Сердце тьмы

           Thesmilesvanished,andheshookhisheadasifsorryformydisappointment.Thenhebrightenedup.‘Nevermind!’hecriedencouragingly.‘Areweintime?’Iasked.‘Heisupthere,’hereplied,withatossoftheheadupthehill,andbecominggloomyallofasudden.Hisfacewasliketheautumnsky,overcastonemomentandbrightthenext.

           "Whenthemanager,escortedbythepilgrims,allofthemarmedtotheteeth,hadgonetothehousethischapcameonboard.‘Isay,Idon’tlikethis.Thesenativesareinthebush,’Isaid.Heassuredmeearnestlyitwasallright.‘Theyaresimplepeople,’headded;‘well,Iamgladyoucame.Ittookmeallmytimetokeepthemoff.’‘Butyousaiditwasallright,’Icried.‘Oh,theymeantnoharm,’hesaid;andasIstaredhecorrectedhimself,‘Notexactly.’Thenvivaciously,‘Myfaith,yourpilot-housewantsaclean-up!’Inthenextbreathheadvisedmetokeepenoughsteamontheboilertoblowthewhistleincaseofanytrouble.‘Onegoodscreechwilldomoreforyouthanallyourrifles.Theyaresimplepeople,’herepeated.Herattledawayatsucharatehequiteoverwhelmedme.Heseemedtobetryingtomakeupforlotsofsilence,andactuallyhinted,laughing,thatsuchwasthecase.‘Don’tyoutalkwithMr.Kurtz?’Isaid.‘Youdon’ttalkwiththatman—youlistentohim,’heexclaimedwithsevereexaltation.‘Butnow—’Hewavedhisarm,andinthetwinklingofaneyewasintheuttermostdepthsofdespondency.