beasts, men and gods-第36节

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〃Yes；　yes；　and　I　justified　Gay　in　such　a　manner；〃　said　the　Colonel；　〃but　Rezukhin；　who　has　just　arrived　today；　has　brought　letters　of　Gay's　to　the　Bolsheviki　which　were　seized　in　transit。　　By　order　of　Baron　Ungern；　Gay　and　his　family　have　today　been　sent　to　the　headquarters　of　Rezukhin　and　I　fear　that　they　will　not　reach　this　destination。〃

〃Why？〃　I　asked。

〃They　will　be　executed　on　the　road！〃　answered　Colonel　Kazagrandi。

〃What　are　we　to　do？〃　I　responded。　　〃Gay　cannot　be　a　Bolshevik；　〃because　he　is　too　well　educated　and　too　clever　for　it。〃

〃I　don't　know；　I　don't　know！〃　murmured　the　Colonel　with　a　despondent　gesture。　　〃Try　to　speak　with　Rezukhin。〃

I　decided　to　proceed　at　once　to　Rezukhin　but　just　then　Colonel　Philipoff　entered　and　began　talking　about　the　errors　being　made　in　the　training　of　the　soldiers。　　When　I　had　donned　my　coat；　another　man　came　in。　　He　was　a　small　sized　officer　with　an　old　green　Cossack　cap　with　a　visor；　a　torn　grey　Mongol　overcoat　and　with　his　right　hand　in　a　black　sling　tied　around　his　neck。　　It　was　General　Rezukhin；　to　whom　I　was　at　once　introduced。　　During　the　conversation　the　General　very　politely　and　very　skilfully　inquired　about　the　lives　of　Philipoff　and　myself　during　the　last　three　years；　joking　and　laughing　with　discretion　and　modesty。　　When　he　soon　took　his　leave；　I　availed　myself　of　the　chance　and　went　out　with　him。

He　listened　very　attentively　and　politely　to　me　and　afterwards；　in　his　quiet　voice；　said：

〃Dr。　Gay　is　the　agent　of　the　Soviets；　disguised　as　a　White　in　order　the　better　to　see；　hear　and　know　everything。　　We　are　surrounded　by　our　enemies。　　The　Russian　people　are　demoralized　and　will　undertake　any　treachery　for　money。　　Such　is　Gay。　　Anyway；　what　is　the　use　of　discussing　him　further？　　He　and　his　family　are　no　longer　alive。　Today　my　men　cut　them　to　pieces　five　kilometres　from　here。〃

In　consternation　and　fear　I　looked　at　the　face　of　this　small；　dapper　man　with　such　soft　voice　and　courteous　manners。　　In　his　eyes　I　read　such　hate　and　tenacity　that　I　understood　at　once　the　trembling　respect　of　all　the　officers　whom　I　had　seen　in　his　presence。　　Afterwards　in　Urga　I　learned　more　of　this　General　Rezukhin　distinguished　by　his　absolute　bravery　and　boundless　cruelty。　　He　was　the　watchdog　of　Baron　Ungern；　ready　to　throw　himself　into　the　fire　and　to　spring　at　the　throat　of　anyone　his　master　might　indicate。

Only　four　days　then　had　elapsed　before　〃my　acquaintances〃　died　〃by　a　long　knife；〃　so　that　one　part　of　the　prediction　had　been　thus　fulfilled。　　And　now　I　have　to　await　Death's　threat　to　me。　　The　delay　was　not　long。　　Only　two　days　later　the　Chief　of　the　Asiatic　Division　of　Cavalry　arrivedBaron　Ungern　von　Sternberg。


CHAPTER　XXXIII

〃DEATH　FROM　THE　WHITE　MAN　WILL　STAND　BEHIND　YOU〃


〃The　terrible　general；　the　Baron；〃　arrived　quite　unexpectedly；　unnoticed　by　the　outposts　of　Colonel　Kazagrandi。　　After　a　talk　with　Kazagrandi　the　Baron　invited　Colonel　N。　N。　Philipoff　and　me　into　his　presence。　　Colonel　Kazagrandi　brought　the　word　to　me。　　I　wanted　to　go　at　once　but　was　detained　about　half　an　hour　by　the　Colonel；　who　then　sped　me　with　the　words：

〃Now　God　help　you！　　Go！〃

It　was　a　strange　parting　message；　not　reassuring　and　quite　enigmatical。　　I　took　my　Mauser　and　also　hid　in　the　cuff　of　my　coat　my　cyanide　of　potassium。　　The　Baron　was　quartered　in　the　yurta　of　the　military　doctor。　　When　I　entered　the　court；　Captain　Veseloffsky　came　up　to　me。　　He　had　a　Cossack　sword　and　a　revolver　without　its　holster　beneath　his　girdle。　　He　went　into　the　yurta　to　report　my　arrival。

〃Come　in；〃　he　said；　as　he　emerged　from　the　tent。

At　the　entrance　my　eyes　were　struck　with　the　sight　of　a　pool　of　blood　that　had　not　yet　had　time　to　drain　down　into　the　groundan　ominous　greeting　that　seemed　to　carry　the　very　voice　of　one　just　gone　before　me。　　I　knocked。

〃Come　in！〃　was　the　answer　in　a　high　tenor。　　As　I　passed　the　threshold；　a　figure　in　a　red　silk　Mongolian　coat　rushed　at　me　with　the　spring　of　a　tiger；　grabbed　and　shook　my　hand　as　though　in　flight　across　my　path　and　then　fell　prone　on　the　bed　at　the　side　of　the　tent。

〃Tell　me　who　you　are！　　Hereabouts　are　many　spies　and　agitators；〃　he　cried　out　in　an　hysterical　voice；　as　he　fixed　his　eyes　upon　me。　　In　one　moment　I　perceived　his　appearance　and　psychology。　　A　small　head　on　wide　shoulders；　blonde　hair　in　disorder；　a　reddish　bristling　moustache；　a　skinny；　exhausted　face；　like　those　on　the　old　Byzantine　ikons。　　Then　everything　else　faded　from　view　save　a　big；　protruding　forehead　overhanging　steely　sharp　eyes。　　These　eyes　were　fixed　upon　me　like　those　of　an　animal　from　a　cave。　　My　observations　lasted　for　but　a　flash　but　I　understood　that　before　me　was　a　very　dangerous　man　ready　for　an　instant　spring　into　irrevocable　action。　Though　the　danger　was　evident；　I　felt　the　deepest　offence。

〃Sit　down；〃　he　snapped　out　in　a　hissing　voice；　as　he　pointed　to　a　chair　and　impatiently　pulled　at　his　moustache。　　I　felt　my　anger　rising　through　my　whole　body　and　I　said　to　him　without　taking　the　chair：

〃You　have　allowed　yourself　to　offend　me；　Baron。　　My　name　is　well　enough　known　so　that　you　cannot　thus　indulge　yourself　in　such　epithets。　　You　can　do　with　me　as　you　wish；　because　force　is　on　your　side；　but　you　cannot　compel　me　to　speak　with　one　who　gives　me　offence。〃

At　these　words　of　mine　he　swung　his　feet　down　off　the　bed　and　with　evident　astonishment　began　to　survey　me；　holding　his　breath　and　pulling　still　at　his　moustache。　　Retaining　my　exterior　calmness；　I　began　to　glance　indifferently　around　the　yurta；　and　only　then　I　noticed　General　Rezukhin。　　I　bowed　to　him　and　received　his　silent　acknowledgment。　　After　that　I　swung　my　glance　back　to　the　Baron；　who　sat　with　bowed　head　and　closed　eyes；　from　time　to　time　rubbing　his　brow　and　mumbling　to　himself。

Suddenly　he　stood　up　and　sharply　said；　looking　past　and　over　me：

〃Go　out！　　There　is　no　need　of　more。　。　。　。〃

I　swung　round　and　saw　Captain　Veseloffsky　with　his　white；　cold　face。　　I　had　not　heard　him　enter。　　He　did　a　formal　〃about　face〃　and　passed　out　of　the　door。

〃'Death　from　the　white　man'　has　stood　behind　me；〃　I　thought；　〃but　has　it　quite　left　me？〃

The　Baron　stood　thinking　for　some　time　and　then　began　to　speak　in　jumbled；　unfinished　phrases。

〃I　ask　your　pardon。　。　。　。　　You　must　understand　there　are　so　many　traitors！　　Honest　men　have　disappeared。　　I　cannot　trust　anybody。　All　names　are　false　and　assumed；　documents　are　counterfeited。　　Eyes　and　words　deceive。　。　。　。　　All　is　demoralized；　insulted　by　Bolshevism。　　I　just　ordered　Colonel　Philipoff　cut　down；　he　who　called　himself　the　representative　of　the　Russian　White　Organization。　　In　the　lining　of　his　garments　were　found　two　secret　Bolshevik　codes。　。　。　。　　When　my　officer　flourished　his　sword　over　him；　he　exclaimed：　　'Why　do　you　kill　me；　Tavarische？'　　I　cannot　trust　anybody。　。　。　。〃

He　was　silent　and　I　also　held　my　peace。

〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　he　began　anew。　　〃I　offended　you；　but　I　am　not　simply　a　man；　I　am　a　leader　of　great　forces　and　have　in　my　head　so　much　care；　sorrow　and　woe！〃

In　his　voice　I　felt　there　was　mingled　despair　and　sincerity。　　He　frankly　put　out　his　hand　to　me。　　Again　silence。　　At　last　I　answered：

〃What　do　you　order　me　to　do　now；　for　I　have　neither　counterfeit　nor　real　documents？　　But　many　of　your　officers　know　me　and　in　Urga　I　can　find　many　who　will　testify　that　I　could　be　neither　agitator　nor。　。　。〃

〃No　need；　no　need！〃　interrupted　the　Baron。　　〃All　is　clear；　all　is　understood！　　I　was　in　your　soul　and　I　know　all。　　It　is　the　truth　which　Hutuktu　Narabanchi　has　written　about　you。　　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃

I　explained　how　my　friend　and　I　had　escaped　from　Soviet　Russia　in　the　effort　to　reach　our　native　land　and　how　a　group　of　Polish　soldiers　had　joined　us　in　the　hope　of　getting　back　to　Poland；　and　I　asked　that　help　be　given　us　to　reach　the　nearest　port。

〃With　pleasure；　with　pleasure。　。　。　。　　I　will　help　you　all；〃　he　answered　excitedly。　　〃I　shall　drive　you　to　Urga　in　my　motor　car。　Tomorrow　we　shall　start　and　there　in　Urga　we　shall　talk　about　further　arrangements。〃

Taking　my　leave；　I　went　out　of　the　yurta。　　On　arriving　at　my　quarters；　I　found　Colonel　Kazagrandi　in　great　anxiety　walking　up　and　down　my　room。

〃Thanks　be　to　God！〃　he　exclaimed　and　crossed　himself。

His　joy　was　very　touching　but　at　the　same　time　I　thought　that　the　Colonel　could　have　taken　much　more　active　measures　for　the　salvation　of　his　guest；　if　he　had　been　so　minded。　　The　agitation　of　this　day　had　tired　me　and　made　me　feel　years　older。　　When　I　looked　in　the　mirror　I　was　certain　there　were　more　white　hairs　on　my　head。　At　night　I　could　not　sleep　for　the　flashing　thoughts　of　the　young；　fine　face　of　Colonel　Philipoff；　the　pool　of　blood；　the　cold　eyes　of　Captain　Veseloffsky；　the　sound　of　Baron　Ungern's　voice　with　its　tones　of　despair　and　woe；　until　finally　I　sank　into　a　heavy　stupor。　I　was　awakened　by　Baron　Ungern　who　came　to　ask　pardon　that　he　could　not　take　me　in　his　motor　car；　because　he　was　obliged　to　take　Daichin　Van　with　him。　　But　he　informed　me　that　he　had　left　instructions　to　give　me　his　own　white　camel　and　two　Cossacks　as　servants。　　I　had　no　time　to　thank　him　before　he　rushed　out　of　my　room。

Sleep　then　entirely　deserted　me；　so　I　dressed　and　began　smoking　p