Серце темряви
Chapter 1
Theconquestoftheearth,whichmostlymeansthetakingitawayfromthosewhohaveadifferentcomplexionorslightlyflatternosesthanourselves,isnotaprettythingwhenyoulookintoittoomuch.Whatredeemsitistheideaonly.Anideaatthebackofit;notasentimentalpretencebutanidea;andanunselfishbeliefintheidea—somethingyoucansetup,andbowdownbefore,andofferasacrificeto...."
Hebrokeoff.Flamesglidedintheriver,smallgreenflames,redflames,whiteflames,pursuing,overtaking,joining,crossingeachother—thenseparatingslowlyorhastily.Thetrafficofthegreatcitywentoninthedeepeningnightuponthesleeplessriver.Welookedon,waitingpatiently—therewasnothingelsetodotilltheendoftheflood;butitwasonlyafteralongsilence,whenhesaid,inahesitatingvoice,"IsupposeyoufellowsrememberIdidonceturnfresh-watersailorforabit,"thatweknewwewerefated,beforetheebbbegantorun,tohearaboutoneofMarlow’sinconclusiveexperiences.
"Idon’twanttobotheryoumuchwithwhathappenedtomepersonally,"hebegan,showinginthisremarktheweaknessofmanytellersoftaleswhoseemsooftenunawareofwhattheiraudiencewouldlikebesttohear;"yettounderstandtheeffectofitonmeyououghttoknowhowIgotoutthere,whatIsaw,howIwentupthatrivertotheplacewhereIfirstmetthepoorchap.Itwasthefarthestpointofnavigationandtheculminatingpointofmyexperience.
