Сердце тьмы

           Inahurried,indistinctvoicehebegantoassuremehehadnotdaredtotakethese—say,symbols—down.Hewasnotafraidofthenatives;theywouldnotstirtillMr.Kurtzgavetheword.Hisascendancywasextraordinary.Thecampsofthesepeoplesurroundedtheplace,andthechiefscameeverydaytoseehim.Theywouldcrawl...‘Idon’twanttoknowanythingoftheceremoniesusedwhenapproachingMr.Kurtz,’Ishouted.Curious,thisfeelingthatcameovermethatsuchdetailswouldbemoreintolerablethanthoseheadsdryingonthestakesunderMr.Kurtz’swindows.Afterall,thatwasonlyasavagesight,whileIseemedatoneboundtohavebeentransportedintosomelightlessregionofsubtlehorrors,wherepure,uncomplicatedsavagerywasapositiverelief,beingsomethingthathadarighttoexist—obviously—inthesunshine.Theyoungmanlookedatmewithsurprise.IsupposeitdidnotoccurtohimthatMr.Kurtzwasnoidolofmine.HeforgotIhadn’theardanyofthesesplendidmonologueson,whatwasit?onlove,justice,conductoflife—orwhatnot.IfithadcometocrawlingbeforeMr.Kurtz,hecrawledasmuchastheveriestsavageofthemall.Ihadnoideaoftheconditions,hesaid:theseheadsweretheheadsofrebels.Ishockedhimexcessivelybylaughing.Rebels!WhatwouldbethenextdefinitionIwastohear?Therehadbeenenemies,criminals,workers—andthesewererebels.Thoserebelliousheadslookedverysubduedtomeontheirsticks.