Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad
**The Project Gutenberg Etext of Heart of Darkness, by Conrad**
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Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
,ebruary, 0114 [Etext 5601)
**The Project Gutenberg Etext of Heart of Darkness, by Conrad**
*****Th#s f#&e shou&d be na!ed hdark00*txt or hdark00*7#p******
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HE%.T 8, D%.R'E
by Joseph Conrad
3
The 'e&&#e, a cru#s#ng ya(&, s(ung to her anchor (#thout
a f&utter of the sa#&s, and (as at rest* The f&ood had !ade,
the (#nd (as near&y ca&!, and be#ng bound do(n the r#"er,
the on&y th#ng for #t (as to co!e to and (a#t for the turn
of the t#de*
The sea?reach of the Tha!es stretched before us &#ke the beg#nn#ng of an
#nter!#nab&e (ater(ay* 3n the off#ng the sea and the sky (ere (e&ded
together (#thout a jo#nt, and #n the &u!#nous space the tanned sa#&s
of the barges dr#ft#ng up (#th the t#de see!ed to stand st#&& #n red
c&usters of can"as sharp&y peaked, (#th g&ea!s of "arn#shed spr#ts*
% ha7e rested on the &o( shores that ran out to sea #n "an#sh#ng f&atness*
The a#r (as dark abo"e Gra"esend, and farther back st#&& see!ed
condensed #nto a !ournfu& g&oo!, brood#ng !ot#on&ess o"er the b#ggest,
and the greatest, to(n on earth*
The D#rector of Co!pan#es (as our capta#n and our host* +e four
affect#onate&y (atched h#s back as he stood #n the bo(s &ook#ng to sea(ard*
8n the (ho&e r#"er there (as noth#ng that &ooked ha&f so naut#ca&*
He rese!b&ed a p#&ot, (h#ch to a sea!an #s trust(orth#ness person#f#ed*
3t (as d#ff#cu&t to rea&#7e h#s (ork (as not out there #n the &u!#nous
estuary, but beh#nd h#!, (#th#n the brood#ng g&oo!*
/et(een us there (as, as 3 ha"e a&ready sa#d so!e(here,
the bond of the sea* /es#des ho&d#ng our hearts together
through &ong per#ods of separat#on, #t had the effect of !ak#ng
us to&erant of each otherDs yarns??and e"en con"#ct#ons*
The <a(yer??the best of o&d fe&&o(s??had, because of h#s !any
years and !any "#rtues, the on&y cush#on on deck, and (as &y#ng
on the on&y rug* The %ccountant had brought out a&ready a box
of do!#noes, and (as toy#ng arch#tectura&&y (#th the bones*
:ar&o( sat cross?&egged r#ght aft, &ean#ng aga#nst
the !#77en?!ast* He had sunken cheeks, a ye&&o( co!p&ex#on,
a stra#ght back, an ascet#c aspect, and, (#th h#s ar!s dropped,
the pa&!s of hands out(ards, rese!b&ed an #do&*
The d#rector, sat#sf#ed the anchor had good ho&d, !ade h#s (ay
aft and sat do(n a!ongst us* +e exchanged a fe( (ords &a7#&y*
%fter(ards there (as s#&ence on board the yacht*
,or so!e reason or other (e d#d not beg#n that ga!e of do!#noes*
+e fe&t !ed#tat#"e, and f#t for noth#ng but p&ac#d star#ng*
The day (as end#ng #n a seren#ty of st#&& and ex=u#s#te br#&&#ance*
The (ater shone pac#f#ca&&yP the sky, (#thout a speck, (as a
ben#gn #!!ens#ty of unsta#ned &#ghtP the "ery !#st on the Essex
!arsh (as &#ke a gau7y and rad#ant fabr#c, hung fro! the (ooded
r#ses #n&and, and drap#ng the &o( shores #n d#aphanous fo&ds*
8n&y the g&oo! to the (est, brood#ng o"er the upper reaches,
beca!e !ore so!bre e"ery !#nute, as #f angered by the approach
of the sun*
%nd at &ast, #n #ts cur"ed and #!percept#b&e fa&&, the sun sank &o(,
and fro! g&o(#ng (h#te changed to a du&& red (#thout rays and (#thout heat,
as #f about to go out sudden&y, str#cken to death by the touch of that g&oo!
brood#ng o"er a cro(d of !en*
,orth(#th a change ca!e o"er the (aters, and the seren#ty
beca!e &ess br#&&#ant but !ore profound* The o&d r#"er
#n #ts broad reach rested unruff&ed at the dec&#ne of day,
after ages of good ser"#ce done to the race that peop&ed #ts banks,
spread out #n the tran=u#& d#gn#ty of a (ater(ay &ead#ng
to the utter!ost ends of the earth* +e &ooked at the "enerab&e
strea! not #n the "#"#d f&ush of a short day that co!es and
departs for e"er, but #n the august &#ght of ab#d#ng !e!or#es*
%nd #ndeed noth#ng #s eas#er for a !an (ho has, as the phrase goes,
$fo&&o(ed the sea$ (#th re"erence and affect#on, that to e"oke
the great sp#r#t of the past upon the &o(er reaches of the Tha!es*
The t#da& current runs to and fro #n #ts unceas#ng ser"#ce,
cro(ded (#th !e!or#es of !en and sh#ps #t had borne
to the rest of ho!e or to the batt&es of the sea*
3t had kno(n and ser"ed a&& the !en of (ho! the nat#on #s proud,
fro! #r ,ranc#s Drake to #r John ,rank&#n, kn#ghts a&&,
t#t&ed and unt#t&ed??the great kn#ghts?errant of the sea*
3t had borne a&& the sh#ps (hose na!es are &#ke je(e&s
f&ash#ng #n the n#ght of t#!e, fro! the G8<DE' H3'D return#ng
(#th her rotund f&anks fu&& of treasure, to be "#s#ted by
the QueenDs H#ghness and thus pass out of the g#gant#c ta&e,
to the E.E/9 and TE..8., bound on other con=uests??
and that ne"er returned* 3t had kno(n the sh#ps and the !en*
They had sa#&ed fro! Deptford, fro! Green(#ch, fro! Er#th??
the ad"enturers and the sett&ersP k#ngsD sh#ps and the sh#ps
of !en on DChangeP capta#ns, ad!#ra&s, the dark $#nter&opers$
of the Eastern trade, and the co!!#ss#oned $genera&s$
of East 3nd#a f&eets* Hunters for go&d or pursuers of fa!e,
they a&& had gone out on that strea!, bear#ng the s(ord,
and often the torch, !essengers of the !#ght (#th#n the &and,
bearers of a spark fro! the sacred f#re* +hat greatness had not
f&oated on the ebb of that r#"er #nto the !ystery of an unkno(n
earthK * * * The drea!s of !en, the seed of co!!on(ea&ths,
the ger!s of e!p#res*
The sun setP the dusk fe&& on the strea!, and &#ghts began to
appear a&ong the shore* The Chap!an &#ght?house, a three?&egged
th#ng erect on a !ud?f&at, shone strong&y* <#ghts of sh#ps !o"ed
#n the fa#r(ay??a great st#r of &#ghts go#ng up and go#ng do(n*
%nd farther (est on the upper reaches the p&ace of the !onstrous to(n
(as st#&& !arked o!#nous&y on the sky, a brood#ng g&oo! #n sunsh#ne,
a &ur#d g&are under the stars*
$%nd th#s a&so,$ sa#d :ar&o( sudden&y, $has been one of the dark
p&aces of the earth*$
He (as the on&y !an of us (ho st#&& $fo&&o(ed the sea*$
The (orst that cou&d be sa#d of h#! (as that he d#d not represent
h#s c&ass* He (as a sea!an, but he (as a (anderer, too, (h#&e !ost
sea!en &ead, #f one !ay so express #t, a sedentary &#fe*
The#r !#nds are of the stay?at?ho!e order, and the#r ho!e #s
a&(ays (#th the!??the sh#pP and so #s the#r country??the sea*
8ne sh#p #s "ery !uch &#ke another, and the sea #s a&(ays the sa!e*
3n the #!!utab#&#ty of the#r surround#ngs the fore#gn shores,
the fore#gn faces, the chang#ng #!!ens#ty of &#fe, g&#de past,
"e#&ed not by a sense of !ystery but by a s&#ght&y d#sda#nfu& #gnoranceP
for there #s noth#ng !yster#ous to a sea!an un&ess #t be the sea #tse&f,
(h#ch #s the !#stress of h#s ex#stence and as #nscrutab&e as Dest#ny*
,or the rest, after h#s hours of (ork, a casua& stro&& or a casua&
spree on shore suff#ces to unfo&d for h#! the secret of a (ho&e
cont#nent, and genera&&y he f#nds the secret not (orth kno(#ng*
The yarns of sea!en ha"e a d#rect s#!p&#c#ty, the (ho&e !ean#ng
of (h#ch &#es (#th#n the she&& of a cracked nut* /ut :ar&o( (as
not typ#ca& E#f h#s propens#ty to sp#n yarns be exceptedF, and to h#!
the !ean#ng of an ep#sode (as not #ns#de &#ke a kerne& but outs#de,
en"e&op#ng the ta&e (h#ch brought #t out on&y as a g&o( br#ngs out
a ha7e, #n the &#keness of one of these !#sty ha&os that so!et#!es
are !ade "#s#b&e by the spectra& #&&u!#nat#on of !oonsh#ne*
H#s re!ark d#d not see! at a&& surpr#s#ng* 3t (as just &#ke :ar&o(*
3t (as accepted #n s#&ence* 'o one took the troub&e to grunt e"enP
and present&y he sa#d, "ery s&o(??$3 (as th#nk#ng of "ery o&d t#!es,
(hen the .o!ans f#rst ca!e here, n#neteen hundred years ago??the other day*
* * * <#ght ca!e out of th#s r#"er s#nce??you say Rn#ghtsN OesP but #t #s
&#ke a runn#ng b&a7e on a p&a#n, &#ke a f&ash of &#ghtn#ng #n the c&ouds*
+e &#"e #n the f&#cker??!ay #t &ast as &ong as the o&d earth keeps ro&&#ngK
/ut darkness (as here yesterday* 3!ag#ne the fee&#ngs of a co!!ander
of a f#ne??(hat dDye ca&& De!N??tr#re!e #n the :ed#terranean,
ordered sudden&y to the northP run o"er&and across the Gau&s #n a hurryP
put #n charge of one of these craft the &eg#onar#es??a (onderfu& &ot
of handy !en they !ust ha"e been, too??used to bu#&d, apparent&y by
the hundred, #n a !onth or t(o, #f (e !ay be&#e"e (hat (e read*
3!ag#ne h#! here??the "ery end of the (or&d, a sea the co&our of &ead,
a sky the co&our of s!oke, a k#nd of sh#p about as r#g#d as a concert#na??
and go#ng up th#s r#"er (#th stores, or orders, or (hat you &#ke*
and?banks, !arshes, forests, sa"ages,??prec#ous &#tt&e to eat f#t for a
c#"#&#7ed !an, noth#ng but Tha!es (ater to dr#nk* 'o ,a&ern#an (#ne here,
no go#ng ashore* Here and there a !#&#tary ca!p &ost #n a (#&derness,
&#ke a need&e #n a bund&e of hay??co&d, fog, te!pests, d#sease, ex#&e,
and death??death sku&k#ng #n the a#r, #n the (ater, #n the bush*
They !ust ha"e been dy#ng &#ke f&#es here* 8h, yes??he d#d #t*
D#d #t "ery (e&&, too, no doubt, and (#thout th#nk#ng !uch about #t e#ther,
except after(ards to brag of (hat he had gone through #n h#s t#!e, perhaps*
They (ere !en enough to face the darkness* %nd perhaps he (as cheered
by keep#ng h#s eye on a chance of pro!ot#on to the f&eet at .a"enna
by and by, #f he had good fr#ends #n .o!e and sur"#"ed the a(fu& c&#!ate*
8r th#nk of a decent young c#t#7en #n a toga??perhaps too !uch d#ce,
you kno(??co!#ng out here #n the tra#n of so!e prefect, or tax?gatherer,
or trader e"en, to !end h#s fortunes* <and #n a s(a!p, !arch through
the (oods, and #n so!e #n&and post fee& the sa"agery, the utter sa"agery,
had c&osed round h#!??a&& that !yster#ous &#fe of the (#&derness
that st#rs #n the forest, #n the jung&es, #n the hearts of (#&d !en*
ThereDs no #n#t#at#on e#ther #nto such !yster#es* He has to &#"e
#n the !#dst of the #nco!prehens#b&e, (h#ch #s a&so detestab&e*
%nd #t has a fasc#nat#on, too, that goes to (ork upon h#!*
The fasc#nat#on of the abo!#nat#on??you kno(, #!ag#ne the gro(#ng regrets,
the &ong#ng to escape, the po(er&ess d#sgust, the surrender, the hate*$
He paused*
$:#nd,$ he began aga#n, &#ft#ng one ar! fro! the e&bo(, the pa&!
of the hand out(ards, so that, (#th h#s &egs fo&ded before h#!,
he had the pose of a /uddha preach#ng #n European c&othes and (#thout
a &otus?f&o(er??$:#nd, none of us (ou&d fee& exact&y &#ke th#s*
+hat sa"es us #s eff#c#ency??the de"ot#on to eff#c#ency*
/ut these chaps (ere not !uch account, rea&&y* They (ere no co&on#stsP
the#r ad!#n#strat#on (as !ere&y a s=uee7e, and noth#ng !ore, 3 suspect*
They (ere con=uerors, and for that you (ant on&y brute force??
noth#ng to boast of, (hen you ha"e #t, s#nce your strength
#s just an acc#dent ar#s#ng fro! the (eakness of others*
They grabbed (hat they cou&d get for the sake of (hat (as to be got*
3t (as just robbery (#th "#o&ence, aggra"ated !urder on a great sca&e,
and !en go#ng at #t b&#nd??as #s "ery proper for those (ho tack&e
a darkness* The con=uest of the earth, (h#ch !ost&y !eans
the tak#ng #t a(ay fro! those (ho ha"e a d#fferent co!p&ex#on
or s&#ght&y f&atter noses than ourse&"es, #s not a pretty th#ng
(hen you &ook #nto #t too !uch* +hat redee!s #t #s the #dea on&y*
%n #dea at the back of #tP not a sent#!enta& pretence but an #deaP
and an unse&f#sh be&#ef #n the #dea??so!eth#ng you can set up,
and bo( do(n before, and offer a sacr#f#ce to* * * *$
He broke off* ,&a!es g&#ded #n the r#"er, s!a&& green f&a!es, red f&a!es,
(h#te f&a!es, pursu#ng, o"ertak#ng, jo#n#ng, cross#ng each other??
then separat#ng s&o(&y or hast#&y* The traff#c of the great c#ty (ent
on #n the deepen#ng n#ght upon the s&eep&ess r#"er* +e &ooked on,
(a#t#ng pat#ent&y??there (as noth#ng e&se to do t#&& the end of the f&oodP
but #t (as on&y after a &ong s#&ence, (hen he sa#d, #n a hes#tat#ng "o#ce,
$3 suppose you fe&&o(s re!e!ber 3 d#d once turn fresh?(ater sa#&or
for a b#t,$ that (e kne( (e (ere fated, before the ebb began to run,
to hear about one of :ar&o(Ds #nconc&us#"e exper#ences*
$3 donDt (ant to bother you !uch (#th (hat happened to !e persona&&y,$
he began, sho(#ng #n th#s re!ark the (eakness of !any te&&ers
of ta&es (ho see! so often una(are of (hat the#r aud#ence (ou&d
&#ke best to hearP $yet to understand the effect of #t on !e you ought
to kno( ho( 3 got out there, (hat 3 sa(, ho( 3 (ent up that r#"er
to the p&ace (here 3 f#rst !et the poor chap* 3t (as the farthest
po#nt of na"#gat#on and the cu&!#nat#ng po#nt of !y exper#ence*
3t see!ed so!eho( to thro( a k#nd of &#ght on e"eryth#ng about !e??
and #nto !y thoughts* 3t (as so!bre enough, too??and p#t#fu&??
not extraord#nary #n any (ay??not "ery c&ear e#ther* 'o, not "ery c&ear*
%nd yet #t see!ed to thro( a k#nd of &#ght*
$3 had then, as you re!e!ber, just returned to <ondon after a &ot of 3nd#an
8cean, Pac#f#c, Ch#na eas??a regu&ar dose of the East??s#x years or so,
and 3 (as &oaf#ng about, h#nder#ng you fe&&o(s #n your (ork and #n"ad#ng
your ho!es, just as though 3 had got a hea"en&y !#ss#on to c#"#&#7e you*
3t (as "ery f#ne for a t#!e, but after a b#t 3 d#d get t#red of rest#ng*
Then 3 began to &ook for a sh#p??3 shou&d th#nk the hardest (ork on earth*
/ut the sh#ps (ou&dnDt e"en &ook at !e* %nd 3 got t#red of that ga!e, too*
$'o( (hen 3 (as a &#tt&e chap 3 had a pass#on for !aps*
3 (ou&d &ook for hours at outh %!er#ca, or %fr#ca, or %ustra&#a,
and &ose !yse&f #n a&& the g&or#es of exp&orat#on*
%t that t#!e there (ere !any b&ank spaces on the earth,
and (hen 3 sa( one that &ooked part#cu&ar&y #n"#t#ng on a !ap
Ebut they a&& &ook thatF 3 (ou&d put !y f#nger on #t
and say, U+hen 3 gro( up 3 (#&& go there*D The 'orth Po&e
(as one of these p&aces, 3 re!e!ber* +e&&, 3 ha"enDt been
there yet, and sha&& not try no(* The g&a!ourDs off*
8ther p&aces (ere scattered about the he!#spheres* 3 ha"e been
#n so!e of the!, and * * * (e&&, (e (onDt ta&k about that*
/ut there (as one yet??the b#ggest, the !ost b&ank, so to speak??
that 3 had a hanker#ng after*
$True, by th#s t#!e #t (as not a b&ank space any !ore*
3t had got f#&&ed s#nce !y boyhood (#th r#"ers and &akes and na!es*
3t had ceased to be a b&ank space of de&#ghtfu& !ystery??
a (h#te patch for a boy to drea! g&or#ous&y o"er*
3t had beco!e a p&ace of darkness* /ut there (as #n #t
one r#"er espec#a&&y, a !#ghty b#g r#"er, that you cou&d
see on the !ap, rese!b&#ng an #!!ense snake unco#&ed,
(#th #ts head #n the sea, #ts body at rest cur"#ng afar o"er
a "ast country, and #ts ta#& &ost #n the depths of the &and*
%nd as 3 &ooked at the !ap of #t #n a shop?(#ndo(, #t
fasc#nated !e as a snake (ou&d a b#rd??a s#&&y &#tt&e b#rd*
Then 3 re!e!bered there (as a b#g concern, a Co!pany for
trade on that r#"er* Dash #t a&&K 3 thought to !yse&f,
they canDt trade (#thout us#ng so!e k#nd of craft on that &ot of
fresh (ater??stea!boatsK +hy shou&dnDt 3 try to get charge of oneN
3 (ent on a&ong ,&eet treet, but cou&d not shake off the #dea*
The snake had char!ed !e*
$Oou understand #t (as a Cont#nenta& concern, that Trad#ng soc#etyP
but 3 ha"e a &ot of re&at#ons &#"#ng on the Cont#nent, because #tDs
cheap and not so nasty as #t &ooks, they say*
$3 a! sorry to o(n 3 began to (orry the!* Th#s (as a&ready a fresh
departure for !e* 3 (as not used to get th#ngs that (ay, you kno(*
3 a&(ays (ent !y o(n road and on !y o(n &egs (here 3 had a !#nd to go*
3 (ou&dnDt ha"e be&#e"ed #t of !yse&fP but, then??you see??3 fe&t
so!eho( 3 !ust get there by hook or by crook* o 3 (orr#ed the!*
The !en sa#d U:y dear fe&&o(,D and d#d noth#ng* Then??(ou&d you
be&#e"e #tN??3 tr#ed the (o!en* 3, Char&#e :ar&o(, set the (o!en to (ork??
to get a job* Hea"ensK +e&&, you see, the not#on dro"e !e*
3 had an aunt, a dear enthus#ast#c sou&* he (rote> U3t (#&& be de&#ghtfu&*
3 a! ready to do anyth#ng, anyth#ng for you* 3t #s a g&or#ous #dea*
3 kno( the (#fe of a "ery h#gh personage #n the %d!#n#strat#on,
and a&so a !an (ho has &ots of #nf&uence (#th,D etc* he (as deter!#ned
to !ake no end of fuss to get !e appo#nted sk#pper of a r#"er stea!boat,
#f such (as !y fancy*
$3 got !y appo#nt!ent??of courseP and 3 got #t "ery =u#ck*
3t appears the Co!pany had rece#"ed ne(s that one of the#r
capta#ns had been k#&&ed #n a scuff&e (#th the nat#"es*
Th#s (as !y chance, and #t !ade !e the !ore anx#ous to go*
3t (as on&y !onths and !onths after(ards, (hen 3 !ade the atte!pt
to reco"er (hat (as &eft of the body, that 3 heard the or#g#na&
=uarre& arose fro! a !#sunderstand#ng about so!e hens*
Oes, t(o b&ack hens* ,res&e"en??that (as the fe&&o(Ds na!e,
a Dane??thought h#!se&f (ronged so!eho( #n the barga#n,
so he (ent ashore and started to ha!!er the ch#ef of the "#&&age
(#th a st#ck* 8h, #t d#dnDt surpr#se !e #n the &east to
hear th#s, and at the sa!e t#!e to be to&d that ,res&e"en (as
the gent&est, =u#etest creature that e"er (a&ked on t(o &egs*
'o doubt he (asP but he had been a coup&e of years a&ready out
there engaged #n the nob&e cause, you kno(, and he probab&y fe&t
the need at &ast of assert#ng h#s se&f?respect #n so!e (ay*
Therefore he (hacked the o&d n#gger !erc#&ess&y, (h#&e a b#g
cro(d of h#s peop&e (atched h#!, thunderstruck, t#&& so!e !an??
3 (as to&d the ch#efDs son??#n desperat#on at hear#ng the o&d
chap ye&&, !ade a tentat#"e jab (#th a spear at the (h#te !an??
and of course #t (ent =u#te easy bet(een the shou&der?b&ades*
Then the (ho&e popu&at#on c&eared #nto the forest, expect#ng a&&
k#nds of ca&a!#t#es to happen, (h#&e, on the other hand,
the stea!er ,res&e"en co!!anded &eft a&so #n a bad pan#c,
#n charge of the eng#neer, 3 be&#e"e* %fter(ards nobody see!ed
to troub&e !uch about ,res&e"enDs re!a#ns, t#&& 3 got out and
stepped #nto h#s shoes* 3 cou&dnDt &et #t rest, thoughP but (hen
an opportun#ty offered at &ast to !eet !y predecessor, the grass
gro(#ng through h#s r#bs (as ta&& enough to h#de h#s bones*
They (ere a&& there* The supernatura& be#ng had not been
touched after he fe&&* %nd the "#&&age (as deserted, the huts
gaped b&ack, rott#ng, a&& aske( (#th#n the fa&&en enc&osures*
% ca&a!#ty had co!e to #t, sure enough* The peop&e had "an#shed*
:ad terror had scattered the!, !en, (o!en, and ch#&dren,
through the bush, and they had ne"er returned*
+hat beca!e of the hens 3 donDt kno( e#ther* 3 shou&d th#nk
the cause of progress got the!, anyho(* Ho(e"er, through th#s
g&or#ous affa#r 3 got !y appo#nt!ent, before 3 had fa#r&y
begun to hope for #t*
$3 f&e( around &#ke !ad to get ready, and before forty?e#ght
hours 3 (as cross#ng the Channe& to sho( !yse&f to !y e!p&oyers,
and s#gn the contract* 3n a "ery fe( hours 3 arr#"ed #n a c#ty that
a&(ays !akes !e th#nk of a (h#ted sepu&chre* Prejud#ce no doubt*
3 had no d#ff#cu&ty #n f#nd#ng the Co!panyDs off#ces* 3t (as
the b#ggest th#ng #n the to(n, and e"erybody 3 !et (as fu&& of #t*
They (ere go#ng to run an o"er?sea e!p#re, and !ake no end of
co#n by trade*
$% narro( and deserted street #n deep shado(, h#gh houses,
#nnu!erab&e (#ndo(s (#th "enet#an b&#nds, a dead s#&ence, grass sprout#ng
r#ght and &eft, #!!ense doub&e doors stand#ng ponderous&y ajar*
3 s&#pped through one of these cracks, (ent up a s(ept and ungarn#shed
sta#rcase, as ar#d as a desert, and opened the f#rst door 3 ca!e to*
T(o (o!en, one fat and the other s&#!, sat on stra(?botto!ed cha#rs,
kn#tt#ng b&ack (oo&* The s&#! one got up and (a&ked stra#ght at !e??
st#&& kn#tt#ng (#th do(ncast eyes??and on&y just as 3 began to
th#nk of gett#ng out of her (ay, as you (ou&d for a so!na!bu&#st,
stood st#&&, and &ooked up* Her dress (as as p&a#n as an
u!bre&&a?co"er, and she turned round (#thout a (ord and preceded
!e #nto a (a#t#ng?roo!* 3 ga"e !y na!e, and &ooked about*
Dea& tab&e #n the !#dd&e, p&a#n cha#rs a&& round the (a&&s, on one
end a &arge sh#n#ng !ap, !arked (#th a&& the co&ours of a ra#nbo(*
There (as a "ast a!ount of red??good to see at any t#!e, because one
kno(s that so!e rea& (ork #s done #n there, a deuce of a &ot
of b&ue, a &#tt&e green, s!ears of orange, and, on the East Coast,
a purp&e patch, to sho( (here the jo&&y p#oneers of progress dr#nk
the jo&&y &ager?beer* Ho(e"er, 3 (asnDt go#ng #nto any of these*
3 (as go#ng #nto the ye&&o(* Dead #n the centre* %nd the r#"er
(as there??fasc#nat#ng??dead&y??&#ke a snake* 8ughK % door opened,
ya (h#te?ha#red secretar#a& head, but (ear#ng a co!pass#onate express#on,
appeared, and a sk#nny foref#nger beckoned !e #nto the sanctuary*
3ts &#ght (as d#!, and a hea"y (r#t#ng?desk s=uatted #n the !#dd&e*
,ro! beh#nd that structure ca!e out an #!press#on of pa&e p&u!pness
#n a frock?coat* The great !an h#!se&f* He (as f#"e feet s#x,
3 shou&d judge, and had h#s gr#p on the hand&e?end of e"er
so !any !#&&#ons* He shook hands, 3 fancy, !ur!ured "ague&y,
(as sat#sf#ed (#th !y ,rench* /8' -8O%GE*
$3n about forty?f#"e seconds 3 found !yse&f aga#n #n the (a#t#ng?roo!
(#th the co!pass#onate secretary, (ho, fu&& of deso&at#on and sy!pathy,
!ade !e s#gn so!e docu!ent* 3 be&#e"e 3 undertook a!ongst other th#ngs
not to d#sc&ose any trade secrets* +e&&, 3 a! not go#ng to*
$3 began to fee& s&#ght&y uneasy* Oou kno( 3 a! not used to
such cere!on#es, and there (as so!eth#ng o!#nous #n the at!osphere*
3t (as just as though 3 had been &et #nto so!e consp#racy??
3 donDt kno(??so!eth#ng not =u#te r#ghtP and 3 (as g&ad to get out*
3n the outer roo! the t(o (o!en kn#tted b&ack (oo& fe"er#sh&y*
Peop&e (ere arr#"#ng, and the younger one (as (a&k#ng back
and forth #ntroduc#ng the!* The o&d one sat on her cha#r*
Her f&at c&oth s&#ppers (ere propped up on a foot?(ar!er, and a cat
reposed on her &ap* he (ore a starched (h#te affa#r on her head,
had a (art on one cheek, and s#&"er?r#!!ed spectac&es hung
on the t#p of her nose* he g&anced at !e abo"e the g&asses*
The s(#ft and #nd#fferent p&ac#d#ty of that &ook troub&ed !e*
T(o youths (#th foo&#sh and cheery countenances (ere be#ng p#&oted o"er,
and she thre( at the! the sa!e =u#ck g&ance of unconcerned (#sdo!*
he see!ed to kno( a&& about the! and about !e, too*
%n eer#e fee&#ng ca!e o"er !e* he see!ed uncanny and fatefu&*
8ften far a(ay there 3 thought of these t(o, guard#ng the door
of Darkness, kn#tt#ng b&ack (oo& as for a (ar! pa&&,
one #ntroduc#ng, #ntroduc#ng cont#nuous&y to the unkno(n,
the other scrut#n#7#ng the cheery and foo&#sh faces (#th unconcerned
o&d eyes* %-EK 8&d kn#tter of b&ack (oo&* :8.3T9.3 TE %<9T%'T*
'ot !any of those she &ooked at e"er sa( her aga#n??not ha&f,
by a &ong (ay*
$There (as yet a "#s#t to the doctor* U% s#!p&e for!a&#ty,D assured !e
the secretary, (#th an a#r of tak#ng an #!!ense part #n a&& !y sorro(s*
%ccord#ng&y a young chap (ear#ng h#s hat o"er the &eft eyebro(,
so!e c&erk 3 suppose??there !ust ha"e been c&erks #n the bus#ness,
though the house (as as st#&& as a house #n a c#ty of the dead??
ca!e fro! so!e(here up?sta#rs, and &ed !e forth* He (as shabby
and care&ess, (#th #nksta#ns on the s&ee"es of h#s jacket, and h#s
cra"at (as &arge and b#&&o(y, under a ch#n shaped &#ke the toe
of an o&d boot* 3t (as a &#tt&e too ear&y for the doctor, so 3
proposed a dr#nk, and thereupon he de"e&oped a "e#n of jo"#a&#ty*
%s (e sat o"er our "er!ouths he g&or#f#ed the Co!panyDs bus#ness,
and by and by 3 expressed casua&&y !y surpr#se at h#! not go#ng
out there* He beca!e "ery coo& and co&&ected a&& at once*
U3 a! not such a foo& as 3 &ook, =uoth P&ato to h#s d#sc#p&es,D
he sa#d sentent#ous&y, e!pt#ed h#s g&ass (#th great reso&ut#on,
and (e rose*
$The o&d doctor fe&t !y pu&se, e"#dent&y th#nk#ng of so!eth#ng
e&se the (h#&e* UGood, good for there,D he !u!b&ed,
and then (#th a certa#n eagerness asked !e (hether 3 (ou&d
&et h#! !easure !y head* .ather surpr#sed, 3 sa#d Oes,
(hen he produced a th#ng &#ke ca&#pers and got the d#!ens#ons
back and front and e"ery (ay, tak#ng notes carefu&&y*
He (as an unsha"en &#tt&e !an #n a threadbare coat &#ke a gaberd#ne,
(#th h#s feet #n s&#ppers, and 3 thought h#! a har!&ess foo&*
U3 a&(ays ask &ea"e, #n the #nterests of sc#ence, to !easure
the cran#a of those go#ng out there,D he sa#d* U%nd (hen they
co!e back, tooND 3 asked* U8h, 3 ne"er see the!,D he re!arkedP
Uand, !oreo"er, the changes take p&ace #ns#de, you kno(*D
He s!#&ed, as #f at so!e =u#et joke* Uo you are go#ng
out there* ,a!ous* 3nterest#ng, too*D He ga"e !e a search#ng
g&ance, and !ade another note* UE"er any !adness #n your fa!#&yND
he asked, #n a !atter?of?fact tone* 3 fe&t "ery annoyed*
U3s that =uest#on #n the #nterests of sc#ence, tooND
U3t (ou&d be,D he sa#d, (#thout tak#ng not#ce of !y #rr#tat#on,
U#nterest#ng for sc#ence to (atch the !enta& changes
of #nd#"#dua&s, on the spot, but * * *D U%re you an a&#en#stND
3 #nterrupted* UE"ery doctor shou&d be??a &#tt&e,D
ans(ered that or#g#na&, #!perturbab&y* U3 ha"e a &#tt&e theory
(h#ch you !ess#eurs (ho go out there !ust he&p !e to pro"e*
Th#s #s !y share #n the ad"antages !y country sha&& reap
fro! the possess#on of such a !agn#f#cent dependency*
The !ere (ea&th 3 &ea"e to others* Pardon !y =uest#ons,
but you are the f#rst Eng&#sh!an co!#ng under !y obser"at#on *
* *D 3 hastened to assure h#! 3 (as not #n the &east typ#ca&*
U3f 3 (ere,D sa#d 3, U3 (ou&dnDt be ta&k#ng &#ke th#s (#th you*D
U+hat you say #s rather profound, and probab&y erroneous,D
he sa#d, (#th a &augh* U%"o#d #rr#tat#on !ore than exposure
to the sun* %d#eu* Ho( do you Eng&#sh say, ehN Good?bye* %hK
Good?bye* %d#eu* 3n the trop#cs one !ust before e"eryth#ng
keep ca&!*D * * * He &#fted a (arn#ng foref#nger*
* * * UD9 C%<:E, D9 C%<:E* %D3E9*D
$8ne th#ng !ore re!a#ned to do??say good?bye to !y exce&&ent aunt*
3 found her tr#u!phant* 3 had a cup of tea??the &ast decent
cup of tea for !any days??and #n a roo! that !ost sooth#ng&y
&ooked just as you (ou&d expect a &adyDs dra(#ng?roo! to &ook,
(e had a &ong =u#et chat by the f#res#de* 3n the course of these
conf#dences #t beca!e =u#te p&a#n to !e 3 had been represented
to the (#fe of the h#gh d#gn#tary, and goodness kno(s to ho( !any
!ore peop&e bes#des, as an except#ona& and g#fted creature??
a p#ece of good fortune for the Co!pany??a !an you donDt get ho&d
of e"ery day* Good hea"ensK and 3 (as go#ng to take charge of a
t(o?penny?ha&f?penny r#"er?stea!boat (#th a penny (h#st&e attachedK
3t appeared, ho(e"er, 3 (as a&so one of the +orkers, (#th a cap#ta&??
you kno(* o!eth#ng &#ke an e!#ssary of &#ght, so!eth#ng &#ke a
&o(er sort of apost&e* There had been a &ot of such rot &et &oose
#n pr#nt and ta&k just about that t#!e, and the exce&&ent (o!an,
&#"#ng r#ght #n the rush of a&& that hu!bug, got carr#ed off her feet*
he ta&ked about D(ean#ng those #gnorant !#&&#ons fro! the#r
horr#d (ays,D t#&&, upon !y (ord, she !ade !e =u#te unco!fortab&e*
3 "entured to h#nt that the Co!pany (as run for prof#t*
$UOou forget, dear Char&#e, that the &abourer #s (orthy of h#s h#re,D
she sa#d, br#ght&y* 3tDs =ueer ho( out of touch (#th truth (o!en are*
They &#"e #n a (or&d of the#r o(n, and there has ne"er been anyth#ng
&#ke #t, and ne"er can be* 3t #s too beaut#fu& a&together, and #f they
(ere to set #t up #t (ou&d go to p#eces before the f#rst sunset*
o!e confounded fact (e !en ha"e been &#"#ng contented&y (#th e"er
s#nce the day of creat#on (ou&d start up and knock the (ho&e th#ng o"er*
$%fter th#s 3 got e!braced, to&d to (ear f&anne&, be sure
to (r#te often, and so on??and 3 &eft* 3n the street??3 donDt
kno( (hy??a =ueer fee&#ng ca!e to !e that 3 (as an #!poster*
8dd th#ng that 3, (ho used to c&ear out for any part of the (or&d
at t(enty?four hoursD not#ce, (#th &ess thought than !ost !en g#"e
to the cross#ng of a street, had a !o!ent??3 (onDt say of hes#tat#on,
but of start&ed pause, before th#s co!!onp&ace affa#r* The best
(ay 3 can exp&a#n #t to you #s by say#ng that, for a second or t(o,
3 fe&t as though, #nstead of go#ng to the centre of a cont#nent,
3 (ere about to set off for the centre of the earth*
$3 &eft #n a ,rench stea!er, and she ca&&ed #n e"ery b&a!ed
port they ha"e out there, for, as far as 3 cou&d see,
the so&e purpose of &and#ng so&d#ers and custo!?house off#cers*
3 (atched the coast* +atch#ng a coast as #t s&#ps by the sh#p
#s &#ke th#nk#ng about an en#g!a* There #t #s before you??
s!#&#ng, fro(n#ng, #n"#t#ng, grand, !ean, #ns#p#d, or sa"age,
and a&(ays !ute (#th an a#r of (h#sper#ng, UCo!e and f#nd out*D
Th#s one (as a&!ost feature&ess, as #f st#&& #n the !ak#ng,
(#th an aspect of !onotonous gr#!ness* The edge of a co&ossa& jung&e,
so dark?green as to be a&!ost b&ack, fr#nged (#th (h#te surf,
ran stra#ght, &#ke a ru&ed &#ne, far, far a(ay a&ong
a b&ue sea (hose g&#tter (as b&urred by a creep#ng !#st*
The sun (as f#erce, the &and see!ed to g&#sten and dr#p (#th stea!*
Here and there grey#sh?(h#t#sh specks sho(ed up c&ustered
#ns#de the (h#te surf, (#th a f&ag f&y#ng abo"e the! perhaps*
ett&e!ents so!e centur#es o&d, and st#&& no b#gger than
p#nheads on the untouched expanse of the#r background*
+e pounded a&ong, stopped, &anded so&d#ersP (ent on,
&anded custo!?house c&erks to &e"y to&& #n (hat &ooked &#ke a
God?forsaken (#&derness, (#th a t#n shed and a f&ag?po&e &ost
#n #tP &anded !ore so&d#ers??to take care of the custo!?house
c&erks, presu!ab&y* o!e, 3 heard, got dro(ned #n the surfP
but (hether they d#d or not, nobody see!ed part#cu&ar&y to care*
They (ere just f&ung out there, and on (e (ent*
E"ery day the coast &ooked the sa!e, as though (e had not !o"edP
but (e passed "ar#ous p&aces??trad#ng p&aces??(#th na!es
&#ke GranD /assa!, <#tt&e PopoP na!es that see!ed to be&ong
to so!e sord#d farce acted #n front of a s#n#ster back?c&oth*
The #d&eness of a passenger, !y #so&at#on a!ongst a&& these !en
(#th (ho! 3 had no po#nt of contact, the o#&y and &angu#d sea,
the un#for! so!breness of the coast, see!ed to keep !e a(ay
fro! the truth of th#ngs, (#th#n the to#& of a !ournfu&
and sense&ess de&us#on* The "o#ce of the surf heard no( and
then (as a pos#t#"e p&easure, &#ke the speech of a brother*
3t (as so!eth#ng natura&, that had #ts reason, that had a !ean#ng*
'o( and then a boat fro! the shore ga"e one a !o!entary
contact (#th rea&#ty* 3t (as padd&ed by b&ack fe&&o(s*
Oou cou&d see fro! afar the (h#te of the#r eyeba&&s g&#sten#ng*
They shouted, sangP the#r bod#es strea!ed (#th persp#rat#onP
they had faces &#ke grotes=ue !asks??these chapsP but they
had bone, !usc&e, a (#&d "#ta&#ty, an #ntense energy of !o"e!ent,
that (as as natura& and true as the surf a&ong the#r coast*
They (anted no excuse for be#ng there* They (ere a great co!fort
to &ook at* ,or a t#!e 3 (ou&d fee& 3 be&onged st#&& to a (or&d
of stra#ghtfor(ard factsP but the fee&#ng (ou&d not &ast &ong*
o!eth#ng (ou&d turn up to scare #t a(ay* 8nce, 3 re!e!ber,
(e ca!e upon a !an?of?(ar anchored off the coast*
There (asnDt e"en a shed there, and she (as she&&#ng the bush*
3t appears the ,rench had one of the#r (ars go#ng on thereabouts*
Her ens#gn dropped &#!p &#ke a ragP the !u77&es of the &ong
s#x?#nch guns stuck out a&& o"er the &o( hu&&P the greasy,
s&#!y s(e&& s(ung her up &a7#&y and &et her do(n, s(ay#ng her
th#n !asts* 3n the e!pty #!!ens#ty of earth, sky, and (ater,
there she (as, #nco!prehens#b&e, f#r#ng #nto a cont#nent*
Pop, (ou&d go one of the s#x?#nch gunsP a s!a&& f&a!e (ou&d
dart and "an#sh, a &#tt&e (h#te s!oke (ou&d d#sappear, a t#ny
project#&e (ou&d g#"e a feeb&e screech??and noth#ng happened*
'oth#ng cou&d happen* There (as a touch of #nsan#ty #n
the proceed#ng, a sense of &ugubr#ous dro&&ery #n the s#ghtP
and #t (as not d#ss#pated by so!ebody on board assur#ng !e
earnest&y there (as a ca!p of nat#"es??he ca&&ed the! ene!#esK??
h#dden out of s#ght so!e(here*
$+e ga"e her her &etters E3 heard the !en #n that &one&y sh#p
(ere dy#ng of fe"er at the rate of three a dayF and (ent on*
+e ca&&ed at so!e !ore p&aces (#th farc#ca& na!es,
(here the !erry dance of death and trade goes on #n a st#&&
and earthy at!osphere as of an o"erheated cataco!bP a&& a&ong
the for!&ess coast bordered by dangerous surf, as #f 'ature
herse&f had tr#ed to (ard off #ntrudersP #n and out of r#"ers,
strea!s of death #n &#fe, (hose banks (ere rott#ng #nto !ud,
(hose (aters, th#ckened #nto s&#!e, #n"aded the contorted !angro"es,
that see!ed to (r#the at us #n the extre!#ty of an #!potent despa#r*
'o(here d#d (e stop &ong enough to get a part#cu&ar#7ed #!press#on,
but the genera& sense of "ague and oppress#"e (onder gre( upon !e*
3t (as &#ke a (eary p#&gr#!age a!ongst h#nts for n#ght!ares*
$3t (as up(ard of th#rty days before 3 sa( the !outh of
the b#g r#"er* +e anchored off the seat of the go"ern!ent*
/ut !y (ork (ou&d not beg#n t#&& so!e t(o hundred !#&es farther on*
o as soon as 3 cou&d 3 !ade a start for a p&ace th#rty
!#&es h#gher up*
$3 had !y passage on a &#tt&e sea?go#ng stea!er*
Her capta#n (as a (ede, and kno(#ng !e for a sea!an, #n"#ted !e
on the br#dge* He (as a young !an, &ean, fa#r, and !orose,
(#th &anky ha#r and a shuff&#ng ga#t* %s (e &eft the !#serab&e
&#tt&e (harf, he tossed h#s head conte!ptuous&y at the shore*
U/een &#"#ng thereND he asked* 3 sa#d, UOes*D U,#ne
&ot these go"ern!ent chaps??are they notND he (ent on,
speak#ng Eng&#sh (#th great prec#s#on and cons#derab&e b#tterness*
U3t #s funny (hat so!e peop&e (#&& do for a fe( francs a !onth*
3 (onder (hat beco!es of that k#nd (hen #t goes upcountryND
3 sa#d to h#! 3 expected to see that soon*
Uo?o?oKD he exc&a#!ed* He shuff&ed ath(art, keep#ng one
eye ahead "#g#&ant&y* UDonDt be too sure,D he cont#nued*
UThe other day 3 took up a !an (ho hanged h#!se&f on the road*
He (as a (ede, too*D UHanged h#!se&fK +hy, #n GodDs na!eND
3 cr#ed* He kept on &ook#ng out (atchfu&&y* U+ho kno(sN
The sun too !uch for h#!, or the country perhaps*D
$%t &ast (e opened a reach* % rocky c&#ff appeared,
!ounds of turned?up earth by the shore, houses on a h#&&,
others (#th #ron roofs, a!ongst a (aste of exca"at#ons,
or hang#ng to the dec&#"#ty* % cont#nuous no#se of the rap#ds
abo"e ho"ered o"er th#s scene of #nhab#ted de"astat#on*
% &ot of peop&e, !ost&y b&ack and naked, !o"ed about &#ke ants*
% jetty projected #nto the r#"er* % b&#nd#ng sun&#ght
dro(ned a&& th#s at t#!es #n a sudden recrudescence of g&are*
UThereDs your Co!panyDs stat#on,D sa#d the (ede, po#nt#ng to
three (ooden barrack?&#ke structures on the rocky s&ope* U3 (#&&
send your th#ngs up* ,our boxes d#d you sayN o* ,are(e&&*D
$3 ca!e upon a bo#&er (a&&o(#ng #n the grass, then found a path &ead#ng up
the h#&&* 3t turned as#de for the bou&ders, and a&so for an unders#7ed
ra#&(ay?truck &y#ng there on #ts back (#th #ts (hee&s #n the a#r*
8ne (as off* The th#ng &ooked as dead as the carcass of so!e an#!a&*
3 ca!e upon !ore p#eces of decay#ng !ach#nery, a stack of rusty ra#&s*
To the &eft a c&u!p of trees !ade a shady spot, (here dark th#ngs see!ed
to st#r feeb&y* 3 b&#nked, the path (as steep* % horn tooted to the r#ght,
and 3 sa( the b&ack peop&e run* % hea"y and du&& detonat#on shook
the ground, a puff of s!oke ca!e out of the c&#ff, and that (as a&&*
'o change appeared on the face of the rock* They (ere bu#&d#ng a ra#&(ay*
The c&#ff (as not #n the (ay or anyth#ngP but th#s object&ess b&ast#ng
(as a&& the (ork go#ng on*
$% s&#ght c&#nk#ng beh#nd !e !ade !e turn !y head*
#x b&ack !en ad"anced #n a f#&e, to#&#ng up the path*
They (a&ked erect and s&o(, ba&anc#ng s!a&& baskets fu&& of earth
on the#r heads, and the c&#nk kept t#!e (#th the#r footsteps*
/&ack rags (ere (ound round the#r &o#ns, and the short ends
beh#nd (agg&ed to and fro &#ke ta#&s* 3 cou&d see e"ery r#b,
the jo#nts of the#r &#!bs (ere &#ke knots #n a ropeP each had
an #ron co&&ar on h#s neck, and a&& (ere connected together (#th
a cha#n (hose b#ghts s(ung bet(een the!, rhyth!#ca&&y c&#nk#ng*
%nother report fro! the c&#ff !ade !e th#nk sudden&y
of that sh#p of (ar 3 had seen f#r#ng #nto a cont#nent*
3t (as the sa!e k#nd of o!#nous "o#ceP but these !en cou&d
by no stretch of #!ag#nat#on be ca&&ed ene!#es* They (ere
ca&&ed cr#!#na&s, and the outraged &a(, &#ke the burst#ng she&&s,
had co!e to the!, an #nso&ub&e !ystery fro! the sea*
%&& the#r !eagre breasts panted together, the "#o&ent&y
d#&ated nostr#&s =u#"ered, the eyes stared ston#&y uph#&&*
They passed !e (#th#n s#x #nches, (#thout a g&ance,
(#th that co!p&ete, death&#ke #nd#fference of unhappy sa"ages*
/eh#nd th#s ra( !atter one of the rec&a#!ed, the product of
the ne( forces at (ork, stro&&ed despondent&y, carry#ng a r#f&e
by #ts !#dd&e* He had a un#for! jacket (#th one button off,
and see#ng a (h#te !an on the path, ho#sted h#s (eapon
to h#s shou&der (#th a&acr#ty* Th#s (as s#!p&e prudence,
(h#te !en be#ng so !uch a&#ke at a d#stance that he cou&d
not te&& (ho 3 !#ght be* He (as speed#&y reassured, and (#th
a &arge, (h#te, rasca&&y gr#n, and a g&ance at h#s charge,
see!ed to take !e #nto partnersh#p #n h#s exa&ted trust*
%fter a&&, 3 a&so (as a part of the great cause of these h#gh
and just proceed#ngs*
$3nstead of go#ng up, 3 turned and descended to the &eft*
:y #dea (as to &et that cha#n?gang get out of s#ght before 3
c&#!bed the h#&&* Oou kno( 3 a! not part#cu&ar&y tenderP
3D"e had to str#ke and to fend off* 3D"e had to res#st
and to attack so!et#!es??thatDs on&y one (ay of res#st#ng??
(#thout count#ng the exact cost, accord#ng to the de!ands
of such sort of &#fe as 3 had b&undered #nto* 3D"e seen
the de"#& of "#o&ence, and the de"#& of greed, and the de"#&
of hot des#reP but, by a&& the starsK these (ere strong, &usty,
red?eyed de"#&s, that s(ayed and dro"e !en??!en, 3 te&& you*
/ut as 3 stood on th#s h#&&s#de, 3 foresa( that #n the b&#nd#ng
sunsh#ne of that &and 3 (ou&d beco!e ac=ua#nted (#th a f&abby,
pretend#ng, (eak?eyed de"#& of a rapac#ous and p#t#&ess fo&&y*
Ho( #ns#d#ous he cou&d be, too, 3 (as on&y to f#nd
out se"era& !onths &ater and a thousand !#&es farther*
,or a !o!ent 3 stood appa&&ed, as though by a (arn#ng*
,#na&&y 3 descended the h#&&, ob&#=ue&y, to(ards the trees
3 had seen*
$3 a"o#ded a "ast art#f#c#a& ho&e so!ebody had been d#gg#ng on
the s&ope, the purpose of (h#ch 3 found #t #!poss#b&e to d#"#ne*
3t (asnDt a =uarry or a sandp#t, anyho(* 3t (as just a ho&e*
3t !#ght ha"e been connected (#th the ph#&anthrop#c des#re
of g#"#ng the cr#!#na&s so!eth#ng to do* 3 donDt kno(*
Then 3 near&y fe&& #nto a "ery narro( ra"#ne, a&!ost no
!ore than a scar #n the h#&&s#de* 3 d#sco"ered that a &ot
of #!ported dra#nage?p#pes for the sett&e!ent had been
tu!b&ed #n there* There (asnDt one that (as not broken*
3t (as a (anton s!ash?up* %t &ast 3 got under the trees*
:y purpose (as to stro&& #nto the shade for a !o!entP
but no sooner (#th#n than #t see!ed to !e 3 had stepped #nto
the g&oo!y c#rc&e of so!e 3nferno* The rap#ds (ere near,
and an un#nterrupted, un#for!, head&ong, rush#ng no#se f#&&ed
the !ournfu& st#&&ness of the gro"e, (here not a breath st#rred,
not a &eaf !o"ed, (#th a !yster#ous sound??as though the tear#ng
pace of the &aunched earth had sudden&y beco!e aud#b&e*
$/&ack shapes crouched, &ay, sat bet(een the trees &ean#ng aga#nst
the trunks, c&#ng#ng to the earth, ha&f co!#ng out, ha&f effaced (#th#n
the d#! &#ght, #n a&& the att#tudes of pa#n, abandon!ent, and despa#r*
%nother !#ne on the c&#ff (ent off, fo&&o(ed by a s&#ght shudder
of the so#& under !y feet* The (ork (as go#ng on* The (orkK
%nd th#s (as the p&ace (here so!e of the he&pers had (#thdra(n to d#e*
$They (ere dy#ng s&o(&y??#t (as "ery c&ear* They (ere not ene!#es,
they (ere not cr#!#na&s, they (ere noth#ng earth&y no(??
noth#ng but b&ack shado(s of d#sease and star"at#on, &y#ng
confused&y #n the green#sh g&oo!* /rought fro! a&& the recesses
of the coast #n a&& the &ega&#ty of t#!e contracts, &ost #n
uncongen#a& surround#ngs, fed on unfa!#&#ar food, they s#ckened,
beca!e #neff#c#ent, and (ere then a&&o(ed to cra(& a(ay and rest*
These !or#bund shapes (ere free as a#r??and near&y as th#n*
3 began to d#st#ngu#sh the g&ea! of the eyes under the trees*
Then, g&anc#ng do(n, 3 sa( a face near !y hand* The b&ack bones
rec&#ned at fu&& &ength (#th one shou&der aga#nst the tree,
and s&o(&y the eye&#ds rose and the sunken eyes &ooked up at !e,
enor!ous and "acant, a k#nd of b&#nd, (h#te f&#cker #n the depths
of the orbs, (h#ch d#ed out s&o(&y* The !an see!ed young??
a&!ost a boy??but you kno( (#th the! #tDs hard to te&&*
3 found noth#ng e&se to do but to offer h#! one of !y good (edeDs
sh#pDs b#scu#ts 3 had #n !y pocket* The f#ngers c&osed s&o(&y
on #t and he&d??there (as no other !o"e!ent and no other g&ance*
He had t#ed a b#t of (h#te (orsted round h#s neck??+hyN
+here d#d he get #tN +as #t a badge??an orna!ent??a char!??
a prop#t#atory actN +as there any #dea at a&& connected (#th #tN
3t &ooked start&#ng round h#s b&ack neck, th#s b#t of (h#te
thread fro! beyond the seas*
$'ear the sa!e tree t(o !ore bund&es of acute ang&es sat (#th
the#r &egs dra(n up* 8ne, (#th h#s ch#n propped on h#s knees,
stared at noth#ng, #n an #nto&erab&e and appa&&#ng !anner>
h#s brother phanto! rested #ts forehead, as #f o"erco!e (#th a
great (ear#nessP and a&& about others (ere scattered #n e"ery pose
of contorted co&&apse, as #n so!e p#cture of a !assacre or a pest#&ence*
+h#&e 3 stood horror?struck, one of these creatures rose to h#s hands
and knees, and (ent off on a&&?fours to(ards the r#"er to dr#nk*
He &apped out of h#s hand, then sat up #n the sun&#ght, cross#ng h#s
sh#ns #n front of h#!, and after a t#!e &et h#s (oo&&y head fa&&
on h#s breastbone*
$3 d#dnDt (ant any !ore &o#ter#ng #n the shade, and 3 !ade
haste to(ards the stat#on* +hen near the bu#&d#ngs 3 !et
a (h#te !an, #n such an unexpected e&egance of get?up
that #n the f#rst !o!ent 3 took h#! for a sort of "#s#on*
3 sa( a h#gh starched co&&ar, (h#te cuffs, a &#ght a&paca jacket,
sno(y trousers, a c&ean neckt#e, and "arn#shed boots* 'o hat*
Ha#r parted, brushed, o#&ed, under a green?&#ned paraso& he&d
#n a b#g (h#te hand* He (as a!a7#ng, and had a penho&der
beh#nd h#s ear*
$3 shook hands (#th th#s !#rac&e, and 3 &earned he (as the Co!panyDs
ch#ef accountant, and that a&& the book?keep#ng (as done at th#s stat#on*
He had co!e out for a !o!ent, he sa#d, Uto get a breath of fresh a#r*
The express#on sounded (onderfu&&y odd, (#th #ts suggest#on of sedentary
desk?&#fe* 3 (ou&dnDt ha"e !ent#oned the fe&&o( to you at a&&, on&y #t (as
fro! h#s &#ps that 3 f#rst heard the na!e of the !an (ho #s so #nd#sso&ub&y
connected (#th the !e!or#es of that t#!e* :oreo"er, 3 respected the fe&&o(*
OesP 3 respected h#s co&&ars, h#s "ast cuffs, h#s brushed ha#r*
H#s appearance (as certa#n&y that of a ha#rdresserDs du!!yP but #n the great
de!ora&#7at#on of the &and he kept up h#s appearance* ThatDs backbone*
H#s starched co&&ars and got?up sh#rt?fronts (ere ach#e"e!ents of character*
He had been out near&y three yearsP and, &ater, 3 cou&d not he&p ask#ng
h#! ho( he !anaged to sport such &#nen* He had just the fa#ntest b&ush,
and sa#d !odest&y, U3D"e been teach#ng one of the nat#"e (o!en about
the stat#on* 3t (as d#ff#cu&t* he had a d#staste for the (ork*D
Thus th#s !an had "er#&y acco!p&#shed so!eth#ng* %nd he (as de"oted
to h#s books, (h#ch (ere #n app&e?p#e order*
$E"eryth#ng e&se #n the stat#on (as #n a !udd&e??heads, th#ngs, bu#&d#ngs*
tr#ngs of dusty n#ggers (#th sp&ay feet arr#"ed and departedP a strea!
of !anufactured goods, rubb#shy cottons, beads, and brass?(#re set #nto
the depths of darkness, and #n return ca!e a prec#ous tr#ck&e of #"ory*
$3 had to (a#t #n the stat#on for ten days??an etern#ty*
3 &#"ed #n a hut #n the yard, but to be out of the chaos
3 (ou&d so!et#!es get #nto the accountantDs off#ce*
3t (as bu#&t of hor#7onta& p&anks, and so bad&y put together that,
as he bent o"er h#s h#gh desk, he (as barred fro! neck
to hee&s (#th narro( str#ps of sun&#ght* There (as no need
to open the b#g shutter to see* 3t (as hot there, tooP
b#g f&#es bu77ed f#end#sh&y, and d#d not st#ng, but stabbed*
3 sat genera&&y on the f&oor, (h#&e, of fau&t&ess appearance
Eand e"en s&#ght&y scentedF, perch#ng on a h#gh stoo&,
he (rote, he (rote* o!et#!es he stood up for exerc#se*
+hen a truck&e?bed (#th a s#ck !an Eso!e #n"a&#d agent
fro! upcountryF (as put #n there, he exh#b#ted a gent&e annoyance*
UThe groans of th#s s#ck person,D he sa#d, Ud#stract !y attent#on*
%nd (#thout that #t #s extre!e&y d#ff#cu&t to guard aga#nst
c&er#ca& errors #n th#s c&#!ate*D
$8ne day he re!arked, (#thout &#ft#ng h#s head,
U3n the #nter#or you (#&& no doubt !eet :r* Rurt7*D
8n !y ask#ng (ho :r* Rurt7 (as, he sa#d he (as a f#rst?c&ass agentP
and see#ng !y d#sappo#nt!ent at th#s #nfor!at#on, he added s&o(&y,
&ay#ng do(n h#s pen, UHe #s a "ery re!arkab&e person*D
,urther =uest#ons e&#c#ted fro! h#! that :r* Rurt7 (as at
present #n charge of a trad#ng?post, a "ery #!portant one,
#n the true #"ory?country, at Uthe "ery botto! of there*
ends #n as !uch #"ory as a&& the others put together * * *D
He began to (r#te aga#n* The s#ck !an (as too #&& to groan*
The f&#es bu77ed #n a great peace*
$udden&y there (as a gro(#ng !ur!ur of "o#ces and a great
tra!p#ng of feet* % cara"an had co!e #n* % "#o&ent babb&e
of uncouth sounds burst out on the other s#de of the p&anks*
%&& the carr#ers (ere speak#ng together, and #n the !#dst
of the uproar the &a!entab&e "o#ce of the ch#ef agent (as heard
Ug#"#ng #t upD tearfu&&y for the t(ent#eth t#!e that day*
* * * He rose s&o(&y* U+hat a fr#ghtfu& ro(,D he sa#d*
He crossed the roo! gent&y to &ook at the s#ck !an,
and return#ng, sa#d to !e, UHe does not hear*D U+hatK DeadND
3 asked, start&ed* U'o, not yet,D he ans(ered, (#th great co!posure*
Then, a&&ud#ng (#th a toss of the head to the tu!u&t #n
the stat#on?yard, U+hen one has got to !ake correct entr#es,
one co!es to hate those sa"ages??hate the! to the death*D
He re!a#ned thoughtfu& for a !o!ent* U+hen you see :r* Rurt7D
he (ent on, Ute&& h#! fro! !e that e"eryth#ng hereD??
he g&anced at the deck??D #s "ery sat#sfactory* 3 donDt &#ke
to (r#te to h#!??(#th those !essengers of ours you ne"er kno(
(ho !ay get ho&d of your &etter??at that Centra& tat#on*D
He stared at !e for a !o!ent (#th h#s !#&d, bu&g#ng eyes*
U8h, he (#&& go far, "ery far,D he began aga#n*
UHe (#&& be a so!ebody #n the %d!#n#strat#on before &ong*
They, abo"e??the Counc#& #n Europe, you kno(??!ean h#! to be*D
$He turned to h#s (ork* The no#se outs#de had ceased,
and present&y #n go#ng out 3 stopped at the door*
3n the steady bu77 of f&#es the ho!e(ard?bound agent (as &y#ng
f#n#shed and #nsens#b&eP the other, bent o"er h#s books,
(as !ak#ng correct entr#es of perfect&y correct transact#onsP
and f#fty feet be&o( the doorstep 3 cou&d see the st#&&
tree?tops of the gro"e of death*
$'ext day 3 &eft that stat#on at &ast, (#th a cara"an of s#xty !en,
for a t(o?hundred?!#&e tra!p*
$'o use te&&#ng you !uch about that* Paths, paths, e"ery(hereP
a sta!ped?#n net(ork of paths spread#ng o"er the e!pty &and,
through the &ong grass, through burnt grass, through th#ckets,
do(n and up ch#&&y ra"#nes, up and do(n stony h#&&s ab&a7e
(#th heatP and a so&#tude, a so&#tude, nobody, not a hut*
The popu&at#on had c&eared out a &ong t#!e ago* +e&&, #f a &ot
of !yster#ous n#ggers ar!ed (#th a&& k#nds of fearfu& (eapons
sudden&y took to tra"e&&#ng on the road bet(een Dea& and Gra"esend,
catch#ng the yoke&s r#ght and &eft to carry hea"y &oads
for the!, 3 fancy e"ery far! and cottage thereabouts (ou&d get
e!pty "ery soon* 8n&y here the d(e&&#ngs (ere gone, too*
t#&& 3 passed through se"era& abandoned "#&&ages*
ThereDs so!eth#ng pathet#ca&&y ch#&d#sh #n the ru#ns of grass (a&&s*
Day after day, (#th the sta!p and shuff&e of s#xty pa#r
of bare feet beh#nd !e, each pa#r under a B;?&b* &oad*
Ca!p, cook, s&eep, str#ke ca!p, !arch* 'o( and then a carr#er
dead #n harness, at rest #n the &ong grass near the path,
(#th an e!pty (ater?gourd and h#s &ong staff &y#ng by h#s s#de*
% great s#&ence around and abo"e* Perhaps on so!e =u#et n#ght
the tre!or of far?off dru!s, s#nk#ng, s(e&&#ng, a tre!or "ast, fa#ntP
a sound (e#rd, appea&#ng, suggest#"e, and (#&d??and perhaps (#th as
profound a !ean#ng as the sound of be&&s #n a Chr#st#an country*
8nce a (h#te !an #n an unbuttoned un#for!, ca!p#ng on the path
(#th an ar!ed escort of &ank Van7#bar#s, "ery hosp#tab&e and fest#"e??
not to say drunk* +as &ook#ng after the upkeep of the road,
he dec&ared* CanDt say 3 sa( any road or any upkeep,
un&ess the body of a !#dd&e?aged negro, (#th a bu&&et?ho&e
#n the forehead, upon (h#ch 3 abso&ute&y stu!b&ed three !#&es
farther on, !ay be cons#dered as a per!anent #!pro"e!ent*
3 had a (h#te co!pan#on, too, not a bad chap, but rather
too f&eshy and (#th the exasperat#ng hab#t of fa#nt#ng on
the hot h#&&s#des, !#&es a(ay fro! the &east b#t of shade
and (ater* %nnoy#ng, you kno(, to ho&d your o(n coat
&#ke a paraso& o"er a !anDs head (h#&e he #s co!#ng to*
3 cou&dnDt he&p ask#ng h#! once (hat he !eant by co!#ng there
at a&&* UTo !ake !oney, of course* +hat do you th#nkND
he sa#d, scornfu&&y* Then he got fe"er, and had to be carr#ed
#n a ha!!ock s&ung under a po&e* %s he (e#ghed s#xteen stone 3
had no end of ro(s (#th the carr#ers* They j#bbed, ran a(ay,
sneaked off (#th the#r &oads #n the n#ght??=u#te a !ut#ny*
o, one e"en#ng, 3 !ade a speech #n Eng&#sh (#th gestures,
not one of (h#ch (as &ost to the s#xty pa#rs of eyes before !e,
and the next !orn#ng 3 started the ha!!ock off #n front a&& r#ght*
%n hour after(ards 3 ca!e upon the (ho&e concern (recked
#n a bush??!an, ha!!ock, groans, b&ankets, horrors* The hea"y
po&e had sk#nned h#s poor nose* He (as "ery anx#ous for !e
to k#&& so!ebody, but there (asnDt the shado( of a carr#er near*
3 re!e!bered the o&d doctor??D3t (ou&d be #nterest#ng for sc#ence
to (atch the !enta& changes of #nd#"#dua&s, on the spot*D
3 fe&t 3 (as beco!#ng sc#ent#f#ca&&y #nterest#ng* Ho(e"er, a&&
that #s to no purpose* 8n the f#fteenth day 3 ca!e #n s#ght
of the b#g r#"er aga#n, and hobb&ed #nto the Centra& tat#on*
3t (as on a back (ater surrounded by scrub and forest,
(#th a pretty border of s!e&&y !ud on one s#de, and on the three
others enc&osed by a cra7y fence of rushes* % neg&ected gap
(as a&& the gate #t had, and the f#rst g&ance at the p&ace (as
enough to &et you see the f&abby de"#& (as runn#ng that sho(*
+h#te !en (#th &ong sta"es #n the#r hands appeared &angu#d&y
fro! a!ongst the bu#&d#ngs, stro&&#ng up to take a &ook at !e,
and then ret#red out of s#ght so!e(here* 8ne of the!,
a stout, exc#tab&e chap (#th b&ack !oustaches, #nfor!ed !e
(#th great "o&ub#&#ty and !any d#gress#ons, as soon as 3 to&d
h#! (ho 3 (as, that !y stea!er (as at the botto! of the r#"er*
3 (as thunderstruck* +hat, ho(, (hyN 8h, #t (as Ua&& r#ght*D
The U!anager h#!se&fD (as there* %&& =u#te correct*
UE"erybody had beha"ed sp&end#d&yK sp&end#d&yKD??Dyou !ust,D
he sa#d #n ag#tat#on, Ugo and see the genera& !anager at once*
He #s (a#t#ngKD
$3 d#d not see the rea& s#gn#f#cance of that (reck at once*
3 fancy 3 see #t no(, but 3 a! not sure??not at a&&*
Certa#n&y the affa#r (as too stup#d??(hen 3 th#nk of #t??
to be a&together natura&* t#&& * * * /ut at the !o!ent #t presented
#tse&f s#!p&y as a confounded nu#sance* The stea!er (as sunk*
They had started t(o days before #n a sudden hurry up the r#"er
(#th the !anager on board, #n charge of so!e "o&unteer sk#pper,
and before they had been out three hours they tore the botto!
out of her on stones, and she sank near the south bank*
3 asked !yse&f (hat 3 (as to do there, no( !y boat (as &ost*
%s a !atter of fact, 3 had p&enty to do #n f#sh#ng !y co!!and
out of the r#"er* 3 had to set about #t the "ery next day*
That, and the repa#rs (hen 3 brought the p#eces to the stat#on,
took so!e !onths*
$:y f#rst #nter"#e( (#th the !anager (as cur#ous* He d#d not
ask !e to s#t do(n after !y t(enty?!#&e (a&k that !orn#ng*
He (as co!!onp&ace #n co!p&ex#on, #n features, #n !anners,
and #n "o#ce* He (as of !#dd&e s#7e and of ord#nary bu#&d*
H#s eyes, of the usua& b&ue, (ere perhaps re!arkab&y co&d,
and he certa#n&y cou&d !ake h#s g&ance fa&& on one as trenchant
and hea"y as an axe* /ut e"en at these t#!es the rest of h#s
person see!ed to d#sc&a#! the #ntent#on* 8ther(#se there (as on&y
an #ndef#nab&e, fa#nt express#on of h#s &#ps, so!eth#ng stea&thy??
a s!#&e??not a s!#&e??3 re!e!ber #t, but 3 canDt exp&a#n*
3t (as unconsc#ous, th#s s!#&e (as, though just after
he had sa#d so!eth#ng #t got #ntens#f#ed for an #nstant*
3t ca!e at the end of h#s speeches &#ke a sea& app&#ed on
the (ords to !ake the !ean#ng of the co!!onest phrase appear
abso&ute&y #nscrutab&e* He (as a co!!on trader, fro! h#s youth
up e!p&oyed #n these parts??noth#ng !ore* He (as obeyed,
yet he #nsp#red ne#ther &o"e nor fear, nor e"en respect*
He #nsp#red uneas#ness* That (as #tK 9neas#ness* 'ot a
def#n#te !#strust??just uneas#ness??noth#ng !ore* Oou ha"e
no #dea ho( effect#"e such a * * * a* * * * facu&ty can be*
He had no gen#us for organ#7#ng, for #n#t#at#"e, or for order e"en*
That (as e"#dent #n such th#ngs as the dep&orab&e state
of the stat#on* He had no &earn#ng, and no #nte&&#gence*
H#s pos#t#on had co!e to h#!??(hyN Perhaps because he (as ne"er
#&& * * * He had ser"ed three ter!s of three years out there * *
* /ecause tr#u!phant hea&th #n the genera& rout of const#tut#ons
#s a k#nd of po(er #n #tse&f* +hen he (ent ho!e on &ea"e he r#oted
on a &arge sca&e??po!pous&y* Jack ashore??(#th a d#fference??
#n externa&s on&y* Th#s one cou&d gather fro! h#s casua& ta&k*
He or#g#nated noth#ng, he cou&d keep the rout#ne go#ng??thatDs a&&*
/ut he (as great* He (as great by th#s &#tt&e th#ng that #t
(as #!poss#b&e to te&& (hat cou&d contro& such a !an*
He ne"er ga"e that secret a(ay* Perhaps there (as noth#ng
(#th#n h#!* uch a susp#c#on !ade one pause??for out there there
(ere no externa& checks* 8nce (hen "ar#ous trop#ca& d#seases
had &a#d &o( a&!ost e"ery UagentD #n the stat#on, he (as heard
to say, U:en (ho co!e out here shou&d ha"e no entra#&s*D
He sea&ed the utterance (#th that s!#&e of h#s, as though #t
had been a door open#ng #nto a darkness he had #n h#s keep#ng*
Oou fanc#ed you had seen th#ngs??but the sea& (as on*
+hen annoyed at !ea&?t#!es by the constant =uarre&s of the (h#te
!en about precedence, he ordered an #!!ense round tab&e
to be !ade, for (h#ch a spec#a& house had to be bu#&t*
Th#s (as the stat#onDs !ess?roo!* +here he sat (as the
f#rst p&ace??the rest (ere no(here* 8ne fe&t th#s to be h#s
una&terab&e con"#ct#on* He (as ne#ther c#"#& nor unc#"#&*
He (as =u#et* He a&&o(ed h#s UboyD??an o"erfed young negro
fro! the coast??to treat the (h#te !en, under h#s "ery eyes,
(#th pro"ok#ng #nso&ence*
$He began to speak as soon as he sa( !e* 3 had been "ery &ong
on the road* He cou&d not (a#t* Had to start (#thout !e*
The up?r#"er stat#ons had to be re&#e"ed* There had been so !any
de&ays a&ready that he d#d not kno( (ho (as dead and (ho (as a&#"e,
and ho( they got on??and so on, and so on* He pa#d no attent#on
to !y exp&anat#ons, and, p&ay#ng (#th a st#ck of sea&#ng?(ax, repeated
se"era& t#!es that the s#tuat#on (as U"ery gra"e, "ery gra"e*D
There (ere ru!ours that a "ery #!portant stat#on (as #n jeopardy,
and #ts ch#ef, :r* Rurt7, (as #&&* Hoped #t (as not true*
:r* Rurt7 (as * * * 3 fe&t (eary and #rr#tab&e* Hang Rurt7, 3 thought*
3 #nterrupted h#! by say#ng 3 had heard of :r* Rurt7 on the coast*
U%hK o they ta&k of h#! do(n there,D he !ur!ured to h#!se&f*
Then he began aga#n, assur#ng !e :r* Rurt7 (as the best agent he had,
an except#ona& !an, of the greatest #!portance to the Co!panyP
therefore 3 cou&d understand h#s anx#ety* He (as, he sa#d,
U"ery, "ery uneasy*D Certa#n&y he f#dgeted on h#s cha#r a
good dea&, exc&a#!ed, U%h, :r* Rurt7KD broke the st#ck of sea&#ng?(ax
and see!ed du!founded by the acc#dent* 'ext th#ng he (anted
to kno( Uho( &ong #t (ou&d take toD * * * 3 #nterrupted h#! aga#n*
/e#ng hungry, you kno(, and kept on !y feet too* 3 (as gett#ng sa"age*
UHo( can 3 te&&ND 3 sa#d* U3 ha"enDt e"en seen the (reck yet??
so!e !onths, no doubt*D %&& th#s ta&k see!ed to !e so fut#&e*
Uo!e !onths,D he sa#d* U+e&&, &et us say three !onths before (e
can !ake a start* Oes* That ought to do the affa#r*D 3 f&ung out
of h#s hut Ehe &#"ed a&& a&one #n a c&ay hut (#th a sort of "erandahF
!utter#ng to !yse&f !y op#n#on of h#!* He (as a chatter#ng #d#ot*
%fter(ards 3 took #t back (hen #t (as borne #n upon !e start&#ng&y
(#th (hat extre!e n#cety he had est#!ated the t#!e re=u#s#te
for the Uaffa#r*D
$3 (ent to (ork the next day, turn#ng, so to speak, !y back
on that stat#on* 3n that (ay on&y #t see!ed to !e 3 cou&d
keep !y ho&d on the redee!#ng facts of &#fe* t#&&, one !ust
&ook about so!et#!esP and then 3 sa( th#s stat#on, these !en
stro&&#ng a#!&ess&y about #n the sunsh#ne of the yard*
3 asked !yse&f so!et#!es (hat #t a&& !eant* They (andered
here and there (#th the#r absurd &ong sta"es #n the#r hands,
&#ke a &ot of fa#th&ess p#&gr#!s be(#tched #ns#de a rotten fence*
The (ord U#"oryD rang #n the a#r, (as (h#spered, (as s#ghed*
Oou (ou&d th#nk they (ere pray#ng to #t* % ta#nt of #!bec#&e
rapac#ty b&e( through #t a&&, &#ke a (h#ff fro! so!e corpse*
/y Jo"eK 3D"e ne"er seen anyth#ng so unrea& #n !y &#fe*
%nd outs#de, the s#&ent (#&derness surround#ng th#s c&eared
speck on the earth struck !e as so!eth#ng great and #n"#nc#b&e,
&#ke e"#& or truth, (a#t#ng pat#ent&y for the pass#ng a(ay
of th#s fantast#c #n"as#on*
$8h, these !onthsK +e&&, ne"er !#nd* -ar#ous th#ngs yhappened*
8ne e"en#ng a grass shed fu&& of ca&#co, cotton pr#nts, beads, and 3 donDt
kno( (hat e&se, burst #nto a b&a7e so sudden&y that you (ou&d ha"e thought
the earth had opened to &et an a"eng#ng f#re consu!e a&& that trash*
3 (as s!ok#ng !y p#pe =u#et&y by !y d#s!ant&ed stea!er, and sa(
the! a&& cutt#ng capers #n the &#ght, (#th the#r ar!s &#fted h#gh,
(hen the stout !an (#th !oustaches ca!e tear#ng do(n to the r#"er,
a t#n pa#& #n h#s hand, assured !e that e"erybody (as Ubeha"#ng sp&end#d&y,
sp&end#d&y,D d#pped about a =uart of (ater and tore back aga#n*
3 not#ced there (as a ho&e #n the botto! of h#s pa#&*
$3 stro&&ed up* There (as no hurry* Oou see the th#ng had gone off
&#ke a box of !atches* 3t had been hope&ess fro! the "ery f#rst*
The f&a!e had &eaped h#gh, dr#"en e"erybody back, &#ghted up e"eryth#ng??
and co&&apsed* The shed (as a&ready a heap of e!bers g&o(#ng f#erce&y*
% n#gger (as be#ng beaten near by* They sa#d he had caused the f#re
#n so!e (ayP be that as #t !ay, he (as screech#ng !ost horr#b&y*
3 sa( h#!, &ater, for se"era& days, s#tt#ng #n a b#t of shade &ook#ng
"ery s#ck and try#ng to reco"er h#!se&fP after(ards he arose and (ent out??
and the (#&derness (#thout a sound took h#! #nto #ts boso! aga#n*
%s 3 approached the g&o( fro! the dark 3 found !yse&f at the back of
t(o !en, ta&k#ng* 3 heard the na!e of Rurt7 pronounced, then the (ords, Utake
ad"antage of th#s unfortunate acc#dent*D 8ne of the !en (as the !anager*
3 (#shed h#! a good e"en#ng* UD#d you e"er see anyth#ng &#ke #t??
ehN #t #s #ncred#b&e,D he sa#d, and (a&ked off* The other !an re!a#ned*
He (as a f#rst?c&ass agent, young, gent&e!an&y, a b#t reser"ed,
(#th a forked &#tt&e beard and a hooked nose* He (as stand?off#sh
(#th the other agents, and they on the#r s#de sa#d he (as the !anagerDs
spy upon the!* %s to !e, 3 had hard&y e"er spoken to h#! before*
+e got #nto ta&k, and by and by (e stro&&ed a(ay fro! the h#ss#ng ru#ns*
Then he asked !e to h#s roo!, (h#ch (as #n the !a#n bu#&d#ng of the stat#on*
He struck a !atch, and 3 perce#"ed that th#s young ar#stocrat had not on&y
a s#&"er?!ounted dress#ng?case but a&so a (ho&e cand&e a&& to h#!se&f*
Just at that t#!e the !anager (as the on&y !an supposed to ha"e any
r#ght to cand&es* 'at#"e !ats co"ered the c&ay (a&&sP a co&&ect#on
of spears, assega#s, sh#e&ds, kn#"es (as hung up #n troph#es*
The bus#ness #ntrusted to th#s fe&&o( (as the !ak#ng of br#cks??
so 3 had been #nfor!edP but there (asnDt a frag!ent of a br#ck any(here
#n the stat#on, and he had been there !ore than a year??(a#t#ng* 3t see!s
he cou&d not !ake br#cks (#thout so!eth#ng, 3 donDt kno( (hat??stra( !aybe*
%ny(ay, #t cou&d not be found there and as #t (as not &#ke&y to be sent
fro! Europe, #t d#d not appear c&ear to !e (hat he (as (a#t#ng for*
%n act of spec#a& creat#on perhaps* Ho(e"er, they (ere a&& (a#t#ng??
a&& the s#xteen or t(enty p#&gr#!s of the!??for so!eth#ngP and upon
!y (ord #t d#d not see! an uncongen#a& occupat#on, fro! the (ay they
took #t, though the on&y th#ng that e"er ca!e to the! (as d#sease??
as far as 3 cou&d see* They begu#&ed the t#!e by back?b#t#ng and
#ntr#gu#ng aga#nst each other #n a foo&#sh k#nd of (ay* There (as an a#r
of p&ott#ng about that stat#on, but noth#ng ca!e of #t, of course*
3t (as as unrea& as e"eryth#ng e&se??as the ph#&anthrop#c pretence of the
(ho&e concern, as the#r ta&k, as the#r go"ern!ent, as the#r sho( of (ork*
The on&y rea& fee&#ng (as a des#re to get appo#nted to a trad#ng?post
(here #"ory (as to be had, so that they cou&d earn percentages*
They #ntr#gued and s&andered and hated each other on&y on that account??
but as to effectua&&y &#ft#ng a &#tt&e f#nger??oh, no* /y hea"ensK there
#s so!eth#ng after a&& #n the (or&d a&&o(#ng one !an to stea& a horse
(h#&e another !ust not &ook at a ha&ter* tea& a horse stra#ght out*
-ery (e&&* He has done #t* Perhaps he can r#de* /ut there #s a (ay
of &ook#ng at a ha&ter that (ou&d pro"oke the !ost char#tab&e of sa#nts
#nto a k#ck*
$3 had no #dea (hy he (anted to be soc#ab&e, but as (e chatted #n there
#t sudden&y occurred to !e the fe&&o( (as try#ng to get at so!eth#ng??
#n fact, pu!p#ng !e* He a&&uded constant&y to Europe, to the peop&e 3 (as
supposed to kno( there??putt#ng &ead#ng =uest#ons as to !y ac=ua#ntances
#n the sepu&chra& c#ty, and so on* H#s &#tt&e eyes g&#ttered &#ke !#ca d#scs??
(#th cur#os#ty??though he tr#ed to keep up a b#t of superc#&#ousness*
%t f#rst 3 (as aston#shed, but "ery soon 3 beca!e a(fu&&y cur#ous
to see (hat he (ou&d f#nd out fro! !e* 3 cou&dnDt poss#b&y #!ag#ne
(hat 3 had #n !e to !ake #t (orth h#s (h#&e* 3t (as "ery pretty to see
ho( he baff&ed h#!se&f, for #n truth !y body (as fu&& on&y of ch#&&s,
and !y head had noth#ng #n #t but that (retched stea!boat bus#ness*
3t (as e"#dent he took !e for a perfect&y sha!e&ess pre"ar#cator*
%t &ast he got angry, and, to concea& a !o"e!ent of fur#ous annoyance,
he ya(ned* 3 rose* Then 3 not#ced a s!a&& sketch #n o#&s, on a pane&,
represent#ng a (o!an, draped and b&#ndfo&ded, carry#ng a &#ghted torch*
The background (as so!bre??a&!ost b&ack* The !o"e!ent of the (o!an
(as state&y, and the effect of the torch&#ght on the face (as s#n#ster*
$3t arrested !e, and he stood by c#"#&&y, ho&d#ng an e!pty ha&f?p#nt
cha!pagne bott&e E!ed#ca& co!fortsF (#th the cand&e stuck #n #t*
To !y =uest#on he sa#d :r* Rurt7 had pa#nted th#s??#n th#s "ery stat#on
!ore than a year ago??(h#&e (a#t#ng for !eans to go to h#s trad#ng post*
UTe&& !e, pray,D sa#d 3, U(ho #s th#s :r* Rurt7ND
$UThe ch#ef of the 3nner tat#on,D he ans(ered #n a short tone,
&ook#ng a(ay* U:uch ob&#ged,D 3 sa#d, &augh#ng*
U%nd you are the br#ck!aker of the Centra& tat#on*
E"ery one kno(s that*D He (as s#&ent for a (h#&e*
UHe #s a prod#gy,D he sa#d at &ast* UHe #s an e!#ssary of p#ty
and sc#ence and progress, and de"#& kno(s (hat e&se* +e (ant,D
he began to dec&a#! sudden&y, Ufor the gu#dance of the cause
#ntrusted to us by Europe, so to speak, h#gher #nte&&#gence,
(#de sy!path#es, a s#ng&eness of purpose*D U+ho says thatND
3 asked* U<ots of the!,D he rep&#ed* Uo!e e"en (r#te thatP
and so HE co!es here, a spec#a& be#ng, as you ought to kno(*D
U+hy ought 3 to kno(ND 3 #nterrupted, rea&&y surpr#sed*
He pa#d no attent#on* UOes* Today he #s ch#ef of the best stat#on,
next year he (#&& be ass#stant?!anager, t(o years !ore and * *
* but 3 dare?say you kno( (hat he (#&& be #n t(o yearsD t#!e*
Oou are of the ne( gang??the gang of "#rtue* The sa!e peop&e
(ho sent h#! spec#a&&y a&so reco!!ended you* 8h, donDt say no*
3D"e !y o(n eyes to trust*D <#ght da(ned upon !e* :y dear
auntDs #nf&uent#a& ac=ua#ntances (ere produc#ng an unexpected
effect upon that young !an* 3 near&y burst #nto a &augh*
UDo you read the Co!panyDs conf#dent#a& correspondenceND
3 asked* He hadnDt a (ord to say* 3t (as great fun*
U+hen :r* Rurt7,D 3 cont#nued, se"ere&y, U#s Genera& :anager,
you (onDt ha"e the opportun#ty*D
$He b&e( the cand&e out sudden&y, and (e (ent outs#de*
The !oon had r#sen* /&ack f#gures stro&&ed about &#st&ess&y,
pour#ng (ater on the g&o(, (hence proceeded a sound of h#ss#ngP
stea! ascended #n the !oon&#ght, the beaten n#gger groaned so!e(here*
U+hat a ro( the brute !akesKD sa#d the #ndefat#gab&e !an
(#th the !oustaches, appear#ng near us* Uer"e h#! r#ght*
Transgress#on??pun#sh!ent??bangK P#t#&ess, p#t#&ess*
ThatDs the on&y (ay* Th#s (#&& pre"ent a&& conf&agrat#ons
for the future* 3 (as just te&&#ng the !anager * * *D He
not#ced !y co!pan#on, and beca!e crestfa&&en a&& at once*
U'ot #n bed yet,D he sa#d, (#th a k#nd of ser"#&e heart#nessP
U#tDs so natura&* HaK Danger??ag#tat#on*D He "an#shed*
3 (ent on to the r#"ers#de, and the other fo&&o(ed !e*
3 heard a scath#ng !ur!ur at !y ear, UHeap of !uffs??go to*D
The p#&gr#!s cou&d be seen #n knots gest#cu&at#ng, d#scuss#ng*
e"era& had st#&& the#r sta"es #n the#r hands* 3 "er#&y be&#e"e
they took these st#cks to bed (#th the!* /eyond the fence
the forest stood up spectra&&y #n the !oon&#ght, and through that
d#! st#r, through the fa#nt sounds of that &a!entab&e courtyard,
the s#&ence of the &and (ent ho!e to oneDs "ery heart??#ts !ystery,
#ts greatness, the a!a7#ng rea&#ty of #ts concea&ed &#fe*
The hurt n#gger !oaned feeb&y so!e(here near by, and then
fetched a deep s#gh that !ade !e !end !y pace a(ay fro! there*
3 fe&t a hand #ntroduc#ng #tse&f under !y ar!* U:y dear s#r,D
sa#d the fe&&o(, U3 donDt (ant to be !#sunderstood, and espec#a&&y
by you, (ho (#&& see :r* Rurt7 &ong before 3 can ha"e that p&easure*
3 (ou&dnDt &#ke h#! to get a fa&se #dea of !y d#spos#t#on*
* * *D
$3 &et h#! run on, th#s pap#er?!ache :eph#stophe&es, and #t see!ed
to !e that #f 3 tr#ed 3 cou&d poke !y foref#nger through h#!,
and (ou&d f#nd noth#ng #ns#de but a &#tt&e &oose d#rt, !aybe*
He, donDt you see, had been p&ann#ng to be ass#stant?!anager
by and by under the present !an, and 3 cou&d see that
the co!#ng of that Rurt7 had upset the! both not a &#tt&e*
He ta&ked prec#p#tate&y, and 3 d#d not try to stop h#!*
3 had !y shou&ders aga#nst the (reck of !y stea!er, hau&ed up
on the s&ope &#ke a carcass of so!e b#g r#"er an#!a&*
The s!e&& of !ud, of pr#!e"a& !ud, by Jo"eK (as #n !y nostr#&s,
the h#gh st#&&ness of pr#!e"a& forest (as before !y eyesP
there (ere sh#ny patches on the b&ack creek*
The !oon had spread o"er e"eryth#ng a th#n &ayer of s#&"er??
o"er the rank grass, o"er the !ud, upon the (a&& of !atted
"egetat#on stand#ng h#gher than the (a&& of a te!p&e,
o"er the great r#"er 3 cou&d see through a so!bre gap g&#tter#ng,
g&#tter#ng, as #t f&o(ed broad&y by (#thout a !ur!ur*
%&& th#s (as great, expectant, !ute, (h#&e the !an jabbered
about h#!se&f* 3 (ondered (hether the st#&&ness on the face
of the #!!ens#ty &ook#ng at us t(o (ere !eant as an appea&
or as a !enace* +hat (ere (e (ho had strayed #n hereN
Cou&d (e hand&e that du!b th#ng, or (ou&d #t hand&e usN
3 fe&t ho( b#g, ho( confounded&y b#g, (as that th#ng that
cou&dnDt ta&k, and perhaps (as deaf as (e&&* +hat (as #n thereN
3 cou&d see a &#tt&e #"ory co!#ng out fro! there, and 3 had heard
:r* Rurt7 (as #n there* 3 had heard enough about #t, too??
God kno(sK Oet so!eho( #t d#dnDt br#ng any #!age (#th #t??
no !ore than #f 3 had been to&d an ange& or a f#end (as #n there*
3 be&#e"ed #t #n the sa!e (ay one of you !#ght be&#e"e there
are #nhab#tants #n the p&anet :ars* 3 kne( once a cotch
sa#&!aker (ho (as certa#n, dead sure, there (ere peop&e #n :ars*
3f you asked h#! for so!e #dea ho( they &ooked and beha"ed,
he (ou&d get shy and !utter so!eth#ng about U(a&k#ng on a&&?fours*D
3f you as !uch as s!#&ed, he (ou&d??though a !an of s#xty??
offer to f#ght you* 3 (ou&d not ha"e gone so far as to
f#ght for Rurt7, but 3 (ent for h#! near enough to a &#e*
Oou kno( 3 hate, detest, and canDt bear a &#e, not because 3 a!
stra#ghter than the rest of us, but s#!p&y because #t appa&&s !e*
There #s a ta#nt of death, a f&a"our of !orta&#ty #n &#es??
(h#ch #s exact&y (hat 3 hate and detest #n the (or&d??
(hat 3 (ant to forget* 3t !akes !e !#serab&e and s#ck,
&#ke b#t#ng so!eth#ng rotten (ou&d do* Te!pera!ent, 3 suppose*
+e&&, 3 (ent near enough to #t by &ett#ng the young foo& there
be&#e"e anyth#ng he &#ked to #!ag#ne as to !y #nf&uence #n Europe*
3 beca!e #n an #nstant as !uch of a pretence as the rest
of the be(#tched p#&gr#!s* Th#s s#!p&y because 3 had a not#on
#t so!eho( (ou&d be of he&p to that Rurt7 (ho! at the t#!e
3 d#d not see??you understand* He (as just a (ord for !e*
3 d#d not see the !an #n the na!e any !ore than you do*
Do you see h#!N Do you see the storyN Do you see anyth#ngN 3t see!s
to !e 3 a! try#ng to te&& you ya drea!??!ak#ng a "a#n atte!pt,
because no re&at#on of a drea! can con"ey the drea!?sensat#on,
that co!!#ng&#ng of absurd#ty, surpr#se, and be(#&der!ent
#n a tre!or of strugg&#ng re"o&t, that not#on of be#ng captured
by the #ncred#b&e (h#ch #s of the "ery essence of drea!s*
* * *$
He (as s#&ent for a (h#&e*
$* * * 'o, #t #s #!poss#b&eP #t #s #!poss#b&e to con"ey the &#fe?sensat#on
of any g#"en epoch of oneDs ex#stence??that (h#ch !akes #ts truth,
#ts !ean#ng??#ts subt&e and penetrat#ng essence* 3t #s #!poss#b&e*
+e &#"e, as (e drea!??a&one* * * *$
He paused aga#n as #f ref&ect#ng, then added>
$8f course #n th#s you fe&&o(s see !ore than 3 cou&d then*
Oou see !e, (ho! you kno(* * * *$
3t had beco!e so p#tch dark that (e &#steners cou&d hard&y see
one another* ,or a &ong t#!e a&ready he, s#tt#ng apart, had been
no !ore to us than a "o#ce* There (as not a (ord fro! anybody*
The others !#ght ha"e been as&eep, but 3 (as a(ake*
3 &#stened, 3 &#stened on the (atch for the sentence, for the (ord,
that (ou&d g#"e !e the c&ue to the fa#nt uneas#ness #nsp#red
by th#s narrat#"e that see!ed to shape #tse&f (#thout hu!an
&#ps #n the hea"y n#ght?a#r of the r#"er*
$* * * Oes??3 &et h#! run on,$ :ar&o( began aga#n,
$and th#nk (hat he p&eased about the po(ers that (ere
beh#nd !e* 3 d#dK %nd there (as noth#ng beh#nd !eK
There (as noth#ng but that (retched, o&d, !ang&ed stea!boat
3 (as &ean#ng aga#nst, (h#&e he ta&ked f&uent&y about Uthe
necess#ty for e"ery !an to get on*D U%nd (hen one co!es
out here, you conce#"e, #t #s not to ga7e at the !oon*D
:r* Rurt7 (as a Uun#"ersa& gen#us,D but e"en a gen#us (ou&d
f#nd #t eas#er to (ork (#th Uade=uate too&s??#nte&&#gent !en*D
He d#d not !ake br#cks??(hy, there (as a phys#ca& #!poss#b#&#ty
#n the (ay??as 3 (as (e&& a(areP and #f he d#d secretar#a&
(ork for the !anager, #t (as because Uno sens#b&e !an rejects
(anton&y the conf#dence of h#s super#ors*D D#d 3 see #tN
3 sa( #t* +hat !ore d#d 3 (antN +hat 3 rea&&y (anted (as r#"ets,
by hea"enK .#"ets* To get on (#th the (ork??to stop the ho&e*
.#"ets 3 (anted* There (ere cases of the! do(n at the coast??
cases??p#&ed up??burst??sp&#tK Oou k#cked a &oose r#"et
at e"ery second step #n that stat#on?yard on the h#&&s#de*
.#"ets had ro&&ed #nto the gro"e of death* Oou cou&d f#&&
your pockets (#th r#"ets for the troub&e of stoop#ng do(n??
and there (asnDt one r#"et to be found (here #t (as (anted*
+e had p&ates that (ou&d do, but noth#ng to fasten the! (#th*
%nd e"ery (eek the !essenger, a &ong negro, &etter?bag on
shou&der and staff #n hand, &eft our stat#on for the coast*
%nd se"era& t#!es a (eek a coast cara"an ca!e #n (#th
trade goods??ghast&y g&a7ed ca&#co that !ade you shudder
on&y to &ook at #t, g&ass beads "a&ue about a penny a =uart,
confounded spotted cotton handkerch#efs* %nd no r#"ets*
Three carr#ers cou&d ha"e brought a&& that (as (anted to set
that stea!boat af&oat*
$He (as beco!#ng conf#dent#a& no(, but 3 fancy !y unrespons#"e
att#tude !ust ha"e exasperated h#! at &ast, for he judged
#t necessary to #nfor! !e he feared ne#ther God nor de"#&,
&et a&one any !ere !an* 3 sa#d 3 cou&d see that "ery (e&&,
but (hat 3 (anted (as a certa#n =uant#ty of r#"ets??and r#"ets
(ere (hat rea&&y :r* Rurt7 (anted, #f he had on&y kno(n #t*
'o( &etters (ent to the coast e"ery (eek* * * * U:y dear s#r,D
he cr#ed, U3 (r#te fro! d#ctat#on*D 3 de!anded r#"ets*
There (as a (ay??for an #nte&&#gent !an* He changed h#s !annerP
beca!e "ery co&d, and sudden&y began to ta&k about
a h#ppopota!usP (ondered (hether s&eep#ng on board the stea!er
E3 stuck to !y sa&"age n#ght and dayF 3 (asnDt d#sturbed*
There (as an o&d h#ppo that had the bad hab#t of gett#ng out
on the bank and roa!#ng at n#ght o"er the stat#on grounds*
The p#&gr#!s used to turn out #n a body and e!pty e"ery r#f&e they
cou&d &ay hands on at h#!* o!e e"en had sat up oD n#ghts for h#!*
%&& th#s energy (as (asted, though* UThat an#!a& has a char!ed &#fe,D
he sa#dP Ubut you can say th#s on&y of brutes #n th#s country*
'o !an??you apprehend !eN??no !an here bears a char!ed &#fe*D
He stood there for a !o!ent #n the !oon&#ght (#th h#s de&#cate
hooked nose set a &#tt&e aske(, and h#s !#ca eyes g&#tter#ng
(#thout a (#nk, then, (#th a curt Good?n#ght, he strode off*
3 cou&d see he (as d#sturbed and cons#derab&y pu77&ed,
(h#ch !ade !e fee& !ore hopefu& than 3 had been for days*
3t (as a great co!fort to turn fro! that chap to !y #nf&uent#a&
fr#end, the battered, t(#sted, ru#ned, t#n?pot stea!boat*
3 c&a!bered on board* he rang under !y feet &#ke an e!pty
Hunt&ey W Pa&!er b#scu#t?t#n k#cked a&ong a gutterP she (as
noth#ng so so&#d #n !ake, and rather &ess pretty #n shape,
but 3 had expended enough hard (ork on her to !ake !e &o"e her*
'o #nf&uent#a& fr#end (ou&d ha"e ser"ed !e better*
he had g#"en !e a chance to co!e out a b#t??to f#nd out
(hat 3 cou&d do* 'o, 3 donDt &#ke (ork* 3 had rather &a7e
about and th#nk of a&& the f#ne th#ngs that can be done*
3 donDt &#ke (ork??no !an does??but 3 &#ke (hat #s #n the (ork??
the chance to f#nd yourse&f* Oour o(n rea&#ty??for yourse&f,
not for others??(hat no other !an can e"er kno(*
They can on&y see the !ere sho(, and ne"er can te&& (hat
#t rea&&y !eans*
$3 (as not surpr#sed to see so!ebody s#tt#ng aft, on the deck,
(#th h#s &egs dang&#ng o"er the !ud* Oou see 3 rather chu!!ed (#th
the fe( !echan#cs there (ere #n that stat#on, (ho! the other p#&gr#!s
natura&&y desp#sed??on account of the#r #!perfect !anners, 3 suppose*
Th#s (as the fore!an??a bo#&er?!aker by trade??a good (orker*
He (as a &ank, bony, ye&&o(?faced !an, (#th b#g #ntense eyes*
H#s aspect (as (orr#ed, and h#s head (as as ba&d as the pa&! of !y handP
but h#s ha#r #n fa&&#ng see!ed to ha"e stuck to h#s ch#n, and had
prospered #n the ne( &oca&#ty, for h#s beard hung do(n to h#s (a#st*
He (as a (#do(er (#th s#x young ch#&dren Ehe had &eft the! #n charge
of a s#ster of h#s to co!e out thereF, and the pass#on of h#s
&#fe (as p#geon?f&y#ng* He (as an enthus#ast and a conno#sseur*
He (ou&d ra"e about p#geons* %fter (ork hours he used so!et#!es to co!e
o"er fro! h#s hut for a ta&k about h#s ch#&dren and h#s p#geonsP at (ork,
(hen he had to cra(& #n the !ud under the botto! of the stea!boat,
he (ou&d t#e up that beard of h#s #n a k#nd of (h#te ser"#ette
he brought for the purpose* 3t had &oops to go o"er h#s ears*
3n the e"en#ng he cou&d be seen s=uatted on the bank r#ns#ng that
(rapper #n the creek (#th great care, then spread#ng #t so&e!n&y
on a bush to dry*
$3 s&apped h#! on the back and shouted, U+e sha&& ha"e r#"etsKD
He scra!b&ed to h#s feet exc&a#!#ng, U'oK .#"etsKD as though
he cou&dnDt be&#e"e h#s ears* Then #n a &o( "o#ce, UOou * * * ehND
3 donDt kno( (hy (e beha"ed &#ke &unat#cs* 3 put !y f#nger
to the s#de of !y nose and nodded !yster#ous&y* UGood for youKD
he cr#ed, snapped h#s f#ngers abo"e h#s head, &#ft#ng one foot*
3 tr#ed a j#g* +e capered on the #ron deck* % fr#ghtfu& c&atter ca!e
out of that hu&k, and the "#rg#n forest on the other bank of the creek
sent #t back #n a thunder#ng ro&& upon the s&eep#ng stat#on*
3t !ust ha"e !ade so!e of the p#&gr#!s s#t up #n the#r ho"e&s*
% dark f#gure obscured the &#ghted door(ay of the !anagerDs hut,
"an#shed, then, a second or so after, the door(ay #tse&f "an#shed, too*
+e stopped, and the s#&ence dr#"en a(ay by the sta!p#ng
of our feet f&o(ed back aga#n fro! the recesses of the &and*
The great (a&& of "egetat#on, an exuberant and entang&ed !ass of trunks,
branches, &ea"es, boughs, festoons, !ot#on&ess #n the !oon&#ght,
(as &#ke a r#ot#ng #n"as#on of sound&ess &#fe, a ro&&#ng (a"e
of p&ants, p#&ed up, crested, ready to topp&e o"er the creek,
to s(eep e"ery &#tt&e !an of us out of h#s &#tt&e ex#stence*
%nd #t !o"ed not* % deadened burst of !#ghty sp&ashes and snorts
reached us fro! afar, as though an #cthyosaurus had been tak#ng a bath
of g&#tter #n the great r#"er* U%fter a&&,D sa#d the bo#&er?!aker
#n a reasonab&e tone, U(hy shou&dnDt (e get the r#"etsND
+hy not, #ndeedK 3 d#d not kno( of any reason (hy (e shou&dnDt*
UTheyD&& co!e #n three (eeks,D 3 sa#d conf#dent&y*
$/ut they d#dnDt* 3nstead of r#"ets there ca!e an #n"as#on,
an #nf&#ct#on, a "#s#tat#on* 3t ca!e #n sect#ons dur#ng
the next three (eeks, each sect#on headed by a donkey carry#ng
a (h#te !an #n ne( c&othes and tan shoes, bo(#ng fro!
that e&e"at#on r#ght and &eft to the #!pressed p#&gr#!s*
% =uarre&so!e band of footsore su&ky n#ggers trod on the hee&s
of the donkeyP a &ot of tents, ca!p?stoo&s, t#n boxes, (h#te cases,
bro(n ba&es (ou&d be shot do(n #n the courtyard, and the a#r
of !ystery (ou&d deepen a &#tt&e o"er the !udd&e of the stat#on*
,#"e such #nsta&!ents ca!e, (#th the#r absurd a#r of d#sorder&y
f&#ght (#th the &oot of #nnu!erab&e outf#t shops and
pro"#s#on stores, that, one (ou&d th#nk, they (ere &ugg#ng,
after a ra#d, #nto the (#&derness for e=u#tab&e d#"#s#on*
3t (as an #nextr#cab&e !ess of th#ngs decent #n the!se&"es
but that hu!an fo&&y !ade &ook &#ke the spo#&s of th#e"#ng*
$Th#s de"oted band ca&&ed #tse&f the E&dorado Exp&or#ng
Exped#t#on, and 3 be&#e"e they (ere s(orn to secrecy*
The#r ta&k, ho(e"er, (as the ta&k of sord#d buccaneers>
#t y(as reck&ess (#thout hard#hood, greedy (#thout audac#ty,
and crue& (#thout courageP there (as not an ato! of fores#ght
or of ser#ous #ntent#on #n the (ho&e batch of the!, and they
d#d not see! a(are these th#ngs are (anted for the (ork
of the (or&d* To tear treasure out of the bo(e&s of the &and
(as the#r des#re, (#th no !ore !ora& purpose at the back
of #t than there #s #n burg&ars break#ng #nto a safe*
+ho pa#d the expenses of the nob&e enterpr#se 3 donDt kno(P
but the unc&e of our !anager (as &eader of that &ot*
$3n exter#or he rese!b&ed a butcher #n a poor ne#ghbourhood,
and h#s eyes had a &ook of s&eepy cunn#ng* He carr#ed h#s fat
paunch (#th ostentat#on on h#s short &egs, and dur#ng the t#!e
h#s gang #nfested the stat#on spoke to no one but h#s nephe(*
Oou cou&d see these t(o roa!#ng about a&& day &ong (#th the#r
heads c&ose together #n an e"er&ast#ng confab*
$3 had g#"en up (orry#ng !yse&f about the r#"ets*
8neDs capac#ty for that k#nd of fo&&y #s !ore &#!#ted than
you (ou&d suppose* 3 sa#d HangK??and &et th#ngs s&#de*
3 had p&enty of t#!e for !ed#tat#on, and no( and then 3 (ou&d
g#"e so!e thought to Rurt7* 3 (asnDt "ery #nterested #n h#!*
'o* t#&&, 3 (as cur#ous to see (hether th#s !an, (ho had co!e
out e=u#pped (#th !ora& #deas of so!e sort, (ou&d c&#!b to the top
after a&& and ho( he (ou&d set about h#s (ork (hen there*$
33
$8ne e"en#ng as 3 (as &y#ng f&at on the deck of !y stea!boat,
3 heard "o#ces approach#ng??and there (ere the nephe( and the unc&e
stro&&#ng a&ong the bank* 3 &a#d !y head on !y ar! aga#n,
and had near&y &ost !yse&f #n a do7e, (hen so!ebody sa#d #n !y ear,
as #t (ere> U3 a! as har!&ess as a &#tt&e ch#&d, but 3 donDt
&#ke to be d#ctated to* %! 3 the !anager??or a! 3 notN
3 (as ordered to send h#! there* 3tDs #ncred#b&e*D
* * * 3 beca!e a(are that the t(o (ere stand#ng on the shore
a&ongs#de the forepart of the stea!boat, just be&o( !y head*
3 d#d not !o"eP #t d#d not occur to !e to !o"e> 3 (as s&eepy*
U3t 3 unp&easant,D grunted the unc&e* UHe has asked the
%d!#n#strat#on to be sent there,D sa#d the other, U(#th the #dea
of sho(#ng (hat he cou&d doP and 3 (as #nstructed accord#ng&y*
<ook at the #nf&uence that !an !ust ha"e* 3s #t not fr#ghtfu&ND
They both agreed #t (as fr#ghtfu&, then !ade se"era& b#7arre re!arks>
U:ake ra#n and f#ne (eather??one !an??the Counc#&??by the noseD??
b#ts of absurd sentences that got the better of !y dro(s#ness,
so that 3 had pretty near the (ho&e of !y (#ts about !e (hen the
unc&e sa#d, UThe c&#!ate !ay do a(ay (#th th#s d#ff#cu&ty for you*
3s he a&one thereND UOes,D ans(ered the !anagerP Uhe sent
h#s ass#stant do(n the r#"er (#th a note to !e #n these ter!s>
$C&ear th#s poor de"#& out of the country, and donDt
bother send#ng !ore of that sort* 3 had rather be a&one
than ha"e the k#nd of !en you can d#spose of (#th !e*$
3t (as !ore than a year ago* Can you #!ag#ne such #!pudenceKD
U%nyth#ng s#nce thenND asked the other hoarse&y* U3"ory,D jerked
the nephe(P U&ots of #t??pr#!e sort??&ots??!ost annoy#ng,
fro! h#!*D U%nd (#th thatND =uest#oned the hea"y ru!b&e*
U3n"o#ce,D (as the rep&y f#red out, so to speak* Then s#&ence*
They had been ta&k#ng about Rurt7*
$3 (as broad a(ake by th#s t#!e, but, &y#ng perfect&y at ease,
re!a#ned st#&&, ha"#ng no #nduce!ent to change !y pos#t#on*
UHo( d#d that #"ory co!e a&& th#s (ayND gro(&ed the e&der !an,
(ho see!ed "ery "exed* The other exp&a#ned that #t had co!e
(#th a f&eet of canoes #n charge of an Eng&#sh ha&f?caste
c&erk Rurt7 had (#th h#!P that Rurt7 had apparent&y #ntended
to return h#!se&f, the stat#on be#ng by that t#!e bare
of goods and stores, but after co!#ng three hundred !#&es,
had sudden&y dec#ded to go back, (h#ch he started to do a&one
#n a s!a&& dugout (#th four padd&ers, &ea"#ng the ha&f?caste
to cont#nue do(n the r#"er (#th the #"ory* The t(o fe&&o(s
there see!ed astounded at anybody atte!pt#ng such a th#ng*
They (ere at a &oss for an ade=uate !ot#"e* %s to !e, 3 see!ed
to see Rurt7 for the f#rst t#!e* 3t (as a d#st#nct g&#!pse>
the dugout, four padd&#ng sa"ages, and the &one (h#te !an
turn#ng h#s back sudden&y on the head=uarters, yon re&#ef,
on thoughts of ho!e??perhapsP sett#ng h#s face to(ards the depths
of the (#&derness, to(ards h#s e!pty and deso&ate stat#on*
3 d#d not kno( the !ot#"e* Perhaps he (as just s#!p&y a f#ne
fe&&o( (ho stuck to h#s (ork for #ts o(n sake* H#s na!e,
you understand, had not been pronounced once* He (as Uthat !an*D
The ha&f?caste, (ho, as far as 3 cou&d see, had conducted
a d#ff#cu&t tr#p (#th great prudence and p&uck, (as #n"ar#ab&y
a&&uded to as Uthat scoundre&*D The Uscoundre&D had reported
that the U!anD had been "ery #&&??had reco"ered #!perfect&y*
* * * The t(o be&o( !e !o"ed a(ay then a fe( paces,
and stro&&ed back and forth at so!e &#tt&e d#stance* 3 heard>
U:#&#tary post??doctor??t(o hundred !#&es??=u#te a&one no(??
una"o#dab&e de&ays??n#ne !onths??no ne(s??strange ru!ours*D
They approached aga#n, just as the !anager (as say#ng, U'o one,
as far as 3 kno(, un&ess a spec#es of (ander#ng trader??
a pest#&ent#a& fe&&o(, snapp#ng #"ory fro! the nat#"es*D
+ho (as #t they (ere ta&k#ng about no(N 3 gathered
#n snatches that th#s (as so!e !an supposed to be #n
Rurt7Ds d#str#ct, and of (ho! the !anager d#d not appro"e*
U+e (#&& not be free fro! unfa#r co!pet#t#on t#&& one
of these fe&&o(s #s hanged for an exa!p&e,D he sa#d*
UCerta#n&y,D grunted the otherP Uget h#! hangedK +hy notN
%nyth#ng??anyth#ng can be done #n th#s country* ThatDs (hat 3 sayP
nobody here, you understand, HE.E, can endanger your pos#t#on*
%nd (hyN Oou stand the c&#!ate??you out&ast the! a&&*
The danger #s #n EuropeP but there before 3 &eft 3 took care to??D
They !o"ed off and (h#spered, then the#r "o#ces rose aga#n*
UThe extraord#nary ser#es of de&ays #s not !y fau&t*
3 d#d !y best*D The fat !an s#ghed* U-ery sad*D
U%nd the pest#ferous absurd#ty of h#s ta&k,D cont#nued the otherP
Uhe bothered !e enough (hen he (as here* $Each stat#on
shou&d be &#ke a beacon on the road to(ards better th#ngs,
a centre for trade of course, but a&so for hu!an#7#ng,
#!pro"#ng, #nstruct#ng*$ Conce#"e you??that assK
%nd he (ants to be !anagerK 'o, #tDs??D Here he got choked
by excess#"e #nd#gnat#on, and 3 &#fted !y head the &east b#t*
3 (as surpr#sed to see ho( near they (ere??r#ght under !e*
3 cou&d ha"e spat upon the#r hats* They (ere &ook#ng on the ground,
absorbed #n thought* The !anager (as s(#tch#ng h#s &eg (#th
a s&ender t(#g> h#s sagac#ous re&at#"e &#fted h#s head*
UOou ha"e been (e&& s#nce you ca!e out th#s t#!eND he asked*
The other ga"e a start* U+hoN 3N 8hK <#ke a char!??&#ke a char!*
/ut the rest??oh, !y goodnessK %&& s#ck* They d#e so =u#ck,
too, that 3 ha"enDt the t#!e to send the! out of the country??
#tDs #ncred#b&eKD UH!D!* Just so,D grunted the unc&e*
U%hK !y boy, trust to th#s??3 say, trust to th#s*D
3 sa( h#! extend h#s short f&#pper of an ar! for a gesture
that took #n the forest, the creek, the !ud, the r#"er??
see!ed to beckon (#th a d#shonour#ng f&our#sh before the sun&#t
face of the &and a treacherous appea& to the &urk#ng death,
to the h#dden e"#&, to the profound darkness of #ts heart*
3t (as so start&#ng that 3 &eaped to !y feet and &ooked
back at the edge of the forest, as though 3 had expected
an ans(er of so!e sort to that b&ack d#sp&ay of conf#dence*
Oou kno( the foo&#sh not#ons that co!e to one so!et#!es*
The h#gh st#&&ness confronted these t(o f#gures (#th #ts o!#nous
pat#ence, (a#t#ng for the pass#ng a(ay of a fantast#c #n"as#on*
$They s(ore a&oud together??out of sheer fr#ght, 3 be&#e"e??then pretend#ng
not to kno( anyth#ng of !y ex#stence, turned back to the stat#on*
The sun (as &o(P and &ean#ng for(ard s#de by s#de, they see!ed to be
tugg#ng pa#nfu&&y uph#&& the#r t(o r#d#cu&ous shado(s of une=ua& &ength,
that tra#&ed beh#nd the! s&o(&y o"er the ta&& grass (#thout bend#ng
a s#ng&e b&ade*
$3n a fe( days the E&dorado Exped#t#on (ent #nto the pat#ent
(#&derness, that c&osed upon #t as the sea c&oses o"er a d#"er*
<ong after(ards the ne(s ca!e that a&& the donkeys (ere dead*
3 kno( noth#ng as to the fate of the &ess "a&uab&e an#!a&s*
They, no doubt, &#ke the rest of us, found (hat they deser"ed*
3 d#d not #n=u#re* 3 (as then rather exc#ted at the prospect of !eet#ng
Rurt7 "ery soon* +hen 3 say "ery soon 3 !ean #t co!parat#"e&y*
3t (as just t(o !onths fro! the day (e &eft the creek (hen (e ca!e
to the bank be&o( Rurt7Ds stat#on*
$Go#ng up that r#"er (as &#ke tra"e&#ng back to the ear&#est beg#nn#ngs
of the (or&d, (hen "egetat#on r#oted on the earth and the b#g trees
(ere k#ngs* %n e!pty strea!, a great s#&ence, an #!penetrab&e forest*
The a#r (as (ar!, th#ck, hea"y, s&ugg#sh* There (as no joy
#n the br#&&#ance of sunsh#ne* The &ong stretches of the (ater(ay
ran on, deserted, #nto the g&oo! of o"ershado(ed d#stances* 8n s#&"ery
sand?banks h#ppos and a&&#gators sunned the!se&"es s#de by s#de*
The broaden#ng (aters f&o(ed through a !ob of (ooded #s&andsP
you &ost your (ay on that r#"er as you (ou&d #n a desert, and butted
a&& day &ong aga#nst shoa&s, try#ng to f#nd the channe&, t#&& you
thought yourse&f be(#tched and cut off for e"er fro! e"eryth#ng you
had kno(n once??so!e(here??far a(ay??#n another ex#stence perhaps*
There (ere !o!ents (hen oneDs past ca!e back to one, as #t
(#&& so!et#!es (hen you ha"e not a !o!ent to spare for yourse&fP
but #t ca!e #n the shape of an unrestfu& and no#sy drea!,
re!e!bered (#th (onder a!ongst the o"er(he&!#ng rea&#t#es
of th#s strange (or&d of p&ants, and (ater, and s#&ence*
%nd th#s st#&&ness of &#fe d#d not #n the &east rese!b&e a peace*
3t (as the st#&&ness of an #!p&acab&e force brood#ng o"er an
#nscrutab&e #ntent#on* 3t &ooked at you (#th a "engefu& aspect*
3 got used to #t after(ardsP 3 d#d not see #t any !oreP 3 had no t#!e*
3 had to keep guess#ng at the channe&P 3 had to d#scern, !ost&y by
#nsp#rat#on, the s#gns of h#dden banksP 3 (atched for sunken stonesP
3 (as &earn#ng to c&ap !y teeth s!art&y before !y heart f&e( out,
(hen 3 sha"ed by a f&uke so!e #nferna& s&y o&d snag that (ou&d
ha"e r#pped the &#fe out of the t#n?pot stea!boat and dro(ned
a&& the p#&gr#!sP 3 had to keep a &ookout for the s#gns of dead
(ood (e cou&d cut up #n the n#ght for next dayDs stea!#ng*
+hen you ha"e to attend to th#ngs of that sort, to the !ere #nc#dents
of the surface, the rea&#ty??the rea&#ty, 3 te&& you??fades* The #nner
truth #s h#dden??&uck#&y, &uck#&y* /ut 3 fe&t #t a&& the sa!eP
3 fe&t often #ts !yster#ous st#&&ness (atch#ng !e at !y !onkey tr#cks,
just as #t (atches you fe&&o(s perfor!#ng on your respect#"e
t#ght?ropes for??(hat #s #tN ha&f?a?cro(n a tu!b&e??$
$Try to be c#"#&, :ar&o(,$ gro(&ed a "o#ce, and 3 kne( there
(as at &east one &#stener a(ake bes#des !yse&f*
$3 beg your pardon* 3 forgot the heartache (h#ch !akes up
the rest of the pr#ce* %nd #ndeed (hat does the pr#ce !atter,
#f the tr#ck be (e&& doneN Oou do your tr#cks "ery (e&&*
%nd 3 d#dnDt do bad&y e#ther, s#nce 3 !anaged not to s#nk
that stea!boat on !y f#rst tr#p* 3tDs a (onder to !e yet*
3!ag#ne a b&#ndfo&ded !an set to dr#"e a "an o"er a bad road*
3 s(eated and sh#"ered o"er that bus#ness cons#derab&y,
3 can te&& you* %fter a&&, for a sea!an, to scrape the botto!
of the th#ng thatDs supposed to f&oat a&& the t#!e under
h#s care #s the unpardonab&e s#n* 'o one !ay kno( of #t,
but you ne"er forget the thu!p??ehN % b&o( on the "ery heart*
Oou re!e!ber #t, you drea! of #t, you (ake up at n#ght
and th#nk of #t??years after??and go hot and co&d a&& o"er*
3 donDt pretend to say that stea!boat f&oated a&& the t#!e*
:ore than once she had to (ade for a b#t, (#th t(enty cann#ba&s
sp&ash#ng around and push#ng* +e had en&#sted so!e of these chaps
on the (ay for a cre(* ,#ne fe&&o(s??cann#ba&s??#n the#r p&ace*
They (ere !en one cou&d (ork (#th, and 3 a! gratefu& to the!*
%nd, after a&&, they d#d not eat each other before !y face>
they had brought a&ong a pro"#s#on of h#ppo?!eat (h#ch
(ent rotten, and !ade the !ystery of the (#&derness st#nk
#n !y nostr#&s* PhooK 3 can sn#ff #t no(* 3 had the !anager
on board and three or four p#&gr#!s (#th the#r sta"es??
a&& co!p&ete* o!et#!es (e ca!e upon a stat#on c&ose by the bank,
c&#ng#ng to the sk#rts of the unkno(n, and the (h#te !en
rush#ng out of a tu!b&e?do(n ho"e&, (#th great gestures
of joy and surpr#se and (e&co!e, see!ed "ery strange??
had the appearance of be#ng he&d there capt#"e by a spe&&*
The (ord #"ory (ou&d r#ng #n the a#r for a (h#&e??and on (e (ent
aga#n #nto the s#&ence, a&ong e!pty reaches, round the st#&& bends,
bet(een the h#gh (a&&s of our (#nd#ng (ay, re"erberat#ng #n
ho&&o( c&aps the ponderous beat of the stern?(hee&* Trees,
trees, !#&&#ons of trees, !ass#"e, #!!ense, runn#ng up h#ghP
and at the#r foot, hugg#ng the bank aga#nst the strea!,
crept the &#tt&e begr#!ed stea!boat, &#ke a s&ugg#sh beet&e
cra(&#ng on the f&oor of a &ofty port#co* 3t !ade you fee&
"ery s!a&&, "ery &ost, and yet #t (as not a&together depress#ng,
that fee&#ng* %fter a&&, #f you (ere s!a&&, the gr#!y
beet&e cra(&ed on??(h#ch (as just (hat you (anted #t to do*
+here the p#&gr#!s #!ag#ned #t cra(&ed to 3 donDt kno(*
To so!e p&ace (here they expected to get so!eth#ng* 3 betK
,or !e #t cra(&ed to(ards Rurt7??exc&us#"e&yP but (hen
the stea!?p#pes started &eak#ng (e cra(&ed "ery s&o(*
The reaches opened before us and c&osed beh#nd, as #f the forest had
stepped &e#sure&y across the (ater to bar the (ay for our return*
+e penetrated deeper and deeper #nto the heart of darkness*
3t (as "ery =u#et there* %t n#ght so!et#!es the ro&&
of dru!s beh#nd the curta#n of trees (ou&d run up the r#"er
and re!a#n susta#ned fa#nt&y, as #f ho"er#ng #n the a#r
h#gh o"er our heads, t#&& the f#rst break of day*
+hether #t !eant (ar, peace, or prayer (e cou&d not te&&*
The da(ns (ere hera&ded by the descent of a ch#&& st#&&nessP
the (ood?cutters s&ept, the#r f#res burned &o(P the snapp#ng of a t(#g
(ou&d !ake you start* +ere (ere (anderers on a preh#stor#c earth,
on an earth that (ore the aspect of an unkno(n p&anet*
+e cou&d ha"e fanc#ed ourse&"es the f#rst of !en tak#ng
possess#on of an accursed #nher#tance, to be subdued
at the cost of profound angu#sh and of excess#"e to#&*
/ut sudden&y, as (e strugg&ed round a bend, there (ou&d
be a g&#!pse of rush (a&&s, of peaked grass?roofs, a burst
of ye&&s, a (h#r& of b&ack &#!bs, a !ass of hands c&app#ng*
of feet sta!p#ng, of bod#es s(ay#ng, of eyes ro&&#ng,
under the droop of hea"y and !ot#on&ess fo&#age*
The stea!er to#&ed a&ong s&o(&y on the edge of a b&ack
and #nco!prehens#b&e fren7y* The preh#stor#c !an (as
curs#ng us, pray#ng to us, (e&co!#ng us??(ho cou&d te&&N
+e (ere cut off fro! the co!prehens#on of our surround#ngsP
(e g&#ded past &#ke phanto!s, (onder#ng and secret&y appa&&ed,
as sane !en (ou&d be before an enthus#ast#c outbreak #n a !adhouse*
+e cou&d not understand because (e (ere too far and cou&d not
re!e!ber because (e (ere tra"e&&#ng #n the n#ght of f#rst ages,
of those ages that are gone, &ea"#ng hard&y a s#gn??
and no !e!or#es*
$The earth see!ed unearth&y* +e are accusto!ed to &ook
upon the shack&ed for! of a con=uered !onster, but there??
there you cou&d &ook at a th#ng !onstrous and free*
3t (as unearth&y, and the !en (ere??'o, they (ere not #nhu!an*
+e&&, you kno(, that (as the (orst of #t??th#s susp#c#on
of the#r not be#ng #nhu!an* 3t (ou&d co!e s&o(&y to one*
They ho(&ed and &eaped, and spun, and !ade horr#d facesP
but (hat thr#&&ed you (as just the thought of the#r hu!an#ty??
&#ke yours??the thought of your re!ote k#nsh#p (#th th#s
(#&d and pass#onate uproar* 9g&y* Oes, #t (as ug&y enoughP
but #f you (ere !an enough you (ou&d ad!#t to yourse&f
that there y(as #n you just the fa#ntest trace of a response
to the terr#b&e frankness of that no#se, a d#! susp#c#on
of there be#ng a !ean#ng #n #t (h#ch you??you so re!ote fro!
the n#ght of f#rst ages??cou&d co!prehend* %nd (hy notN
The !#nd of !an #s capab&e of anyth#ng??because e"eryth#ng #s #n #t,
a&& the past as (e&& as a&& the future* +hat (as there after a&&N
Joy, fear, sorro(, de"ot#on, "a&our, rage??(ho can te&&N??
but truth??truth str#pped of #ts c&oak of t#!e* <et the foo&
gape and shudder??the !an kno(s, and can &ook on (#thout a (#nk*
/ut he !ust at &east be as !uch of a !an as these on the shore*
He !ust !eet that truth (#th h#s o(n true stuff??
(#th h#s o(n #nborn strength* Pr#nc#p&es (onDt do*
%c=u#s#t#ons, c&othes, pretty rags??rags that (ou&d f&y off
at the f#rst good shake* 'oP you (ant a de&#berate be&#ef*
%n appea& to !e #n th#s f#end#sh ro(??#s thereN -ery (e&&P
3 hearP 3 ad!#t, but 3 ha"e a "o#ce, too, and for good or e"#&
!#ne #s the speech that cannot be s#&enced* 8f course, a foo&,
(hat (#th sheer fr#ght and f#ne sent#!ents, #s a&(ays safe*
+hoDs that grunt#ngN Oou (onder 3 d#dnDt go ashore for a ho(&
and a danceN +e&&, no??3 d#dnDt* ,#ne sent#!ents, you sayN
,#ne sent#!ents, be hangedK 3 had no t#!e* 3 had to !ess
about (#th (h#te?&ead and str#ps of (oo&en b&anket he&p#ng
to put bandages on those &eaky stea!?p#pes??3 te&& you*
3 had to (atch the steer#ng, and c#rcu!"ent those snags,
and get the t#n?pot a&ong by hook or by crook* There (as
surface?truth enough #n these th#ngs to sa"e a (#ser !an*
%nd bet(een (h#&es 3 had to &ook after the sa"age (ho (as f#re!an*
He (as an #!pro"ed spec#!enP he cou&d f#re up a "ert#ca& bo#&er*
He (as there be&o( !e, and, upon !y (ord, to &ook at h#!
(as as ed#fy#ng as see#ng a dog #n a parody of breeches
and a feather hat, (a&k#ng on h#s h#nd?&egs* % fe( !onths
of tra#n#ng had done for that rea&&y f#ne chap* He s=u#nted
at the stea!?gauge and at the (ater?gauge (#th an e"#dent effort
of #ntrep#d#ty??and he had f#&ed teeth, too, the poor de"#&,
and the (oo& of h#s pate sha"ed #nto =ueer patterns,
and three orna!enta& scars on each of h#s cheeks*
He ought to ha"e been c&app#ng h#s hands and sta!p#ng h#s
feet on the bank, #nstead of (h#ch he (as hard at (ork,
a thra&& to strange (#tchcraft, fu&& of #!pro"#ng kno(&edge*
He (as usefu& because he had been #nstructedP and (hat he kne(
(as th#s??that shou&d the (ater #n that transparent th#ng d#sappear,
the e"#& sp#r#t #ns#de the bo#&er (ou&d get angry through
the greatness of h#s th#rst, and take a terr#b&e "engeance*
o he s(eated and f#red up and (atched the g&ass fearfu&&y
E(#th an #!pro!ptu char!, !ade of rags, t#ed to h#s ar!,
and a p#ece of po&#shed bone, as b#g as a (atch, stuck f&at(ays
through h#s &o(er &#pF, (h#&e the (ooded banks s&#pped past
us s&o(&y, the short no#se (as &eft beh#nd, the #nter!#nab&e
!#&es of s#&ence??and (e crept on, to(ards Rurt7*
/ut the snags (ere th#ck, the (ater (as treacherous and sha&&o(,
the bo#&er see!ed #ndeed to ha"e a su&ky de"#& #n #t,
and thus ne#ther that f#re!an nor 3 had any t#!e to peer
#nto our creepy thoughts*
$o!e f#fty !#&es be&o( the 3nner tat#on (e ca!e upon a hut
of reeds, an #nc&#ned and !e&ancho&y po&e, (#th the unrecogn#7ab&e
tatters of (hat had been a f&ag of so!e sort f&y#ng fro! #t,
and a neat&y stacked (ood?p#&e* Th#s (as unexpected*
+e ca!e to the bank, and on the stack of f#re(ood found
a f&at p#ece of board (#th so!e faded penc#&?(r#t#ng on #t*
+hen dec#phered #t sa#d> U+ood for you* Hurry up*
%pproach caut#ous&y*D There (as a s#gnature,
but #t (as #&&eg#b&e??not Rurt7??a !uch &onger (ord*
UHurry up*D +hereN 9p the r#"erN U%pproach caut#ous&y*D
+e had not done so* /ut the (arn#ng cou&d not ha"e been !eant
for the p&ace (here #t cou&d be on&y found after approach*
o!eth#ng (as (rong abo"e* /ut (hat??and ho( !uchN
That (as the =uest#on* +e co!!ented ad"erse&y upon
the #!bec#&#ty of that te&egraph#c sty&e* The bush around
sa#d noth#ng, and (ou&d not &et us &ook "ery far, e#ther*
% torn curta#n of red t(#&& hung #n the door(ay of the hut,
and f&apped sad&y #n our faces* The d(e&&#ng (as d#s!ant&edP
but (e cou&d see a (h#te !an had &#"ed there not "ery &ong ago*
There re!a#ned a rude tab&e??a p&ank on t(o postsP a heap of rubb#sh
reposed #n a dark corner, and by the door 3 p#cked up a book*
3t had &ost #ts co"ers, and the pages had been thu!bed
#nto a state of extre!e&y d#rty softnessP but the back
had been &o"#ng&y st#tched afresh (#th (h#te cotton thread,
(h#ch &ooked c&ean yet* 3t (as an extraord#nary f#nd*
3ts t#t&e (as, %' 3'Q93.O 3'T8 8:E P83'T 8, E%:%'H3P,
by a !an To(ser, To(son??so!e such na!e??:aster #n h#s
:ajestyDs 'a"y* The !atter &ooked dreary read#ng enough,
(#th #&&ustrat#"e d#agra!s and repu&s#"e tab&es of f#gures,
and the copy (as s#xty years o&d* 3 hand&ed th#s a!a7#ng
ant#=u#ty (#th the greatest poss#b&e tenderness, &est #t shou&d
d#sso&"e #n !y hands* +#th#n, To(son or To(ser (as #n=u#r#ng
earnest&y #nto the break#ng stra#n of sh#psD cha#ns and tack&e,
and other such !atters* 'ot a "ery enthra&&#ng bookP
but at the f#rst g&ance you cou&d see there a s#ng&eness
of #ntent#on, an honest concern for the r#ght (ay of go#ng
to (ork, (h#ch !ade these hu!b&e pages, thought out so !any
years ago, &u!#nous (#th another than a profess#ona& &#ght*
The s#!p&e o&d sa#&or, (#th h#s ta&k of cha#ns and purchases,
!ade !e forget the jung&e and the p#&gr#!s #n a de&#c#ous
sensat#on of ha"#ng co!e upon so!eth#ng un!#stakab&y rea&*
uch a book be#ng there (as (onderfu& enoughP but st#&&
!ore astound#ng (ere the notes penc#&&ed #n the !arg#n,
and p&a#n&y referr#ng to the text* 3 cou&dnDt be&#e"e !y eyesK
They (ere #n c#pherK Oes, #t &ooked &#ke c#pher*
,ancy a !an &ugg#ng (#th h#! a book of that descr#pt#on #nto th#s
no(here and study#ng #t??and !ak#ng notes??#n c#pher at thatK
3t (as an extra"agant !ystery*
$3 had been d#!&y a(are for so!e t#!e of a (orry#ng no#se,
and (hen 3 &#fted !y eyes 3 sa( the (ood?p#&e (as gone,
and the !anager, a#ded by a&& the p#&gr#!s, (as shout#ng at
!e fro! the r#"ers#de* 3 s&#pped the book #nto !y pocket*
3 assure you to &ea"e off read#ng (as &#ke tear#ng !yse&f a(ay
fro! the she&ter of an o&d and so&#d fr#endsh#p*
$3 started the &a!e eng#ne ahead* U3t !ust be th#s !#serab&e
trader?th#s #ntruder,D exc&a#!ed the !anager, &ook#ng back
!a&e"o&ent&y at the p&ace (e had &eft* UHe !ust be Eng&#sh,D
3 sa#d* U3t (#&& not sa"e h#! fro! gett#ng #nto troub&e
#f he #s not carefu&,D !uttered the !anager dark&y*
3 obser"ed (#th assu!ed #nnocence that no !an (as safe fro!
troub&e #n th#s (or&d*
$The current (as !ore rap#d no(, the stea!er see!ed at her
&ast gasp, the stern?(hee& f&opped &angu#d&y, and 3 caught !yse&f
&#sten#ng on t#ptoe for the next beat of the boat, for #n sober
truth 3 expected the (retched th#ng to g#"e up e"ery !o!ent*
3t (as &#ke (atch#ng the &ast f&#ckers of a &#fe*
/ut st#&& (e cra(&ed* o!et#!es 3 (ou&d p#ck out a tree
a &#tt&e (ay ahead to !easure our progress to(ards Rurt7 by,
but 3 &ost #t #n"ar#ab&y before (e got abreast* To keep
the eyes so &ong on one th#ng (as too !uch for hu!an pat#ence*
The !anager d#sp&ayed a beaut#fu& res#gnat#on* 3 fretted
and fu!ed and took to argu#ng (#th !yse&f (hether or no 3
(ou&d ta&k open&y (#th Rurt7P but before 3 cou&d co!e to any
conc&us#on #t occurred to !e that !y speech or !y s#&ence,
#ndeed any act#on of !#ne, (ou&d be a !ere fut#&#ty*
+hat d#d #t !atter (hat any one kne( or #gnoredN +hat d#d #t !atter
(ho (as !anagerN 8ne gets so!et#!es such a f&ash of #ns#ght*
The essent#a&s of th#s affa#r &ay deep under the surface,
beyond !y reach, and beyond !y po(er of !edd&#ng*
$To(ards the e"en#ng of the second day (e judged ourse&"es
about e#ght !#&es fro! Rurt7Ds stat#on* 3 (anted to push onP
but the !anager &ooked gra"e, and to&d !e the na"#gat#on up
there (as so dangerous that #t (ou&d be ad"#sab&e, the sun be#ng
"ery &o( a&ready, to (a#t (here (e (ere t#&& next !orn#ng*
:oreo"er, he po#nted out that #f the (arn#ng to approach
caut#ous&y (ere to be fo&&o(ed, (e !ust approach #n day&#ght??
not at dusk or #n the dark* Th#s (as sens#b&e enough*
E#ght !#&es !eant near&y three hoursD stea!#ng for us, and 3
cou&d a&so see susp#c#ous r#pp&es at the upper end of the reach*
'e"erthe&ess, 3 (as annoyed beyond express#on at the de&ay,
and !ost unreasonab&y, too, s#nce one n#ght !ore cou&d not !atter
!uch after so !any !onths* %s (e had p&enty of (ood, and caut#on
(as the (ord, 3 brought up #n the !#dd&e of the strea!* The reach
(as narro(, stra#ght, (#th h#gh s#des &#ke a ra#&(ay cutt#ng*
The dusk ca!e g&#d#ng #nto #t &ong before the sun had set*
The current ran s!ooth and s(#ft, but a du!b #!!ob#&#ty sat
on the banks* The &#"#ng trees, &ashed together by the creepers
and e"ery &#"#ng bush of the undergro(th, !#ght ha"e been changed
#nto stone, e"en to the s&enderest t(#g, to the &#ghtest &eaf*
3t (as not s&eep??#t see!ed unnatura&, &#ke a state of trance*
'ot the fa#ntest sound of any k#nd cou&d be heard*
Oou &ooked on a!a7ed, and began to suspect yourse&f of be#ng deaf??
then the n#ght ca!e sudden&y, and struck you b&#nd as (e&&*
%bout three #n the !orn#ng so!e &arge f#sh &eaped,
and the &oud sp&ash !ade !e ju!p as though a gun had been f#red*
+hen the sun rose there (as a (h#te fog, "ery (ar! and c&a!!y,
and !ore b&#nd#ng than the n#ght* 3t d#d not sh#ft or dr#"eP
#t (as just there, stand#ng a&& round you &#ke so!eth#ng so&#d*
%t e#ght or n#ne, perhaps, #t &#fted as a shutter &#fts*
+e had a g&#!pse of the to(er#ng !u&t#tude of trees, of the #!!ense
!atted jung&e, (#th the b&a7#ng &#tt&e ba&& of the sun hang#ng
o"er #t??a&& perfect&y st#&&??and then the (h#te shutter ca!e
do(n aga#n, s!ooth&y, as #f s&#d#ng #n greased groo"es*
3 ordered the cha#n, (h#ch (e had begun to hea"e #n, to be pa#d
out aga#n* /efore #t stopped runn#ng (#th a !uff&ed ratt&e,
a cry, a "ery &oud cry, as of #nf#n#te deso&at#on,
soared s&o(&y #n the opa=ue a#r* 3t ceased* % co!p&a#n#ng
c&a!our, !odu&ated #n sa"age d#scords, f#&&ed our ears*
The sheer unexpectedness of #t !ade !y ha#r st#r under !y cap*
3 donDt kno( ho( #t struck the others> to !e #t see!ed as though
the !#st #tse&f had screa!ed, so sudden&y, and apparent&y fro! a&&
s#des at once, d#d th#s tu!u&tuous and !ournfu& uproar ar#se*
3t cu&!#nated #n a hurr#ed outbreak of a&!ost #nto&erab&y
excess#"e shr#ek#ng, (h#ch stopped short, &ea"#ng us st#ffened
#n a "ar#ety of s#&&y att#tudes, and obst#nate&y &#sten#ng
to the near&y as appa&&#ng and excess#"e s#&ence* UGood GodK
+hat #s the !ean#ng??D sta!!ered at !y e&bo( one of the p#&gr#!s??
a &#tt&e fat !an, (#th sandy ha#r and red (h#skers, (ho (ore
s#despr#ng boots, and p#nk pyja!as tucked #nto h#s socks*
T(o others re!a#ned open?!outhed a (h#&e !#nute, then dashed
#nto the &#tt&e cab#n, to rush out #ncont#nent&y and stand dart#ng
scared g&ances, (#th +#nchesters at UreadyD #n the#r hands*
+hat (e cou&d see (as just the stea!er (e (ere on, her out&#nes
b&urred as though she had been on the po#nt of d#sso&"#ng,
and a !#sty str#p of (ater, perhaps t(o feet broad, around her??
and that (as a&&* The rest of the (or&d (as no(here,
as far as our eyes and ears (ere concerned* Just no(here*
Gone, d#sappearedP s(ept off (#thout &ea"#ng a (h#sper
or a shado( beh#nd*
$3 (ent for(ard, and ordered the cha#n to be hau&ed #n short,
so as to be ready to tr#p the anchor and !o"e the stea!boat at once
#f necessary* U+#&& they attackND (h#spered an a(ed "o#ce*
U+e (#&& be a&& butchered #n th#s fog,D !ur!ured another*
The faces t(#tched (#th the stra#n, the hands tre!b&ed s&#ght&y,
the eyes forgot to (#nk* 3t (as "ery cur#ous to see the contrast
of express#ons of the (h#te !en and of the b&ack fe&&o(s of our cre(,
(ho (ere as !uch strangers to that part of the r#"er as (e,
though the#r ho!es (ere on&y e#ght hundred !#&es a(ay*
The (h#tes, of course great&y d#sco!posed, had bes#des a cur#ous
&ook of be#ng pa#nfu&&y shocked by such an outrageous ro(*
The others had an a&ert, natura&&y #nterested express#onP
but the#r faces (ere essent#a&&y =u#et, e"en those of
the one or t(o (ho gr#nned as they hau&ed at the cha#n*
e"era& exchanged short, grunt#ng phrases, (h#ch see!ed
to sett&e the !atter to the#r sat#sfact#on* The#r head!an,
a young, broad?chested b&ack, se"ere&y draped #n dark?b&ue
fr#nged c&oths, (#th f#erce nostr#&s and h#s ha#r
a&& done up artfu&&y #n o#&y r#ng&ets, stood near !e*
U%haKD 3 sa#d, just for good fe&&o(sh#pDs sake*
UCatch D#!,D he snapped, (#th a b&oodshot (#den#ng of h#s eyes
and a f&ash of sharp teeth??Dcatch D#!* G#"e D#! to us*D
UTo you, ehND 3 askedP U(hat (ou&d you do (#th the!ND UEat D#!KD
he sa#d curt&y, and, &ean#ng h#s e&bo( on the ra#&, &ooked out
#nto the fog #n a d#gn#f#ed and profound&y pens#"e att#tude*
3 (ou&d no doubt ha"e been proper&y horr#f#ed, had #t not
occurred to !e that he and h#s chaps !ust be "ery hungry>
that they !ust ha"e been gro(#ng #ncreas#ng&y hungry for at
&east th#s !onth past* They had been engaged for s#x !onths
E3 donDt th#nk a s#ng&e one of the! had any c&ear #dea of t#!e,
as (e at the end of count&ess ages ha"e* They st#&& be&onged
to the beg#nn#ngs of t#!e??had no #nher#ted exper#ence to teach
the! as #t (ereF, and of course, as &ong as there (as a p#ece
of paper (r#tten o"er #n accordance (#th so!e farc#ca& &a(
or other !ade do(n the r#"er, #t d#dnDt enter anybodyDs head
to troub&e ho( they (ou&d &#"e* Certa#n&y they had brought
(#th the! so!e rotten h#ppo?!eat, (h#ch cou&dnDt ha"e &asted
"ery &ong, any(ay, e"en #f the p#&gr#!s hadnDt, #n the !#dst
of a shock#ng hu&&aba&oo, thro(n a cons#derab&e =uant#ty
of #t o"erboard* 3t &ooked &#ke a h#gh?handed proceed#ngP
but #t (as rea&&y a case of &eg#t#!ate se&f?defence* Oou
canDt breathe dead h#ppo (ak#ng, s&eep#ng, and eat#ng,
and at the sa!e t#!e keep your precar#ous gr#p on ex#stence*
/es#des that, they had g#"en the! e"ery (eek three p#eces
of brass (#re, each about n#ne #nches &ongP and the theory
(as they (ere to buy the#r pro"#s#ons (#th that currency
#n r#"ers#de "#&&ages* Oou can see ho( TH%T (orked*
There (ere e#ther no "#&&ages, or the peop&e (ere host#&e,
or the d#rector, (ho &#ke the rest of us fed out of t#ns,
(#th an occas#ona& o&d he?goat thro(n #n, d#dnDt (ant
to stop the stea!er for so!e !ore or &ess recond#te reason*
o, un&ess they s(a&&o(ed the (#re #tse&f, or !ade &oops of #t
to snare the f#shes (#th, 3 donDt see (hat good the#r extra"agant
sa&ary cou&d be to the!* 3 !ust say #t (as pa#d (#th a
regu&ar#ty (orthy of a &arge and honourab&e trad#ng co!pany*
,or the rest, the on&y th#ng to eat??though #t d#dnDt &ook
eatab&e #n the &east??3 sa( #n the#r possess#on (as a fe( &u!ps
of so!e stuff &#ke ha&f?cooked dough, of a d#rty &a"ender co&our,
they kept (rapped #n &ea"es, and no( and then s(a&&o(ed
a p#ece of, but so s!a&& that #t see!ed done !ore for the &ooks
of the th#ng than for any ser#ous purpose of sustenance*
+hy #n the na!e of a&& the gna(#ng de"#&s of hunger they d#dnDt
go for us??they (ere th#rty to f#"e??and ha"e a good tuck?#n
for once, a!a7es !e no( (hen 3 th#nk of #t* They (ere b#g
po(erfu& !en, (#th not !uch capac#ty to (e#gh the conse=uences,
(#th courage, (#th strength, e"en yet, though the#r sk#ns
(ere no &onger g&ossy and the#r !usc&es no &onger hard*
%nd 3 sa( that so!eth#ng restra#n#ng, one of those hu!an
secrets that baff&e probab#&#ty, had co!e #nto p&ay there*
3 &ooked at the! (#th a s(#ft =u#cken#ng of #nterest??
not because #t occurred to !e 3 !#ght be eaten by the! before
"ery &ong, though 3 o(n to you that just then 3 perce#"ed??
#n a ne( &#ght, as #t (ere??ho( un(ho&eso!e the p#&gr#!s &ooked,
and 3 hoped, yes, 3 pos#t#"e&y hoped, that !y aspect (as not so??
(hat sha&& 3 sayN??so??unappet#7#ng> a touch of fantast#c
"an#ty (h#ch f#tted (e&& (#th the drea!?sensat#on that per"aded
a&& !y days at that t#!e* Perhaps 3 had a &#tt&e fe"er, too*
8ne canDt &#"e (#th oneDs f#nger e"er&ast#ng&y on oneDs pu&se*
3 had often Da &#tt&e fe"er,D or a &#tt&e touch of other th#ngs??
the p&ayfu& pa(?strokes of the (#&derness, the pre&#!#nary tr#f&#ng
before the !ore ser#ous ons&aught (h#ch ca!e #n due course*
OesP 3 &ooked at the! as you (ou&d on any hu!an be#ng,
(#th a cur#os#ty of the#r #!pu&ses, !ot#"es, capac#t#es,
(eaknesses, (hen brought to the test of an #nexorab&e
phys#ca& necess#ty* .estra#ntK +hat poss#b&e restra#ntN
+as #t superst#t#on, d#sgust, pat#ence, fear??or so!e k#nd
of pr#!#t#"e honourN 'o fear can stand up to hunger, no pat#ence
can (ear #t out, d#sgust s#!p&y does not ex#st (here hunger #sP
and as to superst#t#on, be&#efs, and (hat you !ay ca&& pr#nc#p&es,
they are &ess than chaff #n a bree7e* DonDt you kno(
the de"#&ry of &#nger#ng star"at#on, #ts exasperat#ng tor!ent,
#ts b&ack thoughts, #ts so!bre and brood#ng feroc#tyN +e&&, 3 do*
3t takes a !an a&& h#s #nborn strength to f#ght hunger proper&y*
3tDs rea&&y eas#er to face berea"e!ent, d#shonour, and the perd#t#on
of oneDs sou&??than th#s k#nd of pro&onged hunger* ad, but true*
%nd these chaps, too, had no earth&y reason for any k#nd
of scrup&e* .estra#ntK 3 (ou&d just as soon ha"e expected restra#nt
fro! a hyena pro(&#ng a!ongst the corpses of a batt&ef#e&d*
/ut there (as the fact fac#ng !e??the fact da77&#ng, to be seen,
&#ke the foa! on the depths of the sea, &#ke a r#pp&e on an
unfatho!ab&e en#g!a, a !ystery greater??(hen 3 thought of #t??
than the cur#ous, #nexp&#cab&e note of desperate gr#ef #n th#s
sa"age c&a!our that had s(ept by us on the r#"er?bank, beh#nd
the b&#nd (h#teness of the fog*
$T(o p#&gr#!s (ere =uarre&&#ng #n hurr#ed (h#spers as to (h#ch bank*
U<eft*D $no, noP ho( can youN .#ght, r#ght, of course*D
U3t #s "ery ser#ous,D sa#d the !anagerDs "o#ce beh#nd !eP U3 (ou&d be
deso&ated #f anyth#ng shou&d happen to :r* Rurt7 before (e ca!e up*D
3 &ooked at h#!, and had not the s&#ghtest doubt he (as s#ncere*
He (as just the k#nd of !an (ho (ou&d (#sh to preser"e appearances*
That (as h#s restra#nt* /ut (hen he !uttered so!eth#ng about
go#ng on at once, 3 d#d not e"en take the troub&e to ans(er h#!*
3 kne(, and he kne(, that #t (as #!poss#b&e* +ere (e to &et go our
ho&d of the botto!, (e (ou&d be abso&ute&y #n the a#r??#n space*
+e (ou&dnDt be ab&e to te&& (here (e (ere go#ng to??(hether up
or do(n strea!, or across??t#&& (e fetched aga#nst one bank
or the other??and then (e (ou&dnDt kno( at f#rst (h#ch #t (as*
8f course 3 !ade no !o"e* 3 had no !#nd for a s!ash?up*
Oou cou&dnDt #!ag#ne a !ore dead&y p&ace for a sh#p(reck*
+hether (e dro(ned at once or not, (e (ere sure to per#sh speed#&y
#n one (ay or another* U3 author#7e you to take a&& the r#sks,D
he sa#d, after a short s#&ence* U3 refuse to take any,D
3 sa#d short&yP (h#ch (as just the ans(er he expected, though #ts tone
!#ght ha"e surpr#sed h#!* U+e&&, 3 !ust defer to your judg!ent*
Oou are capta#n,D he sa#d (#th !arked c#"#&#ty* 3 turned !y shou&der
to h#! #n s#gn of !y apprec#at#on, and &ooked #nto the fog*
Ho( &ong (ou&d #t &astN 3t (as the !ost hope&ess &ookout*
The approach to th#s Rurt7 grubb#ng for #"ory #n the (retched bush (as
beset by as !any dangers as though he had been an enchanted pr#ncess
s&eep#ng #n a fabu&ous cast&e* U+#&& they attack, do you th#nkND
asked the !anager, #n a conf#dent#a& tone*
$3 d#d not th#nk they (ou&d attack, for se"era& ob"#ous reasons*
The th#ck fog (as one* 3f they &eft the bank #n the#r canoes they
(ou&d get &ost #n #t, as (e (ou&d be #f (e atte!pted to !o"e*
t#&&, 3 had a&so judged the jung&e of both banks =u#te #!penetrab&e??
and yet eyes (ere #n #t, eyes that had seen us* The r#"ers#de
bushes (ere certa#n&y "ery th#ckP but the undergro(th beh#nd
(as e"#dent&y penetrab&e* Ho(e"er, dur#ng the short &#ft 3
had seen no canoes any(here #n the reach??certa#n&y not abreast
of the stea!er* /ut (hat !ade the #dea of attack #nconce#"ab&e
to !e (as the nature of the no#se??of the cr#es (e had heard*
They had not the f#erce character bod#ng #!!ed#ate host#&e #ntent#on*
9nexpected, (#&d, and "#o&ent as they had been, they had g#"en !e
an #rres#st#b&e #!press#on of sorro(* The g&#!pse of the stea!boat
had for so!e reason f#&&ed those sa"ages (#th unrestra#ned gr#ef*
The danger, #f any, 3 expounded, (as fro! our prox#!#ty to a great
hu!an pass#on &et &oose* E"en extre!e gr#ef !ay u&t#!ate&y "ent
#tse&f #n "#o&ence??but !ore genera&&y takes the for! of apathy*
* * *
$Oou shou&d ha"e seen the p#&gr#!s stareK They had no heart to gr#n,
or e"en to re"#&e !e> but 3 be&#e"e they thought !e gone !ad??
(#th fr#ght, !aybe* 3 de&#"ered a regu&ar &ecture* :y dear boys,
#t (as no good bother#ng* Reep a &ookoutN +e&&, you !ay guess 3
(atched the fog for the s#gns of &#ft#ng as a cat (atches a !ouseP
but for anyth#ng e&se our eyes (ere of no !ore use to us than
#f (e had been bur#ed !#&es deep #n a heap of cotton?(oo&* 3t
fe&t &#ke #t, too??chok#ng, (ar!, st#f&#ng* /es#des, a&& 3 sa#d,
though #t sounded extra"agant, (as abso&ute&y true to fact* +hat (e
after(ards a&&uded to as an attack (as rea&&y an atte!pt at repu&se*
The act#on (as "ery far fro! be#ng aggress#"e??#t (as not e"en defens#"e,
#n the usua& sense> #t (as undertaken under the stress of desperat#on,
and #n #ts essence (as pure&y protect#"e*
$3t de"e&oped #tse&f, 3 shou&d say, t(o hours after the fog &#fted,
and #ts co!!ence!ent (as at a spot, rough&y speak#ng,
about a !#&e and a ha&f be&o( Rurt7Ds stat#on* +e had just
f&oundered and f&opped round a bend, (hen 3 sa( an #s&et, a !ere
grassy hu!!ock of br#ght green, #n the !#dd&e of the strea!*
3t (as the ony th#ng of the k#ndP but as (e opened the reach !ore,
3 perce#"ed #t (as the head of a &ong sand?bank, or rather of a
cha#n of sha&&o( patches stretch#ng do(n the !#dd&e of the r#"er*
They (ere d#sco&oured, just a(ash, and the (ho&e &ot (as
seen just under the (ater, exact&y as a !anDs backbone #s
seen runn#ng do(n the !#dd&e of h#s back under the sk#n*
'o(, as far as 3 d#d see, 3 cou&d go to the r#ght or to
the &eft of th#s* 3 d#dnDt kno( e#ther channe&, of course*
The banks &ooked pretty (e&& a&#ke, the depth appeared the sa!eP
but as 3 had been #nfor!ed the stat#on (as on the (est s#de,
3 natura&&y headed for the (estern passage*
$'o sooner had (e fa#r&y entered #t than 3 beca!e a(are #t (as !uch
narro(er than 3 had supposed* To the &eft of us there (as the &ong
un#nterrupted shoa&, and to the r#ght a h#gh, steep bank hea"#&y
o"ergro(n (#th bushes* %bo"e the bush the trees stood #n serr#ed ranks*
The t(#gs o"erhung the current th#ck&y, and fro! d#stance to d#stance
a &arge &#!b of so!e tree projected r#g#d&y o"er the strea!*
3t (as then (e&& on #n the afternoon, the face of the forest (as g&oo!y,
and a broad str#p of shado( had a&ready fa&&en on the (ater*
3n th#s shado( (e stea!ed up??"ery s&o(&y, as you !ay #!ag#ne*
3 sheered her (e&& #nshore??the (ater be#ng deepest near the bank,
as the sound#ng?po&e #nfor!ed !e*
$8ne of !y hungry and forbear#ng fr#ends (as sound#ng #n the bo(s just
be&o( !e* Th#s stea!boat (as exact&y &#ke a decked sco(* 8n the deck,
there (ere t(o &#tt&e teak(ood houses, (#th doors and (#ndo(s*
The bo#&er (as #n the fore?end, and the !ach#nery r#ght astern*
y8"er the (ho&e there (as a &#ght roof, supported on stanch#ons*
The funne& projected through that roof, and #n front of the funne&
a s!a&& cab#n bu#&t of &#ght p&anks ser"ed for a p#&ot?house*
3t conta#ned a couch, t(o ca!p?stoo&s, a &oaded :art#n#?Henry
&ean#ng #n one corner, a t#ny tab&e, and the steer#ng?(hee&*
3t had a (#de door #n front and a broad shutter at each s#de*
%&& these (ere a&(ays thro(n open, of course* 3 spent !y days perched
up there on the extre!e fore?end of that roof, before the door*
%t n#ght 3 s&ept, or tr#ed to, on the couch* %n ath&et#c b&ack be&ong#ng
to so!e coast tr#be and educated by !y poor predecessor, (as the he&!s!an*
He sported a pa#r of brass earr#ngs, (ore a b&ue c&oth (rapper
fro! the (a#st to the ank&es, and thought a&& the (or&d of h#!se&f*
He (as the !ost unstab&e k#nd of foo& 3 had e"er seen*
He steered (#th no end of a s(agger (h#&e you (ere byP but #f he &ost
s#ght of you, he beca!e #nstant&y the prey of an abject funk,
and (ou&d &et that cr#pp&e of a stea!boat get the upper hand of h#!
#n a !#nute*
$3 (as &ook#ng do(n at the sound#ng?po&e, and fee&#ng
!uch annoyed to see at each try a &#tt&e !ore of #t st#ck
out of that r#"er, (hen 3 sa( !y po&e!an g#"e up on
the bus#ness sudden&y, and stretch h#!se&f f&at on the deck,
(#thout e"en tak#ng the troub&e to hau& h#s po&e #n*
He kept ho&d on #t though, and #t tra#&ed #n the (ater*
%t the sa!e t#!e the f#re!an, (ho! 3 cou&d a&so see be&o( !e,
sat do(n abrupt&y before h#s furnace and ducked h#s head*
3 (as a!a7ed* Then 3 had to &ook at the r#"er !#ghty =u#ck,
because there (as a snag #n the fa#r(ay* t#cks, &#tt&e st#cks,
(ere f&y#ng about??th#ck> they (ere (h#77#ng before !y nose,
dropp#ng be&o( !e, str#k#ng beh#nd !e aga#nst !y p#&ot?house*
%&& th#s t#!e the r#"er, the shore, the (oods, (ere "ery =u#et??
perfect&y =u#et* 3 cou&d on&y hear the hea"y sp&ash#ng
thu!p of the stern?(hee& and the patter of these th#ngs*
+e c&eared the snag c&u!s#&y* %rro(s, by Jo"eK
+e (ere be#ng shot atK 3 stepped #n =u#ck&y to c&ose
the shutter on the &ands#de* That foo&?he&!s!an, h#s hands
on the spokes, (as &#ft#ng h#s knees h#gh, sta!p#ng h#s feet,
cha!p#ng h#s !outh, &#ke a re#ned?#n horse* Confound h#!K
%nd (e (ere stagger#ng (#th#n ten feet of the bank*
3 had to &ean r#ght out to s(#ng the hea"y shutter, and 3
sa( a face a!ongst the &ea"es on the &e"e& (#th !y o(n,
&ook#ng at !e "ery f#erce and steadyP and then sudden&y,
as though a "e#& had been re!o"ed fro! !y eyes, 3 !ade out,
deep #n the tang&ed g&oo!, naked breasts, ar!s, &egs, g&ar#ng eyes??
the bush (as s(ar!#ng (#th hu!an &#!bs #n !o"e!ent, g&#sten#ng*
of bron7e co&our* The t(#gs shook, s(ayed, and rust&ed,
the arro(s f&e( out of the!, and then the shutter ca!e to*
Uteer her stra#ght,D 3 sa#d to the he&!s!an* He he&d h#s
head r#g#d, face for(ardP but h#s eyes ro&&ed, he kept on &#ft#ng
and sett#ng do(n h#s feet gent&y, h#s !outh foa!ed a &#tt&e*
UReep =u#etKD 3 sa#d #n a fury* 3 !#ght just as (e&& ha"e
ordered a tree not to s(ay #n the (#nd* 3 darted out*
/e&o( !e there (as a great scuff&e of feet on the #ron deckP
confused exc&a!at#onsP a "o#ce screa!ed, UCan you turn backND
3 caught s#ght of a -?shaped r#pp&e on the (ater ahead*
+hatN %nother snagK % fus#&&ade burst out under !y feet*
The p#&gr#!s had opened (#th the#r +#nchesters, and (ere
s#!p&y s=u#rt#ng &ead #nto that bush* % deuce of a &ot
of s!oke ca!e up and dro"e s&o(&y for(ard* 3 s(ore at #t*
'o( 3 cou&dnDt see the r#pp&e or the snag e#ther*
3 stood #n the door(ay, peer#ng, and the arro(s ca!e #n s(ar!s*
They !#ght ha"e been po#soned, but they &ooked as though
they (ou&dnDt k#&& a cat* The bush began to ho(&*
8ur (ood?cutters ra#sed a (ar&#ke (hoopP the report of a r#f&e
just at !y back deafened !e* 3 g&anced o"er !y shou&der,
and the p#&ot?house (as yet fu&& of no#se and s!oke (hen 3 !ade
a dash at the (hee&* The foo&?n#gger had dropped e"eryth#ng,
to thro( the shutter open and &et off that :art#n#?Henry* He stood
before the (#de open#ng, g&ar#ng, and 3 ye&&ed at h#! to co!e back,
(h#&e 3 stra#ghtened the sudden t(#st out of that stea!boat*
There (as no roo! to turn e"en #f 3 had (anted to, the snag
(as so!e(here "ery near ahead #n that confounded s!oke,
there (as no t#!e to &ose, so 3 just cro(ded her #nto the bank??
r#ght #nto the bank, (here 3 kne( the (ater (as deep*
$+e tore s&o(&y a&ong the o"erhang#ng bushes #n a (h#r& of broken
t(#gs and f&y#ng &ea"es* The fus#&&ade be&o( stopped short,
as 3 had foreseen #t (ou&d (hen the s=u#rts got e!pty*
3 thre( !y head back to a g&#nt#ng (h#77 that tra"ersed
the p#&ot?house, #n at one shutter?ho&e and out at the other*
<ook#ng past that !ad he&!s!an, (ho (as shak#ng the e!pty r#f&e
and ye&&#ng at the shore, 3 sa( "ague for!s of !en runn#ng
bent doub&e, &eap#ng, g&#d#ng, d#st#nct, #nco!p&ete, e"anescent*
o!eth#ng b#g appeared #n the a#r before the shutter, the r#f&e
(ent o"erboard, and the !an stepped back s(#ft&y, &ooked at !e
o"er h#s shou&der #n an extraord#nary, profound, fa!#&#ar !anner,
and fe&& upon !y feet* The s#de of h#s head h#t the (hee& t(#ce,
and the end of (hat appeared a &ong cane c&attered round and knocked
o"er a &#tt&e ca!p?stoo&* 3t &ooked as though after (rench#ng that
th#ng fro! so!ebody ashore he had &ost h#s ba&ance #n the effort*
The th#n s!oke had b&o(n a(ay, (e (ere c&ear of the snag,
and &ook#ng ahead 3 cou&d see that #n another hundred yards
or so 3 (ou&d be free to sheer off, a(ay fro! the bankP
but !y feet fe&t so "ery (ar! and (et that 3 had to &ook do(n*
The !an had ro&&ed on h#s back and stared stra#ght up at !eP
both h#s hands c&utched that cane* 3t (as the shaft of a spear that,
e#ther thro(n or &unged through the open#ng, had caught h#!
#n the s#de, just be&o( the r#bsP the b&ade had gone #n out
of s#ght, after !ak#ng a fr#ghtfu& gashP !y shoes (ere fu&&P
a poo& of b&ood &ay "ery st#&&, g&ea!#ng dark?red under the (hee&P
h#s eyes shone (#th an a!a7#ng &ustre* The fus#&&ade burst out aga#n*
He &ooked at !e anx#ous&y, gr#pp#ng the spear &#ke so!eth#ng prec#ous,
(#th an a#r of be#ng afra#d 3 (ou&d try to take #t a(ay fro! h#!*
3 had to !ake an effort to free !y eyes fro! h#s ga7e and attend
to the steer#ng* +#th one hand 3 fe&t abo"e !y head for the &#ne
of the stea! (h#st&e, and jerked out screech after screech hurr#ed&y*
The tu!u&t of angry and (ar&#ke ye&&s (as checked #nstant&y,
and then fro! the depths of the (oods (ent out such a tre!u&ous
and pro&onged (a#& of !ournfu& fear and utter despa#r as !ay be
#!ag#ned to fo&&o( the f&#ght of the &ast hope fro! the earth*
There (as a great co!!ot#on #n the bushP the sho(er of arro(s stopped,
a fe( dropp#ng shots rang out sharp&y??then s#&ence, #n (h#ch
the &angu#d beat of the stern?(hee& ca!e p&a#n&y to !y ears*
3 put the he&! hard a?starboard at the !o!ent (hen the p#&gr#!
#n p#nk pyja!as, "ery hot and ag#tated, appeared #n the door(ay*
UThe !anager sends !e??D he began #n an off#c#a& tone, and stopped short*
UGood GodKD he sa#d, g&ar#ng at the (ounded !an*
$+e t(o (h#tes stood o"er h#!, and h#s &ustrous and #n=u#r#ng
g&ance en"e&oped us both* 3 dec&are #t &ooked as though he (ou&d
present&y put to us so!e =uest#ons #n an understandab&e &anguageP
but he d#ed (#thout utter#ng a sound, (#thout !o"#ng a &#!b,
(#thout t(#tch#ng a !usc&e* 8n&y #n the "ery &ast !o!ent, as though
#n response to so!e s#gn (e cou&d not see, to so!e (h#sper (e cou&d
not hear, he fro(ned hea"#&y, and that fro(n ga"e to h#s b&ack
death?!ask an #ncone#"ab&y so!bre, brood#ng, and !enac#ng express#on*
The &ustre of #n=u#r#ng g&ance faded s(#ft&y #nto "acant g&ass#ness*
UCan you steerND 3 asked the agent eager&y* He &ooked "ery dub#ousP
but 3 !ade a grab at h#s ar!, and he understood at once 3
!eant h#! to steer (hether or no* To te&& you the truth,
3 (as !orb#d&y anx#ous to change !y shoes and socks* UHe #s dead,D
!ur!ured the fe&&o(, #!!ense&y #!pressed* U'o doubt about #t,D
sa#d 3, tugg#ng &#ke !ad at the shoe?&aces* U%nd by the (ay,
3 suppose :r* Rurt7 #s dead as (e&& by th#s t#!e*D
$,or the !o!ent that (as the do!#nant thought* There (as a sense
of extre!e d#sappo#nt!ent, as though 3 had found out 3 had been
str#"#ng after so!eth#ng a&together (#thout a substance*
3 cou&dnDt ha"e been !ore d#sgusted #f 3 had tra"e&&ed a&&
th#s (ay for the so&e purpose of ta&k#ng (#th :r* Rurt7*
Ta&k#ng (#th * * * 3 f&ung one shoe o"erboard, and beca!e a(are
that that (as exact&y (hat 3 had been &ook#ng for(ard to??
a ta&k (#th Rurt7* 3 !ade the strange d#sco"ery that 3 had
ne"er #!ag#ned h#! as do#ng, you kno(, but as d#scours#ng*
3 d#dnDt say to !yse&f, U'o( 3 (#&& ne"er see h#!,D
or U'o( 3 (#&& ne"er shake h#! by the hand,D but, U'o( 3
(#&& ne"er hear h#!*D The !an presented h#!se&f as a "o#ce*
'ot of course that 3 d#d not connect h#! (#th so!e sort of act#on*
HadnDt 3 been to&d #n a&& the tones of jea&ousy and ad!#rat#on
that he had co&&ected, bartered, s(#nd&ed, or sto&en !ore #"ory
than a&& the other agents togetherN That (as not the po#nt*
The po#nt (as #n h#s be#ng a g#fted creature, and that of a&& h#s
g#fts the one that stood out pree!#nent&y, that carr#ed (#th #t
a sense of rea& presence, (as h#s ab#&#ty to ta&k, h#s (ords??
the g#ft of express#on, the be(#&der#ng, the #&&u!#nat#ng,
the !ost exa&ted and the !ost conte!pt#b&e, the pu&sat#ng
strea! of &#ght, or the dece#tfu& f&o( fro! the heart of
an #!penetrab&e darkness*
$The other shoe (ent f&y#ng unto the de"#&?god of that r#"er*
3 thought, U/y Jo"eK #tDs a&& o"er* +e are too &ateP he has "an#shed??
the g#ft has "an#shed, by !eans of so!e spear, arro(, or c&ub*
3 (#&& ne"er hear that chap speak after a&&D??and !y sorro(
had a start&#ng extra"agance of e!ot#on, e"en such as 3 had
not#ced #n the ho(&#ng sorro( of these sa"ages #n the bush*
3 cou&dnDt ha"e fe&t !ore of &one&y deso&at#on so!eho(, had 3 been
robbed of a be&#ef or had !#ssed !y dest#ny #n &#fe* * * * +hy
do you s#gh #n th#s beast&y (ay, so!ebodyN %bsurdN +e&&, absurd*
Good <ordK !ustnDt a !an e"er??Here, g#"e !e so!e tobacco*$
* * *
There (as a pause of profound st#&&ness, then a !atch f&ared,
and :ar&o(Ds &ean face appeared, (orn, ho&&o(, (#th do(n(ard fo&ds
and dropped eye&#ds, (#th an aspect of concentrated attent#onP
and as he took "#gorous dra(s at h#s p#pe, #t see!ed to retreat
and ad"ance out of the n#ght #n the regu&ar f&#cker of t#ny f&a!e*
The !atch (ent out*
$%bsurdK$ he cr#ed* $Th#s #s the (orst of try#ng to te&&* * * * Here you
a&& are, each !oored (#th t(o good addresses, &#ke a hu&k (#th t(o anchors,
a butcher round one corner, a po&#ce!an round another, exce&&ent appet#tes,
and te!perature nor!a&??you hear??nor!a& fro! yearDs end to yearDs end*
%nd you say, %bsurdK %bsurd be??exp&odedK %bsurdK :y dear boys,
(hat can you expect fro! a !an (ho out of sheer ner"ousness had just
f&ung o"erboard a pa#r of ne( shoesK 'o( 3 th#nk of #t, #t #s a!a7#ng
3 d#d not shed tears* 3 a!, upon the (ho&e, proud of !y fort#tude*
3 (as cut to the =u#ck at the #dea of ha"#ng &ost the #nest#!ab&e
pr#"#&ege of &#sten#ng to the g#fted Rurt7* 8f course 3 (as (rong*
The pr#"#&ege (as (a#t#ng for !e* 8h, yes, 3 heard !ore than enough*
%nd 3 (as r#ght, too* % "o#ce* He (as "ery &#tt&e !ore than a "o#ce*
%nd 3 heard??h#!??#t??th#s "o#ce??other "o#ces??a&& of the! (ere so
&#tt&e !ore than "o#ces??and the !e!ory of that t#!e #tse&f &#ngers
around !e, #!pa&pab&e, &#ke a dy#ng "#brat#on of one #!!ense jabber,
s#&&y, atroc#ous, sord#d, sa"age, or s#!p&y !ean, (#thout any k#nd of sense*
-o#ces, "o#ces??e"en the g#r& herse&f??no(??$
He (as s#&ent for a &ong t#!e*
$3 &a#d the ghost of h#s g#fts at &ast (#th a &#e,$
he began, sudden&y* $G#r&K +hatN D#d 3 !ent#on a g#r&N
8h, she #s out of #t??co!p&ete&y* They??the (o!en, 3 !ean??
are out of #t??shou&d be out of #t* +e !ust he&p the! to stay
#n that beaut#fu& (or&d of the#r o(n, &est ours gets (orse*
8h, she had to be out of #t* Oou shou&d ha"e heard
the d#s#nterred body of :r* Rurt7 say#ng, U:y 3ntended*D
Oou (ou&d ha"e perce#"ed d#rect&y then ho( co!p&ete&y she
(as out of #t* %nd the &ofty fronta& bone of :r* Rurt7K
They say the ha#r goes on gro(#ng so!et#!es, but th#s??
ah??spec#!en, (as #!press#"e&y ba&d* The (#&derness had
patted h#! on the head, and, beho&d, #t (as &#ke a ba&&??
an #"ory ba&&P #t had caressed h#!, and??&oK??he had (#theredP
#t had taken h#!, &o"ed h#!, e!braced h#!, got #nto h#s "e#ns,
consu!ed h#s f&esh, and sea&ed h#s sou& to #ts o(n by the
#nconce#"ab&e cere!on#es of so!e de"#&#sh #n#t#at#on* He (as
#ts spo#&ed and pa!pered fa"our#te* 3"oryN 3 shou&d th#nk so*
Heaps of #t, stacks of #t* The o&d !ud shanty (as burst#ng (#th #t*
Oou (ou&d th#nk there (as not a s#ng&e tusk &eft e#ther abo"e
or be&o( the ground #n the (ho&e country* U:ost&y foss#&,D
the !anager had re!arked, d#sparag#ng&y* 3t (as no !ore
foss#& than 3 a!P but they ca&& #t foss#& (hen #t #s dug up*
3t appears these n#ggers do bury the tusks so!et#!es??
but e"#dent&y they cou&dnDt bury th#s parce& deep enough
to sa"e the g#fted :r* Rurt7 fro! h#s fate* +e f#&&ed
the stea!boat (#th #t, and had to p#&e a &ot on the deck*
Thus he cou&d see and enjoy as &ong as he cou&d see,
because the apprec#at#on of th#s fa"our had re!a#ned
(#th h#! to the &ast* Oou shou&d ha"e heard h#! say,
U:y #"ory*D 8h, yes, 3 heard h#!* U:y 3ntended, !y #"ory,
!y stat#on, !y r#"er, !y??D e"eryth#ng be&onged to h#!*
3t !ade !e ho&d !y breath #n expectat#on of hear#ng the (#&derness
burst #nto a prod#g#ous pea& of &aughter that (ou&d shake
the f#xed stars #n the#r p&aces* E"eryth#ng be&onged to h#!??
but that (as a tr#f&e* The th#ng (as to kno( (hat he be&onged to,
ho( !any po(ers of darkness c&a#!ed h#! for the#r o(n*
That (as the ref&ect#on that !ade you creepy a&& o"er*
3t (as #!poss#b&e??#t (as not good for one e#ther??try#ng to #!ag#ne*
He had taken a h#gh seat a!ongst the de"#&s of the &and??
3 !ean &#tera&&y* Oou canDt understand* Ho( cou&d youN??
(#th so&#d pa"e!ent under your feet, surrounded by k#nd ne#ghbours
ready to cheer you or to fa&& on you, stepp#ng de&#cate&y bet(een
the butcher and the po&#ce!an, #n the ho&y terror of scanda& and
ga&&o(s and &unat#c asy&u!s??ho( can you #!ag#ne (hat part#cu&ar
reg#on of the f#rst ages a !anDs untra!!e&&ed feet !ay take h#!
#nto by the (ay of so&#tude??utter so&#tude (#thout a po&#ce!an??
by the (ay of s#&ence??utter s#&ence, (here no (arn#ng "o#ce
of a k#nd ne#ghbour can be heard (h#sper#ng of pub&#c op#n#onN
These &#tt&e th#ngs !ake a&& the great d#fference*
+hen they are gone you !ust fa&& back upon your o(n
#nnate strength, upon your o(n capac#ty for fa#thfu&ness*
8f course you !ay be too !uch of a foo& to go (rong??
too du&& e"en to kno( you are be#ng assau&ted by the po(ers
of darkness* 3 take #t, no foo& e"er !ade a barga#n for
h#s sou& (#th the de"#&P the foo& #s too !uch of a foo&,
or the de"#& too !uch of a de"#&??3 donDt kno( (h#ch*
8r you !ay be such a thunder#ng&y exa&ted creature as to be a&together
deaf and b&#nd to anyth#ng but hea"en&y s#ghts and sounds*
Then the earth for you #s on&y a stand#ng p&ace??and (hether
to be &#ke th#s #s your &oss or your ga#n 3 (onDt pretend to say*
/ut !ost of us are ne#ther one nor the other* The earth for us
#s a p&ace to &#"e #n, (here (e !ust put up (#th s#ghts,
(#th sounds, (#th s!e&&s, too, by Jo"eK??breathe dead h#ppo,
so to speak, and not be conta!#nated* %nd there, donDt you seeN
Oour strength co!es #n, the fa#th #n your ab#&#ty for
the d#gg#ng of unostentat#ous ho&es to bury the stuff #n??
your po(er of de"ot#on, not to yourse&f, but to an obscure,
back?break#ng bus#ness* %nd thatDs d#ff#cu&t enough* :#nd, 3 a!
not try#ng to excuse or e"en exp&a#n??3 a! try#ng to account
to !yse&f for??for??:r* Rurt7??for the shade of :r* Rurt7*
Th#s #n#t#ated (ra#th fro! the back of 'o(here honoured !e
(#th #ts a!a7#ng conf#dence before #t "an#shed a&together*
Th#s (as because #t cou&d speak Eng&#sh to !e* The or#g#na&
Rurt7 had been educated part&y #n Eng&and, and??as he (as good
enough to say h#!se&f??h#s sy!path#es (ere #n the r#ght p&ace*
H#s !other (as ha&f?Eng&#sh, h#s father (as ha&f?,rench* %&&
Europe contr#buted to the !ak#ng of Rurt7P and by and by 3
&earned that, !ost appropr#ate&y, the 3nternat#ona& oc#ety
for the uppress#on of a"age Custo!s had #ntrusted h#!
(#th the !ak#ng of a report, for #ts future gu#dance*
%nd he had (r#tten #t, too* 3D"e seen #t* 3D"e read #t*
3t (as e&o=uent, "#brat#ng (#th e&o=uence, but too h#gh?strung,
3 th#nk* e"enteen pages of c&ose (r#t#ng he had found t#!e forK
/ut th#s !ust ha"e been before h#s??&et us say??ner"es, (ent (rong,
and caused h#! to pres#de at certa#n !#dn#ght dances end#ng
(#th unspeakab&e r#tes, (h#ch??as far as 3 re&uctant&y gathered
fro! (hat 3 heard at "ar#ous t#!es??(ere offered up to h#!??
do you understandN??to :r* Rurt7 h#!se&f* /ut #t (as a
beaut#fu& p#ece of (r#t#ng* The open#ng paragraph, ho(e"er,
#n the &#ght of &ater #nfor!at#on, str#kes !e no( as o!#nous*
He began (#th the argu!ent that (e (h#tes, fro! the po#nt
of de"e&op!ent (e had arr#"ed at, U!ust necessar#&y appear
to the! [sa"ages) #n the nature of supernatura& be#ngs??
(e approach the! (#th the !#ght of a de#ty,D and so on, and so on*
U/y the s#!p&e exerc#se of our (#&& (e can exert a po(er
for good pract#ca&&y unbounded,D etc*, etc* ,ro! that po#nt
he soared and took !e (#th h#!* The perorat#on (as !agn#f#cent,
though d#ff#cu&t to re!e!ber, you kno(* 3t ga"e !e the not#on
of an exot#c 3!!ens#ty ru&ed by an august /ene"o&ence*
3t !ade !e t#ng&e (#th enthus#as!* Th#s (as the unbounded
po(er of e&o=uence??of (ords??of burn#ng nob&e (ords*
There (ere no pract#ca& h#nts to #nterrupt the !ag#c current
of phrases, un&ess a k#nd of note at the foot of the &ast page,
scra(&ed e"#dent&y !uch &ater, #n an unsteady hand, !ay be
regarded as the expos#t#on of a !ethod* 3t (as "ery s#!p&e,
and at the end of that !o"#ng appea& to e"ery a&tru#st#c
sent#!ent #t b&a7ed at you, &u!#nous and terr#fy#ng, &#ke a f&ash
of &#ghtn#ng #n a serene sky> UExter!#nate a&& the brutesKD
The cur#ous part (as that he had apparent&y forgotten
a&& about that "a&uab&e postscr#ptu!, because, &ater on,
(hen he #n a sense ca!e to h#!se&f, he repeated&y entreated !e
to take good care of U!y pa!ph&etD Ehe ca&&ed #tF, as #t (as
sure to ha"e #n the future a good #nf&uence upon h#s career*
3 had fu&& #nfor!at#on about a&& these th#ngs, and, bes#des,
as #t turned out, 3 (as to ha"e the care of h#s !e!ory*
3D"e done enough for #t to g#"e !e the #nd#sputab&e r#ght to &ay #t,
#f 3 choose, for an e"er&ast#ng rest #n the dust?b#n of progress,
a!ongst a&& the s(eep#ngs and, f#gurat#"e&y speak#ng, a&& the dead
cats of c#"#&#7at#on* /ut then, you see, 3 canDt choose*
He (onDt be forgotten* +hate"er he (as, he (as not co!!on*
He had the po(er to char! or fr#ghten rud#!entary sou&s #nto
an aggra"ated (#tch?dance #n h#s honourP he cou&d a&so f#&&
the s!a&& sou&s of the p#&gr#!s (#th b#tter !#sg#"#ngs>
he had one de"oted fr#end at &east, and he had con=uered one
sou& #n the (or&d that (as ne#ther rud#!entary nor ta#nted
(#th se&f?seek#ng* 'oP 3 canDt forget h#!, though 3 a! not
prepared to aff#r! the fe&&o( (as exact&y (orth the &#fe (e
&ost #n gett#ng to h#!* 3 !#ssed !y &ate he&!s!an a(fu&&y??
3 !#ssed h#! e"en (h#&e h#s body (as st#&& &y#ng #n the
p#&ot?house* Perhaps you (#&& th#nk #t pass#ng strange th#s
regret for a sa"age (ho (as no !ore account than a gra#n
of sand #n a b&ack ahara* +e&&, donDt you see, he had
done so!eth#ng, he had steeredP for !onths 3 had h#! at !y back??
a he&p??an #nstru!ent* 3t (as a k#nd of partnersh#p*
He steered for !e??3 had to &ook after h#!, 3 (orr#ed about
h#s def#c#enc#es, and thus a subt&e bond had been created,
of (h#ch 3 on&y beca!e a(are (hen #t (as sudden&y broken*
%nd the #nt#!ate profund#ty of that &ook he ga"e !e (hen
he rece#"ed h#s hurt re!a#ns to th#s day #n !y !e!ory??
&#ke a c&a#! of d#stant k#nsh#p aff#r!ed #n a supre!e !o!ent*
$Poor foo&K 3f he had on&y &eft that shutter a&one*
He had no restra#nt, no restra#nt??just &#ke Rurt7??a tree s(ayed
by the (#nd* %s soon as 3 had put on a dry pa#r of s&#ppers,
3 dragged h#! out, after f#rst jerk#ng the spear out of h#s s#de,
(h#ch operat#on 3 confess 3 perfor!ed (#th !y eyes shut t#ght*
H#s hee&s &eaped together o"er the &#tt&e doorstepP h#s shou&ders
(ere pressed to !y breastP 3 hugged h#! fro! beh#nd desperate&y*
8hK he (as hea"y, hea"yP hea"#er than any !an on earth,
3 shou&d #!ag#ne* Then (#thout !ore ado 3 t#pped h#! o"erboard*
The current snatched h#! as though he had been a (#sp of grass,
and 3 sa( the body ro&& o"er t(#ce before 3 &ost s#ght
of #t for e"er* %&& the p#&gr#!s and the !anager (ere then
congregated on the a(n#ng?deck about the p#&ot?house,
chatter#ng at each other &#ke a f&ock of exc#ted !agp#es,
and there (as a scanda&#7ed !ur!ur at !y heart&ess pro!pt#tude*
+hat they (anted to keep that body hang#ng about for 3 canDt guess*
E!ba&! #t, !aybe* /ut 3 had a&so heard another, and a "ery o!#nous,
!ur!ur on the deck be&o(* :y fr#ends the (ood?cutters
(ere &#ke(#se scanda&#7ed, and (#th a better sho( of reason??
though 3 ad!#t that the reason #tse&f (as =u#te #nad!#ss#b&e*
8h, =u#teK 3 had !ade up !y !#nd that #f !y &ate he&!s!an
(as to be eaten, the f#shes a&one shou&d ha"e h#!*
He had been a "ery second?rate he&!s!an (h#&e a&#"e, but no(
he (as dead he !#ght ha"e beco!e a f#rst?c&ass te!ptat#on,
and poss#b&y cause so!e start&#ng troub&e* /es#des, 3 (as
anx#ous to take the (hee&, the !an #n p#nk pyja!as sho(#ng
h#!se&f a hope&ess duffer at the bus#ness*
$Th#s 3 d#d d#rect&y the s#!p&e funera& (as o"er*
+e (ere go#ng ha&f?speed, keep#ng r#ght #n the !#dd&e
of the strea!, and 3 &#stened to the ta&k about !e*
They had g#"en up Rurt7, they had g#"en up the stat#onP
Rurt7 (as dead, and the stat#on had been burnt??and so on??and so on*
The red?ha#red p#&gr#! (as bes#de h#!se&f (#th the thought
that at &east th#s poor Rurt7 had been proper&y a"enged*
UayK +e !ust ha"e !ade a g&or#ous s&aughter of the! #n
the bush* EhN +hat do you th#nkN ayND He pos#t#"e&y danced,
the b&oodth#rsty &#tt&e g#ngery beggar* %nd he had near&y
fa#nted (hen he sa( the (ounded !anK 3 cou&d not he&p say#ng,
UOou !ade a g&or#ous &ot of s!oke, anyho(*D 3 had seen,
fro! the (ay the tops of the bushes rust&ed and f&e(,
that a&!ost a&& the shots had gone too h#gh* Oou canDt h#t
anyth#ng un&ess you take a#! and f#re fro! the shou&derP
but these chaps f#red fro! the h#p (#th the#r eyes shut*
The retreat, 3 !a#nta#ned??and 3 (as r#ght??(as caused by the
screech#ng of the stea! (h#st&e* 9pon th#s they forgot Rurt7,
and began to ho(& at !e (#th #nd#gnant protests*
$The !anager stood by the (hee& !ur!ur#ng conf#dent#a&&y about
the necess#ty of gett#ng (e&& a(ay do(n the r#"er before dark at
a&& e"ents, (hen 3 sa( #n the d#stance a c&ear#ng on the r#"ers#de
and the out&#nes of so!e sort of bu#&d#ng* U+hatDs th#sND
3 asked* He c&apped h#s hands #n (onder* UThe stat#onKD he cr#ed*
3 edged #n at once, st#&& go#ng ha&f?speed*
$Through !y g&asses 3 sa( the s&ope of a h#&& #nterspersed
(#th rare trees and perfect&y free fro! undergro(th* % &ong
decay#ng bu#&d#ng on the su!!#t (as ha&f bur#ed #n the h#gh grassP
the &arge ho&es #n the peaked roof gaped b&ack fro! afarP
the jung&e and the (oods !ade a background* There (as no enc&osure
or fence of any k#ndP but there had been one apparent&y, for near
the house ha&f?a?do7en s&#! posts re!a#ned #n a ro(, rough&y tr#!!ed,
and (#th the#r upper ends orna!ented (#th round car"ed ba&&s*
The ra#&s, or (hate"er there had been bet(een, had d#sappeared*
8f course the forest surrounded a&& that* The r#"er?bank
(as c&ear, and on the (aters#de 3 sa( a (h#te !an under a hat
&#ke a cart?(hee& beckon#ng pers#stent&y (#th h#s (ho&e ar!*
Exa!#n#ng the edge of the forest abo"e and be&o(, 3 (as a&!ost
certa#n 3 cou&d see !o"e!ents??hu!an for!s g&#d#ng here and there*
3 stea!ed past prudent&y, then stopped the eng#nes and &et her dr#ft do(n*
The !an on the shore began to shout, urg#ng us to &and*
U+e ha"e been attacked,D screa!ed the !anager* U3 kno(??3 kno(*
3tDs a&& r#ght,D ye&&ed back the other, as cheerfu& as you p&ease*
UCo!e a&ong* 3tDs a&& r#ght* 3 a! g&ad*D
$H#s aspect re!#nded !e of so!eth#ng 3 had seen??so!eth#ng funny
3 had seen so!e(here* %s 3 !anoeu"red to get a&ongs#de,
3 (as ask#ng !yse&f, U+hat does th#s fe&&o( &ook &#keND
udden&y 3 got #t* He &ooked &#ke a har&e=u#n*
H#s c&othes had been !ade of so!e stuff that (as bro(n
ho&&and probab&y, but #t (as co"ered (#th patches a&& o"er,
(#th br#ght patches, b&ue, red, and ye&&o(??patches on the back,
patches on the front, patches on e&bo(s, on kneesP co&oured b#nd#ng
around h#s jacket, scar&et edg#ng at the botto! of h#s trousersP
and the sunsh#ne !ade h#! &ook extre!e&y gay and (onderfu&&y
neat (#tha&, because you cou&d see ho( beaut#fu&&y a&& th#s
patch#ng had been done* % beard&ess, boy#sh face, "ery fa#r,
no features to speak of, nose pee&#ng, &#tt&e b&ue eyes,
s!#&es and fro(ns chas#ng each other o"er that open
countenance &#ke sunsh#ne and shado( on a (#nd?s(ept p&a#n*
U<ook out, capta#nKD he cr#edP UthereDs a snag &odged #n here
&ast n#ght*D +hatK %nother snagN 3 confess 3 s(ore sha!efu&&y*
3 had near&y ho&ed !y cr#pp&e, to f#n#sh off that char!#ng tr#p*
The har&e=u#n on the bank turned h#s &#tt&e pug?nose up to !e*
UOou Eng&#shND he asked, a&& s!#&es* U%re youND 3 shouted
fro! the (hee&* The s!#&es "an#shed, and he shook h#s head
as #f sorry for !y d#sappo#nt!ent* Then he br#ghtened up*
U'e"er !#ndKD he cr#ed encourag#ng&y* U%re (e #n t#!eND
3 asked* UHe #s up there,D he rep&#ed, (#th a toss of
the head up the h#&&, and beco!#ng g&oo!y a&& of a sudden*
H#s face (as &#ke the autu!n sky, o"ercast one !o!ent and
br#ght the next*
$+hen the !anager, escorted by the p#&gr#!s, a&& of the! ar!ed
to the teeth, had gone to the house th#s chap ca!e on board*
U3 say, 3 donDt &#ke th#s* These nat#"es are #n the bush,D
3 sa#d* He assured !e earnest&y #t (as a&& r#ght*
UThey are s#!p&e peop&e,D he addedP U(e&&, 3 a! g&ad you ca!e*
3t took !e a&& !y t#!e to keep the! off*D U/ut you sa#d #t
(as a&& r#ght,D 3 cr#ed* U8h, they !eant no har!,D he sa#dP
and as 3 stared he corrected h#!se&f, U'ot exact&y*D
Then "#"ac#ous&y, U:y fa#th, your p#&ot?house (ants a c&ean?upKD
3n the next breath he ad"#sed !e to keep enough stea!
on the bo#&er to b&o( the (h#st&e #n case of any troub&e*
U8ne good screech (#&& do !ore for you than a&& your r#f&es*
They are s#!p&e peop&e,D he repeated* He ratt&ed a(ay at such
a rate he =u#te o"er(he&!ed !e* He see!ed to be try#ng to !ake
up for &ots of s#&ence, and actua&&y h#nted, &augh#ng, that such
(as the case* UDonDt you ta&k (#th :r* Rurt7ND 3 sa#d*
UOou donDt ta&k (#th that !an??you &#sten to h#!,D he exc&a#!ed
(#th se"ere exa&tat#on* U/ut no(??D He (a"ed h#s ar!, and #n
the t(#nk&#ng of an eye (as #n the utter!ost depths of despondency*
3n a !o!ent he ca!e up aga#n (#th a ju!p, possessed h#!se&f
of both !y hands, shook the! cont#nuous&y, (h#&e he gabb&ed>
U/rother sa#&or * * * honour * * * p&easure * * * de&#ght * * *
#ntroduce !yse&f * * * .uss#an * * * son of an arch?pr#est * *
* Go"ern!ent of Ta!bo" * * * +hatN TobaccoK Eng&#sh tobaccoP
the exce&&ent Eng&#sh tobaccoK 'o(, thatDs brother&y* !okeN
+hereDs a sa#&or that does not s!okeN$
$The p#pe soothed h#!, and gradua&&y 3 !ade out he had
run a(ay fro! schoo&, had gone to sea #n a .uss#an sh#pP
ran a(ay aga#nP ser"ed so!e t#!e #n Eng&#sh sh#psP (as no(
reconc#&ed (#th the arch?pr#est* He !ade a po#nt of that*
U/ut (hen one #s young one !ust see th#ngs, gather exper#ence, #deasP
en&arge the !#nd*D UHereKD 3 #nterrupted* UOou can ne"er te&&K
Here 3 !et :r* Rurt7,D he sa#d, youthfu&&y so&e!n and reproachfu&*
3 he&d !y tongue after that* 3t appears he had persuaded
a Dutch trad#ng?house on the coast to f#t h#! out (#th stores
and goods, and had started for the #nter#or (#th a &#ght heart
and no !ore #dea of (hat (ou&d happen to h#! than a baby*
He had been (ander#ng about that r#"er for near&y t(o
years a&one, cut off fro! e"erybody and e"eryth#ng*
U3 a! not so young as 3 &ook* 3 a! t(enty?f#"e,D he sa#d*
U%t f#rst o&d -an huyten (ou&d te&& !e to go to the de"#&,D
he narrated (#th keen enjoy!entP Ubut 3 stuck to h#!,
and ta&ked and ta&ked, t#&& at &ast he got afra#d 3 (ou&d
ta&k the h#nd?&eg off h#s fa"our#te dog, so he ga"e !e so!e
cheap th#ngs and a fe( guns, and to&d !e he hoped he (ou&d
ne"er see !y face aga#n* Good o&d Dutch!an, -an huyten*
3D"e sent h#! one s!a&& &ot of #"ory a year ago, so that he canDt
ca&& !e a &#tt&e th#ef (hen 3 get back* 3 hope he got #t*
%nd for the rest 3 donDt care* 3 had so!e (ood stacked for you*
That (as !y o&d house* D#d you seeND
$3 ga"e h#! To(sonDs book* He !ade as though he (ou&d k#ss !e,
but restra#ned h#!se&f* UThe on&y book 3 had &eft, and 3
thought 3 had &ost #t,D he sa#d, &ook#ng at #t ecstat#ca&&y*
Uo !any acc#dents happen to a !an go#ng about a&one, you kno(*
Canoes get upset so!et#!es??and so!et#!es youD"e got
to c&ear out so =u#ck (hen the peop&e get angry*D
He thu!bed the pages* UOou !ade notes #n .uss#anND 3 asked*
He nodded* U3 thought they (ere (r#tten #n c#pher,D 3 sa#d*
He &aughed, then beca!e ser#ous* U3 had &ots of troub&e to keep
these peop&e off,D he sa#d* UD#d they (ant to k#&& youND
3 asked* U8h, noKD he cr#ed, and checked h#!se&f*
U+hy d#d they attack usND 3 pursued* He hes#tated,
then sa#d sha!efaced&y, UThey donDt (ant h#! to go*D UDonDt theyND
3 sa#d cur#ous&y* He nodded a nod fu&& of !ystery and (#sdo!*
U3 te&& you,D he cr#ed, Uth#s !an has en&arged !y !#nd*D
He opened h#s ar!s (#de, star#ng at !e (#th h#s &#tt&e b&ue
eyes that (ere perfect&y round*$
333
$3 &ooked at h#!, &ost #n aston#sh!ent* There he (as before !e, #n !ot&ey,
as though he had absconded fro! a troupe of !#!es, enthus#ast#c, fabu&ous*
H#s "ery ex#stence (as #!probab&e, #nexp&#cab&e, and a&together be(#&der#ng*
He (as an #nso&ub&e prob&e!* 3t (as #nconce#"ab&e ho( he had ex#sted,
ho( he had succeeded #n gett#ng so far, ho( he had !anaged to re!a#n??
(hy he d#d not #nstant&y d#sappear* U3 (ent a &#tt&e farther,D
he sa#d, Uthen st#&& a &#tt&e farther??t#&& 3 had gone so far that 3
donDt kno( ho( 3D&& e"er get back* 'e"er !#nd* P&enty t#!e*
3 can !anage* Oou take Rurt7 a(ay =u#ck??=u#ck??3 te&& you*D
The g&a!our of youth en"e&oped h#s part#?co&oured rags, h#s dest#tut#on,
h#s &one&#ness, the essent#a& deso&at#on of h#s fut#&e (ander#ngs*
,or !onths??for years??h#s &#fe hadnDt been (orth a dayDs purchaseP
and there he (as ga&&ant&y, thought&ess&y a&#"e, to a&& appearances
#ndestruct#b&e so&e&y by the "#rtue of h#s fe( years and of h#s
unref&ect#ng audac#ty* 3 (as seduced #nto so!eth#ng &#ke ad!#rat#on??
&#ke en"y* G&a!our urged h#! on, g&a!our kept h#! unscathed*
He sure&y (anted noth#ng fro! the (#&derness but space to breathe
#n and to push on through* H#s need (as to ex#st, and to !o"e on(ards
at the greatest poss#b&e r#sk, and (#th a !ax#!u! of pr#"at#on*
3f the abso&ute&y pure, unca&cu&at#ng, unpract#ca& sp#r#t of ad"enture
had e"er ru&ed a hu!an be#ng, #t ru&ed th#s bepatched youth*
3 a&!ost en"#ed h#! the possess#on of th#s !odest and c&ear f&a!e*
3t see!ed to ha"e consu!ed a&& thought of se&f so co!p&ete&y,
that e"en (h#&e he (as ta&k#ng to you, you forgot that #t (as he??
the !an before your eyes??(ho had gone through these th#ngs* 3 d#d not
en"y h#! h#s de"ot#on to Rurt7, though* He had not !ed#tated o"er #t*
3t ca!e to h#!, and he accepted #t (#th a sort of eager fata&#s!*
3 !ust say that to !e #t appeared about the !ost dangerous th#ng #n e"ery
(ay he had co!e upon so far*
$They had co!e together una"o#dab&y, &#ke t(o sh#ps
beca&!ed near each other, and &ay rubb#ng s#des at &ast*
3 suppose Rurt7 (anted an aud#ence, because on a certa#n occas#on,
(hen enca!ped #n the forest, they had ta&ked a&& n#ght,
or !ore probab&y Rurt7 had ta&ked* U+e ta&ked of e"eryth#ng,D
he sa#d, =u#te transported at the reco&&ect#on* U3 forgot
there (as such a th#ng as s&eep* The n#ght d#d not see! to
&ast an hour* E"eryth#ngK E"eryth#ngK * * * 8f &o"e, too*D
U%h, he ta&ked to you of &o"eKD 3 sa#d, !uch a!used*
U3t #snDt (hat you th#nk,D he cr#ed, a&!ost pass#onate&y*
U3t (as #n genera&* He !ade !e see th#ngs??th#ngs*D
$He thre( h#s ar!s up* +e (ere on deck at the t#!e, and the head!an
of !y (ood?cutters, &oung#ng near by, turned upon h#! h#s hea"y and
g&#tter#ng eyes* 3 &ooked around, and 3 donDt kno( (hy, but 3 assure
you that ne"er, ne"er before, d#d th#s &and, th#s r#"er, th#s jung&e,
the "ery arch of th#s b&a7#ng sky, appear to !e so hope&ess and so dark,
so #!penetrab&e to hu!an thought, so p#t#&ess to hu!an (eakness*
U%nd, e"er s#nce, you ha"e been (#th h#!, of courseND 3 sa#d*
$8n the contrary* 3t appears the#r #ntercourse had been "ery !uch
broken by "ar#ous causes* He had, as he #nfor!ed !e proud&y,
!anaged to nurse Rurt7 through t(o #&&nesses Ehe a&&uded to #t as you
(ou&d to so!e r#sky featF, but as a ru&e Rurt7 (andered a&one,
far #n the depths of the forest* U-ery often co!#ng to th#s stat#on,
3 had to (a#t days and days before he (ou&d turn up,D he sa#d*
U%h, #t (as (orth (a#t#ng forK??so!et#!es*D U+hat (as
he do#ngN exp&or#ng or (hatND 3 asked* U8h, yes, of courseDP
he had d#sco"ered &ots of "#&&ages, a &ake, too??he d#d not
kno( exact&y #n (hat d#rect#onP #t (as dangerous to #n=u#re
too !uch??but !ost&y h#s exped#t#ons had been for #"ory*
U/ut he had no goods to trade (#th by that t#!e,D 3 objected*
UThereDs a good &ot of cartr#dges &eft e"en yet,D
he ans(ered, &ook#ng a(ay* UTo speak p&a#n&y, he ra#ded
the country,D 3 sa#d* He nodded* U'ot a&one, sure&yKD
He !uttered so!eth#ng about the "#&&ages round that &ake*
URurt7 got the tr#be to fo&&o( h#!, d#d heND 3 suggested*
He f#dgeted a &#tt&e* UThey adored h#!,D he sa#d* The tone of
these (ords (as so extraord#nary that 3 &ooked at h#! search#ng&y*
3t (as cur#ous to see h#s !#ng&ed eagerness and re&uctance to
speak of Rurt7* The !an f#&&ed h#s &#fe, occup#ed h#s thoughts,
s(ayed h#s e!ot#ons* U+hat can you expectND he burst outP
Uhe ca!e to the! (#th thunder and &#ghtn#ng, you kno(??
and they had ne"er seen anyth#ng &#ke #t??and "ery terr#b&e*
He cou&d be "ery terr#b&e* Oou canDt judge :r* Rurt7 as you (ou&d
an ord#nary !an* 'o, no, noK 'o(??just to g#"e you an #dea??
3 donDt !#nd te&&#ng you, he (anted to shoot !e, too, one day??
but 3 donDt judge h#!*D Uhoot youKD 3 cr#ed U+hat forND
U+e&&, 3 had a s!a&& &ot of #"ory the ch#ef of that "#&&age
near !y house ga"e !e* Oou see 3 used to shoot ga!e
for the!* +e&&, he (anted #t, and (ou&dnDt hear reason*
He dec&ared he (ou&d shoot !e un&ess 3 ga"e h#! the #"ory
and then c&eared out of the country, because he cou&d do so,
and had a fancy for #t, and there (as noth#ng on earth
to pre"ent h#! k#&&#ng (ho! he jo&&y (e&& p&eased*
%nd #t (as true, too* 3 ga"e h#! the #"ory* +hat d#d 3 careK
/ut 3 d#dnDt c&ear out* 'o, no* 3 cou&dnDt &ea"e h#!*
3 had to be carefu&, of course, t#&& (e got fr#end&y
aga#n for a t#!e* He had h#s second #&&ness then*
%fter(ards 3 had to keep out of the (ayP but 3 d#dnDt !#nd*
He (as &#"#ng for the !ost part #n those "#&&ages on the &ake*
+hen he ca!e do(n to the r#"er, so!et#!es he (ou&d take to !e,
and so!et#!es #t (as better for !e to be carefu&* Th#s !an suffered
too !uch* He hated a&& th#s, and so!eho( he cou&dnDt get a(ay*
+hen 3 had a chance 3 begged h#! to try and &ea"e (h#&e there
(as t#!eP 3 offered to go back (#th h#!* %nd he (ou&d say yes,
and then he (ou&d re!a#nP go off on another #"ory huntP
d#sappear for (eeksP forget h#!se&f a!ongst these peop&e??
forget h#!se&f??you kno(*D U+hyK heDs !ad,D 3 sa#d*
He protested #nd#gnant&y* :r* Rurt7 cou&dnDt be !ad*
3f 3 had heard h#! ta&k, on&y t(o days ago, 3 (ou&dnDt dare
h#nt at such a th#ng* * * * 3 had taken up !y b#nocu&ars
(h#&e (e ta&ked, and (as &ook#ng at the shore, s(eep#ng the &#!#t
of the forest at each s#de and at the back of the house*
The consc#ousness of there be#ng peop&e #n that bush, so s#&ent,
so =u#et??as s#&ent and =u#et as the ru#ned house on the h#&&??
!ade !e uneasy* There (as no s#gn on the face of nature
of th#s a!a7#ng ta&e that (as not so !uch to&d as suggested
to !e #n deso&ate exc&a!at#ons, co!p&eted by shrugs,
#n #nterrupted phrases, #n h#nts end#ng #n deep s#ghs*
The (oods (ere un!o"ed, &#ke a !ask??hea"y, &#ke the c&osed door
of a pr#son??they &ooked (#th the#r a#r of h#dden kno(&edge,
of pat#ent expectat#on, of unapproachab&e s#&ence*
The .uss#an (as exp&a#n#ng to !e that #t (as on&y &ate&y
that :r* Rurt7 had co!e do(n to the r#"er, br#ng#ng a&ong
(#th h#! a&& the f#ght#ng !en of that &ake tr#be* He had been
absent for se"era& !onths??gett#ng h#!se&f adored, 3 suppose??
and had co!e do(n unexpected&y, (#th the #ntent#on to a&& appearance
of !ak#ng a ra#d e#ther across the r#"er or do(n strea!*
E"#dent&y the appet#te for !ore #"ory had got the better of the??
(hat sha&& 3 sayN??&ess !ater#a& asp#rat#ons* Ho(e"er he had
got !uch (orse sudden&y* U3 heard he (as &y#ng he&p&ess,
and so 3 ca!e up??took !y chance,D sa#d the .uss#an*
U8h, he #s bad, "ery bad*D 3 d#rected !y g&ass to the house*
There (ere no s#gns of &#fe, but there (as the ru#ned roof,
the &ong !ud (a&& peep#ng abo"e the grass, (#th three
&#tt&e s=uare (#ndo(?ho&es, no t(o of the sa!e s#7eP
a&& th#s brought (#th#n reach of !y hand, as #t (ere*
%nd then 3 !ade a brus=ue !o"e!ent, and one of the re!a#n#ng
posts of that "an#shed fence &eaped up #n the f#e&d of !y g&ass*
Oou re!e!ber 3 to&d you 3 had been struck at the d#stance by certa#n
atte!pts at orna!entat#on, rather re!arkab&e #n the ru#nous aspect
of the p&ace* 'o( 3 had sudden&y a nearer "#e(, and #ts f#rst
resu&t (as to !ake !e thro( !y head back as #f before a b&o(*
Then 3 (ent carefu&&y fro! post to post (#th !y g&ass, and 3 sa(
!y !#stake* These round knobs (ere not orna!enta& but sy!bo&#cP
they (ere express#"e and pu77&#ng, str#k#ng and d#sturb#ng??
food for thought and a&so for "u&tures #f there had been
any &ook#ng do(n fro! the skyP but at a&& e"ents for such
ants as (ere #ndustr#ous enough to ascend the po&e*
They (ou&d ha"e been e"en !ore #!press#"e, those heads on
the stakes, #f the#r faces had not been turned to the house*
8n&y one, the f#rst 3 had !ade out, (as fac#ng !y (ay*
3 (as not so shocked as you !ay th#nk* The start back 3
had g#"en (as rea&&y noth#ng but a !o"e!ent of surpr#se*
3 had expected to see a knob of (ood there, you kno(*
3 returned de&#berate&y to the f#rst 3 had seen??and there
#t (as, b&ack, dr#ed, sunken, (#th c&osed eye&#ds??a head
that see!ed to s&eep at the top of that po&e, and, (#th the
shrunken dry &#ps sho(#ng a narro( (h#te &#ne of the teeth,
(as s!#&#ng, too, s!#&#ng cont#nuous&y at so!e end&ess and jocose
drea! of that eterna& s&u!ber*
$3 a! not d#sc&os#ng any trade secrets* 3n fact, the !anager sa#d
after(ards that :r* Rurt7Ds !ethods had ru#ned the d#str#ct*
3 ha"e no op#n#on on that po#nt, but 3 (ant you c&ear&y to understand
that there (as noth#ng exact&y prof#tab&e #n these heads be#ng there*
They on&y sho(ed that :r* Rurt7 &acked restra#nt #n the grat#f#cat#on
of h#s "ar#ous &usts, that there (as so!eth#ng (ant#ng #n h#!??
so!e s!a&& !atter (h#ch, (hen the press#ng need arose,
cou&d not be found under h#s !agn#f#cent e&o=uence*
+hether he kne( of th#s def#c#ency h#!se&f 3 canDt say*
3 th#nk the kno(&edge ca!e to h#! at &ast??on&y at the "ery &ast*
/ut the (#&derness had found h#! out ear&y, and had taken on h#!
a terr#b&e "engeance for the fantast#c #n"as#on* 3 th#nk #t
had (h#spered to h#! th#ngs about h#!se&f (h#ch he d#d not kno(,
th#ngs of (h#ch he had no concept#on t#&& he took counse& (#th th#s
great so&#tude??and the (h#sper had pro"ed #rres#st#b&y fasc#nat#ng*
3t echoed &oud&y (#th#n h#! because he (as ho&&o( at the core*
* * * 3 put do(n the g&ass, and the head that had appeared near
enough to be spoken to see!ed at once to ha"e &eaped a(ay fro! !e
#nto #naccess#b&e d#stance*
$The ad!#rer of :r* Rurt7 (as a b#t crestfa&&en* 3n a hurr#ed,
#nd#st#nct "o#ce he began to assure !e he had not dared to
take these??say, sy!bo&s??do(n* He (as not afra#d of the nat#"esP
they (ou&d not st#r t#&& :r* Rurt7 ga"e the (ord* H#s ascendancy
(as extraord#nary* The ca!ps of these peop&e surrounded the p&ace,
and the ch#efs ca!e e"ery day to see h#!* They (ou&d cra(&*
* * * U3 donDt (ant to kno( anyth#ng of the cere!on#es used
(hen approach#ng :r* Rurt7,D 3 shouted* Cur#ous, th#s fee&#ng
that ca!e o"er !e that such deta#&s (ou&d be !ore #nto&erab&e
than those heads dry#ng on the stakes under :r* Rurt7Ds (#ndo(s*
%fter a&&, that (as on&y a sa"age s#ght, (h#&e 3 see!ed at one bound
to ha"e been transported #nto so!e &#ght&ess reg#on of subt&e horrors,
(here pure, unco!p&#cated sa"agery (as a pos#t#"e re&#ef,
be#ng so!eth#ng that had a r#ght to ex#st??ob"#ous&y??#n the sunsh#ne*
The young !an &ooked at !e (#th surpr#se* 3 suppose #t
d#d not occur to h#! that :r* Rurt7 (as no #do& of !#ne*
He forgot 3 hadnDt heard any of these sp&end#d !ono&ogues on,
(hat (as #tN on &o"e, just#ce, conduct of &#fe??or (hat not*
3f #t had co!e to cra(&#ng before :r* Rurt7, he cra(&ed as !uch as the
"er#est sa"age of the! a&&* 3 had no #dea of the cond#t#ons, he sa#d>
these heads (ere the heads of rebe&s* 3 shocked h#! excess#"e&y
by &augh#ng* .ebe&sK +hat (ou&d be the next def#n#t#on 3 (as to hearN
There had been ene!#es, cr#!#na&s, (orkers??and these (ere rebe&s*
Those rebe&&#ous heads &ooked "ery subdued to !e on the#r st#cks*
UOou donDt kno( ho( such a &#fe tr#es a !an &#ke Rurt7,D
cr#ed Rurt7Ds &ast d#sc#p&e* U+e&&, and youND 3 sa#d*
U3K 3K 3 a! a s#!p&e !an* 3 ha"e no great thoughts*
3 (ant noth#ng fro! anybody* Ho( can you co!pare !e to * * * ND
H#s fee&#ngs (ere too !uch for speech, and sudden&y he broke do(n*
U3 donDt understand,D he groaned* U3D"e been do#ng !y best
to keep h#! a&#"e, and thatDs enough* 3 had no hand #n a&& th#s*
3 ha"e no ab#&#t#es* There hasnDt been a drop of !ed#c#ne or a !outhfu&
of #n"a&#d food for !onths here* He (as sha!efu&&y abandoned*
% !an &#ke th#s, (#th such #deas* ha!efu&&yK ha!efu&&yK 3??3??
ha"enDt s&ept for the &ast ten n#ghts * * *D
$H#s "o#ce &ost #tse&f #n the ca&! of the e"en#ng* The &ong shado(s
of the forest had s&#pped do(nh#&& (h#&e (e ta&ked, had gone far
beyond the ru#ned ho"e&, beyond the sy!bo&#c ro( of stakes*
%&& th#s (as #n the g&oo!, (h#&e (e do(n there (ere yet #n the sunsh#ne,
and the stretch of the r#"er abreast of the c&ear#ng g&#ttered
#n a st#&& and da77&#ng sp&endour, (#th a !urky and o"ershado(ed
bend abo"e and be&o(* 'ot a &#"#ng sou& (as seen on the shore*
The bushes d#d not rust&e*
$udden&y round the corner of the house a group of !en appeared, as though
they had co!e up fro! the ground* They (aded (a#st?deep #n the grass,
#n a co!pact body, bear#ng an #!pro"#sed stretcher #n the#r !#dst*
3nstant&y, #n the e!pt#ness of the &andscape, a cry arose (hose
shr#&&ness p#erced the st#&& a#r &#ke a sharp arro( f&y#ng stra#ght
to the "ery heart of the &andP and, as #f by enchant!ent, strea!s of
hu!an be#ngs??of naked hu!an be#ngs??(#th spears #n the#r hands,
(#th bo(s, (#th sh#e&ds, (#th (#&d g&ances and sa"age !o"e!ents,
(ere poured #nto the c&ear#ng by the dark?faced and pens#"e forest*
The bushes shook, the grass s(ayed for a t#!e, and then e"eryth#ng
stood st#&& #n attent#"e #!!ob#&#ty*
$U'o(, #f he does not say the r#ght th#ng to the! (e are a&&
done for,D sa#d the .uss#an at !y e&bo(* The knot of !en
(#th the stretcher had stopped, too, ha&f(ay to the stea!er,
as #f petr#f#ed* 3 sa( the !an on the stretcher s#t up,
&ank and (#th an up&#fted ar!, abo"e the shou&ders of the bearers*
U<et us hope that the !an (ho can ta&k so (e&& of &o"e #n genera&
(#&& f#nd so!e part#cu&ar reason to spare us th#s t#!e,D 3 sa#d*
3 resented b#tter&y the absurd danger of our s#tuat#on,
as #f to be at the !ercy of that atroc#ous phanto! had
been a d#shonour#ng necess#ty* 3 cou&d not hear a sound,
but through !y g&asses 3 sa( the th#n ar! extended co!!and#ng&y,
the &o(er ja( !o"#ng, the eyes of that appar#t#on sh#n#ng
dark&y far #n #ts bony head that nodded (#th grotes=ue jerks*
Rurt7??Rurt7??that !eans short #n Ger!an??donDt #tN
+e&&, the na!e (as as true as e"eryth#ng e&se #n h#s &#fe??
and death* He &ooked at &east se"en feet &ong*
H#s co"er#ng had fa&&en off, and h#s body e!erged fro! #t
p#t#fu& and appa&&#ng as fro! a (#nd#ng?sheet* 3 cou&d see
the cage of h#s r#bs a&& ast#r, the bones of h#s ar! (a"#ng*
3t (as as though an an#!ated #!age of death car"ed out of o&d
#"ory had been shak#ng #ts hand (#th !enaces at a !ot#on&ess
cro(d of !en !ade of dark and g&#tter#ng bron7e* 3 sa( h#!
open h#s !outh (#de??#t ga"e h#! a (e#rd&y "orac#ous aspect,
as though he had (anted to s(a&&o( a&& the a#r, a&& the earth,
a&& the !en before h#!* % deep "o#ce reached !e fa#nt&y*
He !ust ha"e been shout#ng* He fe&& back sudden&y*
The stretcher shook as the bearers staggered for(ard aga#n,
and a&!ost at the sa!e t#!e 3 not#ced that the cro(d of sa"ages
(as "an#sh#ng (#thout any percept#b&e !o"e!ent of retreat,
as #f the forest that had ejected these be#ngs so sudden&y had
dra(n the! #n aga#n as the breath #s dra(n #n a &ong asp#rat#on*
$o!e of the p#&gr#!s beh#nd the stretcher carr#ed h#s ar!s??
t(o shot?guns, a hea"y r#f&e, and a &#ght re"o&"er?carb#ne??
the thunderbo&ts of that p#t#fu& Jup#ter* The !anager bent o"er h#!
!ur!ur#ng as he (a&ked bes#de h#s head* They &a#d h#! do(n #n one
of the &#tt&e cab#ns??just a roo! for a bed p&ace and a ca!p?stoo&
or t(o, you kno(* +e had brought h#s be&ated correspondence,
and a &ot of torn en"e&opes and open &etters &#ttered h#s bed*
H#s hand roa!ed feeb&y a!ongst these papers* 3 (as struck by
the f#re of h#s eyes and the co!posed &anguor of h#s express#on*
3t (as not so !uch the exhaust#on of d#sease* He d#d not see! #n pa#n*
Th#s shado( &ooked sat#ated and ca&!, as though for the !o!ent #t
had had #ts f#&& of a&& the e!ot#ons*
$He rust&ed one of the &etters, and &ook#ng stra#ght #n !y face sa#d,
U3 a! g&ad*D o!ebody had been (r#t#ng to h#! about !e*
These spec#a& reco!!endat#ons (ere turn#ng up aga#n*
The "o&u!e of tone he e!#tted (#thout effort, a&!ost (#thout
the troub&e of !o"#ng h#s &#ps, a!a7ed !e* % "o#ceK a "o#ceK
3t (as gra"e, profound, "#brat#ng, (h#&e the !an d#d not see!
capab&e of a (h#sper* Ho(e"er, he had enough strength #n h#!??
fact#t#ous no doubt??to "ery near&y !ake an end of us,
as you sha&& hear d#rect&y*
$The !anager appeared s#&ent&y #n the door(ayP 3 stepped
out at once and he dre( the curta#n after !e* The .uss#an,
eyed cur#ous&y by the p#&gr#!s, (as star#ng at the shore*
3 fo&&o(ed the d#rect#on of h#s g&ance*
$Dark hu!an shapes cou&d be !ade out #n the d#stance,
f&#tt#ng #nd#st#nct&y aga#nst the g&oo!y border of the forest,
and near the r#"er t(o bron7e f#gures, &ean#ng on ta&& spears,
stood #n the sun&#ght under fantast#c head?dresses of
spotted sk#ns, (ar&#ke and st#&& #n statues=ue repose*
%nd fro! r#ght to &eft a&ong the &#ghted shore !o"ed a (#&d
and gorgeous appar#t#on of a (o!an*
$he (a&ked (#th !easured steps, draped #n str#ped and
fr#nged c&oths, tread#ng the earth proud&y, (#th a s&#ght j#ng&e
and f&ash of barbarous orna!ents* he carr#ed her head h#ghP
her ha#r (as done #n the shape of a he&!etP she had brass
&egg#ngs to the knee, brass (#re gaunt&ets to the e&bo(,
a cr#!son spot on her ta(ny cheek, #nnu!erab&e neck&aces of g&ass
beads on her neckP b#7arre th#ngs, char!s, g#fts of (#tch?!en,
that hung about her, g&#ttered and tre!b&ed at e"ery step*
he !ust ha"e had the "a&ue of se"era& e&ephant tusks upon her*
he (as sa"age and superb, (#&d?eyed and !agn#f#centP
there (as so!eth#ng o!#nous and state&y #n her de&#berate progress*
%nd #n the hush that had fa&&en sudden&y upon the (ho&e
sorro(fu& &and, the #!!ense (#&derness, the co&ossa& body
of the fecund and !yster#ous &#fe see!ed to &ook at her,
pens#"e, as though #t had been &ook#ng at the #!age of #ts o(n
tenebrous and pass#onate sou&*
$he ca!e abreast of the stea!er, stood st#&&, and faced us*
Her &ong shado( fe&& to the (aterDs edge* Her face had a trag#c
and f#erce aspect of (#&d sorro( and of du!b pa#n !#ng&ed
(#th the fear of so!e strugg&#ng, ha&f?shaped reso&"e*
he stood &ook#ng at us (#thout a st#r, and &#ke the (#&derness
#tse&f, (#th an a#r of brood#ng o"er an #nscrutab&e purpose*
% (ho&e !#nute passed, and then she !ade a step for(ard*
There (as a &o( j#ng&e, a g&#nt of ye&&o( !eta&, a s(ay of
fr#nged draper#es, and she stopped as #f her heart had fa#&ed her*
The young fe&&o( by !y s#de gro(&ed* The p#&gr#!s !ur!ured
at !y back* he &ooked at us a&& as #f her &#fe had depended
upon the uns(er"#ng stead#ness of her g&ance* udden&y she
opened her bared ar!s and thre( the! up r#g#d abo"e her head,
as though #n an uncontro&&ab&e des#re to touch the sky, and at
the sa!e t#!e the s(#ft shado(s darted out on the earth, s(ept around
on the r#"er, gather#ng the stea!er #nto a shado(y e!brace*
% for!#dab&e s#&ence hung o"er the scene*
$he turned a(ay s&o(&y, (a&ked on, fo&&o(#ng the bank, and passed
#nto the bushes to the &eft* 8nce on&y her eyes g&ea!ed back at us
#n the dusk of the th#ckets before she d#sappeared*
$U3f she had offered to co!e aboard 3 rea&&y th#nk 3 (ou&d ha"e tr#ed
to shoot her,D sa#d the !an of patches, ner"ous&y* U3 ha"e been r#sk#ng
!y &#fe e"ery day for the &ast fortn#ght to keep her out of the house*
he got #n one day and k#cked up a ro( about those !#serab&e rags 3
p#cked up #n the storeroo! to !end !y c&othes (#th* 3 (asnDt decent*
%t &east #t !ust ha"e been that, for she ta&ked &#ke a fury to Rurt7
for an hour, po#nt#ng at !e no( and then* 3 donDt understand the d#a&ect
of th#s tr#be* <uck#&y for !e, 3 fancy Rurt7 fe&t too #&& that day
to care, or there (ou&d ha"e been !#sch#ef* 3 donDt understand*
* * * 'o??#tDs too !uch for !e* %h, (e&&, #tDs a&& o"er no(*D
$%t th#s !o!ent 3 heard Rurt7Ds deep "o#ce beh#nd the curta#n>
Ua"e !eK??sa"e the #"ory, you !ean* DonDt te&& !e*
a"e :EK +hy, 3D"e had to sa"e you* Oou are #nterrupt#ng !y
p&ans no(* #ckK #ckK 'ot so s#ck as you (ou&d &#ke to be&#e"e*
'e"er !#nd* 3D&& carry !y #deas out yet??3 (#&& return*
3D&& sho( you (hat can be done* Oou (#th your &#tt&e
pedd&#ng not#ons??you are #nterfer#ng (#th !e* 3 (#&& return*
3* * * *D
$The !anager ca!e out* He d#d !e the honour to take !e
under the ar! and &ead !e as#de* UHe #s "ery &o(, "ery &o(,D
he sa#d* He cons#dered #t necessary to s#gh, but neg&ected
to be cons#stent&y sorro(fu&* U+e ha"e done a&& (e cou&d
for h#!??ha"enDt (eN /ut there #s no d#sgu#s#ng the fact,
:r* Rurt7 has done !ore har! than good to the Co!pany*
He d#d not see the t#!e (as not r#pe for "#gorous act#on*
Caut#ous&y, caut#ous&y??thatDs !y pr#nc#p&e*
+e !ust be caut#ous yet* The d#str#ct #s c&osed to us for
a t#!e* Dep&orab&eK 9pon the (ho&e, the trade (#&& suffer*
3 donDt deny there #s a re!arkab&e =uant#ty of #"ory??!ost&y foss#&*
+e !ust sa"e #t, at a&& e"ents??but &ook ho( precar#ous
the pos#t#on #s??and (hyN /ecause the !ethod #s unsound*D
UDo you,D sa#d 3, &ook#ng at the shore, Uca&& #t $unsound !ethodN$D
U+#thout doubt,D he exc&a#!ed hot&y* UDonDt youND * * * U'o
!ethod at a&&,D 3 !ur!ured after a (h#&e* UExact&y,D he exu&ted*
U3 ant#c#pated th#s* ho(s a co!p&ete (ant of judg!ent*
3t #s !y duty to po#nt #t out #n the proper =uarter*D U8h,D sa#d 3,
Uthat fe&&o(??(hatDs h#s na!eN??the br#ck!aker, (#&& !ake
a readab&e report for you*D He appeared confounded for a !o!ent*
3t see!ed to !e 3 had ne"er breathed an at!osphere so "#&e,
and 3 turned !enta&&y to Rurt7 for re&#ef??pos#t#"e&y for re&#ef*
U'e"erthe&ess 3 th#nk :r* Rurt7 #s a re!arkab&e !an,D
3 sa#d (#th e!phas#s* He started, dropped on !e a hea"y g&ance,
sa#d "ery =u#et&y, Uhe +%,D and turned h#s back on !e*
:y hour of fa"our (as o"erP 3 found !yse&f &u!ped a&ong (#th Rurt7
as a part#san of !ethods for (h#ch the t#!e (as not r#pe>
3 (as unsoundK %hK but #t (as so!eth#ng to ha"e at &east
a cho#ce of n#ght!ares*
$3 had turned to the (#&derness rea&&y, not to :r* Rurt7, (ho,
3 (as ready to ad!#t, (as as good as bur#ed* %nd for a !o!ent
#t see!ed to !e as #f 3 a&so (ere bur#ed #n a "ast gra"e fu&&
of unspeakab&e secrets* 3 fe&t an #nto&erab&e (e#ght oppress#ng
!y breast, the s!e&& of the da!p earth, the unseen presence
of "#ctor#ous corrupt#on, the darkness of an #!penetrab&e n#ght*
* * * The .uss#an tapped !e on the shou&der* 3 heard h#! !u!b&#ng
and sta!!er#ng so!eth#ng about Ubrother sea!an??cou&dnDt concea&??
kno(&edge of !atters that (ou&d affect :r* Rurt7Ds reputat#on*D
3 (a#ted* ,or h#! e"#dent&y :r* Rurt7 (as not #n h#s gra"eP
3 suspect that for h#! :r* Rurt7 (as one of the #!!orta&s*
U+e&&KD sa#d 3 at &ast, Uspeak out* %s #t happens, 3 a!
:r* Rurt7Ds fr#end??#n a (ay*D
$He stated (#th a good dea& of for!a&#ty that had (e not been Uof
the sa!e profess#on,D he (ou&d ha"e kept the !atter to h#!se&f
(#thout regard to conse=uences* UHe suspected there (as an act#"e
#&&?(#&& to(ards h#! on the part of these (h#te !en that??D
UOou are r#ght,D 3 sa#d, re!e!ber#ng a certa#n con"ersat#on 3
had o"erheard* UThe !anager th#nks you ought to be hanged*D
He sho(ed a concern at th#s #nte&&#gence (h#ch a!used !e at f#rst*
U3 had better get out of the (ay =u#et&y,D he sa#d earnest&y*
U3 can do no !ore for Rurt7 no(, and they (ou&d soon f#nd so!e excuse*
+hatDs to stop the!N ThereDs a !#&#tary post three hundred !#&es
fro! here*D U+e&&, upon !y (ord,D sa#d 3, Uperhaps you had
better go #f you ha"e any fr#ends a!ongst the sa"ages near by*D
UP&enty,D he sa#d* UThey are s#!p&e peop&e??and 3 (ant noth#ng,
you kno(*D He stood b#t#ng h#s &#p, then> U3 donDt (ant any har!
to happen to these (h#tes here, but of course 3 (as th#nk#ng of
:r* Rurt7Ds reputat#on??but you are a brother sea!an and??D U%&& r#ght,D
sa#d 3, after a t#!e* U:r* Rurt7Ds reputat#on #s safe (#th !e*D
3 d#d not kno( ho( tru&y 3 spoke*
$He #nfor!ed !e, &o(er#ng h#s "o#ce, that #t (as Rurt7
(ho had ordered the attack to be !ade on the stea!er*
UHe hated so!et#!es the #dea of be#ng taken a(ay??and then aga#n*
* * * /ut 3 donDt understand these !atters* 3 a! a s#!p&e !an*
He thought #t (ou&d scare you a(ay??that you (ou&d
g#"e #t up, th#nk#ng h#! dead* 3 cou&d not stop h#!*
8h, 3 had an a(fu& t#!e of #t th#s &ast !onth*D U-ery (e&&,D
3 sa#d* UHe #s a&& r#ght no(*D UOe?e?es,D he !uttered,
not "ery con"#nced apparent&y* UThanks,D sa#d 3P U3 sha&&
keep !y eyes open*D U/ut =u#et?ehND he urged anx#ous&y*
U3t (ou&d be a(fu& for h#s reputat#on #f anybody here??D
3 pro!#sed a co!p&ete d#scret#on (#th great gra"#ty*
U3 ha"e a canoe and three b&ack fe&&o(s (a#t#ng not "ery far*
3 a! off* Cou&d you g#"e !e a fe( :art#n#?Henry cartr#dgesND
3 cou&d, and d#d, (#th proper secrecy* He he&ped h#!se&f,
(#th a (#nk at !e, to a handfu& of !y tobacco*
U/et(een sa#&ors??you kno(??good Eng&#sh tobacco*D
%t the door of the p#&ot?house he turned round??U3 say,
ha"enDt you a pa#r of shoes you cou&d spareND He ra#sed one &eg*
U<ook*D The so&es (ere t#ed (#th knotted str#ngs sanda&(#se
under h#s bare feet* 3 rooted out an o&d pa#r, at (h#ch he
&ooked (#th ad!#rat#on before tuck#ng #t under h#s &eft ar!*
8ne of h#s pockets Ebr#ght redF (as bu&g#ng (#th cartr#dges,
fro! the other Edark b&ueF peeped UTo(sonDs 3n=u#ry,D etc*, etc*
He see!ed to th#nk h#!se&f exce&&ent&y (e&& e=u#pped for a rene(ed
encounter (#th the (#&derness* U%hK 3D&& ne"er, ne"er !eet
such a !an aga#n* Oou ought to ha"e heard h#! rec#te poetry??
h#s o(n, too, #t (as, he to&d !e* PoetryKD He ro&&ed h#s eyes
at the reco&&ect#on of these de&#ghts* U8h, he en&arged !y !#ndKD
UGood?bye,D sa#d 3* He shook hands and "an#shed #n the n#ght*
o!et#!es 3 ask !yse&f (hether 3 had e"er rea&&y seen h#!??
(hether #t (as poss#b&e to !eet such a pheno!enonK * * *
$+hen 3 (oke up short&y after !#dn#ght h#s (arn#ng ca!e to !y !#nd
(#th #ts h#nt of danger that see!ed, #n the starred darkness,
rea& enough to !ake !e get up for the purpose of ha"#ng a &ook round*
8n the h#&& a b#g f#re burned, #&&u!#nat#ng f#tfu&&y a crooked corner
of the stat#on?house* 8ne of the agents (#th a p#cket of a fe( of
our b&acks, ar!ed for the purpose, (as keep#ng guard o"er the #"oryP
but deep (#th#n the forest, red g&ea!s that (a"ered, that see!ed
to s#nk and r#se fro! the ground a!ongst confused co&u!nar shapes
of #ntense b&ackness, sho(ed the exact pos#t#on of the ca!p
(here :r* Rurt7Ds adorers (ere keep#ng the#r uneasy "#g#&*
The !onotonous beat#ng of a b#g dru! f#&&ed the a#r (#th !uff&ed shocks
and a &#nger#ng "#brat#on* % steady dron#ng sound of !any !en chant#ng
each to h#!se&f so!e (e#rd #ncantat#on ca!e out fro! the b&ack,
f&at (a&& of the (oods as the hu!!#ng of bees co!es out of a h#"e,
and had a strange narcot#c effect upon !y ha&f?a(ake senses*
3 be&#e"e 3 do7ed off &ean#ng o"er the ra#&, t#&& an abrupt burst
of ye&&s, an o"er(he&!#ng outbreak of a pent?up and !yster#ous fren7y,
(oke !e up #n a be(#&dered (onder* 3t (as cut short a&& at once,
and the &o( dron#ng (ent on (#th an effect of aud#b&e and
sooth#ng s#&ence* 3 g&anced casua&&y #nto the &#tt&e cab#n*
% &#ght (as burn#ng (#th#n, but :r* Rurt7 (as not there*
$3 th#nk 3 (ou&d ha"e ra#sed an outcry #f 3 had be&#e"ed !y eyes*
/ut 3 d#dnDt be&#e"e the! at f#rst??the th#ng see!ed so #!poss#b&e*
The fact #s 3 (as co!p&ete&y unner"ed by a sheer b&ank fr#ght,
pure abstract terror, unconnected (#th any d#st#nct shape
of phys#ca& danger* +hat !ade th#s e!ot#on so o"erpo(er#ng (as??
ho( sha&& 3 def#ne #tN??the !ora& shock 3 rece#"ed,
as #f so!eth#ng a&together !onstrous, #nto&erab&e to thought
and od#ous to the sou&, had been thrust upon !e unexpected&y*
Th#s &asted of course the !erest fract#on of a second, and then
the usua& sense of co!!onp&ace, dead&y danger, the poss#b#&#ty
of a sudden ons&aught and !assacre, or so!eth#ng of the k#nd,
(h#ch 3 sa( #!pend#ng, (as pos#t#"e&y (e&co!e and co!pos#ng*
3t pac#f#ed !e, #n fact, so !uch that 3 d#d not ra#se an a&ar!*
$There (as an agent buttoned up #ns#de an u&ster and s&eep#ng on a cha#r
on deck (#th#n three feet of !e* The ye&&s had not a(akened h#!P
he snored "ery s&#ght&yP 3 &eft h#! to h#s s&u!bers and &eaped ashore*
3 d#d not betray :r* Rurt7??#t (as ordered 3 shou&d ne"er betray h#!??
#t (as (r#tten 3 shou&d be &oya& to the n#ght!are of !y cho#ce*
3 (as anx#ous to dea& (#th th#s shado( by !yse&f a&one??and to th#s day
3 donDt kno( (hy 3 (as so jea&ous of shar#ng (#th any one the pecu&#ar
b&ackness of that exper#ence*
$%s soon as 3 got on the bank 3 sa( a tra#&??a broad tra#& through
the grass* 3 re!e!ber the exu&tat#on (#th (h#ch 3 sa#d to !yse&f,
UHe canDt (a&k??he #s cra(&#ng on a&&?fours??3D"e got h#!*D
The grass (as (et (#th de(* 3 strode rap#d&y (#th c&enched f#sts*
3 fancy 3 had so!e "ague not#on of fa&&#ng upon h#! and g#"#ng
h#! a drubb#ng* 3 donDt kno(* 3 had so!e #!bec#&e thoughts*
The kn#tt#ng o&d (o!an (#th the cat obtruded herse&f upon !y !e!ory
as a !ost #!proper person to be s#tt#ng at the other end of such
an affa#r* 3 sa( a ro( of p#&gr#!s s=u#rt#ng &ead #n the a#r
out of +#nchesters he&d to the h#p* 3 thought 3 (ou&d ne"er get
back to the stea!er, and #!ag#ned !yse&f &#"#ng a&one and unar!ed
#n the (oods to an ad"anced age* uch s#&&y th#ngs??you kno(*
%nd 3 re!e!ber 3 confounded the beat of the dru! (#th the beat#ng
of !y heart, and (as p&eased at #ts ca&! regu&ar#ty*
$3 kept to the track though??then stopped to &#sten*
The n#ght (as "ery c&earP a dark b&ue space, spark&#ng (#th
de( and star&#ght, #n (h#ch b&ack th#ngs stood "ery st#&&*
3 thought 3 cou&d see a k#nd of !ot#on ahead of !e*
3 (as strange&y cocksure of e"eryth#ng that n#ght*
3 actua&&y &eft the track and ran #n a (#de se!#c#rc&e E3 "er#&y
be&#e"e chuck&#ng to !yse&fF so as to get #n front of that st#r,
of that !ot#on 3 had seen??#f #ndeed 3 had seen anyth#ng*
3 (as c#rcu!"ent#ng Rurt7 as though #t had been a boy#sh ga!e*
$3 ca!e upon h#!, and, #f he had not heard !e co!#ng,
3 (ou&d ha"e fa&&en o"er h#!, too, but he got up #n t#!e*
He rose, unsteady, &ong, pa&e, #nd#st#nct, &#ke a "apour exha&ed
by the earth, and s(ayed s&#ght&y, !#sty and s#&ent before !eP
(h#&e at !y back the f#res &oo!ed bet(een the trees,
and the !ur!ur of !any "o#ces #ssued fro! the forest*
3 had cut h#! off c&e"er&yP but (hen actua&&y confront#ng h#! 3 see!ed
to co!e to !y senses, 3 sa( the danger #n #ts r#ght proport#on*
3t (as by no !eans o"er yet* uppose he began to shoutN
Though he cou&d hard&y stand, there (as st#&& p&enty
of "#gour #n h#s "o#ce* UGo a(ay??h#de yourse&f,D he sa#d,
#n that profound tone* 3t (as "ery a(fu&* 3 g&anced back*
+e (ere (#th#n th#rty yards fro! the nearest f#re*
% b&ack f#gure stood up, strode on &ong b&ack &egs, (a"#ng &ong
b&ack ar!s, across the g&o(* 3t had horns??ante&ope horns,
3 th#nk??on #ts head* o!e sorcerer, so!e (#tch?!an, no doubt>
#t &ooked f#end&#ke enough* UDo you kno( (hat you are do#ngND
3 (h#spered* UPerfect&y,D he ans(ered, ra#s#ng h#s "o#ce
for that s#ng&e (ord> #t sounded to !e far off and yet &oud,
&#ke a ha#& through a speak#ng?tru!pet* U3f he !akes a ro( (e
are &ost,D 3 thought to !yse&f* Th#s c&ear&y (as not a case
for f#st#cuffs, e"en apart fro! the "ery natura& a"ers#on 3
had to beat that hado(??th#s (ander#ng and tor!ented th#ng*
UOou (#&& be &ost,D 3 sa#d??Dutter&y &ost*D
8ne gets so!et#!es such a f&ash of #nsp#rat#on, you kno(*
3 d#d say the r#ght th#ng, though #ndeed he cou&d not ha"e
been !ore #rretr#e"ab&y &ost than he (as at th#s "ery !o!ent,
(hen the foundat#ons of our #nt#!acy (ere be#ng &a#d??to endure??
to endure??e"en to the end??e"en beyond*
$U3 had #!!ense p&ans,D he !uttered #rreso&ute&y*
UOes,D sa#d 3P Ubut #f you try to shout 3D&& s!ash your
head (#th??D There (as not a st#ck or a stone near*
U3 (#&& thrott&e you for good,D 3 corrected !yse&f*
U3 (as on the thresho&d of great th#ngs,D he p&eaded, #n a "o#ce
of &ong#ng, (#th a (#stfu&ness of tone that !ade !y b&ood run co&d*
U%nd no( for th#s stup#d scoundre&??D UOour success #n Europe
#s assured #n any case,D 3 aff#r!ed stead#&y* 3 d#d not (ant
to ha"e the thrott&#ng of h#!, you understand??and #ndeed #t
(ou&d ha"e been "ery &#tt&e use for any pract#ca& purpose*
3 tr#ed to break the spe&&??the hea"y, !ute spe&& of the (#&derness??
that see!ed to dra( h#! to #ts p#t#&ess breast by the a(aken#ng
of forgotten and bruta& #nst#ncts, by the !e!ory of grat#f#ed
and !onstrous pass#ons* Th#s a&one, 3 (as con"#nced,
had dr#"en h#! out to the edge of the forest, to the bush,
to(ards the g&ea! of f#res, the throb of dru!s, the drone
of (e#rd #ncantat#onsP th#s a&one had begu#&ed h#s un&a(fu& sou&
beyond the bounds of per!#tted asp#rat#ons* %nd, donDt you see,
the terror of the pos#t#on (as not #n be#ng knocked on the head??
though 3 had a "ery &#"e&y sense of that danger, too??but #n th#s,
that 3 had to dea& (#th a be#ng to (ho! 3 cou&d not appea& #n
the na!e of anyth#ng h#gh or &o(* 3 had, e"en &#ke the n#ggers,
to #n"oke h#!??h#!se&f??h#s o(n exa&ted and #ncred#b&e degradat#on*
There (as noth#ng e#ther abo"e or be&o( h#!, and 3 kne( #t*
He had k#cked h#!se&f &oose of the earth* Confound the !anK
he had k#cked the "ery earth to p#eces* He (as a&one,
and 3 before h#! d#d not kno( (hether 3 stood on the ground
or f&oated #n the a#r* 3D"e been te&&#ng you (hat (e sa#d??
repeat#ng the phrases (e pronounced??but (hatDs the goodN
They (ere co!!on e"eryday (ords??the fa!#&#ar, "ague sounds
exchanged on e"ery (ak#ng day of &#fe* /ut (hat of thatN
They had beh#nd the!, to !y !#nd, the terr#f#c suggest#"eness
of (ords heard #n drea!s, of phrases spoken #n n#ght!ares*
ou&K 3f anybody e"er strugg&ed (#th a sou&, 3 a! the !an*
%nd 3 (asnDt argu#ng (#th a &unat#c e#ther* /e&#e"e !e or not,
h#s #nte&&#gence (as perfect&y c&ear??concentrated, #t #s true,
upon h#!se&f (#th horr#b&e #ntens#ty, yet c&earP and there#n
(as !y on&y chance??barr#ng, of course, the k#&&#ng h#! there
and then, (h#ch (asnDt so good, on account of una"o#dab&e no#se*
/ut h#s sou& (as !ad* /e#ng a&one #n the (#&derness, #t had &ooked
(#th#n #tse&f, and, by hea"ensK 3 te&& you, #t had gone !ad*
3 had??for !y s#ns, 3 suppose??to go through the ordea& of &ook#ng
#nto #t !yse&f* 'o e&o=uence cou&d ha"e been so (#ther#ng
to oneDs be&#ef #n !ank#nd as h#s f#na& burst of s#ncer#ty*
He strugg&ed (#th h#!se&f, too* 3 sa( #t??3 heard #t*
3 sa( the #nconce#"ab&e !ystery of a sou& that kne( no restra#nt,
no fa#th, and no fear, yet strugg&#ng b&#nd&y (#th #tse&f*
3 kept !y head pretty (e&&P but (hen 3 had h#! at &ast stretched
on the couch, 3 (#ped !y forehead, (h#&e !y &egs shook under !e
as though 3 had carr#ed ha&f a ton on !y back do(n that h#&&*
%nd yet 3 had on&y supported h#!, h#s bony ar! c&asped round
!y neck??and he (as not !uch hea"#er than a ch#&d*
$+hen next day (e &eft at noon, the cro(d, of (hose presence beh#nd
the curta#n of trees 3 had been acute&y consc#ous a&& the t#!e,
f&o(ed out of the (oods aga#n, f#&&ed the c&ear#ng, co"ered the s&ope
(#th a !ass of naked, breath#ng, =u#"er#ng, bron7e bod#es*
3 stea!ed up a b#t, then s(ung do(n strea!, and t(o thousand eyes fo&&o(ed
the e"o&ut#ons of the sp&ash#ng, thu!p#ng, f#erce r#"er?de!on beat#ng
the (ater (#th #ts terr#b&e ta#& and breath#ng b&ack s!oke #nto the a#r*
3n front of the f#rst rank, a&ong the r#"er, three !en, p&astered (#th
br#ght red earth fro! head to foot, strutted to and fro rest&ess&y*
+hen (e ca!e abreast aga#n, they faced the r#"er, sta!ped the#r feet,
nodded the#r horned heads, s(ayed the#r scar&et bod#esP they shook
to(ards the f#erce r#"er?de!on a bunch of b&ack feathers, a !angy sk#n
(#th a pendent ta#&??so!eth#ng that &ooked a dr#ed gourdP they shouted
per#od#ca&&y together str#ngs of a!a7#ng (ords that rese!b&ed no sounds
of hu!an &anguageP and the deep !ur!urs of the cro(d, #nterrupted sudden&y,
(ere &#ke the responses of so!e satan#c &#tany*
$+e had carr#ed Rurt7 #nto the p#&ot?house> there (as !ore a#r there*
<y#ng on the couch, he stared through the open shutter*
There (as an eddy #n the !ass of hu!an bod#es, and the (o!an
(#th he&!eted head and ta(ny cheeks rushed out to the "ery br#nk
of the strea!* he put out her hands, shouted so!eth#ng,
and a&& that (#&d !ob took up the shout #n a roar#ng chorus
of art#cu&ated, rap#d, breath&ess utterance*
$UDo you understand th#sND 3 asked*
$He kept on &ook#ng out past !e (#th f#ery, &ong#ng eyes, (#th a
!#ng&ed express#on of (#stfu&ness and hate* He !ade no ans(er,
but 3 sa( a s!#&e, a s!#&e of #ndef#nab&e !ean#ng, appear on
h#s co&our&ess &#ps that a !o!ent after t(#tched con"u&s#"e&y*
UDo 3 notND he sa#d s&o(&y, gasp#ng, as #f the (ords had been torn
out of h#! by a supernatura& po(er*
$3 pu&&ed the str#ng of the (h#st&e, and 3 d#d th#s because 3
sa( the p#&gr#!s on deck gett#ng out the#r r#f&es (#th an a#r
of ant#c#pat#ng a jo&&y &ark* %t the sudden screech there (as
a !o"e!ent of abject terror through that (edged !ass of bod#es*
UDonDtK donDt you fr#ghten the! a(ay,D cr#ed so!e one on
deck d#sconso&ate&y* 3 pu&&ed the str#ng t#!e after t#!e*
They broke and ran, they &eaped, they crouched, they s(er"ed,
they dodged the f&y#ng terror of the sound* The three red
chaps had fa&&en f&at, face do(n on the shore, as though they
had been shot dead* 8n&y the barbarous and superb (o!an d#d
not so !uch as f&#nch, and stretched trag#ca&&y her bare ar!s
after us o"er the so!bre and g&#tter#ng r#"er*
$%nd then that #!bec#&e cro(d do(n on the deck started the#r &#tt&e fun,
and 3 cou&d see noth#ng !ore for s!oke*
$The bro(n current ran s(#ft&y out of the heart of darkness,
bear#ng us do(n to(ards the sea (#th t(#ce the speed of our
up(ard progressP and Rurt7Ds &#fe (as runn#ng s(#ft&y, too, ebb#ng,
ebb#ng out of h#s heart #nto the sea of #nexorab&e t#!e*
The !anager (as "ery p&ac#d, he had no "#ta& anx#et#es no(,
he took us both #n (#th a co!prehens#"e and sat#sf#ed g&ance>
the Uaffa#rD had co!e off as (e&& as cou&d be (#shed*
3 sa( the t#!e approach#ng (hen 3 (ou&d be &eft a&one of
the party of Uunsound !ethod*D The p#&gr#!s &ooked upon !e
(#th d#sfa"our* 3 (as, so to speak, nu!bered (#th the dead*
3t #s strange ho( 3 accepted th#s unforeseen partnersh#p,
th#s cho#ce of n#ght!ares forced upon !e #n the tenebrous &and
#n"aded by these !ean and greedy phanto!s*
$Rurt7 d#scoursed* % "o#ceK a "o#ceK 3t rang deep to the "ery &ast*
3t sur"#"ed h#s strength to h#de #n the !agn#f#cent fo&ds of e&o=uence
the barren darkness of h#s heart* 8h, he strugg&edK he strugg&edK
The (astes of h#s (eary bra#n (ere haunted by shado(y #!ages no(??#!ages of
(ea&th and fa!e re"o&"#ng obse=u#ous&y round h#s unext#ngu#shab&e g#ft
of nob&e and &ofty express#on* :y 3ntended, !y stat#on, !y career, !y #deas??
these (ere the subjects for the occas#ona& utterances of e&e"ated sent#!ents*
The shade of the or#g#na& Rurt7 fre=uented the beds#de of the ho&&o( sha!,
(hose fate #t (as to be bur#ed present&y #n the !ou&d of pr#!e"a& earth*
/ut both the d#abo&#c &o"e and the unearth&y hate of the !yster#es
#t had penetrated fought for the possess#on of that sou& sat#ated
(#th pr#!#t#"e e!ot#ons, a"#d of &y#ng fa!e, of sha! d#st#nct#on,
of a&& the appearances of success and po(er*
$o!et#!es he (as conte!pt#b&y ch#&d#sh* He des#red to ha"e
k#ngs !eet h#! at ra#&(ay?stat#ons on h#s return fro! so!e
ghast&y 'o(here, (here he #ntended to acco!p&#sh great th#ngs*
UOou sho( the! you ha"e #n you so!eth#ng that #s rea&&y prof#tab&e,
and then there (#&& be no &#!#ts to the recogn#t#on of your ab#&#ty,D
he (ou&d say* U8f course you !ust take care of the !ot#"es??
r#ght !ot#"es??a&(ays*D The &ong reaches that (ere &#ke one
and the sa!e reach, !onotonous bends that (ere exact&y a&#ke,
s&#pped past the stea!er (#th the#r !u&t#tude of secu&ar trees
&ook#ng pat#ent&y after th#s gr#!y frag!ent of another (or&d,
the forerunner of change, of con=uest, of trade, of !assacres,
of b&ess#ngs* 3 &ooked ahead??p#&ot#ng* UC&ose the shutter,D
sa#d Rurt7 sudden&y one dayP U3 canDt bear to &ook at th#s*D
3 d#d so* There (as a s#&ence* U8h, but 3 (#&& (r#ng your
heart yetKD he cr#ed at the #n"#s#b&e (#&derness*
$+e broke do(n??as 3 had expected??and had to &#e up for repa#rs at the head
of an #s&and* Th#s de&ay (as the f#rst th#ng that shook Rurt7Ds conf#dence*
8ne !orn#ng he ga"e !e a packet of papers and a photograph??
the &ot t#ed together (#th a shoe?str#ng* UReep th#s for !e,D he sa#d*
UTh#s nox#ous foo&D E!ean#ng the !anagerF U#s capab&e of pry#ng
#nto !y boxes (hen 3 a! not &ook#ng*D 3n the afternoon 3 sa( h#!*
He (as &y#ng on h#s back (#th c&osed eyes, and 3 (#thdre( =u#et&y,
but 3 heard h#! !utter, U<#"e r#ght&y, d#e, d#e * * *D 3 &#stened*
There (as noth#ng !ore* +as he rehears#ng so!e speech #n h#s s&eep,
or (as #t a frag!ent of a phrase fro! so!e ne(spaper art#c&eN
He had been (r#t#ng for the papers and !eant to do so aga#n,
Ufor the further#ng of !y #deas* 3tDs a duty*D
$H#s (as an #!penetrab&e darkness* 3 &ooked at h#! as you peer
do(n at a !an (ho #s &y#ng at the botto! of a prec#p#ce (here the sun
ne"er sh#nes* /ut 3 had not !uch t#!e to g#"e h#!, because 3 (as
he&p#ng the eng#ne?dr#"er to take to p#eces the &eaky cy&#nders,
to stra#ghten a bent connect#ng?rod, and #n other such !atters*
3 &#"ed #n an #nferna& !ess of rust, f#&#ngs, nuts, bo&ts, spanners,
ha!!ers, ratchet?dr#&&s??th#ngs 3 abo!#nate, because 3 donDt get
on (#th the!* 3 tended the &#tt&e forge (e fortunate&y had aboardP
3 to#&ed (ear#&y #n a (retched scrap?heap??un&ess 3 had the shakes
too bad to stand*
$8ne e"en#ng co!#ng #n (#th a cand&e 3 (as start&ed to hear h#! say
a &#tt&e tre!u&ous&y, U3 a! &y#ng here #n the dark (a#t#ng for death*D
The &#ght (as (#th#n a foot of h#s eyes* 3 forced !yse&f to !ur!ur,
U8h, nonsenseKD and stood o"er h#! as #f transf#xed*
$%nyth#ng approach#ng the change that ca!e o"er h#s features 3 ha"e
ne"er seen before, and hope ne"er to see aga#n* 8h, 3 (asnDt touched*
3 (as fasc#nated* 3t (as as though a "e#& had been rent*
3 sa( on that #"ory face the express#on of so!bre pr#de,
of ruth&ess po(er, of cra"en terror??of an #ntense and hope&ess despa#r*
D#d he &#"e h#s &#fe aga#n #n e"ery deta#& of des#re, te!ptat#on,
and surrender dur#ng that supre!e !o!ent of co!p&ete kno(&edgeN
He cr#ed #n a (h#sper at so!e #!age, at so!e "#s#on??he cr#ed out t(#ce,
a cry that (as no !ore than a breath>
$UThe horrorK The horrorKD
$3 b&e( the cand&e out and &eft the cab#n* The p#&gr#!s (ere d#n#ng
#n the !ess?roo!, and 3 took !y p&ace oppos#te the !anager, (ho &#fted
h#s eyes to g#"e !e a =uest#on#ng g&ance, (h#ch 3 successfu&&y #gnored*
He &eaned back, serene, (#th that pecu&#ar s!#&e of h#s sea&#ng
the unexpressed depths of h#s !eanness* % cont#nuous sho(er of s!a&&
f&#es strea!ed upon the &a!p, upon the c&oth, upon our hands and faces*
udden&y the !anagerDs boy put h#s #nso&ent b&ack head #n the door(ay,
and sa#d #n a tone of scath#ng conte!pt>
$U:#stah Rurt7??he dead*D
$%&& the p#&gr#!s rushed out to see* 3 re!a#ned, and (ent on (#th !y d#nner*
3 be&#e"e 3 (as cons#dered bruta&&y ca&&ous* Ho(e"er, 3 d#d not eat !uch*
There (as a &a!p #n there??&#ght, donDt you kno(??and outs#de #t (as
so beast&y, beast&y dark* 3 (ent no !ore near the re!arkab&e !an (ho had
pronounced a judg!ent upon the ad"entures of h#s sou& on th#s earth*
The "o#ce (as gone* +hat e&se had been thereN /ut 3 a! of course a(are
that next day the p#&gr#!s bur#ed so!eth#ng #n a !uddy ho&e*
$%nd then they "ery near&y bur#ed !e*
$Ho(e"er, as you see, 3 d#d not go to jo#n Rurt7 there and then*
3 d#d not* 3 re!a#ned to drea! the n#ght!are out to the end, and to sho(
!y &oya&ty to Rurt7 once !ore* Dest#ny* :y dest#nyK Dro&& th#ng &#fe #s??
that !yster#ous arrange!ent of !erc#&ess &og#c for a fut#&e purpose*
The !ost you can hope fro! #t #s so!e kno(&edge of yourse&f??that co!es
too &ate??a crop of unext#ngu#shab&e regrets* 3 ha"e (rest&ed (#th death*
3t #s the !ost unexc#t#ng contest you can #!ag#ne* 3t takes p&ace
#n an #!pa&pab&e greyness, (#th noth#ng underfoot, (#th noth#ng around,
(#thout spectators, (#thout c&a!our, (#thout g&ory, (#thout the great des#re
of "#ctory, (#thout the great fear of defeat, #n a s#ck&y at!osphere
of tep#d scept#c#s!, (#thout !uch be&#ef #n your o(n r#ght, and st#&&
&ess #n that of your ad"ersary* 3f such #s the for! of u&t#!ate (#sdo!,
then &#fe #s a greater r#dd&e than so!e of us th#nk #t to be*
3 (as (#th#n a ha#rDs breadth of the &ast opportun#ty for pronounce!ent,
and 3 found (#th hu!#&#at#on that probab&y 3 (ou&d ha"e noth#ng to say*
Th#s #s the reason (hy 3 aff#r! that Rurt7 (as a re!arkab&e !an*
He had so!eth#ng to say* He sa#d #t* #nce 3 had peeped o"er the edge
!yse&f, 3 understand better the !ean#ng of h#s stare, that cou&d not see
the f&a!e of the cand&e, but (as (#de enough to e!brace the (ho&e un#"erse,
p#erc#ng enough to penetrate a&& the hearts that beat #n the darkness*
He had su!!ed up??he had judged* UThe horrorKD He (as a re!arkab&e !an*
%fter a&&, th#s (as the express#on of so!e sort of be&#efP #t had candour,
#t had con"#ct#on, #t had a "#brat#ng note of re"o&t #n #ts (h#sper,
#t had the appa&&#ng face of a g&#!psed truth??the strange co!!#ng&#ng
of des#re and hate* %nd #t #s not !y o(n extre!#ty 3 re!e!ber best??
a "#s#on of greyness (#thout for! f#&&ed (#th phys#ca& pa#n,
and a care&ess conte!pt for the e"anescence of a&& th#ngs??e"en of th#s
pa#n #tse&f* 'oK 3t #s h#s extre!#ty that 3 see! to ha"e &#"ed through*
True, he had !ade that &ast str#de, he had stepped o"er the edge,
(h#&e 3 had been per!#tted to dra( back !y hes#tat#ng foot*
%nd perhaps #n th#s #s the (ho&e d#fferenceP perhaps a&& the (#sdo!,
and a&& truth, and a&& s#ncer#ty, are just co!pressed #nto that
#napprec#ab&e !o!ent of t#!e #n (h#ch (e step o"er the thresho&d
of the #n"#s#b&e* PerhapsK 3 &#ke to th#nk !y su!!#ng?up (ou&d not
ha"e been a (ord of care&ess conte!pt* /etter h#s cry??!uch better*
3t (as an aff#r!at#on, a !ora& "#ctory pa#d for by #nnu!erab&e defeats,
by abo!#nab&e terrors, by abo!#nab&e sat#sfact#ons* /ut #t (as a "#ctoryK
That #s (hy 3 ha"e re!a#ned &oya& to Rurt7 to the &ast, and e"en beyond,
(hen a &ong t#!e after 3 heard once !ore, not h#s o(n "o#ce, but the echo
of h#s !agn#f#cent e&o=uence thro(n to !e fro! a sou& as trans&ucent&y
pure as a c&#ff of crysta&*
$'o, they d#d not bury !e, though there #s a per#od of t#!e (h#ch 3
re!e!ber !#st#&y, (#th a shudder#ng (onder, &#ke a passage through
so!e #nconce#"ab&e (or&d that had no hope #n #t and no des#re*
3 found !yse&f back #n the sepu&chra& c#ty resent#ng the s#ght
of peop&e hurry#ng through the streets to f#&ch a &#tt&e !oney
fro! each other, to de"our the#r #nfa!ous cookery, to gu&p the#r
un(ho&eso!e beer, to drea! the#r #ns#gn#f#cant and s#&&y drea!s*
They trespassed upon !y thoughts* They (ere #ntruders (hose
kno(&edge of &#fe (as to !e an #rr#tat#ng pretence, because 3
fe&t so sure they cou&d not poss#b&y kno( the th#ngs 3 kne(*
The#r bear#ng, (h#ch (as s#!p&y the bear#ng of co!!onp&ace
#nd#"#dua&s go#ng about the#r bus#ness #n the assurance of
perfect safety, (as offens#"e to !e &#ke the outrageous f&aunt#ngs
of fo&&y #n the face of a danger #t #s unab&e to co!prehend*
3 had no part#cu&ar des#re to en&#ghten the!, but 3 had so!e
d#ff#cu&ty #n restra#n#ng !yse&f fro! &augh#ng #n the#r faces
so fu&& of stup#d #!portance* 3 dare(ay 3 (as not "ery (e&&
at that t#!e* 3 tottered about the streets??there (ere
"ar#ous affa#rs to sett&e??gr#nn#ng b#tter&y at perfect&y
respectab&e persons* 3 ad!#t !y beha"#our (as #nexcusab&e,
but then !y te!perature (as se&do! nor!a& #n these days*
:y dear auntDs endea"ours to Unurse up !y strengthD
see!ed a&together bes#de the !ark* 3t (as not !y strength
that (anted nurs#ng, #t (as !y #!ag#nat#on that (anted sooth#ng*
3 kept the bund&e of papers g#"en !e by Rurt7, not kno(#ng
exact&y (hat to do (#th #t* H#s !other had d#ed &ate&y,
(atched o"er, as 3 (as to&d, by h#s 3ntended* % c&ean?sha"ed !an,
(#th an off#c#a& !anner and (ear#ng go&d?r#!!ed spectac&es,
ca&&ed on !e one day and !ade #n=u#r#es, at f#rst c#rcu#tous,
after(ards sua"e&y press#ng, about (hat he (as p&eased to
deno!#nate certa#n Udocu!ents*D 3 (as not surpr#sed, because 3
had had t(o ro(s (#th the !anager on the subject out there*
3 had refused to g#"e up the s!a&&est scrap out of that package,
and 3 took the sa!e att#tude (#th the spectac&ed !an*
He beca!e dark&y !enac#ng at &ast, and (#th !uch heat argued that
the Co!pany had the r#ght to e"ery b#t of #nfor!at#on about #ts
Uterr#tor#es*D %nd sa#d he, U:r* Rurt7Ds kno(&edge of unexp&ored
reg#ons !ust ha"e been necessar#&y extens#"e and pecu&#ar??
o(#ng to h#s great ab#&#t#es and to the dep&orab&e c#rcu!stances
#n (h#ch he had been p&aced> therefore??D 3 assured h#!
:r* Rurt7Ds kno(&edge, ho(e"er extens#"e, d#d not bear upon
the prob&e!s of co!!erce or ad!#n#strat#on* He #n"oked then the na!e
of sc#ence* U3t (ou&d be an #nca&cu&ab&e &oss #f,D etc*, etc*
3 offered h#! the report on the Uuppress#on of a"age Custo!s,D
(#th the postscr#ptu! torn off* He took #t up eager&y,
but ended by sn#ff#ng at #t (#th an a#r of conte!pt*
UTh#s #s not (hat (e had a r#ght to expect,D he re!arked*
UExpect noth#ng e&se,D 3 sa#d* UThere are on&y pr#"ate &etters*D
He (#thdre( upon so!e threat of &ega& proceed#ngs, and 3 sa( h#!
no !oreP but another fe&&o(, ca&&#ng h#!se&f Rurt7Ds cous#n,
appeared t(o days &ater, and (as anx#ous to hear a&& the deta#&s
about h#s dear re&at#"eDs &ast !o!ents* 3nc#denta&&y he ga"e !e
to understand that Rurt7 had been essent#a&&y a great !us#c#an*
UThere (as the !ak#ng of an #!!ense success,D sa#d the !an,
(ho (as an organ#st, 3 be&#e"e, (#th &ank grey ha#r f&o(#ng o"er
a greasy coat?co&&ar* 3 had no reason to doubt h#s state!entP
and to th#s day 3 a! unab&e to say (hat (as Rurt7Ds profess#on,
(hether he e"er had any??(h#ch (as the greatest of h#s ta&ents*
3 had taken h#! for a pa#nter (ho (rote for the papers,
or e&se for a journa&#st (ho cou&d pa#nt??but e"en the cous#n
E(ho took snuff dur#ng the #nter"#e(F cou&d not te&& !e (hat
he had been??exact&y* He (as a un#"ersa& gen#us??on that po#nt
3 agreed (#th the o&d chap, (ho thereupon b&e( h#s nose no#s#&y
#nto a &arge cotton handkerch#ef and (#thdre( #n sen#&e ag#tat#on,
bear#ng off so!e fa!#&y &etters and !e!oranda (#thout #!portance*
9&t#!ate&y a journa&#st anx#ous to kno( so!eth#ng of the fate
of h#s Udear co&&eagueD turned up* Th#s "#s#tor #nfor!ed !e Rurt7Ds
proper sphere ought to ha"e been po&#t#cs Uon the popu&ar s#de*D
He had furry stra#ght eyebro(s, br#st&y ha#r cropped short,
an eyeg&ass on a broad r#bbon, and, beco!#ng expans#"e,
confessed h#s op#n#on that Rurt7 rea&&y cou&dnDt (r#te
a b#t??Dbut hea"ensK ho( that !an cou&d ta&k* He e&ectr#f#ed
&arge !eet#ngs* He had fa#th??donDt you seeN??he had the fa#th*
He cou&d get h#!se&f to be&#e"e anyth#ng??anyth#ng*
He (ou&d ha"e been a sp&end#d &eader of an extre!e party*D
U+hat partyND 3 asked* U%ny party,D ans(ered the other*
UHe (as an??an??extre!#st*D D#d 3 not th#nk soN 3 assented*
D#d 3 kno(, he asked, (#th a sudden f&ash of cur#os#ty,
U(hat #t (as that had #nduced h#! to go out thereND
UOes,D sa#d 3, and forth(#th handed h#! the fa!ous .eport
for pub&#cat#on, #f he thought f#t* He g&anced through
#t hurr#ed&y, !u!b&#ng a&& the t#!e, judged U#t (ou&d do,D
and took h#!se&f off (#th th#s p&under*
$Thus 3 (as &eft at &ast (#th a s&#! packet of &etters
and the g#r&Ds portra#t* he struck !e as beaut#fu&??
3 !ean she had a beaut#fu& express#on* 3 kno( that the sun&#ght
ycan be !ade to &#e, too, yet one fe&t that no !an#pu&at#on
of &#ght and pose cou&d ha"e con"eyed the de&#cate shade
of truthfu&ness upon those features* he see!ed ready
to &#sten (#thout !enta& reser"at#on, (#thout susp#c#on,
(#thout a thought for herse&f* 3 conc&uded 3 (ou&d go
and g#"e her back her portra#t and those &etters !yse&f*
Cur#os#tyN OesP and a&so so!e other fee&#ng perhaps*
%&& that had been Rurt7Ds had passed out of !y hands>
h#s sou&, h#s body, h#s stat#on, h#s p&ans, h#s #"ory,
h#s career* There re!a#ned on&y h#s !e!ory and h#s 3ntended??
and 3 (anted to g#"e that up, too, to the past, #n a (ay??
to surrender persona&&y a&& that re!a#ned of h#! (#th !e
to that ob&#"#on (h#ch #s the &ast (ord of our co!!on fate*
3 donDt defend !yse&f* 3 had no c&ear percept#on of (hat #t (as 3
rea&&y (anted* Perhaps #t (as an #!pu&se of unconsc#ous &oya&ty,
or the fu&f#&!ent of one of those #ron#c necess#t#es that &urk
#n the facts of hu!an ex#stence* 3 donDt kno(* 3 canDt te&&*
/ut 3 (ent*
$3 thought h#s !e!ory (as &#ke the other !e!or#es of the dead
that accu!u&ate #n e"ery !anDs &#fe??a "ague #!press on the bra#n
of shado(s that had fa&&en on #t #n the#r s(#ft and f#na& passageP
but before the h#gh and ponderous door, bet(een the ta&&
houses of a street as st#&& and decorous as a (e&&?kept
a&&ey #n a ce!etery, 3 had a "#s#on of h#! on the stretcher,
open#ng h#s !outh "orac#ous&y, as #f to de"our a&& the earth
(#th a&& #ts !ank#nd* He &#"ed then before !eP he &#"ed as !uch
as he had e"er &#"ed??a shado( #nsat#ab&e of sp&end#d appearances,
of fr#ghtfu& rea&#t#esP a shado( darker than the shado( of the n#ght,
and draped nob&y #n the fo&ds of a gorgeous e&o=uence*
The "#s#on see!ed to enter the house (#th !e??the stretcher,
the phanto!?bearers, the (#&d cro(d of obed#ent (orsh#ppers,
the g&oo! of the forests, the g&#tter of the reach bet(een
the !urky bends, the beat of the dru!, regu&ar and !uff&ed
&#ke the beat#ng of a heart??the heart of a con=uer#ng darkness*
3t (as a !o!ent of tr#u!ph for the (#&derness, an #n"ad#ng
and "engefu& rush (h#ch, #t see!ed to !e, 3 (ou&d ha"e
to keep back a&one for the sa&"at#on of another sou&*
%nd the !e!ory of (hat 3 had heard h#! say afar there,
(#th the horned shapes st#rr#ng at !y back, #n the g&o( of f#res,
(#th#n the pat#ent (oods, those broken phrases ca!e back to !e,
(ere heard aga#n #n the#r o!#nous and terr#fy#ng s#!p&#c#ty*
3 re!e!bered h#s abject p&ead#ng, h#s abject threats,
the co&ossa& sca&e of h#s "#&e des#res, the !eanness, the tor!ent,
the te!pestuous angu#sh of h#s sou&* %nd &ater on 3 see!ed to see
h#s co&&ected &angu#d !anner, (hen he sa#d one day, UTh#s &ot
of #"ory no( #s rea&&y !#ne* The Co!pany d#d not pay for #t*
3 co&&ected #t !yse&f at a "ery great persona& r#sk*
3 a! afra#d they (#&& try to c&a#! #t as the#rs though*
HD!* 3t #s a d#ff#cu&t case* +hat do you th#nk 3 ought
to do??res#stN EhN 3 (ant no !ore than just#ce*D
* * * He (anted no !ore than just#ce??no !ore than just#ce*
3 rang the be&& before a !ahogany door on the f#rst f&oor,
and (h#&e 3 (a#ted he see!ed to stare at !e out of the g&assy pane&??
stare (#th that (#de and #!!ense stare e!brac#ng, conde!n#ng,
&oath#ng a&& the un#"erse* 3 see!ed to hear the (h#spered cry,
$The horrorK The horrorK$
$The dusk (as fa&&#ng* 3 had to (a#t #n a &ofty dra(#ng?roo!
(#th three &ong (#ndo(s fro! f&oor to ce#&#ng that (ere
&#ke three &u!#nous and bedraped co&u!ns* The bent g#&t
&egs and backs of the furn#ture shone #n #nd#st#nct cur"es*
The ta&& !arb&e f#rep&ace had a co&d and !onu!enta& (h#teness*
% grand p#ano stood !ass#"e&y #n a cornerP (#th dark g&ea!s
on the f&at surfaces &#ke a so!bre and po&#shed sarcophagus*
% h#gh door opened??c&osed* 3 rose*
$he ca!e for(ard, a&& #n b&ack, (#th a pa&e head, f&oat#ng to(ards
!e #n the dusk* he (as #n !ourn#ng* 3t (as !ore than a year
s#nce h#s death, !ore than a year s#nce the ne(s ca!eP
she see!ed as though she (ou&d re!e!ber and !ourn fore"er*
he took both !y hands #n hers and !ur!ured, U3 had heard you
(ere co!#ng*D 3 not#ced she (as not "ery young??3 !ean not g#r&#sh*
he had a !ature capac#ty for f#de&#ty, for be&#ef, for suffer#ng*
The roo! see!ed to ha"e gro(n darker, as #f a&& the sad &#ght
of the c&oudy e"en#ng had taken refuge on her forehead*
Th#s fa#r ha#r, th#s pa&e "#sage, th#s pure bro(, see!ed surrounded
by an ashy ha&o fro! (h#ch the dark eyes &ooked out at !e*
The#r g&ance (as gu#&e&ess, profound, conf#dent, and trustfu&*
he carr#ed her sorro(fu& head as though she (ere proud
of that sorro(, as though she (ou&d say, U3??3 a&one kno(
ho( to !ourn for h#! as he deser"es*D /ut (h#&e (e (ere st#&&
shak#ng hands, such a &ook of a(fu& deso&at#on ca!e upon her face
that 3 perce#"ed she (as one of those creatures that are not
the p&ayth#ngs of T#!e* ,or her he had d#ed on&y yesterday*
%nd, by Jo"eK the #!press#on (as so po(erfu& that for !e, too,
he see!ed to ha"e d#ed on&y yesterday??nay, th#s "ery !#nute*
3 sa( her and h#! #n the sa!e #nstant of t#!e??h#s death and
her sorro(??3 sa( her sorro( #n the "ery !o!ent of h#s death*
Do you understandN 3 sa( the! together??3 heard the! together*
he had sa#d, (#th a deep catch of the breath, U3 ha"e sur"#"edD
(h#&e !y stra#ned ears see!ed to hear d#st#nct&y, !#ng&ed (#th
her tone of despa#r#ng regret, the su!!#ng up (h#sper of h#s
eterna& conde!nat#on* 3 asked !yse&f (hat 3 (as do#ng there,
(#th a sensat#on of pan#c #n !y heart as though 3 had
b&undered #nto a p&ace of crue& and absurd !yster#es not f#t
for a hu!an be#ng to beho&d* he !ot#oned !e to a cha#r*
+e sat do(n* 3 &a#d the packet gent&y on the &#tt&e tab&e,
and she put her hand o"er #t* * * * UOou kne( h#! (e&&,D
she !ur!ured, after a !o!ent of !ourn#ng s#&ence*
$U3nt#!acy gro(s =u#ck&y out there,D 3 sa#d* U3 kne( h#! as (e&& as #t
#s poss#b&e for one !an to kno( another*D
$U%nd you ad!#red h#!,D she sa#d* U3t (as #!poss#b&e to kno( h#!
and not to ad!#re h#!* +as #tND
$UHe (as a re!arkab&e !an,D 3 sa#d, unstead#&y* Then before the appea&#ng
f#x#ty of her ga7e, that see!ed to (atch for !ore (ords on !y &#ps, 3 (ent on,
U3t (as #!poss#b&e not to??D
$U<o"e h#!,D she f#n#shed eager&y, s#&enc#ng !e #nto an appa&&ed du!bness*
UHo( trueK ho( trueK /ut (hen you th#nk that no one kne( h#! so (e&& as 3K
3 had a&& h#s nob&e conf#dence* 3 kne( h#! best*D
$UOou kne( h#! best,D 3 repeated* %nd perhaps she d#d*
/ut (#th e"ery (ord spoken the roo! (as gro(#ng darker,
and on&y her forehead, s!ooth and (h#te, re!a#ned #&&u!#ned
by the #next#ngu#shab&e &#ght of be&#ef and &o"e*
$UOou (ere h#s fr#end,D she (ent on* UH#s fr#end,D she repeated,
a &#tt&e &ouder* UOou !ust ha"e been, #f he had g#"en you th#s,
and sent you to !e* 3 fee& 3 can speak to you??and ohK
3 !ust speak* 3 (ant you??you (ho ha"e heard h#s &ast (ords??
to kno( 3 ha"e been (orthy of h#!* * * * 3t #s not pr#de* * * * OesK
3 a! proud to kno( 3 understood h#! better than any one on earth??
he to&d !e so h#!se&f* %nd s#nce h#s !other d#ed 3 ha"e had no one??
no one??to??to??D
$3 &#stened* The darkness deepened* 3 (as not e"en sure
(hether he had g#"en !e the r#ght bund&e* 3 rather suspect
he (anted !e to take care of another batch of h#s papers (h#ch,
after h#s death, 3 sa( the !anager exa!#n#ng under the &a!p*
%nd the g#r& ta&ked, eas#ng her pa#n #n the cert#tude of !y sy!pathyP
she ta&ked as th#rsty !en dr#nk* 3 had heard that her
engage!ent (#th Rurt7 had been d#sappro"ed by her peop&e*
He (asnDt r#ch enough or so!eth#ng* %nd #ndeed 3 donDt
kno( (hether he had not been a pauper a&& h#s &#fe*
He had g#"en !e so!e reason to #nfer that #t (as h#s #!pat#ence
of co!parat#"e po"erty that dro"e h#! out there*
$U* * * +ho (as not h#s fr#end (ho had heard h#! speak onceND
she (as say#ng* UHe dre( !en to(ards h#! by (hat (as best #n the!*D
he &ooked at !e (#th #ntens#ty* U3t #s the g#ft of the great,D
she (ent on, and the sound of her &o( "o#ce see!ed to ha"e
the acco!pan#!ent of a&& the other sounds, fu&& of !ystery,
deso&at#on, and sorro(, 3 had e"er heard??the r#pp&e of the r#"er,
the sough#ng of the trees s(ayed by the (#nd, the !ur!urs of the cro(ds,
the fa#nt r#ng of #nco!prehens#b&e (ords cr#ed fro! afar, the (h#sper
of a "o#ce speak#ng fro! beyond the thresho&d of an eterna& darkness*
U/ut you ha"e heard h#!K Oou kno(KD she cr#ed*
$UOes, 3 kno(,D 3 sa#d (#th so!eth#ng &#ke despa#r #n !y heart,
but bo(#ng !y head before the fa#th that (as #n her, before that great
and sa"#ng #&&us#on that shone (#th an unearth&y g&o( #n the darkness,
#n the tr#u!phant darkness fro! (h#ch 3 cou&d not ha"e defended her??
fro! (h#ch 3 cou&d not e"en defend !yse&f*
$U+hat a &oss to !e??to usKD??she corrected herse&f (#th
beaut#fu& generos#tyP then added #n a !ur!ur, UTo the (or&d*D
/y the &ast g&ea!s of t(#&#ght 3 cou&d see the g&#tter of her eyes,
fu&& of tears??of tears that (ou&d not fa&&*
$U3 ha"e been "ery happy??"ery fortunate??"ery proud,D
she (ent on* UToo fortunate* Too happy for a &#tt&e (h#&e*
%nd no( 3 a! unhappy for??for &#fe*D
$he stood upP her fa#r ha#r see!ed to catch a&& the re!a#n#ng &#ght
#n a g&#!!er of go&d* 3 rose, too*
$U%nd of a&& th#s,D she (ent on !ournfu&&y, Uof a&&
h#s pro!#se, and of a&& h#s greatness, of h#s generous !#nd,
of h#s nob&e heart, noth#ng re!a#ns??noth#ng but a !e!ory*
Oou and 3??D
$U+e sha&& a&(ays re!e!ber h#!,D 3 sa#d hast#&y*
$U'oKD she cr#ed* U3t #s #!poss#b&e that a&& th#s shou&d be &ost??
that such a &#fe shou&d be sacr#f#ced to &ea"e noth#ng??but sorro(*
Oou kno( (hat "ast p&ans he had* 3 kne( of the!, too??3 cou&d not
perhaps understand??but others kne( of the!* o!eth#ng !ust re!a#n*
H#s (ords, at &east, ha"e not d#ed*D
$UH#s (ords (#&& re!a#n,D 3 sa#d*
$U%nd h#s exa!p&e,D she (h#spered to herse&f* U:en &ooked up to h#!??
h#s goodness shone #n e"ery act* H#s exa!p&e??D
$UTrue,D 3 sa#dP Uh#s exa!p&e, too* Oes, h#s exa!p&e*
3 forgot that*D
$/ut 3 do not* 3 cannot??3 cannot be&#e"e??not yet*
3 cannot be&#e"e that 3 sha&& ne"er see h#! aga#n, that nobody
(#&& see h#! aga#n, ne"er, ne"er, ne"er*D
$he put out her ar!s as #f after a retreat#ng f#gure, stretch#ng the!
back and (#th c&asped pa&e hands across the fad#ng and narro( sheen
of the (#ndo(* 'e"er see h#!K 3 sa( h#! c&ear&y enough then*
3 sha&& see th#s e&o=uent phanto! as &ong as 3 &#"e, and 3 sha&& see her,
too, a trag#c and fa!#&#ar hade, rese!b&#ng #n th#s gesture another one,
trag#c a&so, and bedecked (#th po(er&ess char!s, stretch#ng bare bro(n
ar!s o"er the g&#tter of the #nferna& strea!, the strea! of darkness*
he sa#d sudden&y "ery &o(, UHe d#ed as he &#"ed*D
$UH#s end,D sa#d 3, (#th du&& anger st#rr#ng #n !e, U(as #n e"ery
(ay (orthy of h#s &#fe*D
$U%nd 3 (as not (#th h#!,D she !ur!ured* :y anger subs#ded
before a fee&#ng of #nf#n#te p#ty*
$UE"eryth#ng that cou&d be done??D 3 !u!b&ed*
$U%h, but 3 be&#e"ed #n h#! !ore than any one on earth??!ore than
h#s o(n !other, !ore than??h#!se&f* He needed !eK :eK 3 (ou&d
ha"e treasured e"ery s#gh, e"ery (ord, e"ery s#gn, e"ery g&ance*D
$3 fe&t &#ke a ch#&& gr#p on !y chest* UDonDt,D 3 sa#d,
#n a !uff&ed "o#ce*
$U,org#"e !e* 3??3 ha"e !ourned so &ong #n s#&ence??#n s#&ence*
* * * Oou (ere (#th h#!??to the &astN 3 th#nk of h#s &one&#ness*
'obody near to understand h#! as 3 (ou&d ha"e understood*
Perhaps no one to hear* * * *D
$UTo the "ery end,D 3 sa#d, shak#&y* U3 heard h#s "ery &ast (ords*
* * *D 3 stopped #n a fr#ght*
$U.epeat the!,D she !ur!ured #n a heart?broken tone*
U3 (ant??3 (ant??so!eth#ng??so!eth#ng??to??to &#"e (#th*D
$3 (as on the po#nt of cry#ng at her, UDonDt you hear the!ND
The dusk (as repeat#ng the! #n a pers#stent (h#sper a&& around us,
#n a (h#sper that see!ed to s(e&& !enac#ng&y &#ke the f#rst (h#sper
of a r#s#ng (#nd* UThe horrorK The horrorKD
$UH#s &ast (ord??to &#"e (#th,D she #ns#sted* UDonDt you understand 3
&o"ed h#!??3 &o"ed h#!??3 &o"ed h#!KD
$3 pu&&ed !yse&f together and spoke s&o(&y*
$UThe &ast (ord he pronounced (as??your na!e*D
$3 heard a &#ght s#gh and then !y heart stood st#&&,
stopped dead short by an exu&t#ng and terr#b&e cry,
by the cry of #nconce#"ab&e tr#u!ph and of unspeakab&e pa#n*
U3 kne( #t??3 (as sureKD * * * he kne(* he (as sure*
3 heard her (eep#ngP she had h#dden her face #n her hands*
3t see!ed to !e that the house (ou&d co&&apse before 3
cou&d escape, that the hea"ens (ou&d fa&& upon !y head*
/ut noth#ng happened* The hea"ens do not fa&& for such a tr#f&e*
+ou&d they ha"e fa&&en, 3 (onder, #f 3 had rendered Rurt7
that just#ce (h#ch (as h#s dueN HadnDt he sa#d he (anted
on&y just#ceN /ut 3 cou&dnDt* 3 cou&d not te&& her*
3t (ou&d ha"e been too dark??too dark a&together*
* * *$
:ar&o( ceased, and sat apart, #nd#st#nct and s#&ent,
#n the pose of a !ed#tat#ng /uddha* 'obody !o"ed for a t#!e*
$+e ha"e &ost the f#rst of the ebb,$ sa#d the D#rector sudden&y*
3 ra#sed !y head* The off#ng (as barred by a b&ack bank
of c&ouds, and the tran=u#& (ater(ay &ead#ng to the utter!ost
ends of the earth f&o(ed so!bre under an o"ercast sky??
see!ed to &ead #nto the heart of an #!!ense darkness*
End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Heart of Darkness