Page "Heart of Darkness" Paragraph 16

At Kurtz's station Marlow sees a man on the river-bank waving his arm, urging them to land.

Because of his expressions, gestures, and all the colorful patches on his clothing, the man reminds Marlow of a harlequin.

The pilgrims, heavily armed, escort the manager on shore to retrieve Mr. Kurtz.

The harlequin-like chap boards the steamboat.

It turns out the man is Russian, and he is a mere wanderer ; who just happened to wander into Kurtz's camp: " He rattled away at such a rate he quite overwhelmed me.

He seemed to be trying to make up for lots of silence, and actually hinted, laughing, that such was the case.

' Don't you talk with Mr. Kurtz?

' I said.

' You don't talk with that man — you listen to him ,' he exclaimed with severe exaltation.

"-"' I tell you ,' he cried, ' this man has enlarged my mind.

'" Through conversation Marlow discovers just how wanton Kurtz could be, how the natives worshiped Kurtz, and how very ill Kurtz has been of late.

The concerned harlequin-like Russian admires Mr. Kurtz for his intellect-for his insights-into love, life, and justice.

The Russian seems to even admire Kurtz for his power-and his willingness to use it.

Marlow suggests that Kurtz has gone mad, and the Russian " protested indignantly.

Mr. Kurtz couldn't be mad.

If I had heard him talk, only two days ago, I wouldn't dare hint at such a thing.

" From the steamboat, through a glass ( telescope ) Marlow can observe details of the station, and is surprised suddenly to see near the station house a row of posts with decapitated heads of natives mounted atop of each.

Around the corner of the house the manager with the pilgrims appeared, bearing Kurtz on an improvised stretcher.

The area then filled with natives, who appeared to be ready for battle.

The Russian stated: "' Now, if he does not say the right thing to them we are all done for '"-On the stretcher Marlow could see Kurtz shouting.

The pilgrims carried Kurtz to the steamer and laid him down in one of the little cabins.

A gorgeous native woman, with a desperate aspect, walked in measured steps along the shore and stopped right next to the steamer.

She raised her arms above her head-then " turned away slowly, walked on, following the bank, and passed into the bushes.