Серце темряви
Chapter 3
Thislastedofcoursethemerestfractionofasecond,andthentheusualsenseofcommonplace,deadlydanger,thepossibilityofasuddenonslaughtandmassacre,orsomethingofthekind,whichIsawimpending,waspositivelywelcomeandcomposing.Itpacifiedme,infact,somuchthatIdidnotraiseanalarm.
"Therewasanagentbuttonedupinsideanulsterandsleepingonachairondeckwithinthreefeetofme.Theyellshadnotawakenedhim;hesnoredveryslightly;Ilefthimtohisslumbersandleapedashore.IdidnotbetrayMr.Kurtz—itwasorderedIshouldneverbetrayhim—itwaswrittenIshouldbeloyaltothenightmareofmychoice.Iwasanxioustodealwiththisshadowbymyselfalone—andtothisdayIdon’tknowwhyIwassojealousofsharingwithanyonethepeculiarblacknessofthatexperience.
"AssoonasIgotonthebankIsawatrail—abroadtrailthroughthegrass.IremembertheexultationwithwhichIsaidtomyself,‘Hecan’twalk—heiscrawlingonall-fours—I’vegothim.’Thegrasswaswetwithdew.Istroderapidlywithclenchedfists.IfancyIhadsomevaguenotionoffallinguponhimandgivinghimadrubbing.Idon’tknow.Ihadsomeimbecilethoughts.Theknittingoldwomanwiththecatobtrudedherselfuponmymemoryasamostimproperpersontobesittingattheotherendofsuchanaffair.IsawarowofpilgrimssquirtingleadintheairoutofWinchestersheldtothehip.
