Сердце тьмы

           I,CharlieMarlow,setthewomentowork—togetajob.Heavens!Well,yousee,thenotiondroveme.Ihadanaunt,adearenthusiasticsoul.Shewrote:‘Itwillbedelightful.Iamreadytodoanything,anythingforyou.Itisagloriousidea.IknowthewifeofaveryhighpersonageintheAdministration,andalsoamanwhohaslotsofinfluencewith,’etc.Shewasdeterminedtomakenoendoffusstogetmeappointedskipperofariversteamboat,ifsuchwasmyfancy.

           "Igotmyappointment—ofcourse;andIgotitveryquick.ItappearstheCompanyhadreceivednewsthatoneoftheircaptainshadbeenkilledinascufflewiththenatives.Thiswasmychance,anditmademethemoreanxioustogo.Itwasonlymonthsandmonthsafterwards,whenImadetheattempttorecoverwhatwasleftofthebody,thatIheardtheoriginalquarrelarosefromamisunderstandingaboutsomehens.Yes,twoblackhens.Fresleven—thatwasthefellow’sname,aDane—thoughthimselfwrongedsomehowinthebargain,sohewentashoreandstartedtohammerthechiefofthevillagewithastick.Oh,itdidn’tsurprisemeintheleasttohearthis,andatthesametimetobetoldthatFreslevenwasthegentlest,quietestcreaturethateverwalkedontwolegs.Nodoubthewas;buthehadbeenacoupleofyearsalreadyoutthereengagedinthenoblecause,youknow,andheprobablyfelttheneedatlastofassertinghisself-respectinsomeway.