Heart of Darkness opens on a boat called "Nellie." ... Before he can meet Kurtz, however, Marlow must remain at the second station for several months to repair his boat. ... As the white men on the steamboat grab their guns and return fire, Kurtz' black helmsman continues to try to steer the boat through shallow, treacherous water. ... With Kurtz on the boat, Marlow finally got his chance to speak face to face with the infamous man. ... As the boat steams down the river, much faster than it had moved up river, a pall of death and quiet falls on the crewmen. ...

• Word Count: 4309
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School