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TheProjectGutenbergEBookofHeartofDarkness,byJosephConrad ***************************************************************** THEREISANHTMLEDITIONOFTHISTITLEWHICHMAYBEVIEWED ASEBOOK(#219)athttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/219 ***************************************************************** ThiseBookisfortheuseofanyoneanywhereatnocostandwithalmostno restrictionswhatsoever.Youmaycopyit,giveitawayorre-useitunderthe termsoftheProjectGutenbergLicenseincludedwiththiseBookoronlineat www.gutenberg.org Title:HeartofDarkness Author:JosephConrad ReleaseDate:January9,2006[EBook#526] Language:English ***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKHEARTOF DARKNESS***

ProducedbyJudithBossandDavidWidger

[Note:Seealsoetext#219whichisadifferentversionofthiseBook] HEARTOFDARKNESS

ByJosephConrad

I TheNellie,acruisingyawl,swungtoheranchorwithoutaflutterofthesails, andwasatrest.Thefloodhadmade,thewindwasnearlycalm,andbeingbound downtheriver,theonlythingforitwastocometoandwaitfortheturnofthe tide. Thesea-reachoftheThamesstretchedbeforeuslikethebeginningofan interminablewaterway.Intheoffingtheseaandtheskywereweldedtogether withoutajoint,andintheluminousspacethetannedsailsofthebargesdrifting upwiththetideseemedtostandstillinredclustersofcanvassharplypeaked, withgleamsofvarnishedsprits.Ahazerestedonthelowshoresthatranoutto seainvanishingflatness.TheairwasdarkaboveGravesend,andfartherback stillseemedcondensedintoamournfulgloom,broodingmotionlessoverthe biggest,andthegreatest,townonearth. TheDirectorofCompanieswasourcaptainandourhost.Wefouraffectionately watchedhisbackashestoodinthebowslookingtoseaward.Onthewholeriver therewasnothingthatlookedhalfsonautical.Heresembledapilot,whichtoa seamanistrustworthinesspersonified.Itwasdifficulttorealizehisworkwasnot outthereintheluminousestuary,butbehindhim,withinthebroodinggloom. Betweenustherewas,asIhavealreadysaidsomewhere,thebondofthesea. Besidesholdingourheartstogetherthroughlongperiodsofseparation,ithadthe effectofmakingustolerantofeachother'syarns—andevenconvictions.The Lawyer—thebestofoldfellows—had,becauseofhismanyyearsandmany virtues,theonlycushionondeck,andwaslyingontheonlyrug.The Accountanthadbroughtoutalreadyaboxofdominoes,andwastoying architecturallywiththebones.Marlowsatcross-leggedrightaft,leaningagainst themizzen-mast.Hehadsunkencheeks,ayellowcomplexion,astraightback, anasceticaspect,and,withhisarmsdropped,thepalmsofhandsoutwards, resembledanidol.TheDirector,satisfiedtheanchorhadgoodhold,madehis wayaftandsatdownamongstus.Weexchangedafewwordslazily.Afterwards therewassilenceonboardtheyacht.Forsomereasonorotherwedidnotbegin thatgameofdominoes.Wefeltmeditative,andfitfornothingbutplacidstaring. Thedaywasendinginaserenityofstillandexquisitebrilliance.Thewater shonepacifically;thesky,withoutaspeck,wasabenignimmensityofunstained light;theverymistontheEssexmarsheswaslikeagauzyandradiantfabric, hungfromthewoodedrisesinland,anddrapingthelowshoresindiaphanous

folds.Onlythegloomtothewest,broodingovertheupperreaches,became moresombereveryminute,asifangeredbytheapproachofthesun. Andatlast,initscurvedandimperceptiblefall,thesunsanklow,andfrom glowingwhitechangedtoadullredwithoutraysandwithoutheat,asifaboutto gooutsuddenly,strickentodeathbythetouchofthatgloombroodingovera crowdofmen. Forthwithachangecameoverthewaters,andtheserenitybecamelessbrilliant butmoreprofound.Theoldriverinitsbroadreachrestedunruffledatthe declineofday,afteragesofgoodservicedonetotheracethatpeopleditsbanks, spreadoutinthetranquildignityofawaterwayleadingtotheuttermostendsof theearth.Welookedatthevenerablestreamnotinthevividflushofashortday thatcomesanddepartsforever,butintheaugustlightofabidingmemories.And indeednothingiseasierforamanwhohas,asthephrasegoes,"followedthe sea"withreverenceandaffection,thantoevokethegreatspiritofthepastupon thelowerreachesoftheThames.Thetidalcurrentrunstoandfroinits unceasingservice,crowdedwithmemoriesofmenandshipsithadbornetothe restofhomeortothebattlesofthesea.Ithadknownandservedallthemenof whomthenationisproud,fromSirFrancisDraketoSirJohnFranklin,knights all,titledanduntitled—thegreatknights-errantofthesea.Ithadborneallthe shipswhosenamesarelikejewelsflashinginthenightoftime,fromtheGolden Hindreturningwithherroundflanksfulloftreasure,tobevisitedbytheQueen's Highnessandthuspassoutofthegigantictale,totheErebusandTerror,bound onotherconquests—andthatneverreturned.Ithadknowntheshipsandthe men.TheyhadsailedfromDeptford,fromGreenwich,fromErith—the adventurersandthesettlers;kings'shipsandtheshipsofmenon'Change; captains,admirals,thedark"interlopers"oftheEasterntrade,andthe commissioned"generals"ofEastIndiafleets.Huntersforgoldorpursuersof fame,theyallhadgoneoutonthatstream,bearingthesword,andoftenthe torch,messengersofthemightwithintheland,bearersofasparkfromthe sacredfire.Whatgreatnesshadnotfloatedontheebbofthatriverintothe mysteryofanunknownearth!...Thedreamsofmen,theseedof commonwealths,thegermsofempires. Thesunset;theduskfellonthestream,andlightsbegantoappearalongthe shore.TheChapmanlighthouse,athree-leggedthingerectonamud-flat,shone strongly.Lightsofshipsmovedinthefairway—agreatstiroflightsgoingup andgoingdown.Andfartherwestontheupperreachestheplaceofthe

monstroustownwasstillmarkedominouslyonthesky,abroodinggloomin sunshine,aluridglareunderthestars. "Andthisalso,"saidMarlowsuddenly,"hasbeenoneofthedarkplacesofthe earth." Hewastheonlymanofuswhostill"followedthesea."Theworstthatcouldbe saidofhimwasthathedidnotrepresenthisclass.Hewasaseaman,buthewas awanderer,too,whilemostseamenlead,ifonemaysoexpressit,asedentary life.Theirmindsareofthestay-at-homeorder,andtheirhomeisalwayswith them—theship;andsoistheircountry—thesea.Oneshipisverymuchlike another,andtheseaisalwaysthesame.Intheimmutabilityoftheirsurrounding theforeignshores,theforeignfaces,thechangingimmensityoflife,glidepast, veilednotbyasenseofmysterybutbyaslightlydisdainfulignorance;forthere isnothingmysterioustoaseamanunlessitbetheseaitself,whichisthemistres ofhisexistenceandasinscrutableasDestiny.Fortherest,afterhishoursof work,acasualstrolloracasualspreeonshoresufficestounfoldforhimthe secretofawholecontinent,andgenerallyhefindsthesecretnotworthknowing. Theyarnsofseamenhaveadirectsimplicity,thewholemeaningofwhichlies withintheshellofacrackednut.ButMarlowwasnottypical(ifhispropensity tospinyarnsbeexcepted),andtohimthemeaningofanepisodewasnotinside likeakernelbutoutside,envelopingthetalewhichbroughtitoutonlyasaglow bringsoutahaze,inthelikenessofoneofthesemistyhalosthatsometimesare madevisiblebythespectralilluminationofmoonshine. Hisremarkdidnotseematallsurprising.ItwasjustlikeMarlow.Itwas acceptedinsilence.Noonetookthetroubletogrunteven;andpresentlyhesaid, veryslow— "Iwasthinkingofveryoldtimes,whentheRomansfirstcamehere,nineteen hundredyearsago—theotherday....Lightcameoutofthisriversince—you sayKnights?Yes;butitislikearunningblazeonaplain,likeaflashof lightningintheclouds.Weliveintheflicker—mayitlastaslongastheoldearth keepsrolling!Butdarknesswashereyesterday.Imaginethefeelingsofa commanderofafine—whatd'yecall'em?—triremeintheMediterranean, orderedsuddenlytothenorth;runoverlandacrosstheGaulsinahurry;putin chargeofoneofthesecraftthelegionaries,—awonderfullotofhandymenthey musthavebeentoo—usedtobuild,apparentlybythehundred,inamonthor two,ifwemaybelievewhatweread.Imaginehimhere—theveryendofthe

world,aseathecoloroflead,askythecolorofsmoke,akindofshipaboutas rigidasaconcertina—andgoingupthisriverwithstores,ororders,orwhatyou like.Sandbanks,marshes,forests,savages,—preciouslittletoeatfitfora civilizedman,nothingbutThameswatertodrink.NoFalernianwinehere,no goingashore.Hereandthereamilitarycamplostinawilderness,likeaneedle inabundleofhay—cold,fog,tempests,disease,exile,anddeath,—death skulkingintheair,inthewater,inthebush.Theymusthavebeendyinglike flieshere.Ohyes—hedidit.Diditverywell,too,nodoubt,andwithout thinkingmuchaboutiteither,exceptafterwardstobragofwhathehadgone throughinhistime,perhaps.Theyweremenenoughtofacethedarkness.And perhapshewascheeredbykeepinghiseyeonachanceofpromotiontothefleet atRavennaby-and-by,ifhehadgoodfriendsinRomeandsurvivedtheawful climate.Orthinkofadecentyoungcitizeninatoga—perhapstoomuchdice, youknow—comingouthereinthetrainofsomeprefect,ortax-gatherer,or tradereven,tomendhisfortunes.Landinaswamp,marchthroughthewoods, andinsomeinlandpostfeelthesavagery,theuttersavagery,hadclosedround him,—allthatmysteriouslifeofthewildernessthatstirsintheforest,inthe jungles,intheheartsofwildmen.There'snoinitiationeitherintosuch mysteries.Hehastoliveinthemidstoftheincomprehensible,whichisalso detestable.Andithasafascination,too,thatgoestoworkuponhim.The fascinationoftheabomination—youknow.Imaginethegrowingregrets,the longingtoescape,thepowerlessdisgust,thesurrender,thehate." Hepaused. "Mind,"hebeganagain,liftingonearmfromtheelbow,thepalmofthehand outwards,sothat,withhislegsfoldedbeforehim,hehadtheposeofaBuddha preachinginEuropeanclothesandwithoutalotus-flower—"Mind,noneofus wouldfeelexactlylikethis.Whatsavesusisefficiency—thedevotionto efficiency.Butthesechapswerenotmuchaccount,really.Theywereno colonists;theiradministrationwasmerelyasqueeze,andnothingmore,I suspect.Theywereconquerors,andforthatyouwantonlybruteforce—nothing toboastof,whenyouhaveit,sinceyourstrengthisjustanaccidentarisingfrom theweaknessofothers.Theygrabbedwhattheycouldgetforthesakeofwhat wastobegot.Itwasjustrobberywithviolence,aggravatedmurderonagreat scale,andmengoingatitblind—asisveryproperforthosewhotacklea darkness.Theconquestoftheearth,whichmostlymeansthetakingitawayfrom thosewhohaveadifferentcomplexionorslightlyflatternosesthanourselves,is notaprettythingwhenyoulookintoittoomuch.Whatredeemsitistheidea

only.Anideaatthebackofit;notasentimentalpretensebutanidea;andan unselfishbeliefintheidea—somethingyoucansetup,andbowdownbefore, andofferasacrificeto...." Hebrokeoff.Flamesglidedintheriver,smallgreenflames,redflames,white flames,pursuing,overtaking,joining,crossingeachother—thenseparating slowlyorhastily.Thetrafficofthegreatcitywentoninthedeepeningnight uponthesleeplessriver.Welookedon,waitingpatiently—therewasnothing elsetodotilltheendoftheflood;butitwasonlyafteralongsilence,whenhe said,inahesitatingvoice,"IsupposeyoufellowsrememberIdidonceturn fresh-watersailorforabit,"thatweknewwewerefated,beforetheebbbeganto run,tohearaboutoneofMarlow'sinconclusiveexperiences. "Idon'twanttobotheryoumuchwithwhathappenedtomepersonally,"he began,showinginthisremarktheweaknessofmanytellersoftaleswhoseemso oftenunawareofwhattheiraudiencewouldbestliketohear;"yettounderstand theeffectofitonmeyououghttoknowhowIgotoutthere,whatIsaw,howI wentupthatrivertotheplacewhereIfirstmetthepoorchap.Itwasthefarthest pointofnavigationandtheculminatingpointofmyexperience.Itseemed somehowtothrowakindoflightoneverythingaboutme—andintomy thoughts.Itwassomberenoughtoo—andpitiful—notextraordinaryinanyway —notverycleareither.No,notveryclear.Andyetitseemedtothrowakindof light. "Ihadthen,asyouremember,justreturnedtoLondonafteralotofIndian Ocean,Pacific,ChinaSeas—aregulardoseoftheEast—sixyearsorso,andI wasloafingabout,hinderingyoufellowsinyourworkandinvadingyourhomes justasthoughIhadgotaheavenlymissiontocivilizeyou.Itwasveryfinefora time,butafterabitIdidgettiredofresting.ThenIbegantolookforaship—I shouldthinkthehardestworkonearth.Buttheshipswouldn'tevenlookatme. AndIgottiredofthatgametoo. "NowwhenIwasalittlechapIhadapassionformaps.Iwouldlookforhours atSouthAmerica,orAfrica,orAustralia,andlosemyselfinallthegloriesof exploration.Atthattimethereweremanyblankspacesontheearth,andwhenI sawonethatlookedparticularlyinvitingonamap(buttheyalllookthat)I wouldputmyfingeronitandsay,'WhenIgrowupIwillgothere.'TheNorth Polewasoneoftheseplaces,Iremember.Well,Ihaven'tbeenthereyet,and shallnottrynow.Theglamour'soff.Otherplaceswerescatteredaboutthe

Equator,andineverysortoflatitudealloverthetwohemispheres.Ihavebeen insomeofthem,and...well,wewon'ttalkaboutthat.Buttherewasoneyet— thebiggest,themostblank,sotospeak—thatIhadahankeringafter. "True,bythistimeitwasnotablankspaceanymore.Ithadgotfilledsincemy boyhoodwithriversandlakesandnames.Ithadceasedtobeablankspaceof delightfulmystery—awhitepatchforaboytodreamgloriouslyover.Ithad becomeaplaceofdarkness.Buttherewasinitoneriverespecially,amightybig river,thatyoucouldseeonthemap,resemblinganimmensesnakeuncoiled, withitsheadinthesea,itsbodyatrestcurvingafaroveravastcountry,andits taillostinthedepthsoftheland.AndasIlookedatthemapofitinashopwindow,itfascinatedmeasasnakewouldabird—asillylittlebird.ThenI rememberedtherewasabigconcern,aCompanyfortradeonthatriver.Dashit all!Ithoughttomyself,theycan'ttradewithoutusingsomekindofcraftonthat lotoffreshwater—steamboats!Whyshouldn'tItrytogetchargeofone?Iwent onalongFleetStreet,butcouldnotshakeofftheidea.Thesnakehadcharmed me. "YouunderstanditwasaContinentalconcern,thatTradingsociety;butIhavea lotofrelationslivingontheContinent,becauseit'scheapandnotsonastyasit looks,theysay. "IamsorrytoownIbegantoworrythem.Thiswasalreadyafreshdeparturefor me.Iwasnotusedtogetthingsthatway,youknow.Ialwayswentmyownroad andonmyownlegswhereIhadamindtogo.Iwouldn'thavebelieveditof myself;but,then—yousee—IfeltsomehowImustgettherebyhookorby crook.SoIworriedthem.Themensaid'Mydearfellow,'anddidnothing.Then —wouldyoubelieveit?—Itriedthewomen.I,CharlieMarlow,setthewomen towork—togetajob.Heavens!Well,yousee,thenotiondroveme.Ihadan aunt,adearenthusiasticsoul.Shewrote:'Itwillbedelightful.Iamreadytodo anything,anythingforyou.Itisagloriousidea.Iknowthewifeofaveryhigh personageintheAdministration,andalsoamanwhohaslotsofinfluencewith,' &c.,&c.Shewasdeterminedtomakenoendoffusstogetmeappointedskippe ofariversteamboat,ifsuchwasmyfancy. "Igotmyappointment—ofcourse;andIgotitveryquick.Itappearsthe Companyhadreceivednewsthatoneoftheircaptainshadbeenkilledina scufflewiththenatives.Thiswasmychance,anditmademethemoreanxious togo.Itwasonlymonthsandmonthsafterwards,whenImadetheattemptto

recoverwhatwasleftofthebody,thatIheardtheoriginalquarrelarosefroma misunderstandingaboutsomehens.Yes,twoblackhens.Fresleven—thatwas thefellow'sname,aDane—thoughthimselfwrongedsomehowinthebargain, sohewentashoreandstartedtohammerthechiefofthevillagewithastick.Oh itdidn'tsurprisemeintheleasttohearthis,andatthesametimetobetoldthat Freslevenwasthegentlest,quietestcreaturethateverwalkedontwolegs.No doubthewas;buthehadbeenacoupleofyearsalreadyoutthereengagedinthe noblecause,youknow,andheprobablyfelttheneedatlastofassertinghisselfrespectinsomeway.Thereforehewhackedtheoldniggermercilessly,whilea bigcrowdofhispeoplewatchedhim,thunderstruck,tillsomeman,—Iwastold thechief'sson,—indesperationathearingtheoldchapyell,madeatentativejab withaspearatthewhiteman—andofcourseitwentquiteeasybetweenthe shoulder-blades.Thenthewholepopulationclearedintotheforest,expectingall kindsofcalamitiestohappen,while,ontheotherhand,thesteamerFresleven commandedleftalsoinabadpanic,inchargeoftheengineer,Ibelieve. AfterwardsnobodyseemedtotroublemuchaboutFresleven'sremains,tillIgot outandsteppedintohisshoes.Icouldn'tletitrest,though;butwhenan opportunityofferedatlasttomeetmypredecessor,thegrassgrowingthroughhis ribswastallenoughtohidehisbones.Theywereallthere.Thesupernatural beinghadnotbeentouchedafterhefell.Andthevillagewasdeserted,thehuts gapedblack,rotting,allaskewwithinthefallenenclosures.Acalamityhadcome toit,sureenough.Thepeoplehadvanished.Madterrorhadscatteredthem,men women,andchildren,throughthebush,andtheyhadneverreturned.What becameofthehensIdon'tknoweither.Ishouldthinkthecauseofprogressgot them,anyhow.However,throughthisgloriousaffairIgotmyappointment, beforeIhadfairlybeguntohopeforit. "Iflewaroundlikemadtogetready,andbeforeforty-eighthoursIwascrossing theChanneltoshowmyselftomyemployers,andsignthecontract.Inavery fewhoursIarrivedinacitythatalwaysmakesmethinkofawhitedsepulcher. Prejudicenodoubt.IhadnodifficultyinfindingtheCompany'soffices.Itwas thebiggestthinginthetown,andeverybodyImetwasfullofit.Theywere goingtorunanover-seaempire,andmakenoendofcoinbytrade. "Anarrowanddesertedstreetindeepshadow,highhouses,innumerable windowswithvenetianblinds,adeadsilence,grasssproutingbetweenthe stones,imposingcarriagearchwaysrightandleft,immensedoubledoors standingponderouslyajar.Islippedthroughoneofthesecracks,wentupaswep andungarnishedstaircase,asaridasadesert,andopenedthefirstdoorIcame

to.Twowomen,onefatandtheotherslim,satonstraw-bottomedchairs, knittingblackwool.Theslimonegotupandwalkedstraightatme—still knittingwithdowncasteyes—andonlyjustasIbegantothinkofgettingoutof herway,asyouwouldforasomnambulist,stoodstill,andlookedup.Herdress wasasplainasanumbrella-cover,andsheturnedroundwithoutawordand precededmeintoawaiting-room.Igavemyname,andlookedabout.Dealtable inthemiddle,plainchairsallroundthewalls,ononeendalargeshiningmap, markedwithallthecolorsofarainbow.Therewasavastamountofred—good toseeatanytime,becauseoneknowsthatsomerealworkisdoneinthere,a deuceofalotofblue,alittlegreen,smearsoforange,and,ontheEastCoast,a purplepatch,toshowwhereth...