Серце темряви
Chapter 1
Theoldriverinitsbroadreachrestedunruffledatthedeclineofday,afteragesofgoodservicedonetotheracethatpeopleditsbanks,spreadoutinthetranquildignityofawaterwayleadingtotheuttermostendsoftheearth.Welookedatthevenerablestreamnotinthevividflushofashortdaythatcomesanddepartsforever,butintheaugustlightofabidingmemories.Andindeednothingiseasierforamanwhohas,asthephrasegoes,"followedthesea"withreverenceandaffection,thattoevokethegreatspiritofthepastuponthelowerreachesoftheThames.Thetidalcurrentrunstoandfroinitsunceasingservice,crowdedwithmemoriesofmenandshipsithadbornetotherestofhomeortothebattlesofthesea.Ithadknownandservedallthemenofwhomthenationisproud,fromSirFrancisDraketoSirJohnFranklin,knightsall,titledanduntitled—thegreatknights-errantofthesea.Ithadbornealltheshipswhosenamesarelikejewelsflashinginthenightoftime,fromtheGOLDENHINDreturningwithherrotundflanksfulloftreasure,tobevisitedbytheQueen’sHighnessandthuspassoutofthegigantictale,totheEREBUSandTERROR,boundonotherconquests—andthatneverreturned.Ithadknowntheshipsandthemen.TheyhadsailedfromDeptford,fromGreenwich,fromErith—theadventurersandthesettlers;kings’shipsandtheshipsofmenon’Change;captains,admirals,thedark"interlopers"oftheEasterntrade,andthecommissioned"generals"ofEastIndiafleets.
