the witch and other stories-第21节

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fell　with　a　crash。　Again　they　ran　by。　。　。　。　Had　something　gone
wrong？　Gusev　raised　his　head；　listened；　and　saw　that　the　two
soldiers　and　the　sailor　were　playing　cards　again；　Pavel　Ivanitch
was　sitting　up　moving　his　lips。　It　was　stifling；　one　hadn't
strength　to　breathe；　one　was　thirsty；　the　water　was　warm；
disgusting。　The　ship　heaved　as　much　as　ever。

Suddenly　something　strange　happened　to　one　of　the　soldiers
playing　cards。　。　。　。　He　called　hearts　diamonds；　got　muddled　in
his　score；　and　dropped　his　cards；　then　with　a　frightened；　foolish
smile　looked　round　at　all　of　them。

〃I　shan't　be　a　minute；　mates；　I'll　。　。　。〃　he　said；　and　lay　down
on　the　floor。

Everybody　was　amazed。　They　called　to　him；　he　did　not　answer。

〃Stephan；　maybe　you　are　feeling　bad；　eh？〃　the　soldier　with　his
arm　in　a　sling　asked　him。　〃Perhaps　we　had　better　bring　the
priest；　eh？〃

〃Have　a　drink　of　water；　Stepan　。　。　。〃　said　the　sailor。　〃Here；
lad；　drink。〃

〃Why　are　you　knocking　the　jug　against　his　teeth？〃　said　Gusev
angrily。　〃　Don't　you　see；　turnip　head？'

〃What？〃

〃What？〃　Gusev　repeated；　mimicking　him。　〃There　is　no　breath　in
him；　he　is　dead！　That's　what！　What　nonsensical　people；　Lord　have
mercy　on　us。　。　。　！〃

III


The　ship　was　not　rocking　and　Pavel　Ivanitch　was　more　cheerful。　He
was　no　longer　ill…humoured。　His　face　had　a　boastful；　defiant；
mocking　expression。　He　looked　as　though　he　wanted　to　say：　〃Yes；
in　a　minute　I　will　tell　you　something　that　will　make　you　split
your　sides　with　laughing。〃　The　little　round　window　was　open　and　a
soft　breeze　was　blowing　on　Pavel　Ivanitch。　There　was　a　sound　of
voices；　of　the　plash　of　oars　in　the　water。　。　。　。　Just　under　the
little　window　someone　began　droning　in　a　high；　unpleasant　voice：
no　doubt　it　was　a　Chinaman　singing。

〃Here　we　are　in　the　harbour；〃　said　Pavel　Ivanitch；　smiling
ironically。　〃Only　another　month　and　we　shall　be　in　Russia。　Well；
worthy　gentlemen　and　warriors！　I　shall　arrive　at　Odessa　and　from
there　go　straight　to　Harkov。　In　Harkov　I　have　a　friend；　a
literary　man。　I　shall　go　to　him　and　say；　'Come；　old　man；　put
aside　your　horrid　subjects；　ladies'　amours　and　the　beauties　of
nature；　and　show　up　human　depravity。'　〃

For　a　minute　he　pondered；　then　said：

〃Gusev；　do　you　know　how　I　took　them　in？〃

〃Took　in　whom；　Pavel　Ivanitch？〃

〃Why；　these　fellows。　。　。　。　You　know　that　on　this　steamer　there　is
only　a　first…class　and　a　third…class；　and　they　only　allow
peasants　　that　is　the　rift…raft　　to　go　in　the　third。　If　you
have　got　on　a　reefer　jacket　and　have　the　faintest　resemblance　to
a　gentleman　or　a　bourgeois　you　must　go　first…class；　if　you
please。　You　must　fork　out　five　hundred　roubles　if　you　die　for　it。
Why；　I　ask；　have　you　made　such　a　rule？　Do　you　want　to　raise　the
prestige　of　educated　Russians　thereby？　Not　a　bit　of　it。　We　don't
let　you　go　third…class　simply　because　a　decent　person　can't　go
third…class；　it　is　very　horrible　and　disgusting。　Yes；　indeed。　I
am　very　grateful　for　such　solicitude　for　decent　people's　welfare。
But　in　any　case；　whether　it　is　nasty　there　or　nice；　five　hundred
roubles　I　haven't　got。　I　haven't　pilfered　government　money。　I
haven't　exploited　the　natives；　I　haven't　trafficked　in
contraband；　I　have　flogged　no　one　to　death；　so　judge　whether　I
have　the　right　to　travel　first…class　and　even　less　to　reckon
myself　of　the　educated　class？　But　you　won't　catch　them　with
logic。　。　。　。　One　has　to　resort　to　deception。　I　put　on　a　workman's
coat　and　high　boots；　I　assumed　a　drunken；　servile　mug　and　went　to
the　agents：　'Give　us　a　little　ticket；　your　honour；'　said　I。　。　。
。〃

〃Why；　what　class　do　you　belong　to？〃　asked　a　sailor。

〃Clerical。　My　father　was　an　honest　priest；　he　always　told　the
great　ones　of　the　world　the　truth　to　their　faces；　and　he　had　a
great　deal　to　put　up　with　in　consequence。〃

Pavel　Ivanitch　was　exhausted　with　talking　and　gasped　for　breath；
but　still　went　on：

〃Yes；　I　always　tell　people　the　truth　to　their　faces。　I　am　not
afraid　of　anyone　or　anything。　There　is　a　vast　difference　between
me　and　all　of　you　in　that　respect。　You　are　in　darkness；　you　are
blind；　crushed；　you　see　nothing　and　what　you　do　see　you　don't
understand。　。　。　。　You　are　told　the　wind　breaks　loose　from　its
chain；　that　you　are　beasts；　Petchenyegs；　and　you　believe　it；　they
punch　you　in　the　neck；　you　kiss　their　hands；　some　animal　in　a
sable…lined　coat　robs　you　and　then　tips　you　fifteen　kopecks　and
you：　'Let　me　kiss　your　hand；　sir。'　You　are　pariahs；　pitiful
people。　。　。　。　I　am　a　different　sort。　My　eyes　are　open；　I　see　it
all　as　clearly　as　a　hawk　or　an　eagle　when　it　floats　over　the
earth；　and　I　understand　it　all。　I　am　a　living　protest。　I　see
irresponsible　tyranny　　I　protest。　I　see　cant　and　hypocrisy　　I
protest。　I　see　swine　triumphant　　I　protest。　And　I　cannot　be
suppressed；　no　Spanish　Inquisition　can　make　me　hold　my　tongue。
No。　。　。　。　Cut　out　my　tongue　and　I　would　protest　in　dumb　show；
shut　me　up　in　a　cellar　　I　will　shout　from　it　to　be　heard　half　a
mile　away；　or　I　will　starve　myself　to　death　that　they　may　have
another　weight　on　their　black　consciences。　Kill　me　and　I　will
haunt　them　with　my　ghost。　All　my　acquaintances　say　to　me：　'You
are　a　most　insufferable　person；　Pavel　Ivanitch。'　I　am　proud　of
such　a　reputation。　I　have　served　three　years　in　the　far　East；　and
I　shall　be　remembered　there　for　a　hundred　years：　I　had　rows　with
everyone。　My　friends　write　to　me　from　Russia；　'Don't　come　back；'
but　here　I　am　going　back　to　spite　them　。　。　。　yes。　。　。　。　That　is
life　as　I　understand　it。　That　is　what　one　can　call　life。〃

Gusev　was　looking　at　the　little　window　and　was　not　listening。　A
boat　was　swaying　on　the　transparent；　soft；　turquoise　water　all
bathed　in　hot；　dazzling　sunshine。　In　it　there　were　naked　Chinamen
holding　up　cages　with　canaries　and　calling　out：

〃It　sings；　it　sings！〃

Another　boat　knocked　against　the　first；　the　steam　cutter　darted
by。　And　then　there　came　another　boat　with　a　fat　Chinaman　sitting
in　it；　eating　rice　with　little　sticks。

Languidly　the　water　heaved；　languidly　the　white　seagulls　floated
over　it。

〃I　should　like　to　give　that　fat　fellow　one　in　the　neck；〃　thought
Gusev；　gazing　at　the　stout　Chinaman；　with　a　yawn。

He　dozed　off；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　all　nature　was　dozing；
too。　Time　flew　swiftly　by；　imperceptibly　the　day　passed；
imperceptibly　the　darkness　came　on。　。　。　。　The　steamer　was　no
longer　standing　still；　but　moving　on　further。

IV

Two　days　passed；　Pavel　Ivanitch　lay　down　instead　of　sitting　up；
his　eyes　were　closed；　his　nose　seemed　to　have　grown　sharper。

〃Pavel　Ivanitch；〃　Gusev　called　to　him。　〃Hey；　Pavel　Ivanitch。〃

Pavel　Ivanitch　opened　his　eyes　and　moved　his　lips。

〃Are　you　feeling　bad？〃

〃No　。　。　。　it's　nothing　。　。　。〃　answered　Pavel　Ivanitch；　gasping。
〃Nothing；　on　the　contrary　　I　am　rather　better。　。　。　。　You　see　I
can　lie　down。　I　am　a　little　easier。　。　。　。〃

〃Well；　thank　God　for　that；　Pavel　Ivanitch。〃

〃When　I　compare　myself　with　you　I　am　sorry　for　you　。　。　。　poor
fellow。　My　lungs　are　all　right；　it　is　only　a　stomach　cough。　。　。　。
I　can　stand　hell；　let　alone　the　Red　Sea。　Besides　I　take　a
critical　attitude　to　my　illness　and　to　the　medicines　they　give　me
for　it。　While　you　。　。　。　you　are　in　darkness。　。　。　。　It's　hard　for
you；　very；　very　hard！〃

The　ship　was　not　rolling；　it　was　calm；　but　as　hot　and　stifling　as
a　bath…house；　it　was　not　only　hard　to　speak　but　even　hard　to
listen。　Gusev　hugged　his　knees；　laid　his　head　on　them　and　thought
of　his　home。　Good　heavens；　what　a　relief　it　was　to　think　of　snow
and　cold　in　that　stifling　heat！　You　drive　in　a　sledge；　all　at
once　the　horses　take　fright　at　something　and　bolt。　。　。　。
Regardless　of　the　road；　the　ditches；　the　ravines；　they　dash　like
mad　things；　right　through　the　village；　over　the　pond　by　the
pottery　works；　out　across　the　open　fields。　〃Hold　on；〃　the　pottery
hands　and　the　peasants　sho　ut；　meeting　them。　〃Hold　on。〃　But　why？
Let　the　keen；　cold　wind　beat　in　one's　face　and　bite　one's　hands；
let　the　lumps　of　snow；　kicked　up　by　the　horses'　hoofs；　fall　on
one's　cap；　on　one's　back；　down　one's　collar；　on　one's　chest；　let
the　runners　ring　on　the　snow；　and　the　traces　and　the　sledge　be
smashed；　deuce　take　them　one　and　all！　And　how　delightful　when　the
sledge　upsets　and　you　go　flying　full　tilt　into　a　drift；　face
downwards　in　the　snow；　and　then　you　get　up　white　all　over　with
icicles　on　your　moustaches；　no　cap；　no　gloves；　your　belt　undone。
。　。　。　People　laugh；　the　dogs　bark。　。　。　。

Pavel　Ivanitch　half　opened　one　eye；　looked　at　Gusev　with　it；　and
asked　softly：

〃Gusev；　did　your　commanding　officer　steal？〃

〃Who　can　tell；　Pavel　Ivanitch！　We　can't　say；　it　didn't　reach　us。〃

And　after　that　a　long　time　passed　in　silence。　Gusev　brooded；
muttered　something　in　delirium；　and　kept　drinking　water；　it　was
hard　for　him　to　talk　and　hard　to　listen；　and　he　was　afraid　of
being　talked　to。　An　hour　passed；　a　second；　a　third；　evening　came
on；　then　night；　but　he　did　not　notice　it。　He　still　sat　dreaming
of　the　frost。

There　was　a　sound　as　though　someone　came　into　the　hospital；　and
voices　were　audible；　but　a　few　minutes　passed　and　all　was　still
again。

〃The　Kingdom　of　Heaven　and　eternal　peace；〃　said　the　soldier　with
his　arm　in　a　sling。　〃He　was　an　uncomfortable　man。〃