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           "Onthecontrary.Itappearstheirintercoursehadbeenverymuchbrokenbyvariouscauses.Hehad,asheinformedmeproudly,managedtonurseKurtzthroughtwoillnesses(healludedtoitasyouwouldtosomeriskyfeat),butasaruleKurtzwanderedalone,farinthedepthsoftheforest.‘Veryoftencomingtothisstation,Ihadtowaitdaysanddaysbeforehewouldturnup,’hesaid.‘Ah,itwasworthwaitingfor!—sometimes.’‘Whatwashedoing?exploringorwhat?’Iasked.‘Oh,yes,ofcourse’;hehaddiscoveredlotsofvillages,alake,too—hedidnotknowexactlyinwhatdirection;itwasdangeroustoinquiretoomuch—butmostlyhisexpeditionshadbeenforivory.‘Buthehadnogoodstotradewithbythattime,’Iobjected.‘There’sagoodlotofcartridgesleftevenyet,’heanswered,lookingaway.‘Tospeakplainly,heraidedthecountry,’Isaid.Henodded.‘Notalone,surely!’Hemutteredsomethingaboutthevillagesroundthatlake.‘Kurtzgotthetribetofollowhim,didhe?’Isuggested.Hefidgetedalittle.‘Theyadoredhim,’hesaid.ThetoneofthesewordswassoextraordinarythatIlookedathimsearchingly.ItwascurioustoseehismingledeagernessandreluctancetospeakofKurtz.Themanfilledhislife,occupiedhisthoughts,swayedhisemotions.‘Whatcanyouexpect?’heburstout;‘hecametothemwiththunderandlightning,youknow—andtheyhadneverseenanythinglikeit—andveryterrible.Hecouldbeveryterrible.Youcan’tjudgeMr.