the witch and other stories(女巫)-第25节
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little window； he was angry and gave me a box on the ear。〃
〃Foolish； pitiful man 。 。 。〃 whispered Pavel Ivanitch。 〃You don't
understand anything。〃
He was utterly exhausted by the tossing of the ship and closed his eyes；
his head alternately fell back and dropped forward on his breast。 Several
times he tried to lie down but nothing came of it； his difficulty in breathing
prevented it。
〃And what did you hit the four Chinamen for？〃 he asked a little while
afterwards。
〃Oh； nothing。 They came into the yard and I hit them。〃
And a stillness followed。 。 。 。 The card…players had been playing for
two hours with enthusiasm and loud abuse of one another； but the motion
of the ship overcame them； too； they threw aside the cards and lay down。
Again Gusev saw the big pond； the brick building； the village。 。 。 。 Again
the sledge was coming along； again Vanka was laughing and Akulka； silly
little thing； threw open her fur coat and stuck her feet out； as much as to
say： 〃Look； good people； my snowboots are not like Vanka's； they are new
ones。〃
〃Five years old； and she has no sense yet；〃 Gusev muttered in delirium。
〃Instead of kicking your legs you had better come and get your soldier
uncle a drink。 I will give you something nice。〃
Then Andron with a flintlock gun on his sh oulder was carrying a hare
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he had killed； and he was followed by the decrepit old Jew Isaitchik； who
offers to barter the hare for a piece of soap； then the black calf in the shed；
then Domna sewing at a shirt and crying about something； and then again
the bull's head without eyes； black smoke。 。 。 。
Overhead someone gave a loud shout； several sailors ran by； they
seemed to be dragging something bulky over the deck； something 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
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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
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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。
