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The following quotation occurs at the beginning of Part II of Heart of Darkness and contains a direct comment to the listeners aboard the Nellie. Carefully discuss each part of the quotation, with specific references to the words Conrad uses and relate this quotation to any of Conrad's themes you think apply. Paraphrasing the more difficult parts may help you provide evidence that you understand the words and implications here."And this stillness of life did not in the least resemble a peace. It was the stillness of an implacable force brooding over an inscrutable intention. It looked at you with a vengeful aspect. I got used to it afterwards; I did not see it any more; I had no time. I had to keep guessing at the channel; I had to discern, mostly by inspiration, the signs of hidden banks; I watched for sunken stones . . . I had to keep a lookout for the signs of dead wood we cut up in the night for the next day's steaming. When you have to attend to things of that sort, to the mere incidents of the surface, the reality- the reality, I tell you- fades. The inner truth is hidden- luckily, luckily. But I felt it all the same; I felt often its mysterious stillness watching me at my monkey tricks, just as it watches you fellows performing on your respective tight-ropes for- what is it? Half-a-crown a tumble--"

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