the man who was afraid-第73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！


　of　the　failure　of　his　attack　on　them。　But　as　soon　as　he　began　to　speak　of　each　one　separately；　there　was　a　swift　and　striking　change　in　the　relation　of　his　hearers　toward　him。

When　Kononov　sank　heavily　in　the　chair；　as　though　he　were　unable　to　withstand　the　weight　of　Foma's　harsh　words；　Foma　noticed　that　bitter　and　malicious　smiles　crossed　the　faces　of　some　of　the　merchants。　He　heard　some　one's　whisper　of　astonishment　and　approval：

〃That's　well　aimed！〃

This　whisper　gave　strength　to　Foma；　and　he　confidently　and　passionately　began　to　hurl　reproaches；　jeers　and　abuses　at　those　who　met　his　eyes。　He　growled　joyously；　seeing　that　his　words　were　taking　effect。　He　was　listened　to　silently；　attentively；　several　men　moved　closer　toward　him。

Exclamations　of　protest　were　heard；　but　these　were　brief；　not　loud；　and　each　time　Foma　shouted　some　one's　name；　all　became　silent；　listening；　casting　furtive；　malicious　glances　in　the　direction　of　their　accused　comrade。

Bobrov　laughed　perplexedly；　but　his　small　eyes　bored　into　Foma　as　gimlets。　And　Lup　Reznikov；　waving　his　hands；　hopped　about　awkwardly　and；　short　of　breath；　said：

〃Be　my　witnesses。　What's　this！　No…o！　I　will　not　forgive　this！　I'll　go　to　court。　What's　that？〃　and　suddenly　he　screamed　in　a　shrill　voice；　out…stretching　his　hand　toward　Foma：

〃Bind　him！〃

Foma　was　laughing。

〃You　cannot　bind　the　truth；　you　can't　do　it！　Even　bound；　truth　will　not　grow　dumb！〃

〃Go…o…od！〃　drawled　out　Kononov　in　a　dull；　broken　voice。

〃See　here；　gentlemen　of　the　merchant　class！〃　rang　out　Mayakin's　voice。　〃I　ask！　you　to　admire　him；　that's　the　kind　of　a　fellow　he　is！〃

One　after　another　the　merchants　moved　toward　Foma；　and　on　their　faces　he　saw　wrath；　curiosity；　a　malicious　feeling　of　satisfaction；　fear。　Some　one　of　those　modest　people　among　whom　Foma　was　sitting；　whispered　to　him：

〃Give　it　to　them。　God　bless　you。　Go　ahead！　That　will　be　to　your　credit。〃

〃Robustov！〃　cried　Foma。　〃What　are　you　laughing　at？　What　makes　you　glad？　You　will　also　go　to　the　galleys。〃

〃Put　him　ashore！〃　suddenly　roared　Robustov；　springing　to　his　feet。

And　Kononov　shouted　to　the　captain：

〃Back！　To　the　town！　To　the　Governor。〃

And　someone　insinuatingly；　in　a　voice　trembling　with　feeling：

〃That's　a　collusive　agreement。　That　was　done　on　purpose。　He　was　instigated；　and　made　drunk　to　give　him　courage。〃

〃No；　it's　a　revolt！〃

〃Bind　him！　Just　bind　him！〃

Foma　grasped　a　champagne　bottle　and　swung　it　in　the　air。

〃Come　on　now！　No；　it　seems　that　you　will　have　to　listen　to　me。〃

With　renewed　fury；　frantic　with　joy　at　seeing　these　people　shrinking　and　quailing　under　the　blows　of　his　words；　Foma　again　started　to　shout　names　and　vulgar　oaths；　and　the　exasperated　tumult　was　hushed　once　more。　The　men；　whom　Foma　did　not　know；　gazed　at　him　with　eager　curiosity；　with　approval；　while　some　looked　at　him　even　with　joyous　surprise。　One　of　them；　a　gray…　haired　little　old　man　with　rosy　cheeks　and　small　mouse　eyes；　suddenly　turned　toward　the　merchants；　who　had　been　abused　by　Foma；　and　said　in　a　sweet　voice：

〃These　are　words　from　the　conscience！　That's　nothing！　You　must　endure　it。　That's　a　prophetic　accusation。　We　are　sinful。　To　tell　the　truth　we　are　very〃

He　was　hissed；　and　Zubov　even　jostled　him　on　the　shoulder。　He　made　a　low　bow　and　disappeared　in　the　crowd。

〃Zubov！〃　cried　Foma。　〃How　many　people　have　you　fleeced　and　turned　to　beggars？　Do　you　ever　dream　of　Ivan　Petrov　Myakinnikov；　who　strangled　himself　because　of　you？　Is　it　true　that　you　steal　at　every　mass　ten　roubles　out　of　the　church　box？〃

Zubov　had　not　expected　the　attack；　and　he　remained　as　petrified；　with　his　hand　uplifted。　But　he　immediately　began　to　scream　in　a　shrill　voice；　as　he　jumped　up　quickly：

〃Ah！　You　turn　against　me　also？　Against　me；　too？

And　suddenly　he　puffed　up　his　cheeks　and　furiously　began　to　shake　his　fist　at　Foma；　as　he　screamed　in　a　shrill　voice：

〃The　fool　says　in　his　heart　there　is　no　God！　I'll　go　to　the　bishop！　Infidel！　You'll　get　the　galleys！〃

The　tumult　on　the　steamer　grew；　and　at　the　sight　of　these　enraged；　perplexed　and　insulted　people；　Foma　felt　himself　a　fairy…tale　giant；　slaying　monsters。　They　bustled　about；　waving　their　arms；　talking　to　one　anothersome　red　with　anger；　others　pale；　yet　all　equally　powerless　to　check　the　flow　of　his　jeers　at　them。

〃Send　the　sailors　over　here！〃　cried　Reznikov；　tugging　Kononov　by　the　shoulder。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Ilya？　Ah？　Have　you　invited　us　to　be　ridiculed？〃

〃Against　one　puppy；〃　screamed　Zubov。

A　crowd　had　gathered　around　Yakov　Tarasovitch　Mayakin；　and　listened　to　his　quiet　speech　with　anger；　and　nodded　their　heads　affirmatively。

〃Act；　Yakov！〃　said　Robustov；　loudly。　〃We　are　all　witnesses。　Go　ahead！〃

And　above　the　general　tumult　of　voices　rang　out　Foma's　loud；　accusing　voice：

〃It　was　not　life　that　you　have　builtyou　have　made　a　cesspool！　You　have　bred　filth　and　putrefaction　by　your　deeds！　Have　you　a　conscience？　Do　you　remember　God？　Moneythat's　your　God！　And　your　conscience　you　have　driven　away。　Whither　have　you　driven　it　away？　Blood…suckers！　You　live　on　the　strength　of　others。　You　work　with　other　people's　hands！　You　shall　pay　for　all　this！　When　you　perish；　you　will　be　called　to　account　for　everything！　For　everything；　even　to　a　teardrop。　How　many　people　have　wept　blood　at　those　great　deeds　of　yours？　And　according　to　your　deserts；　even　hell　is　too　good　a　place　for　you；　rascals。　Not　in　fire；　but　in　boiling　mud　you　shall　be　scorched。　Your　sufferings　shall　last　for　centuries。　The　devils　will　hurl　you　into　a　boiler　and　will　pour　into　itha；　ha；　ha！　they'll　pour　into　itha；　ha；　ha！　Honourable　merchant　class！　Builders　of　Life。　Oh；　you　devils！〃

Foma　burst　into　ringing　laughter；　and；　holding　his　sides；　staggered；　tossing　his　head　up　high。

At　that　moment　several　men　quickly　exchanged　glances；　simultaneously　rushed　on　Foma　and　downed　him　with　their　weight。　A　racket　ensued。

〃Now　you're　caught！〃　ejaculated　some　one　in　a　suffocating　voice。

〃Ah！　Is　that　the　way　you're　doing　it？〃　cried　Foma；　hoarsely。

For　about　a　half　a　minute　a　whole　heap　of　black　bodies　bustled　about　on　one　spot；　heavily　stamping　their　feet；　and　dull　exclamations　were　heard：

〃Throw　him　to　the　ground！〃

〃Hold　his　hand；　his　hand！　Oh！〃

〃By　the　beard？〃

〃Get　napkins；　bind　him　with　napkins。〃

〃You'll　bite；　will　you？〃

〃So！　Well；　how's　it？　Aha！〃

〃Don't　strike！　Don't　dare　to　strike。〃

〃Ready！〃

〃How　strong　he　is！〃

〃Let's　carry　him　over　there　toward　the　side。〃

〃Out　in　the　fresh　air；　ha；　ha！〃

They　dragged　Foma　away　to　one　side；　and　having　placed　him　against　the　wall　of　the　captain's　cabin；　walked　away　from　him；　adjusting　their　costumes；　and　mopping　their　sweat…covered　brows。　Fatigued　by　the　struggle；　and　exhausted　by　the　disgrace　of　his　defeat；　Foma　lay　there　in　silence；　tattered；　soiled　with　something；　firmly　bound；　hand　and　foot；　with　napkins　and　towels。　With　round；　blood…shot　eyes　he　gazed　at　the　sky；　they　were　dull　and　lustreless；　as　those　of　an　idiot；　and　his　chest　heaved　unevenly　and　with　difficulty。

Now　came　their　turn　to　mock　him。　Zubov　began。　He　walked　up　to　him；　kicked　him　in　the　side　and　asked　in　a　soft　voice；　all　trembling　with　the　pleasure　of　revenge：

〃Well；　thunder…like　prophet；　how　is　it？　Now　you　can　taste　the　sweetness　of　Babylonian　captivity；　he；　he；　he！〃

〃Wait；〃　said　Foma；　hoarsely；　without　looking　at　him。　〃Wait　until　I'm　rested。　You　have　not　tied　up　my　tongue。〃

But　saying　this；　Foma　understood　that　he　could　no　longer　do　anything；　nor　say　anything。　And　that　not　because　they　had　bound　him；　but　because　something　had　burned　out　within　him；　and　his　soul　had　become　dark　and　empty。

Zubov　was　soon　joined　by　Reznikov。　Then　one　after　another　the　others　began　to　draw　near。　Bobrov；　Kononov　and　several　others　preceded　by　Yakov　Mayakin　went　to　the　cabin；　anxiously　discussing　something　in　low　tones。

The　steamer　was　sailing　toward　the　town　at　full　speed。　The　bottles　on　the　tables　trembled　and　rattled　from　the　vibration　of　the　steamer；　and　Foma　heard　this　jarring；　plaintive　sound　above　everything　else。　Near　him　stood　a　throng　of　people；　saying　malicious；　offensive　things。

But　Foma　saw　them　as　though　through　a　fog；　and　their　words　did　not　touch　him　to　the　quick。　A　vast；　bitter　feeling　was　now　springing　up　within　him；　from　the　depth　of　his　soul；　he　followed　its　growth　and　though　he　did　not　yet　understand　it；　he　already　experienced　something　melancholy　and　degrading。

〃Just　think；　you　charlatan！　What　have　you　done　to　yourself？〃　said　Reznikov。　〃What　sort　of　a　life　is　now　possible　to　you？　Do　you　know　that　now　no　one　of　us　would　care　even　as　much　as　to　spit　on　you？〃

〃What　have　I　done？〃　Foma　tried　to　understand。　The　merchants　stood　around　him　in　a　dense；　dark　mass。

〃Well；〃　said　Yashchurov；　〃now；　Fomka；　your　work　is　done。〃

〃Wait；　we'll　see；〃　bellowed　Zubov　in　a　low　voice。

〃Let　me　free！〃　said　Foma。

〃Well；　no！　we　thank　you　humbly！〃

〃Untie　me。〃

〃It's　all　right！　You　can　lie　that　way　as　well。〃

〃Call　up　my　godfather。〃

But　Yakov　Tarasovich　came　up　at　this　moment。　He　came　up；　stopped　near　Foma；　sternly　surveyed　with　his　eyes　the　outstretched　figure　of　his　godson；　and　heaved　a　deep　sigh。

〃Well；　Foma；〃　he　began。

〃Order　them　to　unbin