Ностромо
Chapter 10
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Fromtheverycentre,intheblazingsunshine,hepointedoutthebuildings—
“TheIntendencia,nowPresident’sPalace—Cabildo,wheretheLowerChamberofParliamentsits.YounoticethenewhousesonthatsideofthePlaza?CompaniaAnzani,agreatgeneralstore,likethosecooperativethingsathome.OldAnzaniwasmurderedbytheNationalGuardsinfrontofhissafe.ItwasevenforthatspecificcrimethatthedeputyGamacho,commandingtheNationals,abloodthirstyandsavagebrute,wasexecutedpubliclybygarrotteuponthesentenceofacourt-martialorderedbyBarrios.Anzani’snephewsconvertedthebusinessintoacompany.AllthatsideofthePlazahadbeenburnt;usedtobecolonnadedbefore.Aterriblefire,bythelightofwhichIsawthelastofthefighting,thellanerosflying,theNationalsthrowingtheirarmsdown,andtheminersofSanTome,allIndiansfromtheSierra,rollingbylikeatorrenttothesoundofpipesandcymbals,greenflagsflying,awildmassofmeninwhiteponchosandgreenhats,onfoot,onmules,ondonkeys.Suchasight,sir,willneverbeseenagain.Theminers,sir,hadmarcheduponthetown,DonPepeleadingonhisblackhorse,andtheirverywivesintherearonburros,screamingencouragement,sir,andbeatingtambourines.Irememberoneofthesewomenhadagreenparrotseatedonhershoulder,ascalmasabirdofstone.TheyhadjustsavedtheirSenorAdministrador;forBarrios,thoughheorderedtheassaultatonce,atnight,too,wouldhavebeentoolate.