Серце темряви

           Landinaswamp,marchthroughthewoods,andinsomeinlandpostfeelthesavagery,theuttersavagery,hadclosedroundhim—allthatmysteriouslifeofthewildernessthatstirsintheforest,inthejungles,intheheartsofwildmen.There’snoinitiationeitherintosuchmysteries.Hehastoliveinthemidstoftheincomprehensible,whichisalsodetestable.Andithasafascination,too,thatgoestoworkuponhim.Thefascinationoftheabomination—youknow,imaginethegrowingregrets,thelongingtoescape,thepowerlessdisgust,thesurrender,thehate."

           Hepaused.

           "Mind,"hebeganagain,liftingonearmfromtheelbow,thepalmofthehandoutwards,sothat,withhislegsfoldedbeforehim,hehadtheposeofaBuddhapreachinginEuropeanclothesandwithoutalotus-flower—"Mind,noneofuswouldfeelexactlylikethis.Whatsavesusisefficiency—thedevotiontoefficiency.Butthesechapswerenotmuchaccount,really.Theywerenocolonists;theiradministrationwasmerelyasqueeze,andnothingmore,Isuspect.Theywereconquerors,andforthatyouwantonlybruteforce—nothingtoboastof,whenyouhaveit,sinceyourstrengthisjustanaccidentarisingfromtheweaknessofothers.Theygrabbedwhattheycouldgetforthesakeofwhatwastobegot.Itwasjustrobberywithviolence,aggravatedmurderonagreatscale,andmengoingatitblind—asisveryproperforthosewhotackleadarkness.