the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第70节
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him； and not till then did he realize that two batteries had been installed in the park。 The pieces of artillery were hidden under mounds of branches； the gunners having felled trees in order to mask their monsters more perfectly。 He saw them arranging the last； with shovels； they were forming a border of earth； a foot in width； around each piece。 This border guarded the feet of the operators whose bodies were protected by steel shields on both sides of them。 Then they raised a breastwork of trunks and boughs； leaving only the mouth of the cylindrical mortar visible。
By degrees Don Marcelo became accustomed to the firing which seemed to be creating a vacuum within his cranium。 He ground his teeth and clenched his fists at every detonation； but stood stock…still with no desire to leave； dominated by the violence of the explosions； admiring the serenity of these men who were giving orders； erect and coolly； or moving like humble menials around their roaring metal beasts。
All his ideas seemed to have been snatched away by that first discharge of cannon。 His brain was living in the present moment only。 He turned his eyes insistently toward the white and red banner which was waving from the mansion。
〃That is treachery；〃 he thought； 〃a breach of faith。〃
Far away； on the other side of the Marne； the French artillery were belching forth their deadly fire。 He could imagine their handiwork from the little yellowish clouds that were floating in the air； and the columns of smoke which were spouting forth at various points of the landscape where the German troops were hidden； forming a line which appeared to lose itself in infinity。 An atmosphere of protection and respect seemed to be enveloping the castle。
The morning mists had dissolved； the sun was finally showing its bright and limpid light； lengthening the shadows of men and trees to fantastic dimensions。 Hills and woods came forth from the haze； fresh and dripping after their morning bath。 The entire valley was now completely exposed； and Desnoyers was surprised to see the river from the spot to which he had been rootedthe cannon having opened great windows in the woods that had hid it from view。 What most astonished him in looking over this landscape； smiling and lovely in the morning light； was that nobody was to be seenabsolutely nobody。 Mountain tops and forests were bellowing without anyone's being in evidence。 There must be more than a hundred thousand men in the space swept by his piercing gaze； and yet not a human being was visible。 The deadly boom of arms was causing the air to vibrate without leaving any optical trace。 There was no other smoke but that of the explosions； the black spirals that were flinging their great shells to burst on the ground。 These were rising on all sides； encircling the castle like a ring of giant tops； but not one of that orderly circle ventured to touch the edifice。 Don Marcelo again stared at the Red Cross flag。 〃It is treachery！〃 he kept repeating； yet at the same time he was selfishly rejoicing in the base expedient； since it served to defend his property。
The battalion was at last completely installed the entire length of the wall； opposite the river。 The soldiers； kneeling； were supporting their guns on the newly made turrets and grooves； and seemed satisfied with this rest after a night of battling retreat。 They all appeared sleeping with their eyes open。 Little by little they were letting themselves drop back on their heels； or seeking the support of their knapsacks。 Snores were heard in the brief spaces between the artillery fire。 The officials standing behind them were examining the country with their field glasses； or talking in knots。 Some appeared disheartened； others furious at the backward flight that had been going on since the day before。 The majority appeared calm； with the passivity of obedience。 The battle front was immense； who could foresee the outcome？ 。 。 。 There they were in full retreat； but in other places； perhaps； their comrades might be advancing with decided gains。 Until the very last moment； no soldier knows certainly the fate of the struggle。 What was most grieving this detachment was the fact that it was all the time getting further away from Paris。
Don Marcelo's eye was caught by a sparkling circle of glass； a monocle fixed upon him with aggressive insistence。 A lank lieutenant with the corseted waist of the officers that he had seen in Berlin； a genuine Junker； was a few feet away； sword in hand behind his men； like a wrathful and glowering shepherd。
〃What are you doing here？〃 he said gruffly。
Desnoyers explained that he was the owner of the castle。 〃French？〃 continued the lieutenant。 〃Yes； French。〃 。 。 。 The official scowled in hostile meditation； feeling the necessity of saying something against the enemy。 The shouts and antics of his companions…at…arms put a summary end to his reflections。 They were all staring upward； and the old man followed their gaze。
For an hour past； there had been streaking through the air frightful roarings enveloped in yellowish vapors； strips of cloud which seemed to contain wheels revolving with frenzied rotation。 They were the projectiles of the heavy German artillery which； fired from various distances； threw their great shells over the castle。 Certainly that could not be what was interesting the officials！
He half shut his eyes in order to see better； and finally near the edge of a cloud； he distinguished a species of mosquito flashing in the sunlight。 Between brief intervals of silence； could be heard the distant； faint buzz announcing its presence。 The officers nodded their heads。 〃Franzosen！〃 Desnoyers thought so； too。 He could not believe that the enemy's two black crosses were between those wings。 Instead he saw with his mind's eye； two tricolored rings like the circular spots which color the fluttering wings of butterflies。
This explained the agitation of the Germans。 The French air…bird remained motionless for a few seconds over the castle； regardless of the white bubbles exploding underneath and around it。 In vain the cannon nearest hurled their deadly fire。 It wheeled rapidly； and returned to the place from which it came。
〃It must have taken in the whole situation；〃 thought the old Frenchman。 〃It has found them out； it knows what is going on here。〃
He guessed rightly that this information would swiftly change the course of events。 Everything which had been happening in the early morning hours was going to sink into insignificance compared with what was coming now。 He shuddered with fear； the irresistible fear of the unknown； and yet at the same time； he was filled with curiosity； impatience and nervous dread before a danger that threatened and would not stay its relentless course。
Outside the park； but a short distance from the mud wall； sounded a strident explosion like a stupendous blow from a gigantic axean axe as big as his castle。 There began flying through the air entire treetops； trunks split in two； great chunks of earth with the vegetation still clinging； a rain of dirt that obscured the heavens。 Some stones fell down from the wall。 The Germans crouched but with no visible emotion。 They knew what it meant； they had been expecting it as something inevitable after seeing the French aeroplane。 The Red Cross flag could no longer deceive the enemy's artillery。
Don Marcelo had not time to recover from his surprise before there came a second explosion nearer the mud wall 。 。 。 a third inside the park。 It seemed to him that he had been suddenly flung into another world from which he was seeing men and things across a fantastic atmosphere which roared and rocked and destroyed with the violence of its reverberations。 He was stunned with the awfulness of it all； and yet he was not afraid。 Until then； he had imagined fear in a very different form。 He felt an agonizing vacuum in his stomach。 He staggered violently all the time； as though some force were pushing him about； giving him first a blow on the chest； and then another on the back to straighten him up。
A strong smell of acids penetrated the atmosphere； making respiration very difficult； and filling his eyes with smarting tears。 On the other hand； the uproar no longer disturbed him； it did not exist for him。 He supposed it was still going on from the trembling air； the shaking of things around him； in the whirlwind which was bending men double but was not reacting within his body。 He had lost the faculty of hearing； all the strength of his senses had concentrated themselves in looking。 His eyes appeared to have acquired multiple facets like those of certain insects。 He saw what was happening before； beside； behind him； simultaneously witnessing extraordinary things as though all the laws of life had been capriciously overthrown。
An official a few feet away suddenly took an inexplicable flight。 He began to rise without losing his military rigidity； still helmeted； with furrowed brow； moustache blond and short； mustard… colored chest； and gloved hands still holding field…glasses and map but there his individuality stopped。 The lower extremities； in their grayish leggings remained on the ground； inanimate as reddening
