Сердце тьмы
Chapter 1
Theblackbonesreclinedatfulllengthwithoneshoulderagainstthetree,andslowlytheeyelidsroseandthesunkeneyeslookedupatme,enormousandvacant,akindofblind,whiteflickerinthedepthsoftheorbs,whichdiedoutslowly.Themanseemedyoung—almostaboy—butyouknowwiththemit’shardtotell.IfoundnothingelsetodobuttoofferhimoneofmygoodSwede’sship’sbiscuitsIhadinmypocket.Thefingersclosedslowlyonitandheld—therewasnoothermovementandnootherglance.Hehadtiedabitofwhiteworstedroundhisneck—Why?Wheredidhegetit?Wasitabadge—anornament—acharm—apropitiatoryact?Wasthereanyideaatallconnectedwithit?Itlookedstartlingroundhisblackneck,thisbitofwhitethreadfrombeyondtheseas.
"Nearthesametreetwomorebundlesofacuteanglessatwiththeirlegsdrawnup.One,withhischinproppedonhisknees,staredatnothing,inanintolerableandappallingmanner:hisbrotherphantomresteditsforehead,asifovercomewithagreatweariness;andallaboutotherswerescatteredineveryposeofcontortedcollapse,asinsomepictureofamassacreorapestilence.WhileIstoodhorror-struck,oneofthesecreaturesrosetohishandsandknees,andwentoffonall-fourstowardstherivertodrink.Helappedoutofhishand,thensatupinthesunlight,crossinghisshinsinfrontofhim,andafteratimelethiswoollyheadfallonhisbreastbone.
"Ididn’twantanymoreloiteringintheshade,andImadehastetowardsthestation.
