Сердце тьмы
Chapter 2
Itwasverysimple,andattheendofthatmovingappealtoeveryaltruisticsentimentitblazedatyou,luminousandterrifying,likeaflashoflightninginaserenesky:‘Exterminateallthebrutes!’Thecuriouspartwasthathehadapparentlyforgottenallaboutthatvaluablepostscriptum,because,lateron,whenheinasensecametohimself,herepeatedlyentreatedmetotakegoodcareof‘mypamphlet’(hecalledit),asitwassuretohaveinthefutureagoodinfluenceuponhiscareer.Ihadfullinformationaboutallthesethings,and,besides,asitturnedout,Iwastohavethecareofhismemory.I’vedoneenoughforittogivemetheindisputablerighttolayit,ifIchoose,foraneverlastingrestinthedust-binofprogress,amongstallthesweepingsand,figurativelyspeaking,allthedeadcatsofcivilization.Butthen,yousee,Ican’tchoose.Hewon’tbeforgotten.Whateverhewas,hewasnotcommon.Hehadthepowertocharmorfrightenrudimentarysoulsintoanaggravatedwitch-danceinhishonour;hecouldalsofillthesmallsoulsofthepilgrimswithbittermisgivings:hehadonedevotedfriendatleast,andhehadconqueredonesoulintheworldthatwasneitherrudimentarynortaintedwithself-seeking.No;Ican’tforgethim,thoughIamnotpreparedtoaffirmthefellowwasexactlyworththelifewelostingettingtohim.Imissedmylatehelmsmanawfully—Imissedhimevenwhilehisbodywasstilllyinginthepilot-house.
