Сердце тьмы

           Besidesthat,theyhadgiventhemeveryweekthreepiecesofbrasswire,eachaboutnineincheslong;andthetheorywastheyweretobuytheirprovisionswiththatcurrencyinriversidevillages.YoucanseehowTHATworked.Therewereeithernovillages,orthepeoplewerehostile,orthedirector,wholiketherestofusfedoutoftins,withanoccasionaloldhe-goatthrownin,didn’twanttostopthesteamerforsomemoreorlessreconditereason.So,unlesstheyswallowedthewireitself,ormadeloopsofittosnarethefisheswith,Idon’tseewhatgoodtheirextravagantsalarycouldbetothem.Imustsayitwaspaidwitharegularityworthyofalargeandhonourabletradingcompany.Fortherest,theonlythingtoeat—thoughitdidn’tlookeatableintheleast—Isawintheirpossessionwasafewlumpsofsomestufflikehalf-cookeddough,ofadirtylavendercolour,theykeptwrappedinleaves,andnowandthenswallowedapieceof,butsosmallthatitseemeddonemoreforthelooksofthethingthanforanyseriouspurposeofsustenance.Whyinthenameofallthegnawingdevilsofhungertheydidn’tgoforus—theywerethirtytofive—andhaveagoodtuck-inforonce,amazesmenowwhenIthinkofit.Theywerebigpowerfulmen,withnotmuchcapacitytoweightheconsequences,withcourage,withstrength,evenyet,thoughtheirskinswerenolongerglossyandtheirmusclesnolongerhard.AndIsawthatsomethingrestraining,oneofthosehumansecretsthatbaffleprobability,hadcomeintoplaythere.