Серце темряви
Chapter 2
ButIfeltitallthesame;Ifeltoftenitsmysteriousstillnesswatchingmeatmymonkeytricks,justasitwatchesyoufellowsperformingonyourrespectivetight-ropesfor—whatisit?half-a-crownatumble—"
"Trytobecivil,Marlow,"growledavoice,andIknewtherewasatleastonelistenerawakebesidesmyself.
"Ibegyourpardon.Iforgottheheartachewhichmakesuptherestoftheprice.Andindeedwhatdoesthepricematter,ifthetrickbewelldone?Youdoyourtricksverywell.AndIdidn’tdobadlyeither,sinceImanagednottosinkthatsteamboatonmyfirsttrip.It’sawondertomeyet.Imagineablindfoldedmansettodriveavanoverabadroad.Isweatedandshiveredoverthatbusinessconsiderably,Icantellyou.Afterall,foraseaman,toscrapethebottomofthethingthat’ssupposedtofloatallthetimeunderhiscareistheunpardonablesin.Noonemayknowofit,butyouneverforgetthethump—eh?Ablowontheveryheart.Yourememberit,youdreamofit,youwakeupatnightandthinkofit—yearsafter—andgohotandcoldallover.Idon’tpretendtosaythatsteamboatfloatedallthetime.Morethanonceshehadtowadeforabit,withtwentycannibalssplashingaroundandpushing.Wehadenlistedsomeofthesechapsonthewayforacrew.Finefellows—cannibals—intheirplace.Theyweremenonecouldworkwith,andIamgratefultothem.
