creatures that once were men-第21节
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to have forgotten the soldier and his conversation with him。
But the soldier had all at once dropped into a sort of
uneasiness。 He got up on to his feet； and went to the oven；
at the risk of knocking against the handle of the shovel； which
was waving spasmodically in the air。
〃No； tell me； dowho is it？ You've insulted me。 I？ There's
not one could withstand me； n…no！ And you say such insulting
things to me？〃
He really seemed genuinely hurt。 He must have had nothing else
to pride himself on except his gift for seducing women； maybe；
except for that； there was nothing living in him； and it was
only that by which he could feel himself a living man。
There are men to whom the most precious and best thing in their
lives appears to be some disease of their soul or body。 They
spend their whole life in relation to it； and only living by it；
suffering from it； they sustain themselves on it； they complain
of it to others； and so draw the attention of their fellows to
themselves。
118 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
For that they extract sympathy from people； and apart from it
they have nothing at all。 Take from them that disease； cure
them； and they will be miserable； because they have lost their
one resource in lifethey are left empty then。 Sometimes a
man's life is so poor； that he is driven instinctively to
prize his vice and to live by it； one may say for a fact that
often men are vicious from boredom。
The soldier was offended； he went up to our baker and roared：
〃No； tell me do…who？〃
〃Tell you？〃 the baker turned suddenly to him。
〃Well？〃
〃You know Tanya？〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； there then！ Only try。〃
〃You！〃
〃Her？ Why that's nothing to me…pooh！〃
〃We shall see！〃
〃You will see！ Ha！ ha！〃
〃She'll〃
〃Give me a month！〃
〃What a braggart you are； soldier！〃
〃A fortnight！ I'll prove it！ Who is it？ Tanya！ Pooh！〃
〃Well； get out。 You're in my way！〃
〃A fortnightand it's done！ Ah； you〃
〃Get out； I say！〃
119 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
Our baker； all at once； flew into a rage and brandished his
shovel。 The soldier staggered away from him in amazement；
looked at us； paused； and softly； malignantly said； 〃Oh； all
right； then！〃 and went away。
During the dispute we had all sat silent； absorbed in it。
But when the soldier had gone； eager； loud talk and noise
arose among us。
Some one shouted to the baker： 〃It's a bad job that you've
started； Pavel！〃
〃Do your work！〃 answered the baker savagely。
We felt that the soldier had been deeply aggrieved； and that
danger threatened Tanya。 We felt this； and at the same time
we were all possessed by a burning curiosity； most agreeable
to us。 What would happen？ Would Tanya hold out against the
soldier？ And almost all cried confidently： 〃Tanya？ She'll
hold out！ You won't catch her with your bare arms！〃
We longed terribly to test the strength of our idol； we
forcibly proved to each other that our divinity was a strong
divinity and would come victorious out of this ordeal。 We
began at last to fancy that we had not worked enough on the
soldier； that he would forget the dispute； and that we ought
to pique his vanity more keenly。 From that day we began to
live a different life； a life of nervous tension； such as we
had never known before。 We spent whole days in arguing
together； we all grew； as it were； sharper； and got to talk
more and better。 It seemed to us that we were playing some
sort of game with the devil； and the stake on our side was
Tanya。 And when we learned from the bakers that the soldier
had begun 〃running after our Tanya；〃 we felt a sort of
delighted terror； and life was so interesting that we did not
even notice that our employer had taken advantage of our
pre…occupation to increase our work by fourteen pounds of
dough a day。
120 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
We seemed； indeed； not even tired by our work。 Tanya's name
was on our lips all day long。 And every day we looked for
her with a certain special impatience。 Sometimes we pictured
to ourselves that she would come to us； and it would not be
the same Tanya as of old； hut somehow different。 We said
nothing to her； however； of the dispute regarding her。 We
asked her no questions； and behaved as well and affectionately
to her as ever。 But even in this a new element crept in； alien
to our old feeling for Tanyaand that new element was keen
curiosity； keen and cold as a steel knife。
〃Mates！ To…day the time's up！〃 our baker said to us one
morning； as he set to work。
We were well aware of it without his reminder； but still we
were thrilled。
〃Look at her。 She'll he here directly；〃 suggested the baker。
One of us cried out in a troubled voice； 〃Why！ as though one
could notice anything！〃
And again an eager； noisy discussion sprang up among us。
To…day we were about to prove how pure and spotless was the
vessel into which we had poured all that was best in us。 This
morning； for the first time； it became clear to us； that we
really were playing a great game； that we might； indeed；
through the exaction of this proof of purity； lose our
divinity altogether。
121 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
During the whole of the intervening fortnight we had heard
that Tanya was persistently followed by the soldier； but
not one of us had thought of asking her how she had behaved
toward him。 And she came every morning to fetch her kringels；
and was the same toward us as ever。
This morning； too； we heard her voice outside： 〃You poor
prisoners！ Here I am！〃
We opened the door； and when she came in we all remained；
contrary to our usual custom； silent。 Our eyes fixed on
her； we did not know how to speak to her； what to ask her。
And there we stood in front of her； a gloomy； silent crowd。
She seemed to be surprised at this unusual reception； and
suddenly we saw her turn white and become uneasy； then she
asked； in a choking voice：
〃Why are youlike this？〃
〃And you？〃 the baker flung at her grimly； never taking his
eyes off her。
〃What am I？〃
〃N…nothing。〃
〃Well； then； give me quickly the little kringels。〃
Never before had she bidden us hurry。
〃There's plenty of time；〃 said the baker； not stirring； and
not removing his eyes from her face。
Then； suddenly； she turned round and disappeared through the
door。
The baker took his shovel and said； calmly turning away toward
the oven：
〃Well； that settles it！ But a soldier！ a common beast like
thata low cur！〃
122 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
Like a flock of sheep we all pressed round the table； sat down
silently； and began listlessly to work。 Soon； however； one of
us remarked：
〃Perhaps； after all〃
〃Shut up！〃 shouted the baker。
We were all convinced that he was a man of judgment； a man who
knew more than we did about things。 And at the sound of his
voice we were convinced of the soldier's victory； and our
spirits became sad and downcast。
At twelve o'clockwhile we were eating our dinnersthe
soldier came in。 He was as clean and as smart as ever； and
looked at usas usualstraight in the eyes。 But we were all
awkward in looking at him。
〃Now then； honored sirs； would you like me to show you a
soldier's quality？〃 he said； chuckling proudly。
〃Go out into the passage； and look through the crackdo you
understand？〃
We went into the passage； and stood all pushing against one
another； squeezed up to the cracks of the wooden partition of
the passage that looked into the yard。 We had not to wait
long。 Very soon Tanya； with hurried footsteps and a careworn
face； walked across the yard； jumping over the puddles of
melting snow and mud： she disappeared into the store cellar。
Then whistling； and not hurrying himself； the soldier followed
in the same direction。 His hands were thrust in his pockets；
his mustaches were quivering。
Rain was falling； and we saw how its drops fell into the
puddles； and the puddles were wrinkled by them。 The day was
damp and graya very dreary day。 Snow still lay on the roofs；
but on the ground dark patches of mud had begun to appear。
123 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
And the snow on the roofs too was covered by a layer of
brownish dirt。 The rain fell slowly with a depressing sound。
It was cold and disagreeable for us waiting。
The first to come out of the store cellar was the soldier；
he walked slowly across the yard； his mustaches twitching； his
hands in his pocketsthe same as always。
ThenTanya； too； came out。 Her eye~her eyes were radiant
with joy and happiness； and her lipswere smiling。 And she
walked as though in
