the witch and other stories(女巫)-第27节
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onwards； cutting millions of waves in its path； it had no fear of the
darkness nor the wind； nor of space； nor of solitude； caring for nothing；
and if the ocean had its people； this monster would have crushed them； too；
without distinction of saints or sinners。
〃Where are we now？〃 asked Gusev。
〃I don't know。 We must be in the ocean。〃
〃There is no sight of land。 。 。〃
〃No indeed！ They say we shan't see it for seven days。〃
The two soldiers watched the white foam with the phosphorus light on
it and were silent； thinking。 Gusev was the first to break the silence。
〃There is nothing to be afraid of；〃 he said； 〃only one is full of dread as
though one were sitting in a dark forest； but if； for instance； they let a boat
down on to the water this minute and an officer ordered me to go a
hundred miles over the sea to catch fish； I'd go。 Or； let's say； if a Christian
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were to fall into the water this minute； I'd go in after him。 A German or a
Chinaman I wouldn't save； but I'd go in after a Christian。〃
〃And are you afraid to die？〃
〃Yes。 I am sorry for the folks at home。 My brother at home； you know；
isn't steady； he drinks； he beats his wife for nothing； he does not honour
his parents。 Everything will go to ruin without me； and father and my old
mother will be begging their bread； I shouldn't wonder。 But my legs won't
bear me； brother； and it's hot here。 Let's go to sleep。〃
V
Gusev went back to the ward and got into his hammock。 He was again
tormented by a vague craving； and he could not make out what he wanted。
There was an oppression on his chest； a throbbing in his head； his mouth
was so dry that it was difficult for him to move his tongue。 He dozed； and
murmured in his sleep； and； worn out with nightmares； his cough； and the
stifling heat； towards morning he fell into a sound sleep。 He dreamed that
they were just taking the bread out of the oven in the barracks and he
climbed into the stove and had a steam bath in it； lashing himself with a
bunch of birch twigs。 He slept for two days； and at midday on the third
two sailors came down and carried him out。
He was sewn up in sailcloth and to make him heavier they put with
him two iron weights。 Sewn up in the sailcloth he looked like a carrot or a
radish： broad at the head and narrow at the feet。 。 。 。 Before sunset they
brought him up to the deck and put him on a plank； one end of the plank
lay on the side of the ship； the other on a box； placed on a stool。 Round
him stood the soldiers and the officers with their caps off。
〃Blessed be the Name of the Lord 。 。 。〃 the priest began。 〃As it was in
the beginning； is now； and ever shall be。〃
〃Amen；〃 chanted three sailors。
The soldiers and the officers crossed themselves and looked away at
the waves。 It was strange that a man should be sewn up in sailcloth and
should soon be flying into the sea。 Was it possible that such a thing might
happen to anyone？
The priest strewed earth upon Gusev and bowed down。 They sang
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
〃Eternal Memory。〃 The man on watch duty tilted up the end of the plank；
Gusev slid off and flew head foremost； turned a somersault in the air and
splashed into the sea。 He was covered with foam and for a moment looked
as though he were wrapped in lace； but the minute passed and he
disappeared in the waves。
He went rapidly towards the bottom。 Did he reach it？ It was said to be
three miles to the bottom。 After sinking sixty or seventy feet； he began
moving more and more slowly； swaying rhythmically； as though he were
hesitating and； carried along by the current； moved more rapidly sideways
than downwards。
Then he was met by a shoal of the fish called harbour pilots。 Seeing
the dark body the fish stopped as though petrified； and suddenly turned
round and disappeared。 In less than a minute they flew back swift as an
arrow to Gusev； and began zig…zagging round him in the water。
After that another dark body appeared。 It was a shark。 It swam under
Gusev with dignity and no show of interest； as though it did not notice him；
and sank down upon its back； then it turned belly upwards； basking in the
warm； transparent water and languidly opened its jaws with two rows of
teeth。 The harbour pilots are delighted； they stop to see what will come
next。 After playing a little with the body the shark nonchalantly puts its
jaws under it； cautiously touches it with its teeth； and the sailcloth is rent
its full length from head to foot； one of the weights falls out and frightens
the harbour pilots； and striking the shark on the ribs goes rapidly to the
bottom。
Overhead at this time the clouds are massed together on the side where
the sun is setting； one cloud like a triumphal arch； another like a lion； a
third like a pair of scissors。 。 。 。 From behind the clouds a broad； green
shaft of light pierces through and stretches to the middle of the sky； a little
later another； violet…coloured； lies beside it； next that； one of gold； then
one rose…coloured。 。 。 。 The sky turns a soft lilac。 Looking at this gorgeous；
enchanted sky； at first the ocean scowls； but soon it； too； takes tender；
joyous； passionate colours for which it is hard to find a name in human
speech。
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
THE STUDENT
AT first the weather was fine and still。 The thrushes were calling； and
in the swamps close by something alive droned pitifully with a sound like
blowing into an empty bottle。 A snipe flew by； and the shot aimed at it
rang out with a gay； resounding note in the spring air。 But when it began to
get dark in the forest a cold； penetrating wind blew inappropriately from
the east； and everything sank into silence。 Needles of ice stretched across
the pools； and it felt cheerless； remote； and lonely in the forest。 There was
a whiff of winter。
Ivan Velikopolsky； the son of a sacristan； and a student of the clerical
academy； returning home from shooting； walked all the time by the path in
the water…side meadow。 His fingers were numb and his face was burning
with the wind。 It seemed to him that the cold that had suddenly come on
had destroyed the order and harmony of things； that nature itself felt ill at
ease； and that was why the evening darkness was falling more rapidly than
usual。 All around it was deserted and peculiarly gloomy。 The only light
was one gleaming in the widows' gardens near the river； the village； over
three miles away； and everything in the distance all round was plunged in
the cold evening mist。 The student remembered that； as he went out from
the house； his mother was sitting barefoot on the floor in the entry；
cleaning the samovar； while his father lay on the stove coughing； as it was
Good Friday nothing had been cooked； and the student was terribly hungry。
And now； shrinking from the cold； he thought that just such a wind had
blown in the days of Rurik and in the time of Ivan the Terrible and Peter；
and in their time there had been just the same desperate poverty and
hunger； the same thatched roofs with holes in them； ignorance； misery； the
same desolation around； the same darkness； the same feeling of oppression
all these had existed； did exist； and would exist； and the lapse of a
thousand years would make life no better。 And he did not want to go
home。
The gardens were called the widows' because they were kept by two
widows； mother and daughter。 A camp fire was burning brightly with a
crackling sound； throwing out light far around on the ploughed earth。 The
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widow Vasilisa； a tall； fat old woman in a man's coat； was standing by and
looking thoughtfully into the fire； her daughter Lukerya； a little pock…
marked woman with a stupid…looking face； was sitting on the ground；
washing a caldron and spoons。 Apparen
