the witch and other stories-第16章

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health。　That's　all　right。　。　。　。〃

They　laid　on　the　table　three　five…kopeck　pieces　and　went　out　of
the　tavern；　the　old　man　looked　immovably　straight　before　him　as
though　he　were　blind；　and　perfect　trustfulness　was　written　on　his
face；　but　as　Vasilisa　came　out　of　the　tavern　she　waved　angrily　at
the　dog；　and　said　angrily：

〃Ugh；　the　plague。〃

The　old　woman　did　not　sleep　all　night；　she　was　disturbed　by
thoughts；　and　at　daybreak　she　got　up；　said　her　prayers；　and　went
to　the　station　to　send　off　the　letter。

It　was　between　eight　and　nine　miles　to　the　station。

II


Dr。　B。　O。　Mozelweiser's　hydropathic　establishment　worked　on　New
Year's　Day　exactly　as　on　ordinary　days；　the　only　difference　was
that　the　porter；　Andrey　Hrisanfitch；　had　on　a　uniform　with　new
braiding；　his　boots　had　an　extra　polish；　and　he　greeted　every
visitor　with　〃A　Happy　New　Year　to　you！〃

It　was　the　morning；　Andrey　Hrisanfitch　was　standing　at　the　door；
reading　the　newspaper。　Just　at　ten　o'clock　there　arrived　a
general；　one　of　the　habitual　visitors；　and　directly　after　him　the
postman；　Andrey　Hrisanfitch　helped　the　general　off　with　his
great…coat；　and　said：

〃A　Happy　New　Year　to　your　Excellency！〃

〃Thank　you；　my　good　fellow；　the　same　to　you。〃

And　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　the　general　asked；　nodding　towards
the　door　（he　asked　the　same　question　every　day　and　always　forgot
the　answer）：

〃And　what　is　there　in　that　room？〃

〃The　massage　room；　your　Excellency。〃

When　the　general's　steps　had　died　away　Andrey　Hrisanfitch　looked
at　the　post　that　had　come；　and　found　one　addressed　to　himself。　He
tore　it　open；　read　several　lines；　then；　looking　at　the　newspaper；
he　walked　without　haste　to　his　own　room；　which　was　downstairs
close　by　at　the　end　of　the　passage。　His　wife　Yefimya　was　sitting
on　the　bed；　feeding　her　baby；　another　child；　the　eldest；　was
standing　by；　laying　its　curly　head　on　her　knee；　a　third　was
asleep　on　the　bed。

Going　into　the　room；　Andrey　gave　his　wife　the　letter　and　said：

〃From　the　country；　I　suppose。〃

Then　he　walked　out　again　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　paper。
He　could　hear　Yefimya　with　a　shaking　voice　reading　the　first
lines。　She　read　them　and　could　read　no　more；　these　lines　were
enough　for　her。　She　burst　into　tears；　and　hugging　her　eldest
child；　kissing　him；　she　began　saying　　and　it　was　hard　to　say
whether　she　were　laughing　or　crying：

〃It's　from　granny；　from　grandfather；〃　she　said。　〃From　the
country。　。　。　。　The　Heavenly　Mother；　Saints　and　Martyrs！　The　snow
lies　heaped　up　under　the　roofs　now　。　。　。　the　trees　are　as　white
as　white。　The　boys　slide　on　little　sledges　。　。　。　and　dear　old
bald　grandfather　is　on　the　stove　。　。　。　and　there　is　a　little
yellow　dog。　。　。　。　My　own　darlings！〃

Andrey　Hrisanfitch；　hearing　this；　recalled　that　his　wife　had　on
three　or　four　occasions　given　him　letters　and　asked　him　to　send
them　to　the　country；　but　some　important　business　had　always
prevented　him；　he　had　not　sent　them；　and　the　letters　somehow　got
lost。

〃And　little　hares　run　about　in　the　fields；〃　Yefimya　went　on
chanting；　kissing　her　boy　and　shedding　tears。　〃Grandfather　is
kind　and　gentle；　granny　is　good；　too　　kind…hearted。　They　are
warm…hearted　in　the　country；　they　are　God…fearing　。　。　。　and　there
is　a　little　church　in　the　village；　the　peasants　sing　in　the
choir。　Queen　of　Heaven；　Holy　Mother　and　Defender；　take　us　away
from　here！〃

Andrey　Hrisanfitch　returned　to　his　room　to　smoke　a　little　till
there　was　another　ring　at　the　door；　and　Yefimya　ceased　speaking；
subsided；　and　wiped　her　eyes；　though　her　lips　were　still
quivering。　She　was　very　much　frightened　of　him　　oh；　how
frightened　of　him！　She　trembled　and　was　reduced　to　terror　by　the
sound　of　his　steps；　by　the　look　in　his　eyes；　and　dared　not　utter
a　word　in　his　presence。

Andrey　Hrisanfitch　lighted　a　cigarette；　but　at　that　very　moment
there　was　a　ring　from　upstairs。　He　put　out　his　cigarette；　and；
assuming　a　very　grave　face；　hastened　to　his　front　door。

The　general　was　coming　downstairs；　fresh　and　rosy　from　his　bath。

〃And　what　is　there　in　that　room？〃　he　asked；　pointing　to　a　door。

Andrey　Hrisanfitch　put　his　hands　down　swiftly　to　the　seams　of　his
trousers；　and　pronounced　loudly：

〃Charcot　douche；　your　Excellency！〃


GUSEV

I

IT　was　getting　dark；　it　would　soon　be　night。

Gusev；　a　discharged　soldier；　sat　up　in　his　hammock　and　said　in　an
undertone：

〃I　say；　Pavel　Ivanitch。　A　soldier　at　Sutchan　told　me：　while　they
were　sailing　a　big　fish　came　into　collision　with　their　ship　and
stove　a　hole　in　it。〃

The　nondescript　individual　whom　he　was　addressing；　and　whom
everyone　in　the　ship's　hospital　called　Pavel　Ivanitch；　was
silent；　as　though　he　had　not　heard。

And　again　a　stillness　followed。　。　。　The　wind　frolicked　with　the
rigging；　the　screw　throbbed；　the　waves　lashed；　the　hammocks
creaked；　but　the　ear　had　long　ago　become　accustomed　to　these
sounds；　and　it　seemed　that　everything　around　was　asleep　and
silent。　It　was　dreary。　The　three　invalids　　two　soldiers　and　a
sailor　　who　had　been　playing　cards　all　the　day　were　asleep　and
talking　in　their　dreams。

It　seemed　as　though　the　ship　were　beginning　to　rock。　The　hammock
slowly　rose　and　fell　under　Gusev；　as　though　it　were　heaving　a
sigh；　and　this　was　repeated　once；　twice；　three　times。　。　。　。
Something　crashed　on　to　the　floor　with　a　clang：　it　must　have　been
a　jug　falling　down。

〃The　wind　has　broken　loose　from　its　chain。　。　。〃　said　Gusev；
listening。

This　time　Pavel　Ivanitch　cleared　his　throat　and　answered
irritably：

〃One　minute　a　vessel's　running　into　a　fish；　the　next；　the　wind's
breaking　loose　from　its　chain。　Is　the　wind　a　beast　that　it　can
break　loose　from　its　chain？〃

〃That's　how　christened　folk　talk。〃

〃They　are　as　ignorant　as　you　are　then。　They　say　all　sorts　of
things。　One　must　keep　a　head　on　one's　shoulders　and　use　one's
reason。　You　are　a　senseless　creature。〃

Pavel　Ivanitch　was　subject　to　sea…sickness。　When　the　sea　was
rough　he　was　usually　ill…humoured；　and　the　merest　trifle　would
make　him　irritable。　And　in　Gusev's　opinion　there　was　absolutely
nothing　to　be　vexed　about。　What　was　there　strange　or　wonderful；
for　instance；　in　the　fish　or　in　the　wind's　breaking　loose　from
its　chain？　Suppose　the　fish　were　as　big　as　a　mountain　and　its
back　were　as　hard　as　a　sturgeon：　and　in　the　same　way；　supposing
that　away　yonder　at　the　end　of　the　world　there　stood　great　stone
walls　and　the　fierce　winds　were　chained　up　to　the　walls　。　。　。　if
they　had　not　broken　loose；　why　did　they　tear　about　all　over　the
sea　like　maniacs；　and　struggle　to　escape　like　dogs？　If　they　were
not　chained　up；　what　did　become　of　them　when　it　was　calm？

Gusev　pondered　for　a　long　time　about　fishes　as　big　as　a　mountain
and　stout；　rusty　chains；　then　he　began　to　feel　dull　and　thought
of　his　native　place　to　which　he　was　returning　after　five　years'
service　in　the　East。　He　pictured　an　immense　pond　covered　with
snow。　。　。　。　On　one　side　of　the　pond　the　red…brick　building　of　the
potteries　with　a　tall　chimney　and　clouds　of　black　smoke；　on　the
other　side　　a　village。　。　。　。　His　brother　Alexey　comes　out　in　a
sledge　from　the　fifth　yard　from　the　end；　behind　him　sits　his
little　son　Vanka　in　big　felt　over…boots；　and　his　little　girl
Akulka；　also　in　big　felt　boots。　Alexey　has　been　drinking；　Vanka
is　laughing；　Akulka's　face　he　could　not　see；　she　had　muffled
herself　up。

〃You　never　know；　he'll　get　the　children　frozen　。　。　。〃　thought
Gusev。　〃Lord　send　them　sense　and　judgment　that　they　may　honour
their　father　and　mother　and　not　be　wiser　than　their　parents。〃

〃They　want　re…soleing；〃　a　delirious　sailor　says　in　a　bass　voice。
〃Yes；　yes！〃

Gusev's　thoughts　break　off；　and　instead　of　a　pond　there　suddenly
appears　apropos　of　nothing　a　huge　bull's　head　without　eyes；　and
the　horse　and　sledge　are　not　driving　along；　but　are　whirling
round　and　round　in　a　cloud　of　smoke。　But　still　he　was　glad　he　had
seen　his　own　folks。　He　held　his　breath　from　delight；　shudders　ran
all　over　him；　and　his　fingers　twitched。

〃The　Lord　let　us　meet　again；〃　he　muttered　feverishly；　but　he　at
once　opened　his　eyes　and　sought　in　the　darkness　for　water。

He　drank　and　lay　back；　and　again　the　sledge　was　moving；　then
again　the　bull's　head　without　eyes；　smoke；　clouds。　。　。　。　And　so
on　till　daybreak。

II

The　first　outline　visible　in　the　darkness　was　a　blue　circle　
the　little　round　window；　then　little　by　little　Gusev　could
distinguish　his　neighbour　in　the　next　hammock；　Pavel　Ivanitch。
The　man　slept　sitting　up；　as　he　could　not　breathe　lying　down。　His
face　was　grey；　his　nose　was　long　and　sharp；　his　eyes　looked　huge
from　the　terrible　thinness　of　his　face；　his　temples　were　sunken；
his　beard　was　skimpy；　his　hair　was　long。　。　。　。　Looking　at　him　you
could　not　make　out　of　what　class　he　was；　whether　he　were　a
gentleman；　a　merchant；　or　a　peasant。　Judging　from　his　expression
and　his　long　hair　he　might　have　been　a　hermit　or　a　lay　brother　in
a　monastery　　but　if　one　listened　to　what　he　said　it　seemed　that
he　could　not　be　a　monk。　He　was　worn　out　by　his　cough　and　his
illness　and　by　the　stifling　heat；　and　breathed　with　difficulty；
moving　his　parched　lips。　Noticing　that　Gusev　was　looking　at　him
he　turned　his　face　towards　him　and　said：

〃I　begin　to　guess。　。　。　。　Yes。　。　。　。　I　understand　it　all　perfectly
now。〃

〃What　do　you　understand；　Pavel　Ivanitch？〃

〃I'll　tell　you。　。　。　。　It　has　always　seemed　to　me　strange　that
terribly　ill　as　you　are　you　should　be　here　in　a　steamer　where　it
is　so　hot　and　stifling　and　we　are　always　being　tossed　up　and
down；　where；　in　fact；　everything　threatens　you　with　death；　now　it
is　all　clear　to　me。　。　。　。　Yes。　。　。　。　Your　doctors　put　you　on　the
steamer　to　get　rid　of　you。　They　get　sick　of　looking　after　poor
brutes　like　you。　。　。　。　You　don't　pay　them　anything；　they　have　a
bother　with　you；　and　you　damage　their　records　with　your　deaths　
so；　of　course；　you　are　brutes！　It's　not　difficult　to　get　rid　of
you。　。　。　。　All　that　is　necessary　is；　in　the　first　place；　to　have
no　conscience　or　humanity；　and；　secondly；　to　deceive　the　steamer
authorities。　The　first　condition　need　hardly　be　considered；　in
that　respect　we　are　artists；　and　one　can　always　succeed　in　the
second　with　a　little　practice。　In　a　crowd　of　four　hundred　healthy
soldiers　and　sailors　half　a　dozen　sick　ones　are　not　conspicuous；
well；　they　drove　you　all　on　to　the　steamer；　mixed　you　with　the
healthy　ones；　hurriedly　counted　you　over；　and　in　the　confusion
nothing　amiss　was　noticed；　and　when　the　steamer　had　started　they
saw　that　there　were　paralytics　and　consumptives　in　the　last　stage
lying　about　on　the　deck。　。　。　。〃

Gusev　did　not　understand　Pavel　Ivanitch；　but　supposing　he　was
being　blamed；　he　said　in　self…defence：

〃I　lay　on　the　deck　because　I　had　not　the　strength　to　stand；　when
we　were　unloaded　from　the　barge　on　to　the　ship　I　caught　a　fearful
chill。〃

〃It's　revolting；〃　Pavel　Ivanitch　went　on。　〃The　worst　of　it　is
they　know　perfectly　well　that　you　can't　last　out　the　long
journey；　and　yet　they　put　you　here。　Supposing　you　get　as　far　as
the　Indian　Ocean；　what　then？　It's　horrible　to　think　of　it。　。　。　。
And　that's　their　gratitude　for　your　faithful；　irreproachable
service！〃

Pavel　Ivanitch's　eyes　looked　angry；　he　frowned　contemptuously　and
said；　gasping：