the witch and other stories-第18章

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critical　attitude　to　my　illness　and　to　the　medicines　they　give　me
for　it。　While　you　。　。　。　you　are　in　darkness。　。　。　。　It's　hard　for
you；　very；　very　hard！〃

The　ship　was　not　rolling；　it　was　calm；　but　as　hot　and　stifling　as
a　bath…house；　it　was　not　only　hard　to　speak　but　even　hard　to
listen。　Gusev　hugged　his　knees；　laid　his　head　on　them　and　thought
of　his　home。　Good　heavens；　what　a　relief　it　was　to　think　of　snow
and　cold　in　that　stifling　heat！　You　drive　in　a　sledge；　all　at
once　the　horses　take　fright　at　something　and　bolt。　。　。　。
Regardless　of　the　road；　the　ditches；　the　ravines；　they　dash　like
mad　things；　right　through　the　village；　over　the　pond　by　the
pottery　works；　out　across　the　open　fields。　〃Hold　on；〃　the　pottery
hands　and　the　peasants　sho　ut；　meeting　them。　〃Hold　on。〃　But　why？
Let　the　keen；　cold　wind　beat　in　one's　face　and　bite　one's　hands；
let　the　lumps　of　snow；　kicked　up　by　the　horses'　hoofs；　fall　on
one's　cap；　on　one's　back；　down　one's　collar；　on　one's　chest；　let
the　runners　ring　on　the　snow；　and　the　traces　and　the　sledge　be
smashed；　deuce　take　them　one　and　all！　And　how　delightful　when　the
sledge　upsets　and　you　go　flying　full　tilt　into　a　drift；　face
downwards　in　the　snow；　and　then　you　get　up　white　all　over　with
icicles　on　your　moustaches；　no　cap；　no　gloves；　your　belt　undone。
。　。　。　People　laugh；　the　dogs　bark。　。　。　。

Pavel　Ivanitch　half　opened　one　eye；　looked　at　Gusev　with　it；　and
asked　softly：

〃Gusev；　did　your　commanding　officer　steal？〃

〃Who　can　tell；　Pavel　Ivanitch！　We　can't　say；　it　didn't　reach　us。〃

And　after　that　a　long　time　passed　in　silence。　Gusev　brooded；
muttered　something　in　delirium；　and　kept　drinking　water；　it　was
hard　for　him　to　talk　and　hard　to　listen；　and　he　was　afraid　of
being　talked　to。　An　hour　passed；　a　second；　a　third；　evening　came
on；　then　night；　but　he　did　not　notice　it。　He　still　sat　dreaming
of　the　frost。

There　was　a　sound　as　though　someone　came　into　the　hospital；　and
voices　were　audible；　but　a　few　minutes　passed　and　all　was　still
again。

〃The　Kingdom　of　Heaven　and　eternal　peace；〃　said　the　soldier　with
his　arm　in　a　sling。　〃He　was　an　uncomfortable　man。〃

〃What？〃　asked　Gusev。　〃Who？〃

〃He　is　dead；　they　have　just　carried　him　up。〃

〃Oh；　well；〃　muttered　Gusev；　yawning；　〃the　Kingdom　of　Heaven　be
his。〃

〃What　do　you　think？〃　the　soldier　with　his　arm　in　a　sling　asked
Gusev。　〃Will　he　be　in　the　Kingdom　of　Heaven　or　not？〃

〃Who　is　it　you　are　talking　about？〃

〃Pavel　Ivanitch。〃

〃He　will　be　。　。　。　he　suffered　so　long。　And　there　is　another
thing；　he　belonged　to　the　clergy；　and　the　priests　always　have　a
lot　of　relations。　Their　prayers　will　save　him。〃

The　soldier　with　the　sling　sat　down　on　a　hammock　near　Gusev　and
said　in　an　undertone：

〃And　you；　Gusev；　are　not　long　for　this　world。　You　will　never　get
to　Russia。〃

〃Did　the　doctor　or　his　assistant　say　so？〃　asked　Gusev。

〃It　isn't　that　they　said　so；　but　one　can　see　it。　。　。　。　One　can
see　directly　when　a　man's　going　to　die。　You　don't　eat；　you　don't
drink；　it's　dreadful　to　see　how　thin　you've　got。　It's
consumption；　in　fact。　I　say　it；　not　to　upset　you；　but　because
maybe　you　would　like　to　have　the　sacrament　and　extreme　unction。
And　if　you　have　any　money　you　had　better　give　it　to　the　senior
officer。〃

〃I　haven't　written　home　。　。　。〃　Gusev　sighed。　〃I　shall　die　and
they　won't　know。〃

〃They'll　hear　of　it；〃　the　sick　sailor　brought　out　in　a　bass
voice。　〃When　you　die　they　will　put　it　down　in　the　_Gazette；_　at
Odessa　they　will　send　in　a　report　to　the　commanding　officer　there
and　he　will　send　it　to　the　parish　or　somewhere。　。

Gusev　began　to　be　uneasy　after　such　a　conversation　and　to　feel　a
vague　yearning。　He　drank　water　　it　was　not　that；　he　dragged
himself　to　the　window　and　breathed　the　hot；　moist　air　　it　was
not　that；　he　tried　to　think　of　home；　of　the　frost　　it　was　not
that。　。　。　。　At　last　it　seemed　to　him　one　minute　longer　in　the
ward　and　he　would　certainly　expire。

〃It's　stifling；　mates　。　。　。〃　he　said。　〃I'll　go　on　deck。　Help　me
up；　for　Christ's　sake。〃

〃All　right；〃　assented　the　soldier　with　the　sling。　〃I'll　carry
you；　you　can't　walk；　hold　on　to　my　neck。〃

Gusev　put　his　arm　round　the　soldier's　neck；　the　latter　put　his
unhurt　arm　round　him　and　carried　him　up。　On　the　deck　sailors　and
time…expired　soldiers　were　lying　asleep　side　by　side；　there　were
so　many　of　them　it　was　difficult　to　pass。

〃Stand　down；〃　the　soldier　with　the　sling　said　softly。　〃Follow　me
quietly；　hold　on　to　my　shirt。　。　。　。〃

It　was　dark。　There　was　no　light　on　deck；　nor　on　the　masts；　nor
anywhere　on　the　sea　around。　At　the　furthest　end　of　the　ship　the
man　on　watch　was　standing　perfectly　still　like　a　statue；　and　it
looked　as　though　he　were　asleep。　It　seemed　as　though　the　steamer
were　abandoned　to　itself　and　were　going　at　its　own　will。

〃Now　they　will　throw　Pavel　Ivanitch　into　the　sea；〃　said　the
soldier　with　the　sling。　〃In　a　sack　and　then　into　the　water。〃

〃Yes；　that's　the　rule。〃

〃But　it's　better　to　lie　at　home　in　the　earth。　Anyway；　your　mother
comes　to　the　grave　and　weeps。〃

〃Of　course。〃

There　was　a　smell　of　hay　and　of　dung。　There　were　oxen　standing
with　drooping　heads　by　the　ship's　rail。　One；　two；　three；　eight　of
them！　And　there　was　a　little　horse。　Gusev　put　out　his　hand　to
stroke　it；　but　it　shook　its　head；　showed　its　teeth；　and　tried　to
bite　his　sleeve。

〃Damned　brute　。　。　。〃　said　Gusev　angrily。

The　two　of　them；　he　and　the　soldier；　threaded　their　way　to　the
head　of　the　ship；　then　stood　at　the　rail　and　looked　up　and　down。
Overhead　deep　sky；　bright　stars；　peace　and　stillness；　exactly　as
at　home　in　the　village；　below　darkness　and　disorder。　The　tall
waves　were　resounding；　no　one　could　tell　why。　Whichever　wave　you
looked　at　each　one　was　trying　to　rise　higher　than　all　the　rest
and　to　chase　and　crush　the　next　one；　after　it　a　third　as　fierce
and　hideous　flew　noisily；　with　a　glint　of　light　on　its　white
crest。

The　sea　has　no　sense　and　no　pity。　If　the　steamer　had　been　smaller
and　not　made　of　thick　iron；　the　waves　would　have　crushed　it　to
pieces　without　the　slightest　compunction；　and　would　have　devoured
all　the　people　in　it　with　no　distinction　of　saints　or　sinners。
The　steamer　had　the　same　cruel　and　meaningless　expression。　This
monster　with　its　huge　beak　was　dashing　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　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
〃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。　。　。