Серце темряви

           "ItwasupwardofthirtydaysbeforeIsawthemouthofthebigriver.Weanchoredofftheseatofthegovernment.Butmyworkwouldnotbegintillsometwohundredmilesfartheron.SoassoonasIcouldImadeastartforaplacethirtymileshigherup.

           "Ihadmypassageonalittlesea-goingsteamer.HercaptainwasaSwede,andknowingmeforaseaman,invitedmeonthebridge.Hewasayoungman,lean,fair,andmorose,withlankyhairandashufflinggait.Asweleftthemiserablelittlewharf,hetossedhisheadcontemptuouslyattheshore.‘Beenlivingthere?’heasked.Isaid,‘Yes.’‘Finelotthesegovernmentchaps—aretheynot?’hewenton,speakingEnglishwithgreatprecisionandconsiderablebitterness.‘Itisfunnywhatsomepeoplewilldoforafewfrancsamonth.Iwonderwhatbecomesofthatkindwhenitgoesupcountry?’IsaidtohimIexpectedtoseethatsoon.‘So-o-o!’heexclaimed.Heshuffledathwart,keepingoneeyeaheadvigilantly.‘Don’tbetoosure,’hecontinued.‘TheotherdayItookupamanwhohangedhimselfontheroad.HewasaSwede,too.’‘Hangedhimself!Why,inGod’sname?’Icried.Hekeptonlookingoutwatchfully.‘Whoknows?Thesuntoomuchforhim,orthecountryperhaps.’

           "Atlastweopenedareach.Arockycliffappeared,moundsofturned-upearthbytheshore,housesonahill,otherswithironroofs,amongstawasteofexcavations,orhangingtothedeclivity.Acontinuousnoiseoftherapidsabovehoveredoverthissceneofinhabiteddevastation.