the witch and other stories-第40节

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fancied　that　a　crow　had　designs　on　her　chickens；　and　she　rushed
to　attack　it　wi　th　loud　words　of　abuse。　She　was　cross　and
grumbling　from　morning　till　night。　And　often　she　raised　such　an
outcry　that　passers…by　stopped　in　the　street。

She　was　not　affectionate　towards　the　old　man；　reviling　him　as　a
lazy…bones　and　a　plague。　He　was　not　a　responsible；　reliable
peasant；　and　perhaps　if　she　had　not　been　continually　nagging　at
him　he　would　not　have　worked　at　all；　but　would　have　simply　sat　on
the　stove　and　talked。　He　talked　to　his　son　at　great　length　about
certain　enemies　of　his；　complained　of　the　insults　he　said　he　had
to　put　up　with　every　day　from　the　neighbours；　and　it　was　tedious
to　listen　to　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　would　say；　standing　with　his　arms　akimbo；　〃yes。　。　。　。　A
week　after　the　Exaltation　of　the　Cross　I　sold　my　hay　willingly　at
thirty　kopecks　a　pood。　。　。　。　Well　and　good。　。　。　。　So　you　see　I
was　taking　the　hay　in　the　morning　with　a　good　will；　I　was
interfering　with　no　one。　In　an　unlucky　hour　I　see　the　village
elder；　Antip　Syedelnikov；　coming　out　of　the　tavern。　'Where　are
you　taking　it；　you　ruffian？'　says　he；　and　takes　me　by　the　ear。〃

Kiryak　had　a　fearful　headache　after　his　drinking　bout；　and　was
ashamed　to　face　his　brother。

〃What　vodka　does！　Ah；　my　God！〃　he　muttered；　shaking　his　aching
head。　〃For　Christ's　sake；　forgive　me；　brother　and　sister；　I'm　not
happy　myself。〃

As　it　was　a　holiday；　they　bought　a　herring　at　the　tavern　and　made
a　soup　of　the　herring's　head。　At　midday　they　all　sat　down　to
drink　tea；　and　went　on　drinking　it　for　a　long　time；　till　they
were　all　perspiring；　they　looked　positively　swollen　from　the
tea…drinking；　and　after　it　began　sipping　the　broth　from　the
herring's　head；　all　helping　themselves　out　of　one　bowl。　But　the
herring　itself　Granny　had　hidden。

In　the　evening　a　potter　began　firing　pots　on　the　ravine。　In　the
meadow　below　the　girls　got　up　a　choral　dance　and　sang　songs。　They
played　the　concertina。　And　on　the　other　side　of　the　river　a　kiln
for　baking　pots　was　lighted；　too；　and　the　girls　sang　songs；　and
in　the　distance　the　singing　sounded　soft　and　musical。　The
peasants　were　noisy　in　and　about　the　tavern。　They　were　singing
with　drunken　voices；　each　on　his　own　account；　and　swearing　at　one
another；　so　that　Olga　could　only　shudder　and　say：

〃Oh；　holy　Saints！〃

She　was　amazed　that　the　abuse　was　incessant；　and　those　who　were
loudest　and　most　persistent　in　this　foul　language　were　the　old
men　who　were　so　near　their　end。　And　the　girls　and　children　heard
the　swearing；　and　were　not　in　the　least　disturbed　by　it；　and　it
was　evident　that　they　were　used　to　it　from　their　cradles。

It　was　past　midnight；　the　kilns　on　both　sides　of　the　river　were
put　out；　but　in　the　meadow　below　and　in　the　tavern　the
merrymaking　still　went　on。　The　old　father　and　Kiryak；　both　drunk；
walking　arm…in…arm　and　jostling　against　each　other's　shoulders；
went　to　the　barn　where　Olga　and　Marya　were　lying。

〃Let　her　alone；〃　the　old　man　persuaded　him；　〃let　her　alone。　。　。　。
She　is　a　harmless　woman。　。　。　。　It's　a　sin。　。　。　。〃

〃Ma…arya！　〃　shouted　Kiryak。

〃Let　her　be。　。　。　。　It's　a　sin。　。　。　。　She　is　not　a　bad　woman。〃

Both　stopped　by　the　barn　and　went　on。

〃I　lo…ove　the　flowers　of　the　fi…ield；〃　the　old　man　began　singing
suddenly　in　a　high；　piercing　tenor。　〃I　lo…ove　to　gather　them　in
the　meadows！〃

Then　he　spat；　and　with　a　filthy　oath　went　into　the　hut。

IV

Granny　put　Sasha　by　her　kitchen…garden　and　told　her　to　keep　watch
that　the　geese　did　not　go　in。　It　was　a　hot　August　day。　The
tavernkeeper's　geese　could　make　their　way　into　the　kitchen…garden
by　the　backs　of　the　huts；　but　now　they　were　busily　engaged
picking　up　oats　by　the　tavern；　peacefully　conversing　together；
and　only　the　gander　craned　his　head　high　as　though　trying　to　see
whether　the　old　woman　were　coming　with　her　stick。　The　other　geese
might　come　up　from　below；　but　they　were　now　grazing　far　away　the
other　side　of　the　river；　stretched　out　in　a　long　white　garland
about　the　meadow。　Sasha　stood　about　a　little；　grew　weary；　and；
seeing　that　the　geese　were　not　coming；　went　away　to　the　ravine。

There　she　saw　Marya's　eldest　daughter　Motka；　who　was　standing
motionless　on　a　big　stone；　staring　at　the　church。　Marya　had　given
birth　to　thirteen　children；　but　she　only　had　six　living；　all
girls；　not　one　boy；　and　the　eldest　was　eight。　Motka　in　a　long
smock　was　standing　barefooted　in　the　full　sunshine；　the　sun　was
blazing　down　right　on　her　head；　but　she　did　not　notice　that；　and
seemed　as　though　turned　to　stone。　Sasha　stood　beside　her　and
said；　looking　at　the　church：

〃God　lives　in　the　church。　Men　have　lamps　and　candles；　but　God　has
little　green　and　red　and　blue　lamps　like　little　eyes。　At　night
God　walks　about　the　church；　and　with　Him　the　Holy　Mother　of　God
and　Saint　Nikolay；　thud；　thud；　thud！　。　。　。　And　the　watchman　is
terrified；　terrified！　Aye；　aye；　dearie；〃　she　added；　imitating　her
mother。　〃And　when　the　end　of　the　world　comes　all　the　churches
will　be　carried　up　to　heaven。〃

〃With　the…ir　be…ells？〃　Motka　asked　in　her　deep　voice；　drawling
every　syllable。

〃With　their　bells。　And　when　the　end　of　the　world　comes　the　good
will　go　to　Paradise；　but　the　angry　will　burn　in　fire　eternal　and
unquenchable；　dearie。　To　my　mother　as　well　as　to　Marya　God　will
say：　'You　never　offended　anyone；　and　for　that　go　to　the　right　to
Paradise'；　but　to　Kiryak　and　Granny　He　will　say：　'You　go　to　the
left　into　the　fire。'　And　anyone　who　has　eaten　meat　in　Lent　will
go　into　the　fire；　too。〃

She　looked　upwards　at　the　sky；　opening　wide　her　eyes；　and　said：

〃Look　at　the　sky　without　winking；　you　will　see　angels。〃

Motka　began　looking　at　the　sky；　too；　and　a　minute　passed　in
silence。

〃Do　you　see　them？〃　asked　Sasha。

〃I　don't；〃　said　Motka　in　her　deep　voice。

〃But　I　do。　Little　angels　are　flying　about　the　sky　and　flap；　flap
with　their　little　wings　as　though　they　were　gnats。〃

Motka　thought　for　a　little；　with　her　eyes　on　the　ground；　and
asked：

〃Will　Granny　burn？〃

〃She　will；　dearie。〃

From　the　stone　an　even　gentle　slope　ran　down　to　the　bottom；
covered　with　soft　green　grass；　which　one　longed　to　lie　down　on　or
to　touch　with　one's　hands。　。　。　Sasha　lay　down　and　rolled　to　the
bottom。　Motka　with　a　grave；　severe　face；　taking　a　deep　breath；
lay　down；　too；　and　rolled　to　the　bottom；　and　in　doing　so　tore　her
smock　from　the　hem　to　the　shoulder。

〃What　fun　it　is！〃　said　Sasha；　delighted。

They　walked　up　to　the　top　to　roll　down　again；　but　at　that　moment
they　heard　a　shrill；　familiar　voice。　Oh；　how　awful　it　was！
Granny；　a　toothless；　bony；　hunchbacked　figure；　with　short　grey
hair　which　was　fluttering　in　the　wind；　was　driving　the　geese　out
of　the　kitchen…garden　with　a　long　stick；　shouting。

〃They　have　trampled　all　the　cabbages；　the　damned　brutes！　I'd　cut
your　throats；　thrice　accursed　plagues！　Bad　luck　to　you！〃

She　saw　the　little　girls；　flung　down　the　stick　and　picked　up　a
switch；　and；　seizing　Sasha　by　the　neck　with　her　fingers；　thin　and
hard　as　the　gnarled　branches　of　a　tree；　began　whipping　her。　Sasha
cried　with　pain　and　terror；　while　the　gander；　waddling　and
stretching　his　neck；　went　up　to　the　old　woman　and　hissed　at　her；
and　when　he　went　back　to　his　flock　all　the　geese　greeted　him
approvingly　with　〃Ga…ga…ga！〃　Then　Granny　proceeded　to　whip　Motka；
and　in　this　Motka's　smock　was　torn　again。　Feeling　in　despair；　and
crying　loudly；　Sasha　went　to　the　hut　to　complain。　Motka　followed
her；　she；　too；　was　crying　on　a　deeper　note；　without　wiping　her
tears；　and　her　face　was　as　wet　as　though　it　had　been　dipped　in
water。

〃Holy　Saints！〃　cried　Olga；　aghast；　as　the　two　came　into　the　hut。
〃Queen　of　Heaven！〃

Sasha　began　telling　her　story；　while　at　the　same　time　Granny
walked　in　with　a　storm　of　shrill　cries　and　abuse；　then　Fyokla
flew　into　a　rage；　and　there　was　an　uproar　in　the　hut。

〃Never　mind；　never　mind！〃　Olga；　pale　and　upset；　tried　to　comfort
them；　stroking　Sasha's　head。　〃She　is　your　grandmother；　it's　a　sin
to　be　angry　with　her。　Never　mind；　my　child。〃

Nikolay；　who　was　worn　out　already　by　the　everlasting　hubbub；
hunger；　stifling　fumes；　filth；　who　hated　and　despised　the
poverty；　who　was　ashamed　for　his　wife　and　daughter　to　see　his
father　and　mother；　swung　his　legs　off　the　stove　and　said　in　an
irritable；　tearful　voice；　addressing　his　mother：

〃You　must　not　beat　　her！　You　have　no　right　to　beat　he　r！〃

〃You　lie　rotting　on　the　stove；　you　wretched　creature！〃　Fyokla
shouted　at　him　spitefully。　〃The　devil　brought　you　all　on　us；
eating　us　out　of　house　and　home。〃

Sasha　and　Motka　and　all　the　little　girls　in　the　hut　huddled　on
the　stove　in　the　corner　behind　Nikolay's　back；　and　from　that
refuge　listened　in　silent　terror；　and　the　beating　of　their　little
hearts　could　be　distinctly　heard。　Whenever　there　is　someone　in　a
family　who　has　long　been　ill；　and　hopelessly　ill；　there　come
painful　moments　when　all　timidly；　secretly；　at　the　bottom　of
their　hearts　long　for　his　death；　and　only　the　children　fear　the
death　of　someone　near　them；　and　always　feel　horrified　at　the
thought　of　it。　And　now　the　children；　with　bated　breath；　with　a
mournful　look　on　their　faces；　gazed　at　Nikolay　and　thought　that
he　was　soon　to　die；　and　they　wanted　to　cry　and　t