Сердце тьмы

           "Thecurrentwasmorerapidnow,thesteamerseemedatherlastgasp,thestern-wheelfloppedlanguidly,andIcaughtmyselflisteningontiptoeforthenextbeatoftheboat,forinsobertruthIexpectedthewretchedthingtogiveupeverymoment.Itwaslikewatchingthelastflickersofalife.Butstillwecrawled.SometimesIwouldpickoutatreealittlewayaheadtomeasureourprogresstowardsKurtzby,butIlostitinvariablybeforewegotabreast.Tokeeptheeyessolongononethingwastoomuchforhumanpatience.Themanagerdisplayedabeautifulresignation.IfrettedandfumedandtooktoarguingwithmyselfwhetherornoIwouldtalkopenlywithKurtz;butbeforeIcouldcometoanyconclusionitoccurredtomethatmyspeechormysilence,indeedanyactionofmine,wouldbeamerefutility.Whatdiditmatterwhatanyonekneworignored?Whatdiditmatterwhowasmanager?Onegetssometimessuchaflashofinsight.Theessentialsofthisaffairlaydeepunderthesurface,beyondmyreach,andbeyondmypowerofmeddling.

           "TowardstheeveningoftheseconddaywejudgedourselvesabouteightmilesfromKurtz’sstation.Iwantedtopushon;butthemanagerlookedgrave,andtoldmethenavigationuptherewassodangerousthatitwouldbeadvisable,thesunbeingverylowalready,towaitwhereweweretillnextmorning.Moreover,hepointedoutthatifthewarningtoapproachcautiouslyweretobefollowed,wemustapproachindaylight—notatduskorinthedark.Thiswassensibleenough.