Серце темряви
Chapter 3
IreturneddeliberatelytothefirstIhadseen—andthereitwas,black,dried,sunken,withclosedeyelids—aheadthatseemedtosleepatthetopofthatpole,and,withtheshrunkendrylipsshowinganarrowwhitelineoftheteeth,wassmiling,too,smilingcontinuouslyatsomeendlessandjocosedreamofthateternalslumber.
"Iamnotdisclosinganytradesecrets.Infact,themanagersaidafterwardsthatMr.Kurtz’smethodshadruinedthedistrict.Ihavenoopiniononthatpoint,butIwantyouclearlytounderstandthattherewasnothingexactlyprofitableintheseheadsbeingthere.TheyonlyshowedthatMr.Kurtzlackedrestraintinthegratificationofhisvariouslusts,thattherewassomethingwantinginhim—somesmallmatterwhich,whenthepressingneedarose,couldnotbefoundunderhismagnificenteloquence.WhetherheknewofthisdeficiencyhimselfIcan’tsay.Ithinktheknowledgecametohimatlast—onlyattheverylast.Butthewildernesshadfoundhimoutearly,andhadtakenonhimaterriblevengeanceforthefantasticinvasion.Ithinkithadwhisperedtohimthingsabouthimselfwhichhedidnotknow,thingsofwhichhehadnoconceptiontillhetookcounselwiththisgreatsolitude—andthewhisperhadprovedirresistiblyfascinating.Itechoedloudlywithinhimbecausehewashollowatthecore...Iputdowntheglass,andtheheadthathadappearednearenoughtobespokentoseemedatoncetohaveleapedawayfrommeintoinaccessibledistance.
"TheadmirerofMr.Kurtzwasabitcrestfallen.
