evenwhenthenumberoftheminersalonerosetooversixhundredheseemedtoknoweachofthemindividually,alltheinnumerableJoses,Manuels,Ignacios,fromthevillagesprimero—segundo—ortercero(therewerethreeminingvillages)underhisgovernment.Hecoulddistinguishthemnotonlybytheirflat,joylessfaces,whichtoMrs.Gouldlookedallalike,asifrunintothesameancestralmouldofsufferingandpatience,butapparentlyalsobytheinfinitelygraduatedshadesofreddish-brown,ofblackish-brown,ofcoppery-brownbacks,asthetwoshifts,strippedtolinendrawersandleatherskull-caps,mingledtogetherwithaconfusionofnakedlimbs,ofshoulderedpicks,swinginglamps,inagreatshuffleofsandalledfeetontheopenplateaubeforetheentranceofthemaintunnel.Itwasatimeofpause.
