the witch and other stories(女巫)-第54节
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everything went on as before； and again there was a sound of coarse
drunken oaths from the tavern。
Only the well…to…do peasants were afraid of death； the richer they were
the less they believed in God； and in the salvation of souls； and only
through fear of the end of the world put up candles and had services said
for them； to be on the safe side。 The peasants who were rather poorer were
not afraid of death。 The old father and Granny were told to their faces that
they had lived too long； that it was time they were dead； and they did not
mind。 They did not hinder Fyokla from saying in Nikolay's presence that
when Nikolay died her husband Denis would get exemption to return
home from the army。 And Marya； far from fearing death； regretted that it
was so slow in coming； and was glad when her children died。
Death they did not fear； but of every disease they had an exaggerated
terror。 The merest trifle was enough a stomach upset； a slight chill； and
Granny would be wrapped up on the stove； and would begin moaning
loudly and incessantly：
〃I am dy…ing！〃
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The old father hurried off for the priest； and Granny received the
sacrament and extreme unction。 They often talked of colds； of worms； of
tumours which move in the stomach and coil round to the heart。 Above all；
they were afraid of catching cold； and so put on thick clothes even in the
summer and warmed themselves at the stove。 Granny was fond of being
doctored； and often went to the hospital； where she used to say she was not
seventy； but fifty…eight； she supposed that if the doctor knew her real age
he would not treat her； but would say it was time she died instead of taking
medicine。 She usually went to the hospital early in the morning； taking
with her two or three of the little girls； and came back in the evening；
hungry and ill…tempered with drops for herself and ointments for the
little girls。 Once she took Nikolay； who swallowed drops for a fortnight
afterwards； and said he felt better。
Granny knew all the doctors and their assistants and the wise men for
twenty miles round； and not one of them she liked。 At the Intercession；
when the priest made the round of the huts with the cross； the deacon told
her that in the town near the prison lived an old man who had been a
medical orderly in the army； and who made wonderful cures； and advised
her to try him。 Granny took his advice。 When the first snow fell she drove
to the town and fetched an old man with a big beard； a converted Jew； in a
long gown； whose face was covered with blue veins。 There were outsiders
at work in the hut at the time： an old tailor； in terrible spectacles； was
cutting a waistcoat out of some rags； and two young men were making felt
boots out of wool； Kiryak； who had been dismissed from his place for
drunkenness； and now lived at home； was sitting beside the tailor mending
a bridle。 And it was crowded； stifling； and noisome in the hut。 The
converted Jew examined Nikolay and said that it was necessary to try
cupping。
He put on the cups； and the old tailor； Kiryak； and the little girls stood
round and looked on； and it seemed to them that they saw the disease
being drawn out of Nikolay； and Nikolay； too； watched how the cups
suckling at his breast gradually filled with dark blood； and felt as though
there really were something coming out of him； and smiled with pleasure。
〃It's a good thing；〃 said the tailor。 〃Please God； it will do you good。〃
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The Jew put on twelve cups and then another twelve； drank some tea；
and went away。 Nikolay began shivering； his face looked drawn； and； as
the women expressed it； shrank up like a fist； his fingers turned blue。 He
wrapped himself up in a quilt and in a sheepskin； but got colder and colder。
Towards the evening he began to be in great distress； asked to be laid on
the ground； asked the tailor not to smoke； then he subsided under the
sheepskin and towards morning he died。
IX
Oh； what a grim； what a long winter！
Their own grain did not last beyond Christmas； and they had to buy
flour。 Kiryak； who lived at home now； was noisy in the evenings； inspiring
terror in everyone； and in the mornings he suffered from headache and was
ashamed； and he was a pitiful sight。 In the stall the starved cows bellowed
day and night a heart…rending sound to Granny and Marya。 And as ill…
luck would have it； there was a sharp frost all the winter； the snow drifted
in high heaps； and the winter dragged on。 At Annunciation there was a
regular blizzard； and there was a fall of snow at Easter。
But in spite of it all the winter did end。 At the beginning of April there
came warm days and frosty nights。 Winter would not give way； but one
warm day overpowered it at last； and the streams began to flow and the
birds began to sing。 The whole meadow and the bushes near the river were
drowned in the spring floods； and all the space between Zhukovo and the
further side was filled up with a vast sheet of water； from which wild
ducks rose up in flocks here and there。 The spring sunset； flaming among
gorgeous clouds； gave every evening something new； extraordinary；
incredible just what one does not believe in afterwards； when one sees
those very colours and those very clouds in a picture。
The cranes flew swiftly； swiftly； with mournful cries； as though they
were calling themselves。 Standing on the edge of the ravine； Olga looked a
long time at the flooded meadow； at the sunshine； at the bright church； that
looked as though it had grown younger； and her tears flowed and her
breath came in gasps from her passionate longing to go away； to go far
away to the end of the world。 It was already settled that she should go
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back to Moscow to be a servant； and that Kiryak should set off with her to
get a job as a porter or something。 Oh； to get away quickly！
As soon as it dried up and grew warm they got ready to set off。 Olga
and Sasha； with wallets on their backs and shoes of plaited bark on their
feet； came out before daybreak： Marya came out； too； to see them on their
way。 Kiryak was not well； and was kept at home for another week。 For the
last time Olga prayed at the church and thought of her husband； and
though she did not shed tears； her face puckered up and looked ugly like
an old woman's。 During the winter she had grown thinner and plainer； and
her hair had gone a little grey； and instead of the old look of sweetness and
the pleasant smile on her face； she had the resigned； mournful expression
left by the sorrows she had been through； and there was something blank
and irresponsive in her eyes； as though she did not hear what was said。 She
was sorry to part from the village and the peasants。 She remembered how
they had carried out Nikolay； and how a requiem had been ordered for him
at almost every hut； and all had shed tears in sympathy with her grief。 In
the course of the summer and the winter there had been hours and days
when it seemed as though these people lived worse than the beasts； and to
live with them was terrible； they were coarse； dishonest； filthy； and
drunken； they did not live in harmony； but quarrelled continually； because
they distrusted and feared and did not respect one another。 Who keeps the
tavern and makes the people drunken？ A peasant。 Who wastes and spends
on drink the funds of the commune； of the schools； of the church？ A
peasant。 Who stole from his neighbours； set fire to their property； gave
false witness at the court for a bottle of vodka？ At the meetings of the
Zemstvo and other local bodies； who was the first to fall foul of the
peasants？ A peasant。 Yes； to live with them was terrible； but yet； they were
human being
