Серце темряви
Chapter 2
Thepointwasinhisbeingagiftedcreature,andthatofallhisgiftstheonethatstoodoutpreeminently,thatcarriedwithitasenseofrealpresence,washisabilitytotalk,hiswords—thegiftofexpression,thebewildering,theilluminating,themostexaltedandthemostcontemptible,thepulsatingstreamoflight,orthedeceitfulflowfromtheheartofanimpenetrabledarkness.
"Theothershoewentflyinguntothedevil-godofthatriver.Ithought,‘ByJove!it’sallover.Wearetoolate;hehasvanished—thegifthasvanished,bymeansofsomespear,arrow,orclub.Iwillneverhearthatchapspeakafterall’—andmysorrowhadastartlingextravaganceofemotion,evensuchasIhadnoticedinthehowlingsorrowofthesesavagesinthebush.Icouldn’thavefeltmoreoflonelydesolationsomehow,hadIbeenrobbedofabelieforhadmissedmydestinyinlife...Whydoyousighinthisbeastlyway,somebody?Absurd?Well,absurd.GoodLord!mustn’tamanever—Here,givemesometobacco."...
Therewasapauseofprofoundstillness,thenamatchflared,andMarlow’sleanfaceappeared,worn,hollow,withdownwardfoldsanddroppedeyelids,withanaspectofconcentratedattention;andashetookvigorousdrawsathispipe,itseemedtoretreatandadvanceoutofthenightintheregularflickeroftinyflame.Thematchwentout.
"Absurd!"hecried."Thisistheworstoftryingtotell...
