Сердце тьмы

           Theysaidhehadcausedthefireinsomeway;bethatasitmay,hewasscreechingmosthorribly.Isawhim,later,forseveraldays,sittinginabitofshadelookingverysickandtryingtorecoverhimself;afterwardshearoseandwentout—andthewildernesswithoutasoundtookhimintoitsbosomagain.AsIapproachedtheglowfromthedarkIfoundmyselfatthebackoftwomen,talking.IheardthenameofKurtzpronounced,thenthewords,‘takeadvantageofthisunfortunateaccident.’Oneofthemenwasthemanager.Iwishedhimagoodevening.‘Didyoueverseeanythinglikeit—eh?itisincredible,’hesaid,andwalkedoff.Theothermanremained.Hewasafirst-classagent,young,gentlemanly,abitreserved,withaforkedlittlebeardandahookednose.Hewasstand-offishwiththeotheragents,andtheyontheirsidesaidhewasthemanager’sspyuponthem.Astome,Ihadhardlyeverspokentohimbefore.Wegotintotalk,andbyandbywestrolledawayfromthehissingruins.Thenheaskedmetohisroom,whichwasinthemainbuildingofthestation.Hestruckamatch,andIperceivedthatthisyoungaristocrathadnotonlyasilver-mounteddressing-casebutalsoawholecandlealltohimself.Justatthattimethemanagerwastheonlymansupposedtohaveanyrighttocandles.Nativematscoveredtheclaywalls;acollectionofspears,assegais,shields,kniveswashungupintrophies.