Серце темряви

           ‘DoInot?’hesaidslowly,gasping,asifthewordshadbeentornoutofhimbyasupernaturalpower.

           "Ipulledthestringofthewhistle,andIdidthisbecauseIsawthepilgrimsondeckgettingouttheirrifleswithanairofanticipatingajollylark.Atthesuddenscreechtherewasamovementofabjectterrorthroughthatwedgedmassofbodies.‘Don’t!don’tyoufrightenthemaway,’criedsomeoneondeckdisconsolately.Ipulledthestringtimeaftertime.Theybrokeandran,theyleaped,theycrouched,theyswerved,theydodgedtheflyingterrorofthesound.Thethreeredchapshadfallenflat,facedownontheshore,asthoughtheyhadbeenshotdead.Onlythebarbarousandsuperbwomandidnotsomuchasflinch,andstretchedtragicallyherbarearmsafterusoverthesombreandglitteringriver.

           "Andthenthatimbecilecrowddownonthedeckstartedtheirlittlefun,andIcouldseenothingmoreforsmoke.

           "Thebrowncurrentranswiftlyoutoftheheartofdarkness,bearingusdowntowardstheseawithtwicethespeedofourupwardprogress;andKurtz’slifewasrunningswiftly,too,ebbing,ebbingoutofhisheartintotheseaofinexorabletime.Themanagerwasveryplacid,hehadnovitalanxietiesnow,hetookusbothinwithacomprehensiveandsatisfiedglance:the‘affair’hadcomeoffaswellascouldbewished.IsawthetimeapproachingwhenIwouldbeleftaloneofthepartyof‘unsoundmethod.’Thepilgrimslookeduponmewithdisfavour.Iwas,sotospeak,numberedwiththedead.