登陆注册
5215600000083

第83章

`Look, this one has killed me, while you were away fighting for what did not concern you, foolish man.'

`Why talk like this?' mumbled the Capataz between his teeth. `Will you never believe in my good sense? It concerns me to keep on being what Iam: every day alike.'

`You never change, indeed,' she said, bitterly. `Always thinking of yourself and taking your pay out in fine words from those who care nothing for you.'

There was between them an intimacy of antagonism as close in its way as the intimacy of accord and affection. He had not walked along the way of Teresa's expectations. It was she who had encouraged him to leave his ship, in the hope of securing a friend and defender for the girls. The wife of old Giorgio was aware of her precarious health, and was haunted by the fear of her aged husband's loneliness and the unprotected state of the children. She had wanted to annex that apparently quiet and steady young man, affectionate and pliable, an orphan from his tenderest age, as he had told her, with no ties in Italy except an uncle, owner and master of a felucca, from whose ill-usage he had run away before he was fourteen.

He had seemed to her courageous, a hard worker, determined to make his way in the world. From gratitude and the ties of habit he would become like a son to herself and Giorgio; and then, who knows, when Linda had grown up . . . Ten years' difference between husband and wife was not so much. Her own great man was nearly twenty years older than herself. Gian'

Battista was an attractive young fellow, besides; attractive to men, women, and children, just by that profound quietness of personality which, like a serene twilight, rendered more seductive the promise of his vigorous form and the resolution of his conduct.

Old Giorgio, in profound ignorance of his wife's views and hopes, had a great regard for his young countryman. `A man ought not to be tame,'

he used to tell her, quoting the Spanish proverb in defence of the splendid Capataz. She was growing jealous of his success. He was escaping from her, she feared. She was practical, and he seemed to her to be an absurd spend-thrift of these qualities which made him so valuable. He got too little for them.

He scattered them with both hands amongst too many people, she thought.

He laid no money by. She railed at his poverty, his exploits, his adventures, his loves, and his reputation; but in her heart she had never given him up, as though, indeed, he had been her son.

Even now, ill as she was, ill enough to feel the chill, black breath of the approaching end, she had wished to see him. It was like putting out her benumbed hand to regain her hold. But she had presumed too much on her strength. She could not command her thoughts; they had become dim, like her vision. The words faltered on her lips, and only the paramount anxiety and desire of her life seemed to be too strong for death.

The Capataz said, `I have heard these things many times. You are unjust, but it does not hurt me. Only now you do not seem to have much strength to talk, and I have but little time to listen. I am engaged in a work of very great moment.'

She made an effort to ask him whether it was true that he had found time to go and fetch a doctor for her. Nostromo nodded affirmatively.

She was pleased: it relieved her sufferings to know that the man had condescended to do so much for those who really wanted his help. It was a proof of his friendship. Her voice became stronger.

`I want a priest more than a doctor,' she said, pathetically. She did not move her head; only her eyes ran into the corners to watch the Capataz standing by the side of her bed. `Would you go to fetch a priest for me now? Think! A dying woman asks you!'

Nostromo shook his head resolutely. He did not believe in priests in their sacerdotal character. A doctor was an efficacious person; but a priest, as priest, was nothing, incapable of doing either good or harm. Nostromo did not even dislike the sight of them as old Giorgio did. The utter uselessness of the errand was what struck him most.

`Padrona,' he said, `you have been like this before, and got better after a few days. I have given you already the very last moments I can spare. Ask Senora Gould to send you one.'

He was feeling uneasy at the impiety of this refusal. The Padrona believed in priests, and confessed herself to them. But all women did that. It could not be of much consequence. And yet his heart felt oppressed for a moment--at the thought what absolution would mean to her if she believed in it only ever so little. No matter. It was quite true that he had given her already the very last moment he could spare.

`You refuse to go?' she gasped. `Ah! you are always yourself, indeed.'

`Listen to reason, Padrona,' he said, `I am needed to save the silver of the mine. Do you hear? A greater treasure than the one which they say is guarded by ghosts and devils in Azuera. It is true. I am resolved to make this the most desperate affair I was ever engaged on in my whole life.'

She felt a despairing indignation. The supreme test had failed. Standing above her, Nostromo did not see the distorted features of her face, distorted by a paroxysm of pain and anger. Only she began to tremble all over. Her bowed head shook. The broad shoulders quivered.

`Then God, perhaps, will have mercy upon me! But do you look to it, man, that you get something for yourself out of it, besides the remorse that shall overtake you some day.'

She laughed feebly. `Get riches at least for once, you indispensable, admired Gian' Battista, to whom the peace of a dying woman is less than the praise of people who have given you a silly name--and nothing besides--in exchange for your soul and body.'

The Captain de Cargadores swore to himself under his breath.

`Leave my soul alone, Padrona, and I shall know how to take care of my body. Where is the harm of people having need of me? What are you envying me that I have robbed you and the children of? Those very people you are throwing in my teeth have done more for old Giorgio than they ever thought of doing for me.'

同类推荐
  • John Bull on the Guadalquivir

    John Bull on the Guadalquivir

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说不自守意经

    佛说不自守意经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 释迦如来行迹颂

    释迦如来行迹颂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 古挽歌

    古挽歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 开元天宝遗事

    开元天宝遗事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 西铭述解

    西铭述解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 流星武神

    流星武神

    修道世界,芸芸众生,强者为尊,弱者刍狗。上有上古大神,一念开天,一念填海,摘星捉月,执掌乾坤。轻一弹指,破界飞升。中有修道祖师,站在凡间巅峰,头顶日月,肩扛万山,上窥天道,寿命千载。下有奋勇修士,引气入体,炼气化神,力过千斤,可与无上凶兽搏斗,甚至御空飞行。
  • 转身神尊

    转身神尊

    一次意外,让主角龙天佑穿越到了修真大陆,此时的修真大陆正值西方异界的入侵,这是一个强者为尊的世界,只要你有能力就可以掌控整个世界,主角初来驾到,他是如何看待这个世界的?他究竟能不能在这个混乱的世界中生存下来,成为世界的王者?龙天佑与遇到了怎么样的巨大阴谋?让我们一起来体验龙天佑的经历与遭遇。
  • 文化难题(走进科学)

    文化难题(走进科学)

    本套书全面而系统地介绍了当今世界各种各样的难解之谜和科学技术,集知识性、趣味性、新奇性、疑问性与科普性于一体,深入浅出,生动可读,通俗易懂,目的是使广大读者在兴味盎然地领略世界难解之谜和科学技术的同时,能够加深思考,启迪智慧,开阔视野,增加知识,能够正确了解和认识这个世界,激发求知的欲望和探索的精神,激起热爱科学和追求科学的热情,不断掌握开启人类世界的金钥匙,不断推动人类社会向前发展,使我们真正成为人类社会的主人。
  • 快穿之二二三三

    快穿之二二三三

    原则追了阮二N个位面,结果阮二总想着看帅哥看美女,顿时醋坛子翻了,扛起阮二就回家!“圆圆!我警告你别乱来哦,不然,不然我就告诉原欢姐姐去!”阮二揪着原则的衣服凶巴巴威胁到“你觉得我姐帮你还是帮我?”“当…当然是帮我啦,你就是个屁屁!”“嗯?再说一遍。”“你是个帅哥,我老公是帅哥,哈哈哈,我老公宇宙第一无敌帅!”“以后还看那些丑人吗?”“他们不丑!是帅哥,是美女!”“嗯?我没听清,风太大。”“哈哈哈,对对对,我从来没见过这么丑的人啊,简直辣眼睛,不像我家圆圆呢,帅的好几匹呢!”“乖,先回家。”“好,圆圆我想吃糖醋排骨,剁椒鱼头,麻辣鸡爪,炒大虾!还有…还有双皮奶,冰糖草莓,爆浆蛋糕!我都想吃嘛圆圆。”“回家做。”“好的好的好的!抱住圆圆,来啵一个!”[新人入坑,多多指教哦~]
  • 大学生社会交往及能力培养研究

    大学生社会交往及能力培养研究

    本书共分五章,第一章:大学生社会交往的理论依据;第二章:当代社会交往的变革及对人的发展的影响;第三章:当代大学生社会交往的类型、特征和方式;第四章:大学生社会交往及能力培养的原则和方法;第五章:高校培养大学生社会交往能力的原则和方法。
  • 唯愿不负相思意

    唯愿不负相思意

    隔壁班新转来的插班生,长得又软又萌,竟是个男孩纸!可怜的萌鲜肉被邻班大姐头看上,惨遭骗心又骗身。大姐头裤子一提,再见面,已是八年后。萌鲜肉长成霸道总裁,大姐头却成了“陪酒女郎”。……从今往后,换我来守护你。
  • 网游之女祭司

    网游之女祭司

    一术出而万法灭,能打能控能加血。非得重生才能虐渣爽飞起么?真是一股不想重生的泥石流!本文1v1有cp,但游戏发展女主靠自己!假装我有读者系列(君羊):[641993729]ps:看到小细节请多插眼!
  • 陈白沙集

    陈白沙集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 不归人

    不归人

    〇三年夏至的那一天,周同带着他的几个同伴去看死刑犯的处决。他们吃喝、赶路、扒火车,一路上说笑,询问沿路的人,最终找到一片荒草地,茫茫无边际,远远在山的一边。“我爸爸是不会怕死的。”周同说这话时阳光耀眼,他眼睛陷入一片光晕,耳朵边响起金属颤动时的嗡嗡声。枪决的时间就要到了,他和他的伙伴们却迷失在山路、麦田与荒草地里,“分头找吧!以口哨为号!”最后周同不得不说,他自己一个人朝了一个方向,拨开草丛向前走去。