Серце темряви
Chapter 3
Oneoftheagentswithapicketofafewofourblacks,armedforthepurpose,waskeepingguardovertheivory;butdeepwithintheforest,redgleamsthatwavered,thatseemedtosinkandrisefromthegroundamongstconfusedcolumnarshapesofintenseblackness,showedtheexactpositionofthecampwhereMr.Kurtz’sadorerswerekeepingtheiruneasyvigil.Themonotonousbeatingofabigdrumfilledtheairwithmuffledshocksandalingeringvibration.Asteadydroningsoundofmanymenchantingeachtohimselfsomeweirdincantationcameoutfromtheblack,flatwallofthewoodsasthehummingofbeescomesoutofahive,andhadastrangenarcoticeffectuponmyhalf-awakesenses.IbelieveIdozedoffleaningovertherail,tillanabruptburstofyells,anoverwhelmingoutbreakofapent-upandmysteriousfrenzy,wokemeupinabewilderedwonder.Itwascutshortallatonce,andthelowdroningwentonwithaneffectofaudibleandsoothingsilence.Iglancedcasuallyintothelittlecabin.Alightwasburningwithin,butMr.Kurtzwasnotthere.
"IthinkIwouldhaveraisedanoutcryifIhadbelievedmyeyes.ButIdidn’tbelievethematfirst—thethingseemedsoimpossible.ThefactisIwascompletelyunnervedbyasheerblankfright,pureabstractterror,unconnectedwithanydistinctshapeofphysicaldanger.Whatmadethisemotionsooverpoweringwas—howshallIdefineit?—themoralshockIreceived,asifsomethingaltogethermonstrous,intolerabletothoughtandodioustothesoul,hadbeenthrustuponmeunexpectedly.
