the witch and other stories-第12章

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shaven　face　and　his　whole　figure。

〃What　weather！　God　help　us！〃　he　said；　and　he　turned　his　head　from
side　to　side。　〃Folk　have　not　carried　the　oats　yet；　and　the　rain
seems　as　though　it　had　been　taken　on　for　good；　God　bless　it。〃

The　shepherd　looked　at　the　sky；　from　which　a　drizzling　rain　was
falling；　at　the　wood；　at　the　bailif's　wet　clothes；　pondered；　and
said　nothing。

〃The　whole　summer　has　been　the　same；〃　sighed　Meliton。　〃A　bad
business　for　the　peasants　and　no　pleasure　for　the　gentry。〃

The　shepherd　looked　at　the　sky　again；　thought　a　moment；　and　said
deliberately；　as　though　chewing　each　word：

〃It's　all　going　the　same　way。　。　。　。　There　is　nothing　good　to　be
looked　for。〃

〃How　are　things　with　you　here？〃　Meliton　inquired；　lighting　his
cigarette。　〃Haven't　you　seen　any　coveys　of　grouse　in　the
Artamonovs'　clearing？〃

The　shepherd　did　not　answer　at　once。　He　looked　again　at　the　sky
and　to　right　and　left；　thought　a　little；　blinked。　。　。　。
Apparently　he　attached　no　little　significance　to　his　words；　and
to　increase　their　value　tried　to　pronounce　them　with　deliberation
and　a　certain　solemnity。　The　expression　of　his　face　had　the
sharpness　and　staidness　of　old　age；　and　the　fact　that　his　nose
had　a　saddle…shaped　depression　across　the　middle　and　his　nostrils
turned　upwards　gave　him　a　sly　and　sarcastic　look。

〃No；　I　believe　I　haven't；〃　he　said。　〃Our　huntsman　Eryomka　w　as
saying　that　on　Elijah's　Day　he　started　one　covey　near　Pustoshye；
but　I　dare　say　he　was　lying。　There　are　very　few　birds。〃

〃Yes；　brother；　very　few。　。　。　。　Very　few　everywhere！　The　shooting
here；　if　one　is　to　look　at　it　with　common　sense；　is　good　for
nothing　and　not　worth　having。　There　is　no　game　at　all；　and　what
there　is　is　not　worth　dirtying　your　hands　over　　it　is　not
full…grown。　It　is　such　poor　stuff　that　one　is　ashamed　to　look　at
it。〃

Meliton　gave　a　laugh　and　waved　his　hands。

〃Things　happen　so　queerly　in　this　world　that　it　is　simply
laughable　and　nothing　else。　Birds　nowadays　have　become　so
unaccountable：　they　sit　late　on　their　eggs；　and　there　are　some；　I
declare；　that　have　not　hatched　them　by　St。　Peter's　Day！〃

〃It's　all　going　the　same；〃　said　the　shepherd；　turning　his　face
upwards。　〃There　was　little　game　last　year；　this　year　there　are
fewer　birds　still；　and　in　another　five　years；　mark　my　words；
there　will　be　none　at　all。　As　far　as　I　can　see　there　will　soon　be
not　only　no　game；　but　no　birds　at　all。〃

Yes；〃　Meliton　assented；　after　a　moment's　thought。　〃That's　true。〃

The　shepherd　gave　a　bitter　smile　and　shook　his　head。

〃It's　a　wonder；〃　he　said；　〃what　has　become　of　them　all！　I
remember　twenty　years　ago　there　used　to　be　geese　here；　and　cranes
and　ducks　and　grouse　　clouds　and　clouds　of　them！　The　gentry
used　to　meet　together　for　shooting；　and　one　heard　nothing　but
pouf…pouf…pouf！　pouf…pouf…pouf！　There　was　no　end　to　the
woodcocks；　the　snipe；　and　the　little　teals；　and　the　water…snipe
were　as　common　as　starlings；　or　let　us　say　sparrows　　lots　and
lots　of　them！　And　what　has　become　of　them　all？　We　don't　even　see
the　birds　of　prey。　The　eagles；　the　hawks；　and　the　owls　have　all
gone。　。　。　。　There　are　fewer　of　every　sort　of　wild　beast；　too。
Nowadays；　brother；　even　the　wolf　and　the　fox　have　grown　rare；　let
alone　the　bear　or　the　otter。　And　you　know　in　old　days　there　were
even　elks！　For　forty　years　I　have　been　observing　the　works　of　God
from　year　to　year；　and　it　is　my　opinion　that　everything　is　going
the　same　way。〃

〃What　way？〃

〃To　the　bad；　young　man。　To　ruin；　we　must　suppose。　。　。　The　time
has　come　for　God's　world　to　perish。〃

The　old　man　put　on　his　cap　and　began　gazing　at　the　sky。

〃It's　a　pity；〃　he　sighed；　after　a　brief　silence。　〃O　God；　what　a
pity！　Of　course　it　is　God's　will；　the　world　was　not　created　by
us；　but　yet　it　is　a　pity；　brother。　If　a　single　tree　withers　away；
or　let　us　say　a　single　cow　dies；　it　makes　one　sorry；　but　what
will　it　be；　good　man；　if　the　whole　world　crumbles　into　dust？　Such
blessings；　Lord　Jesus！　The　sun；　and　the　sky；　and　the　forest；　and
the　rivers；　and　the　creatures　　all　these　have　been　created；
adapted；　and　adjusted　to　one　another。　Each　has　been　put　to　its
appointed　task　and　knows　its　place。　And　all　that　must　perish。〃

A　mournful　smile　gleamed　on　the　shepherd's　face；　and　his　eyelids
quivered。

〃You　say　　the　world　is　perishing；〃　said　Meliton；　pondering。　〃It
may　be　that　the　end　of　the　world　is　near　at　hand；　but　you　can't
judge　by　the　birds。　I　don't　think　the　birds　can　be　taken　as　a
sign。〃

〃Not　the　birds　only；〃　said　the　shepherd。　〃It's　the　wild　beasts；
too；　and　the　cattle；　and　the　bees；　and　the　fish。　。　。　。　If　you
don't　believe　me　ask　the　old　people；　every　old　man　will　tell　you
that　the　fish　are　not　at　all　what　they　used　to　be。　In　the　seas；
in　the　lakes；　and　in　the　rivers；　there　are　fewer　fish　from　year
to　year。　In　our　Pestchanka；　I　remember；　pike　used　to　be　caught　a
yard　long；　and　there　were　eel…pouts；　and　roach；　and　bream；　and
every　fish　had　a　presentable　appearance；　while　nowadays；　if　you
catch　a　wretched　little　pikelet　or　perch　six　inches　long　you　have
to　be　thankful。　There　are　not　any　gudgeon　even　worth　talking
about。　Every　year　it　is　worse　and　worse；　and　in　a　little　while
there　will　be　no　fish　at　all。　And　take　the　rivers　now　。　。　。　the
rivers　are　drying　up；　for　sure。〃

〃It　is　true；　they　are　drying　up。〃

〃To　be　sure；　that's　what　I　say。　Every　year　they　are　shallower　and
shallower；　and　there　are　not　the　deep　holes　there　used　to　be。　And
do　you　see　the　bushes　yonder？〃　the　old　man　asked；　pointing　to　one
side。　〃Beyond　them　is　an　old　river…bed；　it's　called　a　backwater。
In　my　father's　time　the　Pestchanka　flowed　there；　but　now　look；
where　have　the　evil　spirits　taken　it　to？　It　changes　its　course；
and；　mind　you；　it　will　go　on　changing　till　such　time　as　it　has
dried　up　altogether。　There　used　to　be　marshes　and　ponds　beyond
Kurgasovo；　and　where　are　they　now？　And　what　has　become　of　the
streams？　Here　in　this　very　wood　we　used　to　have　a　stream　flowing；
and　such　a　stream　that　the　peasants　used　to　set　creels　in　it　and
caught　pike；　wild　ducks　used　to　spend　the　winter　by　it；　and
nowadays　there　is　no　water　in　it　worth　speaking　of；　even　at　the
spring　floods。　Yes；　brother；　look　where　you　will；　things　are　bad
everywhere。　Everywhere！〃

A　silence　followed。　Meliton　sank　into　thought；　with　his　eyes
fixed　on　one　spot。　He　wanted　to　think　of　some　one　part　of　nature
as　yet　untouched　by　the　all…embracing　ruin。　Spots　of　light
glistened　on　the　mist　and　the　slanting　streaks　of　rain　as　though
on　opaque　glass；　and　immediately　died　away　again　　it　was　the
rising　sun　trying　to　break　through　the　clouds　and　peep　at　the
earth。

〃Yes；　the　forests；　too　。　。　。〃　Meliton　muttered。

〃The　forests；　too；〃　the　shepherd　repeated。　〃They　cut　them　down；
and　they　catch　fire；　and　they　wither　away；　and　no　new　ones　are
growing。　Whatever　does　grow　up　is　cut　down　at　once；　one　day　it
shoots　up　and　the　next　it　has　been　cut　down　　and　so　on　without
end　till　nothing's　left。　I　have　kept　the　herds　of　the　commune
ever　since　the　time　of　Freedom；　good　man；　before　the　time　of
Freedom　I　was　shepherd　of　the　master's　herds。　I　have　watched　them
in　this　very　spot；　and　I　can't　remember　a　summer　day　in　all　my
life　that　I　have　not　been　here。　And　all　the　time　I　have　been
observing　the　works　of　God。　I　have　looked　at　them　in　my　time　till
I　know　them；　and　it　is　my　opinion　that　all　things　growing　are　on
the　decline。　Whether　you　take　the　rye；　or　the　vegetables；　or
flowers　of　any　sort；　they　are　all　going　the　same　way。〃

〃But　people　have　grown　better；〃　observed　the　bailiff。

〃In　what　way　better？〃

〃Cleverer。〃

〃Cleverer；　maybe；　that's　true；　young　man；　but　what's　the　use　of
that？　What　earthly　good　is　cleverness　to　people　on　the　brink　of
ruin？　One　can　perish　without　cleverness。　What's　the　good　of
cleverness　to　a　huntsman　if　there　is　no　game？　What　I　think　is
that　God　has　given　men　brains　and　taken　away　their　strength。
People　have　grown　weak；　exceedingly　weak。　Take　me；　for　instance　。
。　。　I　am　not　worth　a　halfpenny；　I　am　the　humblest　peasant　in　the
whole　village；　and　yet；　young　man；　I　have　strength。　Mind　you；　I
am　in　my　seventies；　and　I　tend　my　herd　day　in　and　day　out；　and
keep　the　night　watch；　too；　for　twenty　kopecks；　and　I　don't　sleep；
and　I　don't　feel　the　cold；　my　son　is　cleverer　than　I　am；　but　put
him　in　my　place　and　he　would　ask　for　a　raise　next　day；　or　would
be　going　to　the　doctors。　There　it　is。　I　eat　nothing　but　bread；
for　'Give　us　this　day　our　daily　bread；'　and　my　father　ate　nothing
but　bread；　and　my　grandfather；　but　the　peasant　nowadays　must　have
tea　and　vodka　and　white　loaves；　and　must　sleep　from　sunset　to
dawn；　and　he　goes　to　the　doctor　and　pampers　himself　in　all　sorts
of　ways。　And　why　is　it？　He　has　grown　weak；　he　has　not　the
strength　to　endure。　If　he　wants　to　stay　awake；　his　eyes　close　
there　is　no　doing　anything。〃

〃That's　true；〃　Meliton　agreed；　〃the　peasant　is　good　for　nothing
nowadays。〃

〃It's　no　good　hiding　what　is　wrong；　we　get　worse　from　year　to
year。　And　if　you　take　the　gentry　into　consideration；　they've
grown　feebler　even　more　than　the　peasants　have。　The　gentleman
nowadays　has　mastered　everything；　he　knows　what　he　ought　not　to
know；　and　what　is　the　sense　of　it？　It　makes　you　feel　pitiful　to
look　at　him。　。　。　。　He　is　a　thin；　puny　little　fellow；　like　some
Hungarian　or　Frenchman；　there　is　no　dignity　nor　air　about　him；
it's　only　in　name　he　is　a　gentleman。　There　is　no　place　for　him；
poor　dear；　and　nothing　for　him　to　do；　and　there　is　no　making　out
what　he　wants。　Either　he　sits　with　a　hook　catching　fish；　or　he
lolls　on　his　back　reading；　or　trots　about　among　the　peasants
saying　all　sorts　of　th　ings　to　them；　and　those　that　are　hungry　go
in　for　being　clerks。　So　he　spends　his　life　in　vain。　And　he　has　no
notion　of　doing　something　real　and　useful。　The　gentry　in　old　days
were　half　of　them　generals；　but　nowadays　they　are　　a　poor　lot。〃

〃They　are　badly　off　nowadays；〃　said　Meliton。

〃They　are　poorer　because　God　has　taken　away　their　strength。　You
can't　go　against　God。〃

Meliton　stared　at　a　fixed　point　again。　After　thinking　a　little　he
heaved　a　sigh　as　staid；　reasonable　people　do　sigh；　shook　his
head；　and　said：

〃And　all　because　of　what？　We　have　sinned　greatly；　we　have
forgotten　God　。　。　and　it　seems　that　the　time　has　come　for　all　to
end。　And；　after　all；　the　world　can't　last　for　ever　　it's　time
to　know　when　to　take　leave。〃

The　shepherd　sighed　and；　as　though　wishing　to　cut　short　an
unpleasant　conversation；　he　walked　away　from　the　birch…tree　and
began　silently　reckoning　over　the　cows。

〃Hey…hey…hey！〃　he　shouted。　〃Hey…hey…hey！　Bother　you；　the　plague
take　you！　The　devil　has　taken　you　into　the　thicket。　Tu…lu…lu！〃

With　an　angry　face　he　went　into　the　bushes　to　collect　his　herd。
Meliton　got　up　and　sauntered　slowly　along　the　edge　of　the　wood。
He　looked　at　the　ground　at　his　feet　and　pondered；　he　still　wanted
to　think　of　something　which　had　not　yet　been　touched　by　death。
Patches　of　light　crept　upon　the　slanting　streaks　of　rain　again；
they　danced　on　the　tops　of　the　trees　and　died　away　among　the　wet
leaves。　Damka　found　a　hedgehog　under　a　bush；　and　wanting　to
attract　her　master's　attention　to　it；　barked　and　howled。

〃Did　you　have　an　eclipse　or　not？〃　the　shepherd　call