Серце темряви
Chapter 2
Thereachesopenedbeforeusandclosedbehind,asiftheforesthadsteppedleisurelyacrossthewatertobarthewayforourreturn.Wepenetrateddeeperanddeeperintotheheartofdarkness.Itwasveryquietthere.Atnightsometimestherollofdrumsbehindthecurtainoftreeswouldrunuptheriverandremainsustainedfaintly,asifhoveringintheairhighoverourheads,tillthefirstbreakofday.Whetheritmeantwar,peace,orprayerwecouldnottell.Thedawnswereheraldedbythedescentofachillstillness;thewood-cuttersslept,theirfiresburnedlow;thesnappingofatwigwouldmakeyoustart.Werewerewanderersonaprehistoricearth,onanearththatworetheaspectofanunknownplanet.Wecouldhavefanciedourselvesthefirstofmentakingpossessionofanaccursedinheritance,tobesubduedatthecostofprofoundanguishandofexcessivetoil.Butsuddenly,aswestruggledroundabend,therewouldbeaglimpseofrushwalls,ofpeakedgrass-roofs,aburstofyells,awhirlofblacklimbs,amassofhandsclapping.offeetstamping,ofbodiesswaying,ofeyesrolling,underthedroopofheavyandmotionlessfoliage.Thesteamertoiledalongslowlyontheedgeofablackandincomprehensiblefrenzy.Theprehistoricmanwascursingus,prayingtous,welcomingus—whocouldtell?Wewerecutofffromthecomprehensionofoursurroundings;weglidedpastlikephantoms,wonderingandsecretlyappalled,assanemenwouldbebeforeanenthusiasticoutbreakinamadhouse.
