Overheard in the Night
You are lying on the deck of your steamboat, the darkness of the African night pressing against your eyelids. The air is warm, thick, and heavy. Nearby, the Manager and his uncle are strolling along the bank, unaware of your presence.
Their voices drift to you—snippets of a conspiracy. They are talking about Mr. Kurtz.
"It is unpleasant," grunts the uncle. "He has asked the Administration to be sent there... to show what he could do."
"The climate may do away with this difficulty for you," the uncle adds darkly. "Is he alone there?"
They are plotting. They view Kurtz not as a colleague, but as a threat to their careers because of the massive amount of ivory he collects. You realize the depth of the jealousy surrounding this mysterious man.
Do you reveal that you are awake, or remain hidden?