the witch and other stories-第26章

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Then　the　woman　with　the　horse　and　the　boy　with　the　boots　walked
away；　and　there　was　no　one　left　at　all。　The　sun　went　to　bed
wrapped　in　cloth　of　gold　and　purple；　and　long　clouds；　red　and
lilac；　stretched　across　the　sky；　guarded　its　slumbers。　Somewhere
far　away　a　bittern　cried；　a　hollow；　melancholy　sound　like　a　cow
shut　up　in　a　barn。　The　cry　of　that　mysterious　bird　was　heard
every　spring；　but　no　one　knew　what　it　was　like　or　where　it　lived。
At　the　top　of　the　hill　by　the　hospital；　in　the　bushes　close　to
the　pond；　and　in　the　fields　the　nightingales　were　trilling。　The
cuckoo　kept　reckoning　someone's　years　and　losing　count　and
beginning　again。　In　the　pond　the　frogs　called　angrily　to　one
another；　straining　themselves　to　bursting；　and　one　could　even
make　out　the　words：　〃That's　what　you　are！　That's　what　you　are！　〃
What　a　noise　there　was！　It　seemed　as　though　all　these　creatures
were　singing　and　shouting　so　that　no　one　might　sleep　on　that
spring　night；　so　that　all；　even　the　angry　frogs；　might　appreciate
and　enjoy　every　minute：　life　is　given　only　once。

A　silver　half…moon　was　shining　in　the　sky；　there　were　many　stars。
Lipa　had　no　idea　how　long　she　sat　by　the　pond；　but　when　she　got
up　and　walked　on　everybody　was　asleep　in　the　little　village；　and
there　was　not　a　single　light。　It　was　probably　about　nine　miles'
walk　home；　but　she　had　not　the　strength；　she　had　not　the　power　to
think　how　to　go：　the　moon　gleamed　now　in　front；　now　on　the　right；
and　the　same　cuckoo　kept　calling　in　a　voice　grown　husky；　with　a
chuckle　as　though　gibing　at　her：　〃Oy；　look　out；　you'll　lose　your
way！〃　Lipa　walked　rapidly；　she　lost　the　kerchief　from　her　head　。
。　。　she　looked　at　the　sky　and　wondered　where　her　baby's　soul　was
now：　was　it　following　her；　or　floating　aloft　yonder　among　the
stars　and　thinking　nothing　now　of　his　mother？　Oh；　how　lonely　it
was　in　the　open　country　at　night；　in　the　midst　of　that　singing
when　one　cannot　sing　oneself；　in　the　midst　of　the　incessant　cries
of　joy　when　one　cannot　oneself　be　joyful；　when　the　moon；　which
cares　not　whether　it　is　spring　or　winter；　whether　men　are　alive
or　dead；　looks　down　as　lonely；　too。　。　。　。　When　there　is　grief　in
the　heart　it　is　hard　to　be　without　people。　If　only　her　mother；
Praskovya；　had　been　with　her；　or　Crutch；　or　the　cook；　or　some
peasant！

〃Boo…oo！〃　cried　the　bittern。　〃Boo…oo！〃

And　suddenly　she　heard　clearly　the　sound　of　human　speech：　〃Put
the　horses　in；　Vavila！〃

By　the　wayside　a　camp　fire　was　burning　ahead　of　her：　the　flames
had　died　down；　there　were　only　　red　embers。　She　could　hear
　the　horses　munching。　In　the　darkness　she　could　see　the　outlines
of　two　carts；　one　with　a　barrel；　the　other；　a　lower　one　with
sacks　in　it；　and　the　figures　of　two　men；　one　was　leading　a　horse
to　put　it　into　the　shafts；　the　other　was　standing　motionless　by
the　fire　with　his　hands　behind　his　back。　A　dog　growled　by　the
carts。　The　one　who　was　leading　the　horse　stopped　and　said：

〃It　seems　as　though　someone　were　coming　along　the　road。〃

〃Sharik；　be　quiet！　〃　the　other　called　to　the　dog。

And　from　the　voice　one　could　tell　that　the　second　was　an　old　man。
Lipa　stopped　and　said：

〃God　help　you。〃

The　old　man　went　up　to　her　and　answered　not　immediately：

〃Good…evening！〃

〃Your　dog　does　not　bite；　grandfather？〃

〃No；　come　along；　he　won't　touch　you。〃

〃I　have　been　at　the　hospital；〃　said　Lipa　after　a　pause。　〃My
little　son　died　there。　Here　I　am　carrying　him　home。〃

It　must　have　been　unpleasant　for　the　old　man　to　hear　this；　for　he
moved　away　and　said　hurriedly：

〃Never　mind；　my　dear。　It's　God's　will。　You　are　very　slow；　lad；〃
he　added；　addressing　his　companion；　〃look　alive！

〃Your　yoke's　nowhere；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃it　is　not　to　be
seen。〃

〃You　are　a　regular　Vavila。〃

The　old　man　picked　up　an　ember；　blew　on　it　　only　his　eyes　and
nose　were　lighted　up　　then；　when　they　had　found　the　yoke；　he
went　with　the　light　to　Lipa　and　looked　at　her；　and　his　look
expressed　compassion　and　tenderness。

〃You　are　a　mother；〃　he　said；　〃every　mother　grieves　for　her
child。〃

And　he　sighed　and　shook　his　head　as　he　said　it。　Vavila　threw
something　on　the　fire；　stamped　on　it　　and　at　once　it　was　very
dark；　the　vision　vanished；　and　as　before　there　were　only　the
fields；　the　sky　with　the　stars；　and　the　noise　of　the　birds
hindering　each　other　from　sleep。　And　the　landrail　called；　it
seemed；　in　the　very　place　where　the　fire　had　been。

But　a　minute　passed；　and　again　she　could　see　the　two　carts　and
the　old　man　and　lanky　Vavila。　The　carts　creaked　as　they　went　out
on　the　road。

〃Are　you　holy　men？〃　Lipa　asked　the　old　man。

〃No。　We　are　from　Firsanovo。〃

〃You　looked　at　me　just　now　and　my　heart　was　softened。　And　the
young　man　is　so　gentle。　I　thought　you　must　be　holy　men。〃

〃Are　you　going　far？〃

〃To　Ukleevo。〃

〃Get　in；　we　will　give　you　a　lift　as　far　as　Kuzmenki；　then　you　go
straight　on　and　we　turn　off　to　the　left。〃

Vavila　got　into　the　cart　with　the　barrel　and　the　old　man　and　Lipa
got　into　the　other。　They　moved　at　a　walking　pace；　Vavila　in
front。

〃My　baby　was　in　torment　all　day；〃　said　Lipa。　〃He　looked　at　me
with　his　little　eyes　and　said　nothing；　he　wanted　to　speak　and
could　not。　Holy　Father；　Queen　of　Heaven！　In　my　grief　I　kept
falling　down　on　the　floor。　I　stood　up　and　fell　down　by　the
bedside。　And　tell　me；　grandfather；　why　a　little　thing　should　be
tormented　before　his　death？　When　a　grown…up　person；　a　man　or
woman；　are　in　torment　their　sins　are　forgiven；　but　why　a　little
thing；　when　he　has　no　sins？　Why？〃

〃Who　can　tell？〃　answered　the　old　man。

They　drove　on　for　half　an　hour　in　silence。

〃We　can't　know　everything；　how　and　wherefore；〃　said　the　old　man。
〃It　is　ordained　for　the　bird　to　have　not　four　wings　but　two
because　it　is　able　to　fly　with　two；　and　so　it　is　ordained　for　man
not　to　know　everything　but　only　a　half　or　a　quarter。　As　much　as
he　needs　to　know　so　as　to　live；　so　much　he　knows。〃

〃It　is　better　for　me　to　go　on　foot；　grandfather。　Now　my　heart　is
all　of　a　tremble。〃

〃Never　mind；　sit　still。〃

The　old　man　yawned　and　made　the　sign　of　the　cross　over　his　mouth。

〃Never　mind；〃　he　repeated。　〃Yours　is　not　the　worst　of　sorrows。
Life　is　long；　there　will　be　good　and　bad　to　come；　there　will　be
everything。　Great　is　mother　Russia；〃　he　said；　and　looked　round　on
each　side　of　him。　〃I　have　been　all　over　Russia；　and　I　have　seen
everything　in　her；　and　you　may　believe　my　words；　my　dear。　There
will　be　good　and　there　will　be　bad。　I　went　as　a　delegate　from　my
village　to　Siberia；　and　I　have　been　to　the　Amur　River　and　the
Altai　Mountains　and　I　settled　in　Siberia；　I　worked　the　land
there；　then　I　was　homesick　for　mother　Russia　and　I　came　back　to
my　native　village。　We　came　back　to　Russia　on　foot；　and　I　remember
we　went　on　a　steamer；　and　I　was　thin　as　thin；　all　in　rags；
barefoot；　freezing　with　cold；　and　gnawing　a　crust；　and　a
gentleman　who　was　on　the　steamer　　the　kingdom　of　heaven　be　his
if　he　is　dead　　looked　at　me　pitifully；　and　the　tears　came　into
his　eyes。　'Ah；'　he　said；　'your　bread　is　black；　your　days　are
black。　。　。　。'　And　when　I　got　home；　as　the　saying　is；　there　was
neither　stick　nor　stall；　I　had　a　wife；　but　I　left　her　behind　in
Siberia；　she　was　buried　there。　So　I　am　living　as　a　day　labourer。
And　yet　I　tell　you：　since　then　I　have　had　good　as　well　as　bad。
Here　I　do　not　want　to　die；　my　dear；　I　would　be　glad　to　live
another　twenty　years；　so　there　has　been　more　of　the　good。　And
great　is　our　mother　Russia！〃　and　again　he　gazed　to　each　side　and
looked　round。

〃Grandfather；〃　Lipa　asked；　〃when　anyone　dies；　how　many　days　does
his　soul　walk　the　earth？〃

〃Who　can　tell！　Ask　Vavila　here；　he　has　been　to　school。　Now　they
teach　them　everything。　Vavila！〃　the　old　man　called　to　him。

〃Yes！〃

〃Vavila；　when　anyone　dies　how　long　does　his　soul　walk　the　earth？

Vavila　stopped　the　horse　and　only　then　answered：

〃Nine　days。　My　uncle　Kirilla　died　and　his　soul　lived　in　our　hut
thirteen　days　after。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃For　thirteen　days　there　was　a　knocking　in　the　stove。〃

〃Well；　that's　all　right。　Go　on；〃　said　the　old　man；　and　it　could
be　seen　that　he　did　not　believe　a　word　of　all　that。

Near　Kuzmenki　the　cart　turned　into　the　high　road　while　Lipa　went
straight　on。　It　was　by　now　getting　light。　As　she　went　down　into
the　ravine　the　Ukleevo　huts　and　the　church　were　hidden　in　fog。　It
was　cold；　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　the　same　cuckoo　was　calling
still。

When　Lipa　reached　home　the　cattle　had　not　yet　been　driven　out；
everyone　was　asleep。　She　sat　down　on　the　steps　and　waited。　The
old　man　was　the　first　to　come　out；　he　understood　all　that　had
happened　from　the　first　glance　at　her；　and　for　a　long　time　he
could　not　articulate　a　word；　but　only　moved　his　lips　without　a
sound。

〃Ech；　Lipa；〃　he　said；　〃you　did　not　take　care　of　my　grandchild。　。
。　。〃

Varvara　was　awakened。　She　clasped　her　hands　and　broke　into　sobs；
and　immediately　began　laying　out　the　baby。

〃And　he　was　a　pretty　child　。　。　。〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　dear；　dear。　。　。
。　You　only　had　the　one　child；　and　you　did　not　take　care　enough　of
him；　you　silly　girl。　。　。　。〃

There　was　a　requiem　service　in　the　morning　and　the　evening。　The
funeral　took　place　the　next　day；　and　after　it　the　guests　and　the
priests　ate　a　great　deal；　and　with　such　greed　that　one　might　have
thought　that　they　had　not　tasted　food　for　a　long　time。　Lipa
waited　at　table；　and　the　priest；　lifting　his　fork　on　which　there
was　a　salted　mushroom；　said　to　her：

〃Don't　grieve　for　the　babe。　For　of　such　is　the　kingdom　of
heaven。〃

And　only　when　they　had　all　separated　Lipa　realized　fully　that
there　was　no　Nikifor　and　never　would　be；　she　realized　it　and
broke　into　sobs。　And　she　did　not　know　what　room　to　go　into　to
sob；　for　she　felt　that　now　that　her　child　was　dead　there　was　no
place　for　her　in　the　house；　that　she　had　no　reason　to　be　here；
that　she　was　in　the　way；　and　the　others　felt　it；　too。

〃Now　what　are　you　bellowing　for？〃　Aksinya　shouted；　suddenly
appearing　in　the　doorway；　in　honour　of　the　funeral　she　was
dressed　all　in　new　clothes　and　had　powdered　her　face。　〃Shut　up！〃

Lipa　tried　to　stop　but　could　not；　and　sobbed　louder　than　ever。

〃Do　you　hear？〃　shouted　Aksinya；　and　she　stamped　her　foot　in
violent　anger。　〃Who　is　it　I　am　speaking　to？　Go　out　of　the　yard
and　don't　set　foot　here　again；　you　convict　s　wife。　Get　away。〃

〃There；　there；　there；〃　the　old　man　put　in　fussily。　〃Aksinya；
don't　make　such　an　outcry；　my　girl。　。　。　。　She　is　crying；　it　is
only　natural　。　。　。　her　child　is　dead。　。　。　。〃

〃　'It's　only　natural；'　〃　Aksinya　mimicked　him。　〃Let　her　stay　the
night　here；　and　don't　let　me　see　a　trace　of　her　here　to…morrow！
'It's　only　natural！'　。　。　。〃　she　mimicked　him　again；　and；
laughing；　she　went　into　the　shop。

Early　the　next　morning　Lipa　went　off　to　her　mother　at　Torguevo。

IX

At　the　present　time　the　steps　and　the　front　door　of　the　　shop　have
been　repainted　an　d　are　as　bright　as　though　they　were　new；　there
are　gay　geraniums　in　the　windows　as　of　old；　and　what　happened　in
Tsybukin's　house　and　yard　three　years　ago　is　almost　forgotten。

Grigory　Petrovitch　is　looked　upon　as　the　master　as　he　was　in　old
days；　but　in　reality　everything　has　passed　into　Aksinya's　hands；
she　buys　and　sells；　and　nothing　can　be　done　without　her　consent。
The