“Nostromo” Conrad in brief
The city of Sulako, the capital of the Western Province of the South American Republic of Costa Rica, is located on the shores of the extensive Gulf of Placido Bay. The smooth arc of the coast of the bay on one side is bounded by the cape of Puente Mal, on the other – by a mountain called Iguerot, a snow-shining vertex that overshadows the entire surrounding area. In the middle of the bay there are Isabella – two small islands, one of which is a lighthouse. During the Spanish rule, the Western Province, separated from the rest of the country by the Cordillera spurs, was independent, and Sulaco was a thriving trading city. Later, after joining the Kostahuan Confederation, the city lost its importance. However, the discovery a few decades ago in Sao Tome at the foot of the Igueroite deposits of silver changed the fate of the entire province. The mines of Sao Tome make a huge wealth, regularly delivered to Sulako in the form of carriages with a load of silver ingots. Therefore,
Liberal aristocrats, merchants, priests, emigrants from all over the world, military men, workers from mines, sailors, dockers, robbers, society ladies – such is the motley crowd of the inhabitants of this locality and this city, the outpost of European civilization within the remote and wild new of the world. Among these people stands out a man known to everyone under the nickname Nostromo – this is usually called the boatswain on Italian ships. This “capatas kagadorov” – the senior among the port workers, the Italian Gian Batista Fidantsa. His honesty, strength, influence on ordinary people, his ability to hold on to the powerful of the world, a sensible mind won him the glory of a man who can rely on more than anyone in all of Sulako.
Meanwhile, this land, open to civilization and prosperity, is turned into a subordinate position and stagnated by the self-seeking, ignorant and cruel rulers of Kostaguna. But the day came when the historical destinies of Sulak and the whole country were subjected to drastic changes. The tyrant Guzman Bento, who had ruled for many years, died. After a brief civil war, the liberal Vicente Ribeira came to power, supported by enlightened aristocrats of the Western province and “king of silver” by Gould. Soon, however, his military minister, General Montero, rebelled against him. The war continued. Sulako was suppressed by the rebellion of the monterists, people who could hardly be called otherwise than scum. Then two thousand Sulak volunteers under the command of General Barrios, armed with brand new rifles, bought by Mr. Gould, went by boat, to repel the strategically important Northern Port from the rebels. However, bad news has come: government forces are broken, chaos reigns in the country. On the city, left without protection, there are new robber bands of the monterists – from the east because of the mountains and from the north by the sea. There is not even an opportunity to inform General Barrios about this.
Recently a native of Sulako and journalist Martin Dekud, well-known in Paris, a person deeply feeling, fascinated by the dream of freedom of his homeland, in love with the noble Antony Avellanos, offers a rescue plan – the only, romantic, deadly, noble, unexpected. Sulako must separate from Kostaguan and become an independent republic. This salvation from anarchy and exploitation, this is the path to prosperity and prosperity, this can inspire people to struggle. However, this is real only with the support of the United States, and this support can ensure the smooth delivery of silver. Just now the cargo of the semi-annual mine of the mines of Sao Tome must be sent before the arrival of the enemies.
This important business can be assigned only to the most reliable person in Sulako. At night, at the last moment, a longboat sailed with a load of silver ingots. On it are Decoud and Nostromo. The barge is very unreliable, it flows. Having unloaded the treasure on one of the islands and left there Dekuda, Nostromo leaves to find out the situation, back to the city already occupied by the enemy. He does not appear more than ten days, and Dekud does not stand the torture of loneliness: he is sure that their cause is lost and commits suicide. Nostromo, meanwhile, did not appear because he was carrying out a new mission, which no one but him could do: having penetrated through the enemy outposts, having overcome the full danger of a long journey to the north, he brought troops of General Barrios to the city. Together with the workers rebelling against the tyranny of the monterists, the soldiers liberate the city. A new state is proclaimed, the American gunboat is the first to pay tribute to the flag of the Western Republic of Sulak. The fantastic plan of Dakud was crowned with a grandiose success.
It so happened that everyone is sure: the boat with silver sank in an unknown place and Dekud died with him, and Nostromo was saved only because he is a wonderful swimmer. Nostromo does not tell anyone the truth about hidden treasures, at first simply out of caution, but then he realizes that no one knows the truth and now he is the sole owner of the treasure…
On the uninhabited island of Bolshaya Isabella near the coast of Sulako stands a lighthouse. The inspector there is a compatriot and friend of Nostromo, an old Garibaldiess Viola, he settled on an island with two daughters thanks to a national hero, one of the most respected and influential people in the city. Nostromo, the groom of his eldest daughter, was the only person who regularly visited the old widower. Each time he took with him one or two ingots. “I have to grow rich slowly” – this became his motto. The hero of the Sulak revolution has changed a lot. He was just as lucky as ever, but suspicious, withdrawn, irritable, he was so unlike the former favorite of the authorities and the people. Treasures have mastered it. Secretly checking the treasure became an irresistible need. Now the faithful Nostromo was faithful only to him, and everything around him seemed,
One night, the harsh Viola, alarmed by rumors that one of the port apaches is going to encroach on the honor of his youngest daughter, noticed an unknown person who swam to the island by boat. The shot of the old soldier Garibaldi was accurate. Nostromo learned with horror.
A white cloud, sparkling like a pile of silver, floats above the glowing horizon line, and the spirit of the lord of treasures dominates the dark waters of the gulf – true, indomitable, fortunate, unrestrained, secretive, unsolved and irresistible.
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