the witch and other stories(女巫)-第35章
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humming for three days and three nights in our parts。 I heard it myself。
The pike laughed because Yefim caught a devil instead of a pike。〃
The old man remembered something。 He got up quickly on to his
knees and； shrinking as though from the cold； nervously thrusting his
hands into his sleeves； he muttered in a rapid womanish gabble：
〃Lord save us and have mercy upon us！ I was walking along the river
bank one day to Novopavlovka。 A storm was gathering； such a tempest it
was； preserve us Holy Mother； Queen of Heaven。 。 。 。 I was hurrying on as
best I could； I looked； and beside the path between the thorn bushes the
thorn was in flower at the time there was a white bullock coming along。
I wondered whose bullock it was； and what the devil had sent it there for。
It was coming along and swinging its tail and moo…oo…oo！ but would you
believe it； friends； I overtake it； I come up close and it's not a bullock；
but Yefim holy； holy； holy！ I make the sign of the cross while he stares
at me and mutters； showing the whites of his eyes； wasn't I frightened！ We
came alongside； I was afraid to say a word to him the thunder was
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crashing； the sky was streaked with lightning； the willows were bent right
down to the water all at once； my friends； God strike me dead that I die
impenitent； a hare ran across the path 。 。 。 it ran and stopped； and said like
a man： 'Good…evening； peasants。' Lie down； you brute！ 〃 the old man cried
to the shaggy dog； who was moving round the horse again。 〃Plague take
you！〃
〃It does happen；〃 said the overseer； still leaning on the saddle and not
stirring； he said this in the hollow； toneless voice in which men speak
when they are plunged in thought。
〃It does happen；〃 he repeated； in a tone of profundity and conviction。
〃Ugh； he was a nasty old fellow；〃 the old shepherd went on with
somewhat less fervour。 〃Five years after the Freedom he was flogged by
the commune at the office； so to show his spite he took and sent the throat
illness upon all Kovyli。 Folks died out of number； lots and lots of them；
just as in cholera。 。 。 。〃
〃How did he send the illness？〃 asked the young shepherd after a brief
silence。
〃We all know how； there is no great cleverness needed where there is a
will to it。 Yefim murdered people with viper's fat。 That is such a poison
that folks will die from the mere smell of it； let alone the fat。〃
〃That's true；〃 Panteley agreed。
〃The lads wanted to kill him at the time； but the old people would not
let them。 It would never have done to kill him； he knew the place where
the treasure is hidden； and not another soul did know。 The treasures about
here are charmed so that you may find them and not see them； but he did
see them。 At times he would walk along the river bank or in the forest； and
under the bushes and under the rocks there would be little flames； little
flames。 。 。 little flames as though from brimstone。 I have seen them myself。
Everyone expected that Yefim would show people the places or dig the
treasure up himself； but he as the saying is； like a dog in the manger
so he died without digging it up himself or showing other people。〃
The overseer lit a pipe； and for an instant lighted up his big
moustaches and his sharp； stern…looking； and dignified nose。 Little circles
of light danced from his hands to his cap； raced over the saddle along the
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horse's back； and vanished in its mane near its ears。
〃There are lots of hidden treasures in these parts；〃 he said。
And slowly stretching； he looked round him； resting his eyes on the
whitening east and added：
〃There must be treasures。〃
〃To be sure；〃 sighed the old man； 〃one can see from every sign there
are treasures； only there is no one to dig them； brother。 No one knows the
real places； besides； nowadays； you must remember； all the treasures are
under a charm。 To find them and see them you must have a talisman； and
without a talisman you can do nothing； lad。 Yefim had talismans； but there
was no getting anything out of him； the bald devil。 He kept them； so that
no one could get them。〃
The young shepherd crept two paces nearer to he old man and；
propping his head on his fists； fastened his fixed stare upon him。 A
childish expression of terror and curiosity gleamed in his dark eyes； and
seemed in the twilight to stretch and flatten out the large features of his
coarse young face。 He was listening intently。
〃It is even written in the Scriptures that there are lots of treasures
hidden here；〃 the old man went on； 〃it is so for sure。 。 。 and no mistake
about it。 An old soldier of Novopavlovka was shown at Ivanovka a writing；
and in this writing it was printed about the place of the treasure and even
how many pounds of gold was in it and the sort of vessel it was in； they
would have found the treasures long ago by that writing； only the treasure
is under a spell； you can't get at it。〃
〃Why can't you get at it； grandfather？〃 asked the young man。
I suppose there is some reason； the soldier didn't say。 It is under a
spell 。 。 。 you need a talisman。〃
The old man spoke with warmth； as though he were pouring out his
soul before the overseer。 He talked through his nose and； being
unaccustomed to talk much and rapidly； stuttered； and； conscious of his
defects； he tried to adorn his speech with gesticulations of the hands and
head and thin shoulders； and at every movement his hempen shirt
crumpled into folds； slipped upwards and displayed his back； black with
age and sunburn。 He kept pulling it down； but it slipped up again at once。
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At last； as though driven out of all patience by the rebellious shirt； the old
man leaped up and said bitterly：
〃There is fortune； but what is the good of it if it is buried in the earth？
It is just riches wasted with no profit to anyone； like chaff or sheep's dung；
and yet there are riches there； lad； fortune enough for all the country round；
but not a soul sees it！ It will come to this； that the gentry will dig it up or
the government will take it away。 The gentry have begun digging the
barrows。 。 。 。 They scented something！ They are envious of the peasants'
luck！ The government； too； is looking after itself。 It is written in the law
that if any peasant finds the treasure he is to take it to the authorities！ I
dare say； wait till you get it！ There is a brew but not for you！〃
The old man laughed contemptuously and sat down on the ground。 The
overseer listened with attention and agreed； but from his silence and the
expression of his figure it was evident that what the old man told him was
not new to him； that he had thought it all over long ago； and knew much
more than was known to the old shepherd。
〃In my day； I must own； I did seek for fortune a dozen times；〃 said the
old man； scratching himself nervously。 〃I looked in the right places； but I
must have come on treasures under a charm。 My father looked for it； too；
and my brother； too but not a thing did they find； so they died without
luck。 A monk revealed to my brother Ilya the Kingdom of Heaven be his
that in one place in the fortress of Taganrog there was a treasure under
three stones； and that that treasure was under a charm； and in those days
it was； I remember； in the year '38 an Armenian used to live at Matvyeev
Barrow who sold talismans。 Ilya bought a talisman； took two other fellows
with him； and went to Taganrog。 Only when he got to the place in the
fortress； brother； there was a soldier with a gun； standing at the very
spot。 。 。 。〃
A sound suddenly broke on the still air； and floated in all directions
over the steppe。 Something in the distance gave a menacing bang； crashed
against stone； and raced over the steppe； uttering； 〃Tah！ tah！ tah！ tah！〃
When the sound had died away the old man looked inquiringly at Panteley；
who stood motionless and unconcerned。
〃It's a bucket broken away at the pits；〃 said the young shepherd after a
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moment's thought。
It was by now getting light。 The Milky Way had turned pale and
gradually melted like snow； losing its outlines； the sky was becoming dull
and dingy so that you could not make out whether it was clear or covered
thickly with clouds； and only from the bright leaden streak in the east and
from the stars that lingered here and there could one tell what was coming。
The first noiseless breeze of morning； cautiously stirring the spurges
and the brown stalks of last year's grass； fluttered along the road。
The overseer roused himself from his thoughts and tossed his head。
With both hands he shook the saddle； touched the girth and； as though he
could not make up his mind to mount the horse； stood still again；
hesitating。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃your elbow is near； but you can't bite it。 There is
fortune； but there is not the wit to find it。〃
And he turned facing the shepherds。 His stern face looked sad and
mocking； as though he were a disappointed man。
〃Yes； so one dies without knowing what happiness is like 。 。 。〃 he said
emphatically； lifting his left leg into the stirrup。 〃A younger man may live
to see it； but it is time for us to lay aside all thought of it。〃
Stroking his long moustaches covered with dew； he seated himself
heavily on the horse and screwed up his eyes； looking into the distance； as
though he had forgotten something or left something unsaid。 In the bluish
distance where the furthest visible hillock melted into the mist nothing
was stirring； the ancient barrows； once watch…mounds and tombs； which
rose here and there above t
