Сердце тьмы

           ‘Youdon’tknowhowsuchalifetriesamanlikeKurtz,’criedKurtz’slastdisciple.‘Well,andyou?’Isaid.‘I!I!Iamasimpleman.Ihavenogreatthoughts.Iwantnothingfromanybody.Howcanyoucomparemeto...?’Hisfeelingsweretoomuchforspeech,andsuddenlyhebrokedown.‘Idon’tunderstand,’hegroaned.‘I’vebeendoingmybesttokeephimalive,andthat’senough.Ihadnohandinallthis.Ihavenoabilities.Therehasn’tbeenadropofmedicineoramouthfulofinvalidfoodformonthshere.Hewasshamefullyabandoned.Amanlikethis,withsuchideas.Shamefully!Shamefully!I—I—haven’tsleptforthelasttennights...’

           "Hisvoicelostitselfinthecalmoftheevening.Thelongshadowsoftheforesthadslippeddownhillwhilewetalked,hadgonefarbeyondtheruinedhovel,beyondthesymbolicrowofstakes.Allthiswasinthegloom,whilewedowntherewereyetinthesunshine,andthestretchoftheriverabreastoftheclearingglitteredinastillanddazzlingsplendour,withamurkyandovershadowedbendaboveandbelow.Notalivingsoulwasseenontheshore.Thebushesdidnotrustle.

           "Suddenlyroundthecornerofthehouseagroupofmenappeared,asthoughtheyhadcomeupfromtheground.Theywadedwaist-deepinthegrass,inacompactbody,bearinganimprovisedstretcherintheirmidst.