Сердце тьмы

           Kurtz,’Icontinued,severely,‘isGeneralManager,youwon’thavetheopportunity.’

           "Heblewthecandleoutsuddenly,andwewentoutside.Themoonhadrisen.Blackfiguresstrolledaboutlistlessly,pouringwaterontheglow,whenceproceededasoundofhissing;steamascendedinthemoonlight,thebeatenniggergroanedsomewhere.‘Whatarowthebrutemakes!’saidtheindefatigablemanwiththemoustaches,appearingnearus.‘Servehimright.Transgression—punishment—bang!Pitiless,pitiless.That’stheonlyway.Thiswillpreventallconflagrationsforthefuture.Iwasjusttellingthemanager...’Henoticedmycompanion,andbecamecrestfallenallatonce.‘Notinbedyet,’hesaid,withakindofservileheartiness;‘it’ssonatural.Ha!Danger—agitation.’Hevanished.Iwentontotheriverside,andtheotherfollowedme.Iheardascathingmurmuratmyear,‘Heapofmuffs—goto.’Thepilgrimscouldbeseeninknotsgesticulating,discussing.Severalhadstilltheirstavesintheirhands.Iverilybelievetheytookthesestickstobedwiththem.Beyondthefencetheforeststoodupspectrallyinthemoonlight,andthroughthatdimstir,throughthefaintsoundsofthatlamentablecourtyard,thesilenceofthelandwenthometoone’sveryheart—itsmystery,itsgreatness,theamazingrealityofitsconcealedlife.Thehurtniggermoanedfeeblysomewherenearby,andthenfetchedadeepsighthatmadememendmypaceawayfromthere.Ifeltahandintroducingitselfundermyarm.