the witch and other stories-第31章

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was　in　the　sledge　in　the　yard　Mitrofan　and　I　unscrewed　together。〃

〃What　Mitrofan？〃

〃Mitrofan　Petrov。　。　。　。　Haven't　you　heard　of　him？　He　makes　nets
in　our　village　and　sells　them　to　the　gentry。　He　needs　a　lot　of
those　nuts。　Reckon　a　matter　of　ten　for　each　net。〃

〃Listen。　Article　1081　of　the　Penal　Code　lays　down　that　every
wilful　damage　of　the　railway　line　committed　when　it　can　expose
the　traffic　on　that　line　to　danger；　and　the　guilty　party　knows
that　an　accident　must　be　caused　by　it　。　。　。　（Do　you　understand？
Knows！　And　you　could　not　help　knowing　what　this　unscrewing　would
lead　to　。　。　。）　is　liable　to　penal　servitude。〃

〃Of　course；　you　know　best。　。　。　。　We　are　ignorant　people。　。　。　。
What　do　we　understand？〃

〃You　understand　all　about　it！　You　are　lying；　shamming！〃

〃What　should　I　lie　for？　Ask　in　the　village　if　you　don't　believe
me。　Only　a　bleak　is　caught　without　a　weight；　and　there　is　no　fish
worse　than　a　gudgeon；　yet　even　that　won't　bite　without　a　weight。〃

〃You'd　better　tell　me　about　the　shillisper　next；〃　said　the
magistrate；　smiling。

〃There　are　no　shillispers　in　our　parts。　。　。　。　We　cast　our　line
without　a　weight　on　the　top　of　the　water　with　a　butterfly；　a
mullet　may　be　caught　that　way；　though　that　is　not　often。〃

〃Come；　hold　your　tongue。〃

A　silence　follows。　Denis　shifts　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　looks
at　the　table　with　the　green　cloth　on　it；　and　blinks　his　eyes
violently　as　though　what　was　before　him　was　not　the　cloth　but　the
sun。　The　magistrate　writes　rapidly。

〃Can　I　go？〃　asks　Denis　after　a　long　silence。

〃No。　I　must　take　you　under　guard　and　send　you　to　prison。〃

Denis　leaves　off　blinking　and；　raising　his　thick　eyebrows；　looks
inquiringly　at　the　magistrate。

〃How　do　you　mean；　to　prison？　Your　honour！　I　have　no　time　to
spare；　I　must　go　to　the　fair；　I　must　get　three　roubles　from　Yegor
for　some　tallow！　。　。　。〃

〃Hold　your　tongue；　don't　interrupt。〃

〃To　prison。　。　。　。　If　there　was　something　to　go　for；　I'd　go；　but
just　to　go　for　nothing！　What　for？　I　haven't　stolen　anything；　I
believe；　and　I've　not　been　fighting。　。　。　。　If　you　are　in　doubt
about　the　arrears；　your　honour；　don't　believe　the　elder。　。　。　。
You　ask　the　agent　。　。　。　he's　a　regular　heathen；　the　elder；　you
know。〃

〃Hold　your　tongue。〃

I　am　holding　my　tongue；　as　it　is；〃　mutters　Denis；　〃but　that　the
elder　has　lied　over　the　account；　I'll　take　my　oath　for　it。　。　。　。
There　are　three　of　us　brothers：　Kuzma　Grigoryev；　then　Yegor
Grigoryev；　and　me；　Denis　Grigoryev。〃

〃You　are　hindering　me。　。　。　。　Hey；　Semyon；〃　cries　the　magistrate；
〃take　him　away！〃

〃There　are　three　of　us　brothers；〃　mutters　Denis；　as　two　stalwart
soldiers　take　him　and　lead　him　out　of　the　room。　〃A　brother　is　not
responsible　for　a　brother。　Kuzma　does　not　pay；　so　you；　Denis；
must　answer　for　it。　。　。　。　Judges　indeed！　Our　master　the　general
is　dead　　the　Kingdom　of　Heaven　be　his　　or　he　would　have　shown
you　judges。　。　。　。　You　ought　to　judge　sensibly；　not　at　random。　。　。
。　Flog　if　you　like；　but　flog　someone　who　deserves　it；　flog　with
conscience。〃


PEASANTS

I

NIKOLAY　TCHIKILDYEEV；　a　waiter　in　the　Moscow　hotel；　Slavyansky
Bazaar；　was　taken　ill。　His　legs　went　numb　and　his　gait　was
affected；　so　that　on　one　occasion；　as　he　was　going　along　the
corridor；　he　tumbled　and　fell　down　with　a　tray　full　of　ham　and
peas。　He　had　to　leave　his　job。　All　his　own　savings　and　his　wife's
were　spent　on　doctors　and　medicines；　they　had　nothing　left　to
live　upon。　He　felt　dull　with　no　work　to　do；　and　he　made　up　his
mind　he　must　go　home　to　the　village。　It　is　better　to　be　ill　at
home；　and　living　there　is　cheaper；　and　it　is　a　true　saying　that
the　walls　of　home　are　a　help。

He　reached　Zhukovo　towards　evening。　In　his　memories　of　childhood
he　had　pictured　his　home　as　bright；　snug；　comfortable。　Now；　going
into　the　hut；　he　was　positively　frightened；　it　was　so　dark；　so
crowded；　so　unclean。　His　wife　Olga　and　his　daughter　Sasha；　who
had　come　with　him；　kept　looking　in　bewilderment　at　the　big　untidy
stove；　which　filled　up　almost　half　the　hut　and　was　black　with
soot　and　flies。　What　lots　of　flies！　The　stove　was　on　one　side；
the　beams　lay　slanting　on　the　walls；　and　it　looked　as　though　the
hut　were　just　going　to　fall　to　pieces。　In　the　corner；　facing　the
door；　under　the　holy　images；　bottle　labels　and　newspaper　cuttings
were　stuck　on　the　walls　instead　of　pictures。　The　poverty；　the
poverty！　Of　the　grown…up　people　there　were　none　at　home；　all　were
at　work　at　the　harvest。　On　the　stove　was　sitting　a　white…headed
girl　of　eight；　unwashed　and　apathetic；　she　did　not　even　glance　at
them　as　they　came　in。　On　the　floor　a　white　cat　was　rubbing　itself
against　the　oven　fork。

〃Puss；　puss！〃　Sasha　called　to　her。　〃Puss！〃

〃She　can't　hear；〃　said　the　little　girl；　〃she　has　gone　deaf。〃

〃How　is　that？〃

〃Oh；　she　was　beaten。〃

Nikolay　　and　Olga　realized　from　the　firs　t　glance　what　life　was
like　here；　but　said　nothing　to　one　another；　in　silence　they　put
down　their　bundles；　and　went　out　into　the　village　street。　Their
hut　was　the　third　from　the　end；　and　seemed　the　very　poorest　and
oldest…looking；　the　second　was　not　much　better；　but　the　last　one
had　an　iron　roof；　and　curtains　in　the　windows。　That　hut　stood
apart；　not　enclosed；　it　was　a　tavern。　The　huts　were　in　a　single
row；　and　the　whole　of　the　little　village　　quiet　and　dreamy；
with　willows；　elders；　and　mountain…ash　trees　peeping　out　from　the
yards　　had　an　attractive　look。

Beyond　the　peasants　homesteads　there　was　a　slope　down　to　the
river；　so　steep　and　precipitous　that　huge　stones　jutted　out　bare
here　and　there　through　the　clay。　Down　the　slope；　among　the　stones
and　holes　dug　by　the　potters；　ran　winding　paths；　bits　of　broken
pottery；　some　brown；　some　red；　lay　piled　up　in　heaps；　and　below
there　stretched　a　broad；　level；　bright　green　meadow；　from　which
the　hay　had　been　already　carried；　and　in　which　the　peasants'
cattle　were　wandering。　The　river；　three…quarters　of　a　mile　from
the　village；　ran　twisting　and　turning；　with　beautiful　leafy
banks；　beyond　it　was　again　a　broad　meadow；　a　herd　of　cattle；　long
strings　of　white　geese；　then；　just　as　on　the　near　side；　a　steep
ascent　uphill；　and　on　the　top　of　the　hill　a　hamlet；　and　a　church
with　five　domes；　and　at　a　little　distance　the　manor…house。

〃It's　lovely　here　in　your　parts！〃　said　Olga；　crossing　herself　at
the　sight　of　the　church。　〃What　space；　oh　Lord！〃

Just　at　that　moment　the　bell　began　ringing　for　service　（it　was
Saturday　evening）。　Two　little　girls；　down　below；　who　were
dragging　up　a　pail　of　water；　looked　round　at　the　church　to　listen
to　the　bell。

〃At　this　time　they　are　serving　the　dinners　at　the　Slavyansky
Bazaar；〃　said　Nikolay　dreamily。

Sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　slope；　Nikolay　and　Olga　watched　the
sun　setting；　watched　the　gold　and　crimson　sky　reflected　in　the
river；　in　the　church　windows；　and　in　the　whole　air　　which　was
soft　and　still　and　unutterably　pure　as　it　never　was　in　Moscow。
And　when　the　sun　had　set　the　flocks　and　herds　passed；　bleating
and　lowing；　geese　flew　across　from　the　further　side　of　the　river；
and　all　sank　into　silence；　the　soft　light　died　away　in　the　air；
and　the　dusk　of　evening　began　quickly　moving　down　upon　them。

Meanwhile　Nikolay's　father　and　mother；　two　gaunt；　bent；　toothless
old　people；　just　of　the　same　height；　came　back。　The　women　　the
sisters…in…law　Marya　and　Fyokla　　who　had　been　working　on　the
landowner's　estate　beyond　the　river；　arrived　home；　too。　Marya；
the　wife　of　Nikolay's　brother　Kiryak；　had　six　children；　and
Fyokla；　the　wife　of　Nikolay's　brother　Denis　　who　had　gone　for　a
soldier　　had　two；　and　when　Nikolay；　going　into　the　hut；　saw　all
the　family；　all　those　bodies　big　and　little　moving　about　on　the
lockers；　in　the　hanging　cradles　and　in　all　the　corners；　and　when
he　saw　the　greed　with　which　the　old　father　and　the　women　ate　the
black　bread；　dipping　it　in　water；　he　realized　he　had　made　a
mistake　in　coming　here；　sick；　penniless；　and　with　a　family；　too
　a　great　mistake！

〃And　where　is　Kiryak？〃　he　asked　after　they　had　exchanged
greetings。

〃He　is　in　service　at　the　merchant's；〃　answered　his　father；　〃a
keeper　in　the　woods。　He　is　not　a　bad　peasant；　but　too　fond　of　his
glass。〃

〃He　is　no　great　help！〃　said　the　old　woman　tearfully。　〃Our　men　are
a　grievous　lot；　they　bring　nothing　into　the　house；　but　take
plenty　out。　Kiryak　drinks；　and　so　does　the　old　man；　it　is　no　use
hiding　a　sin；　he　knows　his　way　to　the　tavern。　The　Heavenly　Mother
is　wroth。〃

In　honour　of　the　visitors　they　brought　out　the　samovar。　The　tea
smelt　of　fish；　the　sugar　was　grey　and　looked　as　though　it　had
been　nibbled；　cockroaches　ran　to　and　fro　over　the　bread　and　among
the　crockery。　It　was　disgusting　to　drink；　and　the　conversation
was　disgusting；　too　　about　nothing　but　poverty　and　illnesses。
But　before　they　had　time　to　empty　their　first　cups　there　came　a
loud；　prolonged；　drunken　shout　from　the　yard：

〃Ma…arya！〃

〃It　looks　as　though　Kiryak　were　coming；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃Speak
of　the　devil。〃

All　were　hushed。　And　again；　soon　afterwards；　the　same　shout；
coarse　and　drawn…out　as　though　it　came　out　of　the　earth：

〃Ma…arya！〃

Marya；　the　elder　sister…in…law；　turned　pale　and　huddled　against
the　stove；　and　it　was　strange　to　see　the　look　of　terror　on　the
face　of　the　strong；　broad…shouldered；　ugly　woman。　Her　daughter；
the　child　who　had　been　sitting　on　the　stove　and　looked　so
apathetic；　suddenly　broke　into　loud　weeping。

〃What　are　you　howling　for；　you　plague？〃　Fyokla；　a　handsome　woman；
also　strong　and　broad…shouldered；　shouted　to　her。　〃He　won't　kill
you；　no　fear！〃

From　his　old　father　Nikolay　learned　that　Marya　was　afraid　to　live
in　the　forest　with　Kiryak；　and　that　when　he　was　drunk　he　always
came　for　her；　made　a　row；　and　beat　her　mercilessly。

〃Ma…arya！〃　the　shout　sounded　close　to　the　door。

〃Protect　me；　for　Christ's　sake；　good　people！〃　faltered　Marya；
breathing　as　though　she　had　been　plunged　into　very　cold　water。
〃Protect　me；　kind　people。　。　。　。〃

All　the　children　in　the　hut　began　crying；　and　looking　at　them；
Sasha；　too；　began　to　cry。　They　heard　a　drunken　cough；　and　a　tall；
black…bearded　peasant　wearing　a　winter　cap　came　into　the　hut；　and
was　the　more　terrible　because　his　face　could　not　be　seen　in　the
dim　light　of　the　little　lamp。　It　was　Kiryak。　Going　up　to　his
wife；　he　swung　his　arm　and　punched　her　in　the　face　with　his　fist。
Stunned　by　the　blow；　she　did　not　utter　a　sound；　but　sat　down；　and
her　nose　instantly　began　bleeding。

〃What　a　disgrace！　What　a　disgrace！〃　muttered　the　old　man；
clambering　up　on　to　the　stove。　〃Before　visitors；　too！　It's　a
sin！〃

The　old　mother　sat　silent；　bowed；　lost　in　thought；　Fyokla　rocked
the　cradle。

Evidently　conscious　of　inspiring　fear；　and　pleased　at　doing　so；
Kiryak　seized　Marya　by　the　arm；　dragged　her　towards　the　door；　and
bellowed　like　an　animal　in　order　to　seem　still　more　terrible；　but
at　that　moment　he　suddenly　caught　sight　of　the　visitors　and
stopped。

〃Oh；　they　have　come；　。　。　。〃　he　said；　letting　his　wife　go；　〃my　own
brother　and　his　family。　。　。　。〃

Staggering　and　opening　wide　his　red；　drunken　eyes；　he　said　his
prayer　before　the　image　and　went　on：

〃My　brother　and　his　family　have　come　to　the　parental　home　。　。　。
from　Moscow；　I　suppose。　The　great　capital　Moscow；　to　be　sur