the drums of jeopardy-第26章

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There　were　pieces　of　the　fiddle　on　the　table　where　Gregor　had　placed
them；　doubtless　to　weep　over　when　he　was　alone。　　Why　hadn't　he
thought　to　break　the　fiddle　a　little　each　day？

〃Stefani　Gregor；　sit　up。　　I　have　come　to　talk。〃　　This　was　formula。
Karlov　did　not　expect　speech　from　Gregor。

Slowly　the　thin　arms　bore　up　the　torso；　slowly　the　legs　swung　to　the
floor。　　But　the　little　gray　man's　eyes　were　bright　and　quick　to…night。

〃Boris；　what　is　it　you　want？〃

〃To　talk〃　…　surprised　at　this　unexpected　outburst。

〃No；　no。　　I　mean；　what　is　it　all　about　…　these　killings；　these
burnings？〃

Karlov　was　ready　at　all　times　to　expound　the　theories　that　appealed
to　his　dark　yet　simple　mind　…　humanity　overturned　as　one　overturned
the　sod　in　the　springtime　to　give　it　new　life。

〃To　give　the　proletariat　what　is　his。〃

〃Ha！〃　said　the　little　man　on　the　cot。　　〃What　is　his？〃

〃That　which　capitalism　has　taken　away　from　him。〃

〃The　proletariat。　　The　lowest　in　the　human　scale　…　and　therefore
the　most　helpless。　　They　shall　rule；　say　you。　　My　poor　Russia！
Beaten　and　robbed　for　centuries；　and　now　betrayed　by　a　handful　of
madmen　…　with　brains　atrophied　on　one　side！　　You　are　a　fool；　Boris。
Your　feet　are　in　strange　quicksands　and　your　head　among　chimeras。
You　write　some　words　on　a　piece　of　paper；　and　lo！　　you　say　they　are
facts。　　Without　first　proving　your　theories　correct　you　would　ram
them　down　the　throat　of　the　world。　　The　world　rejects　you。〃

〃Wait　and　see；　damned　bourgeoisie！〃　thundered　Karlov；　not　alive　to
the　fact　that　he　was　being　baited。

〃Bourgeoisie？　　Yes；　I　am　of　the　middle　class；　the　rogue　on　top　and
the　fool　below。　　I　see。　　The　rogue　and　the　fool　cannot　combine
unless　the　bourgeoisie　is　obliterated。　　Go　on。　　I　am　interested。〃

〃Under　the　soviet　the　government　shall　be　everything。〃

〃As　it　was　in　Prussia。〃

Karlov　ignored　this。　　〃The　individual　shall　never　again　become　rich
by　exploiting　the　poor。〃

Karlov　strove　to　speak　calmly。　　Gregor's　willingness　to　discuss　the
aims　of　the　proletariat　confused　him。　　He　suspected　some　ulterior
purpose　behind　this　apparent　amiability。　　He　must　hold　down　his　fury
until　this　purpose　was　in　the　open。

〃Well；　that　is　good；〃　Gregor　admitted。　　〃But　somehow　it　sounds
ancient　on　my　ear。　　Was　there　not　a　revolution　in　France？〃

〃Fool；　it　is　the　world　that　is　revolting！〃　Karlov　paused。　　〃And　no
man　in　the　future　shall　see　his　sister　or　his　daughter　made　into　a
loose　woman　without　redress。〃

〃Your　proletariat's　sister　and　daughter。　　But　the　daughter　of　the
noble　and　the　daughter　of　the
bourgeoisie　…　fair　game！〃

Sometimes　there　enters　a　man's　head　what　might　be　called　a　sick　idea；
when　the　vitality　is　at　low　ebb　and　the　future　holds　nothing。　　Thus
there　was　a　grim　and　sick　idea　behind　Gregor's　gibes。　　It　was　in　his
mind　to　die。　　All　the　things　he　had　loved　had　been　destroyed。　　So
then；　to　goad　this　madman　into　a　physical　frenzy。　　Once　those
gorilla…like　hands　reached　out　for　him　Stefani　Gregor's　neck　would
break。

〃Be　still；　fiddler！　　You　know　what　I　mean。　　There　will　be　no　upper
class；　which　is　idleness　and　wastefulness；　no　middle　class；　the
usurers；　the　gamblers　of　necessities；　the　war　makers。　　One　great
body　of　equals　shall　issue　forth。　　All　shall　labour。〃

〃For　what？〃

〃The　common　good。〃

〃Your　Lenine　offered　peace；　bread；　and　work　for　the　overthrow　of
Kerensky。　　What　you　have　given　…　murder　and　famine　and　idleness。　　Can
there　be　common　good　that　is　based　upon　the　blood　of　innocents？　　Did
Ivan　ever　harm　a　soul？　　Have　I？〃

〃You！〃　Karlov　trembled。　　〃You　…　with　your　damned　green　stones！　　Did
you　not　lure　Anna　to　dishonour　with　the　promise　to　show　her　the
drums；　the　sight　of　which　would　make　all　her　dreams　come　true？　　A
child；　with　a　fairy　story　in　her　head！〃

〃You　speak　of　Anna！　　If　you　hadn't　been　spouting　your　twaddle　in
taverns　you　would　have　had　time　to　instruct　Anna　against
guilelessness　and　superstition。〃

〃How　much　did　they　pay　you？　　Did　you　fiddle　for　her　to　dance？　。。。　But
I　left　their　faces　in　the　mud！〃

A　madman；　with　two　obsessions。　　A　pitiable　Samson　with　his　arms　round
the　pillars　of　society　to　drag　it　down　upon　his　head　because　society
had　defiled　his　sister！　　Ah；　how　many　thousands　in　Russia　like　him！
A　great　yearning　filled　Gregor's　heart；　because　he　understood；　but　he
suppressed　expression　of　it　because　the　sick　idea　was　stronger。

〃Yes；　yes！　　I　loved　those　green　stones　because　it　was　born　in　me　to
love　beautiful　things。　　Have　you　forgotten；　Boris；　the　old　days　in
Moscow；　when　we　were　students　and　I　made　you　weep　with　my　fiddle？
There　was　hope　for　you　then。　　You　had　not　become　a　pothouse　orator
on　the　rights　of　the　proletariat　…　the　red…combed　rooster　on　the
smouldering　dungheap！　　Beauty；　no　matter　in　what　form；　I　loved　it。
Yes；　I　was　mad　about　those　emeralds。　　I　was　always　stealing　in　to
see　them；　to　hold　them　to　the　light；　simply　because　they　were
beautiful。〃　　Gregor's　hands　flew　to　his　throat；　which　he　bared。　　〃I
lured　her　there！　　Twas　I；　Boris！　。。。　Those　beautiful　hands　of　yours；
fit　for　the　butcher's　block！　　Kill　me！　　Kill　me！〃

But　Karlov　shrank　back；　covering　his　eyes。　　〃No！　　I　see　now！　　You
wish　to　die！　　You　shall　live！〃　　He　rushed　toward　the　far　wall；　a
huge　grotesque　shadow　rising　to　meet　him　…　his　own；　thrown　upon　the
wall　by　the　wavering　candlelight。　　He　turned　shaking；　for　the
temptation　had　been　great。

At　once　Gregor　realized　his　failure。　　The　tenseness　went　out　of　him。
He　spoke　calmly。　　〃Yes；　I　wanted　to　die。　　I　no　longer　possess
anything。　　I　lied；　Boris；　but　it　is　useless　to　tell　you　that。　　I　knew
nothing　of　Anna　until　it　was　too　late。　　I　wanted　to　die。〃

Karlov　began　to　pace　furiously；　the　candle　flame　springing　after　him
each　time　he　passed　it。

There　was　a　question　in　Gregor's　mind。　　It　rushed　to　his　lips　a　dozen
times　but　he　dared　not　voice　it。　　Olga。　　Since　Karlov　could　not　be
tempted　to　murder；　it　would　be　futile　to　ask　for　an　additional　burden
of　mental　torture。　　Perhaps　it　had　not　happened　…　the　terrible　picture
he　drew　in　his　mind　…　since　Karlov　had　not　boasted　of　it。

〃Come；　Boris。　　There　is　blood　on　your　hands。　　What　is　one　more　daub
of　it？〃

Karlov　stopped；　scowled；　and　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。
Perhaps　some　ugly　memory　stirred　the　roots　of　it。　　〃You　wish　to　die！〃

Gregor　bent　his　head　to　his　hands　and　Karlov　resumed　his　pacing。
After　a　while　Gregor　looked　up。

〃Private　vengeance。　　You　begin　your　rule　with　private　vengeance。〃

〃The　vengeance　of　a　people。　　All　the　breed。　　Did　France　stop　at
Louis？　　Do　we　tear　up　the　roots　of　the　poisonous　toadstool　that
killed　someone　we　loved　and　leave　the　other　toadstools　thriving？〃

〃To　cure　the　world　of　all　its　ills　by　tearing　up　the　toadstools　and
the　flowers　together　…　do　you　call　that　justice？　　The　proletariat
shall　have　everything；　and　he　begins　by　killing　off　noble　and
bourgeoisie　and　dividing　up　the　loot！　　Even　with　his　oppression　the
noble　had　a　right　to　live。　　The　bourgeoisie　must　die　because　of　his
benefactions　to　a　people。　　The　world　for　the　proletariat；　and
damnation　for　the　rest！〃

〃Let　each　become　one　of　us；〃　cried　Karlov；　hoarsely。　　〃We　give
them　that　right。〃

〃You　lie！　　You　have　done　nothing　but　assassinate　them　when　they
surrendered。　　But　tell　me；　have　not　you；　Lenine；　and　Trotzky
overlooked　something？〃

〃What？〃　　Karlov　was　vaguely　grateful　for　this　diversion。　　The　lust
to　kill　was　still　upon　him　and　he　was　fighting　it。　　He　must　remember
that　Gregor　wished　to　die。　　〃What　have　we　overlooked？〃

〃Human　nature。　　Can　you　tear　it　apart　and　reconstruct　it；　as　you
would　a　clock？　　What　of　creative　genius　in　this　proletariat
millennium　of　yours？〃

〃The　state　will　carefully　mother　that。〃

Gregor　laughed　sardonically。　　〃Will　there　be　creative　genius　under
your　rule？　　Will　you　not　suffocate　it　by　taking　away　the　air　that
energizes　it　…　ambition？　　You　will　have　all　the　present　marvels　of
invention　to　start　with；　but　will　you　ever　go　beyond？　　Have　you　read
history　and　observed　the　inexorable？　　I　doubt　it。　　What　is　progress？
A　series　of　almost　imperceptible　steps。〃

〃Which　capitalism　has　always　obstructed；〃　flung　back　Karlov。

〃Which　capitalism　has　always　made　possible。　　Curb　it；　yes；　but
abolish　it；　as　you　have　done　in　unhappy　Russia！　　Why　do　you　starve
there？　　Poor　fool；　because　you　have　assassinated　those　forces　which
created　food　…　that　is　to　say；　put　it　where　you　could　get　it。　　Three
quarters　of　Russia　are　against　you。　　You　read　nothing　in　that？　　The
efficient　and　the　inefficient；　they　shall　lie　down　together　as　the
lion　and　the　ass；　to　paraphrase。　　They　shall　become　equal　because
you　say　so。　　What　is；　fundamentally；　this　Bolshevism？　　The　revolt
of　the　inefficient。　　The　mantle　of　horror　that　was　Germany's　you
have　torn　from　her　shoulders　and　thrown　upon　yours。　　Fools！〃

The　anarch's　huge　fists　became　knotted；　wrinkles　corrugated　his
forehead；　but　he　did　not　stir。　　Gregor　wanted　to　die。

Gregor　pointed　with　trembling　hand　toward　the　brown　litter　on　the
table。　　〃To　destroy。　　You　shattered　a　soul　there。　　You　tore　mine
apart　when　you　did　it。　　For　what？　　To　better　humanity？　　No；　to　rend
something；　to　obliterate　something　that　was　beautiful。　　Demolition。
Go　on。　　You　will　tear　and　rend　until　exhaustion　comes；　then　some
citizen　king；　some　headstrong　Napoleon；　will　step　in。　　The　French
Revolution　taught　you　nothing。　　You　play　'The　Marseillaise'　in　the
Neva　Prospekt　and　miss　the　significance　of　that　song。　　Liberty？
You　choose　license。　　Equality？　　You　deny　it　in　your　acts。
Fraternity？　　You　slaughter　your　brothers。〃

〃Be　silent！〃　roared　Karlov；　wavering。

But　Gregor　continued　with　a　new…found　hope。　　He　saw　that　his　jeers
were　wearing　down　the　other's　control。　　Perhaps　the　weak　side　was
the　political。　　Karlov　was　a　fanatic。　　There　might　yet　be　death
in　those　straining　fingers。

〃To　seize　by　confiscation；　without　justice；　indiscriminately　all
that　the　group　efficient　laboriously　constructed。　　I　enter　your
house；　kill　your　family　and　steal　your　silver。　　Are　your　acts
fundamentally　different　from　mine？　　Remember；　I　am　speaking　from
the　point　of　view　as　three　quarters　of　Russia　see　it；　and　all　the
other　civilized　nations。　　There　may　be　something　magnificent　in
that　soviet　constitution　of　yours；　but　you　have　deluged　it　in
blood　and　folly。　　Ostensibly　you　are　dividing　up　the　great　estates；
but　actually　you　are　parcelling　them　out　and　charging　rent。　　You
will　not　own　anything。　　The　state　shall　own　all　the　property。　　What
will　be　the　patriotism　of　the　man　who　has　nothing？　　Why　defend
something　that　is　only　his　government's；　not　his　own？　　You　are
legalizing　women　as　cows。　　The　sense　of　motherhood　will　vanish　when
a　woman　may　not　select　her　mate。　　What　is　the　greatest　thing　in　the
world？　　The　human　need　of　possession。　　To　own　something；　however
little。　　The　spur　of　creative　genius。　　Human　beings　will　never　be
equal　except　in　lawful　privileges。　　The　skillful　will　outpace　the
unskillful；　the　thrifty　will　take　from　the　improvident；　genius　will
overtop　mediocrity。　　And　you　will　change　all　this　with　a　scrape　of
your　bloody　pen！〃

Karlov's　body　began　to　rock　and　sway　like　an　angry　bear's；　but
still　he　held　his　ground。　　Gregor　wanted　t