Серце темряви

           Hestarted,droppedonmeaheavyglance,saidveryquietly,‘heWAS,’andturnedhisbackonme.Myhouroffavourwasover;IfoundmyselflumpedalongwithKurtzasapartisanofmethodsforwhichthetimewasnotripe:Iwasunsound!Ah!butitwassomethingtohaveatleastachoiceofnightmares.

           "Ihadturnedtothewildernessreally,nottoMr.Kurtz,who,Iwasreadytoadmit,wasasgoodasburied.AndforamomentitseemedtomeasifIalsowereburiedinavastgravefullofunspeakablesecrets.Ifeltanintolerableweightoppressingmybreast,thesmellofthedampearth,theunseenpresenceofvictoriouscorruption,thedarknessofanimpenetrablenight...TheRussiantappedmeontheshoulder.Iheardhimmumblingandstammeringsomethingabout‘brotherseaman—couldn’tconceal—knowledgeofmattersthatwouldaffectMr.Kurtz’sreputation.’Iwaited.ForhimevidentlyMr.Kurtzwasnotinhisgrave;IsuspectthatforhimMr.Kurtzwasoneoftheimmortals.‘Well!’saidIatlast,‘speakout.Asithappens,IamMr.Kurtz’sfriend—inaway.’

           "Hestatedwithagooddealofformalitythathadwenotbeen‘ofthesameprofession,’hewouldhavekeptthemattertohimselfwithoutregardtoconsequences.‘Hesuspectedtherewasanactiveill-willtowardshimonthepartofthesewhitementhat—’‘Youareright,’Isaid,rememberingacertainconversationIhadoverheard.‘Themanagerthinksyououghttobehanged.’Heshowedaconcernatthisintelligencewhichamusedmeatfirst.