Серце темряви
Chapter 1
Andhewasdevotedtohisbooks,whichwereinapple-pieorder.
"Everythingelseinthestationwasinamuddle—heads,things,buildings.Stringsofdustyniggerswithsplayfeetarrivedanddeparted;astreamofmanufacturedgoods,rubbishycottons,beads,andbrass-wiresetintothedepthsofdarkness,andinreturncameaprecioustrickleofivory.
"Ihadtowaitinthestationfortendays—aneternity.Ilivedinahutintheyard,buttobeoutofthechaosIwouldsometimesgetintotheaccountant’soffice.Itwasbuiltofhorizontalplanks,andsobadlyputtogetherthat,ashebentoverhishighdesk,hewasbarredfromnecktoheelswithnarrowstripsofsunlight.Therewasnoneedtoopenthebigshuttertosee.Itwashotthere,too;bigfliesbuzzedfiendishly,anddidnotsting,butstabbed.Isatgenerallyonthefloor,while,offaultlessappearance(andevenslightlyscented),perchingonahighstool,hewrote,hewrote.Sometimeshestoodupforexercise.Whenatruckle-bedwithasickman(someinvalidagentfromupcountry)wasputinthere,heexhibitedagentleannoyance.‘Thegroansofthissickperson,’hesaid,‘distractmyattention.Andwithoutthatitisextremelydifficulttoguardagainstclericalerrorsinthisclimate.’
"Onedayheremarked,withoutliftinghishead,‘IntheinterioryouwillnodoubtmeetMr.Kurtz.’OnmyaskingwhoMr.Kurtzwas,hesaidhewasafirst-classagent;andseeingmydisappointmentatthisinformation,headdedslowly,layingdownhispen,‘Heisaveryremarkableperson.’
