Сердце тьмы

           Ithadgotfilledsincemyboyhoodwithriversandlakesandnames.Ithadceasedtobeablankspaceofdelightfulmystery—awhitepatchforaboytodreamgloriouslyover.Ithadbecomeaplaceofdarkness.Buttherewasinitoneriverespecially,amightybigriver,thatyoucouldseeonthemap,resemblinganimmensesnakeuncoiled,withitsheadinthesea,itsbodyatrestcurvingafaroveravastcountry,anditstaillostinthedepthsoftheland.AndasIlookedatthemapofitinashop-window,itfascinatedmeasasnakewouldabird—asillylittlebird.ThenIrememberedtherewasabigconcern,aCompanyfortradeonthatriver.Dashitall!Ithoughttomyself,theycan’ttradewithoutusingsomekindofcraftonthatlotoffreshwater—steamboats!Whyshouldn’tItrytogetchargeofone?IwentonalongFleetStreet,butcouldnotshakeofftheidea.Thesnakehadcharmedme.

           "YouunderstanditwasaContinentalconcern,thatTradingsociety;butIhavealotofrelationslivingontheContinent,becauseit’scheapandnotsonastyasitlooks,theysay.

           "IamsorrytoownIbegantoworrythem.Thiswasalreadyafreshdepartureforme.Iwasnotusedtogetthingsthatway,youknow.IalwayswentmyownroadandonmyownlegswhereIhadamindtogo.Iwouldn’thavebelieveditofmyself;but,then—yousee—IfeltsomehowImustgettherebyhookorbycrook.SoIworriedthem.Themensaid‘Mydearfellow,’anddidnothing.Then—wouldyoubelieveit?—Itriedthewomen.