Серце темряви
Chapter 3
Isteamedupabit,thenswungdownstream,andtwothousandeyesfollowedtheevolutionsofthesplashing,thumping,fierceriver-demonbeatingthewaterwithitsterribletailandbreathingblacksmokeintotheair.Infrontofthefirstrank,alongtheriver,threemen,plasteredwithbrightredearthfromheadtofoot,struttedtoandfrorestlessly.Whenwecameabreastagain,theyfacedtheriver,stampedtheirfeet,noddedtheirhornedheads,swayedtheirscarletbodies;theyshooktowardsthefierceriver-demonabunchofblackfeathers,amangyskinwithapendenttail—somethingthatlookedadriedgourd;theyshoutedperiodicallytogetherstringsofamazingwordsthatresemblednosoundsofhumanlanguage;andthedeepmurmursofthecrowd,interruptedsuddenly,wereliketheresponsesofsomesataniclitany.
"WehadcarriedKurtzintothepilot-house:therewasmoreairthere.Lyingonthecouch,hestaredthroughtheopenshutter.Therewasaneddyinthemassofhumanbodies,andthewomanwithhelmetedheadandtawnycheeksrushedouttotheverybrinkofthestream.Sheputoutherhands,shoutedsomething,andallthatwildmobtookuptheshoutinaroaringchorusofarticulated,rapid,breathlessutterance.
"‘Doyouunderstandthis?’Iasked.
"Hekeptonlookingoutpastmewithfiery,longingeyes,withamingledexpressionofwistfulnessandhate.Hemadenoanswer,butIsawasmile,asmileofindefinablemeaning,appearonhiscolourlesslipsthatamomentaftertwitchedconvulsively.
