beasts, men and gods-第30章

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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　pipe　after　pipe　of　tobacco；　as　I　thought：　　〃How　much　easier　to　fight　the　Bolsheviki　on　the　swamps　of　Seybi　and　to　cross　the　snowy　peaks　of　Ulan　Taiga；　where　the　bad　demons　kill　all　the　travelers　they　can！　　There　everything　was　simple　and　comprehensible；　but　here　it　is　all　a　mad　nightmare；　a　dark　and　foreboding　storm！〃　　I　felt　some　tragedy；　some　horror　in　every　movement　of　Baron　Ungern；　behind　whom　paced　this　silent；　white…faced　Veseloffsky　and　Death。


CHAPTER　XXXIV

THE　HORROR　OF　WAR！


At　dawn　of　the　following　morning　they　led　up　the　splendid　white　camel　for　me　and　we　moved　away。　　My　company　consisted　of　the　two　Cossacks；　two　Mongol　soldiers　and　one　Lama　with　two　pack　camels　carrying　the　tent　and　food。　　I　still　apprehended　that　the　Baron　had　it　in　mind　not　to　dispose　of　me　before　my　friends　there　in　Van　Kure　but　to　prepare　this　journey　for　me　under　the　guise　of　which　it　would　be　so　easy　to　do　away　with　me　by　the　road。　　A　bullet　in　the　back　and　all　would　be　finished。　　Consequently　I　was　momentarily　ready　to　draw　my　revolver　and　defend　myself。　　I　took　care　all　the　time　to　have　the　Cossacks　either　ahead　of　me　or　at　the　side。　　About　noon　we　heard　the　distant　honk　of　a　motor　car　and　soon　saw　Baron　Ungern　whizzing　by　us　at　full　speed。　　With　him　were　two　adjutants　and　Prince　Daichin　Van。　　The　Baron　greeted　me　very　kindly　and　shouted：

〃Shall　see　you　again　in　Urga！〃

〃Ah！〃　I　thought；　〃evidently　I　shall　reach　Urga。　　So　I　can　be　at　ease　during　my　trip；　and　in　Urga　I　have　many　friends　beside　the　presence　there　of　the　bold　Polish　soldiers　whom　I　had　worked　with　in　Uliassutai　and　who　had　outdistanced　me　in　this　journey。〃

After　the　meeting　with　the　Baron　my　Cossacks　became　very　attentive　to　me　and　sought　to　distract　me　with　stories。　　They　told　me　about　their　very　severe　struggles　with　the　Bolsheviki　in　Transbaikalia　and　Mongolia；　about　the　battle　with　the　Chinese　near　Urga；　about　finding　communistic　passports　on　several　Chinese　soldiers　from　Moscow；　about　the　bravery　of　Baron　Ungern　and　how　he　would　sit　at　the　campfire　smoking　and　drinking　tea　right　on　the　battle　line　without　ever　being　touched　by　a　bullet。　　At　one　fight　seventy…four　bullets　entered　his　overcoat；　saddle　and　the　boxes　by　his　side　and　again　left　him　untouched。　　This　is　one　of　the　reasons　for　his　great　influence　over　the　Mongols。　　They　related　how　before　the　battle　he　had　made　a　reconnaissance　in　Urga　with　only　one　Cossack　and　on　his　way　back　had　killed　a　Chinese　officer　and　two　soldiers　with　his　bamboo　stick　or　tashur；　how　he　had　no　outfit　save　one　change　of　linen　and　one　extra　pair　of　boots；　how　he　was　always　calm　and　jovial　in　battle　and　severe　and　morose　in　the　rare　days　of　peace；　and　how　he　was　everywhere　his　soldiers　were　fighting。

I　told　them；　in　turn；　of　my　escape　from　Siberia　and　with　chatting　thus　the　day　slipped　by　very　quickly。　　Our　camels　trotted　all　the　time；　so　that　instead　of　the　ordinary　eighteen　to　twenty　miles　per　day　we　made　nearly　fifty。　　My　mount　was　the　fastest　of　them　all。　He　was　a　huge　white　animal　with　a　splendid　thick　mane　and　had　been　presented　to　Baron　Ungern　by　some　Prince　of　Inner　Mongolia　with　two　black　sables　tied　on　the　bridle。　　He　was　a　calm；　strong；　bold　giant　of　the　desert；　on　whose　back　I　felt　myself　as　though　perched　on　the　tower　of　a　building。　　Beyond　the　Orkhon　River　we　came　across　the　first　dead　body　of　a　Chinese　soldier；　which　lay　face　up　and　arms　outstretched　right　in　the　middle　of　the　road。　　When　we　had　crossed　the　Burgut　Mountains；　we　entered　the　Tola　River　valley；　farther　up　which　Urga　is　located。　　The　road　was　strewn　with　the　overcoats；　shirts；　boots；　caps　and　kettles　which　the　Chinese　had　thrown　away　in　their　flight；　and　marked　by　many　of　their　dead。　　Further　on　the　road　crossed　a　morass；　where　on　either　side　lay　great　mounds　of　the　dead　bodies　of　men；　horses　and　camels　with　broken　carts　and　military　debris　of　every　sort。　　Here　the　Tibetans　of　Baron　Ungern　had　cut　up　the　escaping　Chinese　baggage　transport；　and　it　was　a　strange　and　gloomy　contrast　to　see　the　piles　of　dead　besides　the　effervescing　awakening　life　of　spring。　　In　every　pool　wild　ducks　of　different　kinds　floated　about；　in　the　high　grass　the　cranes　performed　their　weird　dance　of　courtship；　on　the　lakes　great　flocks　of　swans　and　geese　were　swimming；　through　the　swampy　places　like　spots　of　light　moved　the　brilliantly　colored　pairs　of　the　Mongolian　sacred　bird；　the　turpan　or　〃Lama　goose〃；　on　the　higher　dry　places　flocks　of　wild　turkey　gamboled　and　fought　as　they　fed；　flocks　of　the　salga　partridge　whistled　by；　while　on　the　mountain　side　not　far　away　the　wolves　lay　basking　and　turning　in　the　lazy　warmth　of　the　sun；　whining　and　occasionally　barking　like　playful　dogs。

Nature　knows　only　life。　　Death　is　for　her　but　an　episode　whose　traces　she　rubs　out　with　sand　and　snow　or　ornaments　with　luxuriant　greenery　and　brightly　colored　bushes　and　flowers。　　What　matters　it　to　Nature　if　a　mother　at　Chefoo　or　on　the　banks　of　the　Yangtse　offers　her　bowl　of　rice　with　burning　incense　at　some　shrine　and　prays　for　the　return　of　her　son　that　has　fallen　unknown　for　all　time　on　the　plains　along　the　Tola；　where　his　bones　will　dry　beneath　the　rays　of　Nature's　dissipating　fire　and　be　scattered　by　her　winds　over　the　sands　of　the　prairie？　　It　is　splendid；　this　indifference　of　Nature　to　death；　and　her　greediness　for　life！

On　the　fourth　day　we　made　the　shores　of　the　Tola　well　after　nightfall。　　We　could　not　find　the　regular　ford　and　I　forced　my　camel　to　enter　the　stream　in　the　attempt　to　make　a　crossing　without　guidance。　　Very　fortunately　I　found　a　shallow；　though　somewhat　miry；　place　and　we　got　over　all　right。　　This　is　something　to　be　thankful　for　in　fording　a　river　with　a　camel；　because；　when　your　mount　finds　the　water　too　deep；　coming　up　around　his　neck；　he　does　not　strike　out　and　swim　like　a　horse　will　do　but　just　rolls　over　on　his　side　and　floats；　which　is　vastly　inconvenient　for　his　rider。　Down　by　the　river　we　pegged　our　tent。

Fifteen　miles　further　on　we　crossed　a　battlefield；　where　the　third　great　battle　for　the　independence　of　Mongolia　had　been　fought。　Here　the　troops　of　Baron　Ungern　clashed　with