Ностромо
Chapter 9
Hewillneverforgetittillheisdead—andeventhen——Doctor,didyoueverhearofthemiserablegringosonAzuera,thatcannotdie?Ha!ha!Sailorslikemyself.Thereisnogettingawayfromatreasurethatoncefastensuponyourmind.”
“Youareadevilofaman,Capataz.Itisthemostplausiblething.”
Nostromopressedhisarm.
“Itwillbeworseforhimthanthirstatseaorhungerinatownfullofpeople.Doyouknowwhatthatis?Heshallsuffergreatertormentsthanheinflicteduponthatterrifiedwretchwhohadnoinvention.None!none!Notlikeme.IcouldhavetoldSotilloadeadlytaleforverylittlepain.”
HelaughedwildlyandturnedinthedoorwaytowardsthebodyofthelateSenorHirsch,anopaquelongblotchinthesemi-transparentobscurityoftheroombetweenthetwotallparallelogramsofthewindowsfullofstars.
“Youmanoffear!”hecried.“Youshallbeavengedbyme—Nostromo.Outofmyway,doctor!Standaside—or,bythesufferingsoulofawomandeadwithoutconfession,Iwillstrangleyouwithmytwohands.”
Heboundeddownwardsintotheblack,smokyhall.Withagruntofastonishment,Dr.Monyghamthrewhimselfrecklesslyintothepursuit.Atthebottomofthecharredstairshehadafall,pitchingforwardonhisfacewithaforcethatwouldhavestunnedaspiritlessintentuponataskofloveanddevotion.