the man who was afraid-第41节

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follow；　feeling　that　his　bridle　is　off；　man　will　then　rush　up　higher　than　his　ears；　and　like　a　feather　will　fly　hither　and　thither。　He'll　believe　himself　to　be　a　miracle　worker；　and　then　he'll　start　to　show　his　spirit。〃

The　old　man　paused　awhile　and；　lowering　his　voice；　went　on；　with　a　malicious　smile：

〃But　there　is　very　little　of　that　creative　spirit　in　him！　He'll　bristle　up　for　a　day　or　two；　stretch　himself　on　all　sidesand　the　poor　fellow　will　soon　grow　weak。　For　his　heart　is　rottenhe；　he；　he！　Here；　he；　he；　he！　The　dear　fellow　will　be　caught　by　the　real；　worthy　people；　by　those　real　people　who　are　competent　to　be　the　actual　civil　masters；　who　will　manage　life　not　with　a　rod　nor　with　a　pen；　but　with　a　finger　and　with　brains。

〃What；　they　will　say。　Have　you　grown　tired；　gentlemen？　What；　they　will　say；　your　spleens　cannot　stand　a　real　fire；　can　they？　So　〃and；　raising　his　voice；　the　old　man　concluded　his　speech　in　an　authoritative　tone：

〃Well；　then；　now；　you　rabble；　hold　your　tongues；　and　don't　squeak！　Or　we'll　shake　you　off　the　earth；　like　worms　from　a　tree！　Silence；　dear　fellows！　Ha；　ha；　ha！　That's　how　it's　going　to　happen；　Lubavka！　He；　he；　he！〃

The　old　man　was　in　a　merry　mood。　His　wrinkles　quivered；　and　carried　away　by　his　words；　he　trembled；　closed　his　eyes　now　and　then；　and　smacked　his　lips　as　though　tasting　his　own　wisdom。

〃And　then　those　who　will　take　the　upper　hand　in　the　confusion　will　arrange　life　wisely；　after　their　own　fashion。　Then　things　won't　go　at　random；　but　as　if　by　rote。　It's　a　pity　that　we　shall　not　live　to　see　it！〃

The　old　man's　words　fell　one　after　another　upon　Lubov　like　meshes　of　a　big　strong　netthey　fell　and　enmeshed　her；　and　the　girl；　unable　to　free　herself　from　them；　maintained　silence；　dizzied　by　her　father's　words。　Staring　into　his　face　with　an　intense　look；　she　sought　support　for　herself　in　his　words　and　heard　in　them　something　similar　to　what　she　had　read　in　books；　and　which　seemed　to　her　the　real　truth。　But　the　malignant；　triumphant　laughter　of　her　father　stung　her　heart；　and　the　wrinkles；　which　seemed　to　creep　about　on　his　face　like　so　many　dark　little　snakes；　inspired　her　with　a　certain　fear　for　herself　in　his　presence。　She　felt　that　he　was　turning　her　aside　from　what　had　seemed　so　simple　and　so　easy　in　her　dreams。

〃Papa！〃　she　suddenly　asked　the　old　man；　in　obedience　to　a　thought　and　a　desire　that　unexpectedly　flashed　through　her　mind。　〃Papa！　and　what　sort　of　a　manwhat　in　your　opinion　is　Taras？〃

Mayakin　shuddered。　His　eyebrows　began　to　move　angrily；　he　fixed　his　keen；　small　eyes　on　his　daughter's　face　and　asked　her　drily：

〃What　sort　of　talk　is　this？〃

〃Must　he　not　even　be　mentioned？〃　said　Lubov；　softly　and　confusedly。

I　don't　want　to　speak　of　himand　I　also　advise　you　not　to　speak　of　him！　〃the　old　man　threatened　her　with　his　finger　and　lowered　his　head　with　a　gloomy　frown。　But　when　he　said　that　he　did　not　want　to　speak　of　his　son；　he　evidently　did　not　understand　himself　correctly；　for　after　a　minute's　silence　he　said　sternly　and　angrily：

〃Taraska；　too；　is　a　sore。　Life　is　breathing　upon　you；　milksops；　and　you　cannot　discriminate　its　genuine　scents；　and　you　swallow　all　sorts　of　filth；　wherefore　there　is　trouble　in　your　heads。　That's　why　you　are　not　competent　to　do　anything；　and　you　are　unhappy　because　of　this　incompetence。　Taraska。　Yes。　He　must　be　about　forty　now。　He　is　lost　to　me！　A　galley…slaveis　that　my　son？　A　blunt…snouted　young　pig。　He　would　not　speak　to　his　father；　andhe　stumbled。〃

〃What　did　he　do？〃　asked　Lubov；　eagerly　listening　to　the　old　man's　words。

〃Who　knows？　It　may　be　that　now　he　cannot　understand　himself；　if　he　became　sensible；　and　he　must　have　become　a　sensible　man；　he's　the　son　of　a　father　who's　not　stupid；　and　then　he　must　have　suffered　not　a　little。　They　coddle　them；　the　nihilists！　They　should　have　turned　them　over　to　me。　I'd　show　them　what　to　do。　Into　the　desert！　Into　the　isolated　placesmarch！　Come；　now；　my　wise　fellows；　arrange　life　there　according　to　your　own　will！　Go　ahead！　And　as　authorities　over　them　I'd　station　the　robust　peasants。　Well；　now；　honourable　gentlemen；　you　were　given　to　eat　and　to　drink；　you　were　given　an　educationwhat　have　you　learned？　Pay　your　debts；　pray。　Yes；　I　would　not　spend　a　broken　grosh　on　them。　I　would　squeeze　all　the　price　out　of　themgive　it　up！　You　must　not　set　a　man　at　naught。　It　is　not　enough　to　imprison　him！　You　transgressed　the　law；　and　are　a　gentleman？　Never　mind；　you　must　work。　Out　of　a　single　seed　comes　an　ear　of　corn；　and　a　man　ought　not　be　permitted　to　perish　without　being　of　use！　An　economical　carpenter　finds　a　place　for　each　and　every　chip　of　woodjust　so　must　every　man　be　profitably　used　up；　and　used　up　entire；　to　the　very　last　vein。　All　sorts　of　trash　have　a　place　in　life；　and　man　is　never　trash。　Eh！　it　is　bad　when　power　lives　without　reason；　nor　is　it　good　when　reason　lives　without　power。　Take　Foma　now。　Who　is　coming　theregive　a　look。〃

Turning　around；　Lubov　noticed　the　captain　of　the　〃Yermak；〃　Yefim；　coming　along　the　garden　path。　He　had　respectfully　removed　his　cap　and　bowed　to　her。　There　was　a　hopelessly　guilty　expression　on　his　face　and　he　seemed　abashed。　Yakov　Tarasovich　recognized　him　and；　instantly　grown　alarmed；　he　cried：

〃Where　are　you　coming　from？　What　has　happened？〃

〃II　have　come　to　you！〃　said　Yefim；　stopping　short　at　the　table；　with　a　low　bow。

〃Well；　I　see；　you've　come　to　me。　What's　the　matter？　Where's　the　steamer？〃

〃The　steamer　is　there！〃　Yefim　thrust　his　hand　somewhere　into　the　air　and　heavily　shifted　from　one　foot　to　the　other。

〃Where　is　it；　devil？　Speak　coherentlywhat　has　happened？〃　cried　the　old　man；　enraged。

〃Soa　misfortune；　Yakov。〃

〃Have　you　been　wrecked？〃

〃No；　God　saved　us。〃

〃Burned　up？　Well；　speak　more　quickly。〃

Yefim　drew　air　into　his　chest　and　said　slowly：

〃Barge　No。　9　was　sunksmashed　up。　One　man's　back　was　broken；　and　one　is　altogether　missing；　so　that　he　must　have　drowned。　About　five　more　were　injured；　but　not　so　very　badly；　though　some　were　disabled。〃

〃So…o！〃　drawled　out　Mayakin；　measuring　the　captain　with　an　ill…　omened　look。

〃Well；　Yefimushka；　I'll　strip　your　skin　off〃

〃It　wasn't　I　who　did　it！〃　said　Yefim；　quickly。

〃Not　you？〃　cried　the　old　man；　shaking　with　rage。　〃Who　then？〃

〃The　master　himself。〃

〃Foma？　And　you。　Where　were　you？〃

〃I　was　lying　in　the　hatchway。〃

〃Ah！　You　were　lying。〃

〃I　was　bound　there。〃

〃Wha…at？〃　screamed　the　old　man　in　a　shrill　voice。

〃Allow　me　to　tell　you　everything　as　it　happened。　He　was　drunk　and　he　shouted：　〃'Get　away！　I'll　take　command　myself！'　I　said　'I　can't！　I　am　the　captain。'　'Bind　him！'　said　he。　And　when　they　had　bound　me；　they　lowered　me　into　the　hatchway；　with　the　sailors。　And　as　the　master　was　drunk；　he　wanted　to　have　some　fun。　A　fleet　of　boats　was　coming　toward　us。　Six　empty　barges　towed　by　'Cheruigorez。'　So　Foma　Ignatyich　blocked　their　way。　They　whistled。　More　than　once。　I　must　tell　the　truththey　whistled！〃

〃Well？〃

〃Well；　and　they　couldn't　manage　itthe　two　barges　in　front　crashed　into　us。　And　as　they　struck　the　side　of　our　ninth；　we　were　smashed　to　pieces。　And　the　two　barges　were　also　smashed。　But　we　fared　much　worse。〃

Mayakin　rose　from　the　chair　and　burst　into　jarring；　angry　laughter。　And　Yefim　sighed；　and；　outstretching　his　hands；　said：xxx〃He　has　a　very　violent　character。　When　he　is　sober　he　is　silent　most　of　the　time；　and　walks　around　thoughtfully；　but　when　he　wets　his　springs　with　winethen　he　breaks　loose。　Then　he　is　not　master　of　himself　and　of　his　businessbut　their　wild　enemy　you　must　excuse　me！　And　I　want　to　leave；　Yakov　Tarasovich！　I　am　not　used　to　being　without　a　master；　I　cannot　live　without　a　master！〃

〃Keep　quiet！〃　said　Mayakin；　sternly。　〃Where's　Foma？〃

〃There；　at　the　same　place。　Immediately　after　the　accident；　he　came　to　himself　and　at　once　sent　for　workmen。　They'll　lift　the　barge。　They　may　have　started　by　this　time。〃

〃Is　he　there　alone？〃　asked　Mayakin；　lowering　his　head。

〃Not　quite；〃　replied　Yefim；　softly；　glancing　stealthily　at　Lubov。

〃Really？〃

〃There's　a　lady　with　him。　A　dark　one。〃

〃So。〃

〃It　looks　as　though　the　woman　is　out　of　her　wits；〃　said　Yefim；　with　a　sigh。　〃She's　forever　singing。　She　sings　very　well。　It's　very　captivating。〃

〃I　am　not　asking　you　about　her！〃　cried　Mayakin；　angrily。　The　wrinkles　of　his　face　were　painfully　quivering；　and　it　seemed　to　Lubov　that　her　father　was　about　to　weep。

〃Calm　yourself；　papa！〃　she　entreated　caressingly。　〃Maybe　the　loss　isn't　so　great。〃

〃Not　great？〃　cried　Yakov　Tarasovich　in　a　ringing　voice。　〃What　do　you　understand；　you　fool？　Is　it　only　that　the　barge　was　smashed？　Eh；　you！　A　man　is　lost！　That's　what　it　is！　And　he　is　essential　to　me！　I　need　him；　dull　devils　that　you　are！〃　The　old　man　shook　his　head　angrily　and　with　brisk　steps　walked　off　along　the　garden　path　leading　toward　the　house。

And　Foma　was　at　this　time　about　four　hundred　versts　away　from　his　godfather；　in　a　village　hut；　on　the　shore　of　the　Volga。　He　had　just　awakened　from　sleep；　and　lying　on　the　floor；　on　a　bed　of　fresh　hay；　in　the　middle　of　the　hut；　he　gazed　gloomily　out　of　the　window　at　the　sky；　which　was　covered　with　gray；　scattered　clouds。

The　wind　was　tearing　them　asunder　and　driving　them　somewhere；　heavy　and　weary；　one　ov