creatures that once were men-第15节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
83 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
It often happened； that having said something absolutely
impossible and without proof； he kept on repeating it； beginning
in a childish； capricious tone； and gradually raising his voice
to a mad shriek。
The Deacon stood up for his friend。 〃No； he did not poison her。
He had no reason to do so。〃
〃But I say that he poisoned her！〃 swore Abyedok。
〃Silence！〃 shouted the Captain； threateningly； becoming still
angrier。 He looked at his friends with his blinking eyes； and
not discovering anything to further provoke his rage in their
half…tipsy faces； he lowered his head； sat still for a little
while； and then turned over on his back on the ground。 Meteor
was biting cucumbers。 He took a cucumber in his hand without
looking at it； put nearly half of it into his mouth； and bit it
with his yellow teeth； so that the juice spurted out in all
directions and ran over his cheeks。 He did not seem to want to
eat； but this process pleased him。 Martyanoff sat motionless
on the ground； like a statue； and looked in a dull manner at
the half…vedro bottle； already getting empty。 Abyedok lay on
his belly and coughed； shaking all over his small body。 The
rest of the dark； silent figures sat and lay around in all
sorts of positions； and their tatters made them look like
untidy animals； created by some strange； uncouth deity to make
a mockery of man。
〃There once lived a lady in Suzdale；
A strange lady；
She fell into hysterics；
Most unpleasantly！〃
84 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
sang the Deacon in low tones embracing Aleksei Maksimovitch；
who was smiling kindly into his face。
Paltaras Taras giggled voluptuously。
The night was approaching。 High up in the sky the stars were
shining 。 。 。 and on the mountain and in the town the lights
of the lamps were appearing。 The whistles of the steamers
were heard all over the river； and the doors of Yaviloff's
eating…house opened noisily。 Two dark figures entered the
courtyard； and one of them asked in a hoarse voice：
〃Are you drinking？〃 And the other said in a jealous aside：
〃Just see what devils they are！〃
Then a hand stretched over the Deacon's head and took away
the bottle； and the characteristic sound of vodki being poured
into a glass was heard。 Then they all protested loudly。
〃Oh this is sad！〃 shouted the Deacon。 〃Krivoi； let us remember
the ancients！ Let us sing 'On the Banks of Babylonian Rivers。'〃
〃But can he？〃 asked Simtsoff。
〃He？ He was a chorister in the Bishop's choir。 Now then；
Krivoi！ 。 。 。 On the r…i…v…e…r…s…〃 The Deacon's voice was
loud and hoarse and cracked； but his friend sang in a shrill
falsetto。
The dirty building loomed large in the darkness and seemed to
be coming nearer； threatening the singers； who were arousing
its dull echoes。 The heavy； pompous clouds were floating in
the sky over their heads。 One of the 〃creatures that once
were men〃 was snoring； while the rest of them； not yet so
drunk as he was； ate and drank quietly or spoke to each other
at long intervals。
85 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
It was unusual for them to be in such low spirits during such
a feast； with so much vodki。 Somehow the drink tonight did
not seem to have its usual exhilarating effect。
〃Stop howling； you dogs！〃 。 。 。 said the Captain to the singers；
raising his head from the ground to listen。
〃Some one is passing 。 。 。 in a droshky。 。 。 。〃
A droshky at such a time in the main street could not but
attract general attention。 Who would risk crossing the ditches
between it and the town； and why？ They all raised their heads
and listened。 In the silence of the night the wheels were
distinctly heard。 They came gradually nearer。 A voice was
heard； asking roughly：
〃Well； where then？〃
Someone answered； 〃It must be there； that house。〃
〃I shall not go any farther。〃
〃They are coming here！〃 shouted the Captain。
〃The police！〃 someone whispered in great alarm。
〃In a droshky！ Fool！〃 said Martyanoff； quietly。
Kuvalda got up and went to the entrance。
〃Is this a lodging…house？〃 asked someone； in a trembling voice。
〃Yes。 Belonging to Aristid Kuvalda 。 。 。〃 said the Captain；
roughly。
〃Oh！ Did a reporter； one Titoff； live here？〃
〃Aha！ Have you brought him？〃
〃Yes。 。 。 。〃
〃Drunk？〃
〃Ill。〃
86 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃That means he is very drunk。 Ay； teacher！ Now； then； get up！〃
〃Wait； I will help you 。 。 。 He is very ill 。 。 。 he has been
with me for the last two days 。 。 。 Take him under the arms
。 。 。 The doctor has seen him。 He is very bad。〃
Tyapa got up and walked to the entrance； but Abyedok laughed；
and took another drink。
〃Strike a light； there！〃 shouted the Captain。
Meteor went into the house and lighted the lamp。 Then a thin
line of light streamed out over the courtyard； and the Captain
and another man managed to get the teacher into the dosshouse。
His head was hanging on his breast； his feet trailed on the
ground； and his arms hung limply as if broken。 With Tyapa's
help they placed him on a wide board。 He was shivering all
over。
〃We worked on the same paper 。 。 。 he is very unlucky 。 。 。
I said； 'Stay in my house； you are not in the way；' 。 。 。 but
he begged me to send him 'home。' He was so excited about it
that I brought him here； thinking it might do him good 。 。 。
Home！ This is it； isn't it？〃
〃Do you suppose he has a home anywhere else？〃 asked Kuvalda；
roughly； looking at his friend。 〃Tyapa； fetch me some cold
water。〃
〃I fancy I am of no more use；〃 remarked the man in some
confusion。 The Captain looked at him critically。 His clothes
were rather shiny； and tightly buttoned up to his chin。 His
trousers were frayed； his hat almost yellow with age and
crumpled like his lean and hungry face。
87 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃No； you are not necessary！ We have plenty like you here；〃
said the Captain； turning away。
〃Then； good…bye！〃 The man went to the door； and said quietly
from there； 〃If anything happens 。 。 。 let me know in the
publishing office 。 。 。 My name is Rijoff。 I might write a
short obituary 。 。 。 You see he was an active member of the
Press。〃
〃H'm； an obituary； you say？ Twenty lines forty kopecks？ I
will do more than that。 When he dies I will cut off one of
his legs and send it to you。 That will be much more profitable
than an obituary。 It will last you for three days 。 。 。 His
legs are fat。 You devoured him when he was alive。 You may as
well continue to do so after he is dead。 。 。 。〃
The man sniffed strangely and disappeared。 The Captain sat
down on the wooden board beside the teacher； felt his forehead
and breast with his hands and called 〃Philip！〃
The sound re…echoed from the dirty walls of the dosshouse and
died away。
〃This is absurd； brother；〃 said the Captain； quietly arranging
the teacher's untidy hair with his hand。 Then the Captain
listened to his breathing； which was rapid and uneven； and
looked at his sunken gray face。 He sighed and looked upon him；
knitting his eyebrows。 The lamp was a bad one 。 。 。 The light
was fitful； and dark shadows flickered on the dosshouse walls。
The Captain watched them； scratching his beard。
Tyapa returned； bringing a vedro of water； and placing it beside
the teacher's head； he took his arm as if to raise him up。
88 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃The water is not necessary；〃 and the Captain shook his head。
〃But we must try to revive him；〃 said the old rag…collector。
〃Nothing is needed；〃 said the Captain； decidedly。
They sat silently looking at the teacher。
〃Let us go and drink； old devil！〃
〃But he？〃
〃Can you do him any good？〃
Tyapa turned his back on the teacher； and both went out into
the courtyard to their companions。
〃What is it？〃 asked Abyedok； turning his sharp nose to the
old man。
The snoring of those who were asleep； and the tinkling sound
of pouring vodki was heard 。 。 。 The Deacon was murmuring
something。 The clouds swam low； so low that it seemed as if
they would touch the roof of the house and would knock it over
on the group of men。
〃Ah！ One feels sad when someone near at hand is dying；〃
faltered the Captain； with his head down。 No one answered him。
〃He was the best among you 。 。 。 the cleverest； the most
respectable。 I mourn for him。〃
〃R…e…s…t with the Saints 。 。 。 Sing； you crooked hunchback！〃
roared the Deacon； digging his friend in the ribs。
〃Be quiet！〃 shouted Abyedok； jumping vengefully to his feet。
〃I will give him one on the head；〃 proposed Martyanoff； raisin
