creatures that once were men-第12节
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an outcast 。 。 。 that means I have no obligations。 It means
that I am free to spit on everyone。 The nature of my present
life means the rejection of my past 。 。 。 giving up all relations
toward men who are well fed and well dressed； and who look upon
me with contempt because I am inferior to them in the matter of
feeding or dressing。 I must develop something new within myself；
do you understand？ Something that will make Judas Petunikoff and
his kind tremble and perspire before me！〃
〃Ah！ You have a courageous tongue！〃 jeered Abyedok。
〃Yes 。 。 。 You miser！〃 And Kuvalda looked at him contemptuously。
〃What do you understand？ What do you know？ Are you able to
think？ But I have thought and I have read 。 。 。 books of which
you could not have understood one word。〃
〃Of course！ One cannot eat soup out of one's hand 。 。 。 But
though you have read and thought； and I have not done that or
anything else； we both seem to have got into pretty much the
same condition； don't we？〃
〃Go to the Devil！〃 shouted Kuvalda。 His conversations with
Abyedok always ended thus。 When the teacher was absent his
speeches； as a rule； fell on the empty air； and received no
attention； and he knew this； but still he could not help
speaking。 And now； having quarrelled with his companion； he
felt rather deserted； but； still longing for conversation； he
turned to Simtsoff with the following question：
67 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃And you； Aleksei Maksimovitch； where will you lay your gray
head？〃
The old man smiled good…humoredly； rubbed his hands； and
replied； 〃I do not know 。 。 。 I will see。 One does not require
much； just a little drink。〃
〃Plain but honorable fare！〃 the Captain said。 Simtsoff was
silent； only adding that he would find a place sooner than any
of them； because women loved him。 This was true。 The old man
had； as a rule； two or three prostitutes； who kept him on their
very scant earnings。 They very often beat him； but he took this
stoically。 They somehow never beat him too much； probably
because they pitied him。 He was a great lover of women； and
said they were the cause of all his misfortunes。 The character
of his relations toward them was confirmed by the appearance of
his clothes； which； as a rule； were tidy； and cleaner than those
of his companions。 And now； sitting at the door of the dosshouse；
he boastingly related that for a long time past Redka had been
asking him to go and live with her； but he had not gone because
he did not want to part with the company。 They heard this with
jealous interest。 They all knew Redka。 She lived very near the
town； almost below the mountain。 Not long ago； she had been in
prison for theft。 She was a retired nurse； a tall； stout peasant
woman with a face marked by smallpox； but with very pretty；
though always drunken； eyes。
〃Just look at the old devil！〃 swore Abyedok； looking at Simtsoff；
who was smiling in a self…satisfied way。
〃And do you know why they love me？ Because I know how to cheer
up their souls。〃
68 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Do you？〃 inquired Kuvalda。
〃And I can make them pity me 。 。 。 And a woman； when she pities！
Go and weep to her； and ask her to kill you 。 。 。 she will pity
youand she will kill you。〃
〃I feel inclined to commit a murder；〃 declared Martyanoff；
laughing his dull laugh。
〃Upon whom？〃 asked Abyedok； edging away from him。
〃It's all the same to me 。 。 。 Petunikoff 。 。 。 Egorka or even
you！〃
〃And why？〃 inquired Kuvalda。
〃I want to go to Siberia 。 。 。 I have had enough of this vile
life 。 。 。 one learns how to live there！〃
〃Yes； they have a particularly good way of teaching in Siberia；〃
agreed the Captain sadly。
They spoke no more of Petunikoff； or of the turning out of the
inhabitants of the dosshouse。 They all knew that they would
have to leave soon； therefore they did not think the matter
worth discussion。 It would do no good； and besides the weather
was not very cold though the rains had begun 。 。 。 and it would
be possible to sleep on the ground anywhere outside the town。
They sat in a circle on the grass and conversed about all sorts
of things； discussing one subject after another； and listening
attentively even to the poor speakers in order to make the time
pass； keeping quiet was as dull as listening。 This society of
〃creatures that once were men〃 had one fine characteristicno
one of them endeavored to make out that he was better than the
others； nor compelled the others to acknowledge his superiority。
69 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
The August sun seemed to set their tatters on fire as they sat
with their backs and uncovered heads exposed to it 。 。 。 a
chaotic mixture of the vegetable； mineral； and animal kingdoms。
In the corners of the yard the tall steppe grass grew
luxuriantly 。 。 。 Nothing else grew there but some dingy
vegetables； not attractive even to those who nearly always
felt the pangs of hunger。
* * * * * * * * * *
The following was the scene that took place in Vaviloff's
eating…house。
Young Petunikoff entered slowly； took off his hat； looked around
him； and said to the eating…house keeper：
〃Egor Terentievitch Vaviloff？ Are you he？〃
〃I am；〃 answered the sergeant； leaning on the bar with both arms
as if intending to jump over it。
〃I have some business with you；〃 said Petunikoff。
〃Delighted。 Please come this way to my private room。〃
They went in and sat down； the guest on the couch and his host
on the chair opposite to him。 In one corner a lamp was burning
before a gigantic icon； and on the wall at the other side there
were several oil lamps。 They were well kept and shone as if
they were new。 The room； which contained a number of boxes and
a variety of furniture； smelt of tobacco； sour cabbage； and olive
oil。 Petunikoff looked around him and made a face。 Vaviloff
looked at the icon； and then they looked simultaneously at one
another； and both seemed to be favorably impressed。 Petunikoff
liked Vaviloff's frankly thievish eyes； and Vaviloff was pleased
with the open cold； determined face of Petunikoff； with its
large cheeks and white teeth。
70 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Of course you already know me； and I presume you guess what I
am going to say to you；〃 began Petunikoff。
〃About the lawsuit？ 。 。 。 I presume？〃 remarked the ex…sergeant
respectfully。
〃Exactly！ I am glad to see that you are not beating about the
bush； but going straight to the point like a business man；〃
said Petunikoff encouragingly。
〃I am a soldier；〃 answered Vaviloff； with a modest air。
〃That is easily seen； and I am sure we shall be able to finish
this job without much trouble。〃
〃Just so。〃
〃Good！ You have the law on your side； and will； of course； win
your case。 I want to tell you this at the very beginning。〃
〃I thank you most humbly；〃 said the sergeant； rubbing his eyes
in order to hide the smile in them。
〃But tell me； why did you make the acquaintance of your future
neighbors like this through the law courts？〃
Vaviloff shrugged his shoulders and did not answer。
〃It would have been better to come straight to us and settle
the matter peacefully； eh？ What do you think？〃
〃That would have been better； of course； but you see there is
a difficulty 。 。 。 I did not follow my own wishes； but those
of others 。 。 。 I learned afterward that it would have been
better if 。 。 。 but it was too late。〃
71 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Oh！ I suppose some lawyer taught you this？〃
〃Someone of that sort。〃
〃Aha！ Do you wish to settle the affair peacefully；〃
〃With all my heart！〃 cried the soldier。
Petunikoff was silent for a moment； then looked at him； and
suddenly asked； coldly and dryly； 〃And why do you wish to do
so？〃
Vaviloff did not expect such a question； and therefore had no
reply ready。 In his opinion the question was quite unworthy
of any attention； and so he laughed at young Petunikoff。
〃That is easy to understand。 Men like to live peacefully with
one another。〃
〃But；〃 interrupted Petunikoff； 〃that is not exactly the reason
why。 As far as I can see； you do not distinctly understand
why you wish to be reconciled to us 。 。 。 I will tell you。〃
The soldier was a little surprised。 This youngster； dressed
in a check suit； in which he looked ridiculous； spoke as if
he were Colonel Rakshin； who used to knock three of the
unfortunate soldier's teeth out every time he was angry。
〃You want to be friends with us because we should be such
useful neighbors to you 。 。 。 because there will be not less
than a hundred and fif
