Ностромо
Chapter 6
Barrioshasstarted,lethimgoonthen;hewillholdCayta,whichisthedoorofthesearoutetoSulaco.Theycannotsendasufficientforceoverthemountains.No;noteventocopewiththebandofHernandez.Meantimeweshallorganizeourresistancehere.Andforthat,thisveryHernandezwillbeuseful.Hehasdefeatedtroopsasabandit;hewillnodoubtaccomplishthesamethingifheismadeacolonelorevenageneral.YouknowthecountrywellenoughnottobeshockedbywhatIsay,Mrs.Gould.Ihaveheardyouassertthatthispoorbanditwastheliving,breathingexampleofcruelty,injustice,stupidity,andoppression,thatruinmen’ssoulsaswellastheirfortunesinthiscountry.Well,therewouldbesomepoeticalretributioninthatmanarisingtocrushtheevilswhichhaddrivenanhonestrancherointoalifeofcrime.Afineideaofretributioninthat,isn’tthere?”
DecoudhaddroppedeasilyintoEnglish,whichhespokewithprecision,verycorrectly,butwithtoomanyzsounds.
“Thinkalsoofyourhospitals,ofyourschools,ofyourailingmothersandfeebleoldmen,ofallthatpopulationwhichyouandyourhusbandhavebroughtintotherockygorgeofSanTome.Areyounotresponsibletoyourconscienceforallthesepeople?Isitnotworthwhiletomakeanothereffort,whichisnotatallsodesperateasitlooks,ratherthan—”
Decoudfinishedhisthoughtwithanupwardtossofthearm,suggestingannihilation;andMrs.Gouldturnedawayherheadwithalookofhorror.