Сердце тьмы

           WhattheywantedtokeepthatbodyhangingaboutforIcan’tguess.Embalmit,maybe.ButIhadalsoheardanother,andaveryominous,murmuronthedeckbelow.Myfriendsthewood-cutterswerelikewisescandalized,andwithabettershowofreason—thoughIadmitthatthereasonitselfwasquiteinadmissible.Oh,quite!Ihadmadeupmymindthatifmylatehelmsmanwastobeeaten,thefishesaloneshouldhavehim.Hehadbeenaverysecond-ratehelmsmanwhilealive,butnowhewasdeadhemighthavebecomeafirst-classtemptation,andpossiblycausesomestartlingtrouble.Besides,Iwasanxioustotakethewheel,themaninpinkpyjamasshowinghimselfahopelessdufferatthebusiness.

           "ThisIdiddirectlythesimplefuneralwasover.Weweregoinghalf-speed,keepingrightinthemiddleofthestream,andIlistenedtothetalkaboutme.TheyhadgivenupKurtz,theyhadgivenupthestation;Kurtzwasdead,andthestationhadbeenburnt—andsoon—andsoon.Thered-hairedpilgrimwasbesidehimselfwiththethoughtthatatleastthispoorKurtzhadbeenproperlyavenged.‘Say!Wemusthavemadeagloriousslaughteroftheminthebush.Eh?Whatdoyouthink?Say?’Hepositivelydanced,thebloodthirstylittlegingerybeggar.Andhehadnearlyfaintedwhenhesawthewoundedman!Icouldnothelpsaying,‘Youmadeagloriouslotofsmoke,anyhow.’Ihadseen,fromthewaythetopsofthebushesrustledandflew,thatalmostalltheshotshadgonetoohigh.