the man who was afraid-第44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！


ling　himself　superfluous　to　this　great　toil。　It　vexed　him　to　feel　that　he　was　superfluous　among　men；　and　the　more　closely　he　watched　them；　the　more　intense　was　this　vexation。　And　he　was　stung　most　by　the　thought　that　all　this　was　being　done　for　him。　And　yet　he　was　out　of　place　there。

〃Where　is　my　place；　then？〃　he　thought　gloomily。　〃Where　is　my　work？　Am　I；　then；　some　deformed　being？　I　have　just　as　much　strength　as　any　of　them。　But　of　what　use　is　it　to　me？〃The　chains　clanged；　the　pulleys　groaned；　the　blows　of　the　axes　resounded　loud　over　the　river；　and　the　barges　rocked　from　the　shocks　of　the　waves；　but　to　Foma　it　seemed　that　he　was　rocking　not　because　the　barge　was　rocking　under　his　feet；　but　rather　because　he　was　not　able　to　stand　firmly　anywhere；　he　was　not　destined　to　do　so。

The　contractor；　a　small…sized　peasant　with　a　small　pointed　gray　beard；　and　with　narrow　little　eyes　on　his　gray　wrinkled　face；　came　up　to　him　and　said；　not　loud；　but　pronouncing　his　words　with　a　certain　m　the　bottom　of　the　river。　He　wished　that　they　might　not　succeed；　that　they　might　feel　embarrassed　in　his　presence；　and　a　wicked　thought　flashed　through　his　mind：

〃Perhaps　the　chains　will　break。〃

〃Boys！　Attention！〃　shouted　the　contractor。　〃Start　all　together。　God　bless　us！〃　And　suddenly；　clasping　his　hands　in　the　air；　he　cried　in　a　shrill　voice：

〃Lethergo…o…o！〃

The　labourers　took　up　his　shout；　and　all　cried　out　in　one　voice；　with　excitement　and　exertion：

〃Let　her　go！　She　moves。〃

The　pulleys　squeaked　and　creaked；　the　chains　clanked；　strained　under　the　heavy　weight　that　suddenly　fell　upon　them；　and　the　labourers；　bracing　their　chests　against　the　handle　of　the　windlasses；　roared　and　tramped　heavily。　The　waves　splashed　noisily　between　the　barges　as　though　unwilling　to　give　up　their　prize　to　the　men。　Everywhere　about　Foma；　chains　and　ropes　were　stretched　and　they　quivered　from　the　strainthey　were　creeping　somewhere　across　the　deck；　past　his　feet；　like　huge　gray　worms；　they　were　lifted　upward；　link　after　link；　falling　back　with　a　rattling　noise；　and　all　these　sounds　were　drowned　by　the　deafening　roaring　of　the　labourers。

〃It　goes；　it　goes；　it　goes；〃　they　all　sang　in　unison；　triumphantly。　But　the　ringing　voice　of　the　contractor　pierced　the　deep　wave　of　their　voices；　and　cut　it　even　as　a　knife　cuts　bread。

〃My　boys！　Go　ahead；　all　at　once；　all　at　once。〃

Foma　was　seized　with　a　strange　emotion；　passionately　he　now　longed　to　mingle　with　this　excited　roaring　of　the　labourers；　which　was　as　broad　and　as　powerful　as　the　riverto　blend　with　this　irritating；　creaking；　squeaking；　clanging　of　iron　and　turbulent　splashing　of　waves。　Perspiration　came　out　on　his　face　from　the　intensity　of　his　desire；　and　suddenly　pale　from　agitation；　he　tore　himself　away　from　the　mast；　and　rushed　toward　the　windlasses　with　big　strides。

〃All　at　once！　At　once！〃　he　cried　in　a　fierce　voice。　When　he　reached　the　lever　of　the　windlass；　he　dashed　his　chest　against　it　with　all　his　might；　and　not　feeling　the　pain；　he　began　to　go　around　the　windlass；　roaring；　and　firmly　stamping　his　feet　against　the　deck。　Something　powerful　and　burning　rushed　into　his　breast；　replacing　the　efforts　which　he　spent　while　turning　the　windlass…lever！　Inexpressible　joy　raged　within　him　and　forced　itself　outside　in　an　agitated　cry。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　alone；　that　only　his　strength　was　turning　the　lever；　thus　raising　the　weight；　and　that　his　strength　was　growing　and　growing。　Stooping；　and　lowering　his　head；　like　a　bull　he　massed　the　power　of　the　weight；　which　threw　him　back；　but　yielded　to　him；　nevertheless。　Each　step　forward　excited　him　the　more；　each　expended　effort　was　immediately　replaced　in　him　by　a　flood　of　burning　and　vehement　pride。　His　head　reeled；　his　eyes　were　blood…　shot；　he　saw　nothing；　he　only　felt　that　they　were　yielding　to　him；　that　he　would　soon　conquer；　that　he　would　overthrow　with　his　strength　something　huge　which　obstructed　his　waywould　overthrow；　conquer　and　then　breathe　easily　and　freely；　full　of　proud　delight。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　experienced　such　a　powerful；　spiritualizing　sensation；　and　he　drank　it　with　all　the　strength　of　a　hungry；　thirsty　soul；　he　was　intoxicated　by　it　and　he　gave　vent　to　his　joy　in　loud；　exulting　cries　in　unison　with　the　workers：

〃It　goesit　goesit　goes。〃

〃Hold　on！　Fasten！　Hold　on；　boys！〃

Something　dashed　against　Foma's　chest；　and　he　was　hurled　backward。

〃I　congratulate　you　on　a　successful　result；　Foma　Ignatyich！〃　the　contractor　congratulated　him　and　the　wrinkles　quivered　on　his　face　in　cheerful　beams。

〃Thank　God！　You　must　be　quite　tired　now？〃

Cold　wind　blew　in　Foma's　face。　A　contented；　boastful　bustle　was　in　the　air　about　him；　swearing　at　one　another　in　a　friendly　way；　merry；　with　smiles　on　their　perspiring　brows；　the　peasants　approached　him　and　surrounded　him　closely。　He　smiled　in　embarrassment：　the　excitement　within　him　had　not　yet　calmed　down　and　this　hindered　him　from　understanding　what　had　happened　and　why　all　those　who　surrounded　him　were　so　merry　and　contented。

〃We've　raised　a　hundred　and　seventy　thousand　puds　as　if　we　plucked　a　radish　from　a　garden…bed！〃　said　some　one。

〃We　ought　to　get　a　vedro　of　whisky　from　our　master。〃

Foma；　standing　on　a　heap　of　cable；　looked　over　the　heads　of　the　workers　and　saw；　between　the　barges；　side　by　side　with　them；　stood　a　third　barge；　black；　slippery；　damaged；　wrapped　in　chains。　It　was　warped　all　over；　it　seemed　as　though　it　swelled　from　some　terrible　disease　and；　impotent；　clumsy；　it　was　suspended　between　its　companions；　leaning　against　them。　Its　broken　mast　stood　out　mournfully　in　the　centre；　reddish　streams　of　water；　like　blood；　were　running　across　the　deck；　which　was　covered　with　stains　of　rust。　Everywhere　on　the　deck　lay　heaps　of　iron；　of　black；　wet　stumps　of　wood；　and　of　ropes。

〃Raised？〃　asked　Foma；　not　knowing　what　to　say　at　the　sight　of　this　ugly；　heavy　mass；　and　again　feeling　offended　at　the　thought　that　merely　for　the　sake　of　raising　this　dirty；　bruised　monster　from　the　water；　his　soul　had　foamed　up　with　such　joy。

〃How's　the　barge？〃　asked　Foma；　indefinitely；　addressing　the　contractor。

〃It's　pretty　good！　We　must　unload　right　away；　and　put　a　company　of　about　twenty　carpenters　to　work　on　itthey'll　bring　it　quickly　into　shape　I　〃said　the　contractor　in　a　consoling　tone。

And　the　light…haired　fellow；　gaily　and　broadly　smiling　into　Foma's　face；　asked：

〃Are　we　going　to　have　any　vodka？〃

〃Can't　you　wait？　You　have　time！〃　said　the　contractor；　sternly。　〃Don't　you　seethe　man　is　tired。〃

Then　the　peasants　began　to　speak：

〃Of　course；　he　is　tired！

〃That　wasn't　easy　work！〃

〃Of　course；　one　gets　tired　if　he　isn't　used　to　work。〃

〃It　is　even　hard　to　eat　gruel　if　you　are　not　used　to　it。〃

〃I　am　not　tired；〃　said　Foma；　gloomily；　and　again　were　heard　the　respectful　exclamations　of　the　peasants；　as　they　surrounded　him　more　closely。

〃Work；　if　one　likes　it；　is　a　pleasant　thing。〃

〃It's　just　like　play。〃

〃It's　like　playing　with　a　woman。〃

But　the　light…haired　fellow　persisted　in　his　request：

〃Your　Honour！　You　ought　to　treat　us　to　a　vedro　of　vodka；　eh？〃　he　said；　smiling　and　sighing。

Foma　looked　at　the　bearded　faces　before　him　and　felt　like　saying　something　offensive　to　them。　But　somehow　everything　became　confused　in　his　brain；　he　found　no　thoughts　in　it　and；　finally；　without　giving　himself　an　account　of　his　words；　said　angrily：

〃All　you　want　is　to　drink　all　the　time！　It　makes　no　difference　to　you　what　you　do！　You　should　have　thoughtwhy？　to　what　purpose？　Eh；　you！〃

There　was　an　expression　of　perplexity　on　the　faces　of　those　that　surrounded　him；　blue　and　red；　bearded　figures　began　to　sigh；　scratch　themselves；　shift　themselves　from　one　foot　to　another。　Others　cast　a　hopeless　glance　at　Foma　and　turned　away。

〃Yes；　yes！〃　said　the　contractor；　with　a　sigh。　〃That　wouldn't　harm！　That　isto　thinkwhy　and　how。　These　are　words　of　wisdom。〃

The　light…haired　fellow　had　a　different　opinion　on　the　matter；　smiling　kind…heartedly；　he　waved　his　hand　and　said：

〃We　don't　have　to　think　over　our　work！　If　we　have　itwe　do　it！　Our　business　is　simple！　When　a　rouble　is　earnedthank　God！　we　can　do　everything。〃

〃And　do　you　know　what's　necessary　to　do？〃　questioned　Foma；　irritated　by　the　contradiction。

〃Everything　is　necessarythis　and　that。〃

〃But　where's　the　sense？〃

〃There's　but　one　and　the　same　sense　in　everything　for　our　class　when　you　have　earned　for　bread　and　taxeslive！　And　when　there's　something　to　drink；　into　the　bargain。〃

〃Eh；　you！〃　exclaimed　Foma；　with　contempt。　〃You're　also　talking！　What　do　you　understand？〃

〃Is　it　our　business　to　understand？〃　said　the　light…haired　fellow；　with　a　nod　of　the　head。　It　now　bored　him　to　speak　to　Foma。　He　suspected　that　he　was　unwilling　to　treat　them　to　vodka　and　he　was　somewhat　angry。

〃That's　it！〃　said　Foma；　instructively；　pleased　that　the　fellow　yielded　to　him；　and　not　noticing　the　cross；　sarcastic　glances。　〃And　he　who　understands　feels　that　it　is　necessary　to　do　everlasting　work！〃

〃That　is；　for　God！〃　explained　the　contractor；　eyeing　the　peasants；　and　added；　with　a　devout　sigh：

〃That's　true。　Oh；　how　true　that　is！〃

And　Foma　was　inspired　with　the　desire　to　say　something　correct　and　important；　after　which　these　peo