lost face(丢失的脸)-第3章
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〃But first；〃 the Pole added hastily； 〃between each blow I must put on
fresh medicine。 The axe is heavy and sharp； and I want no mistakes。〃
〃All that you have asked shall be yours；〃 Makamuk cried in a rush of
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acceptance。 〃Proceed to make your medicine。〃
Subienkow concealed his elation。 He was playing a desperate game；
and there must be no slips。 He spoke arrogantly。
〃You have been slow。 My medicine is offended。 To make the
offence clean you must give me your daughter。〃
He pointed to the girl； an unwholesome creature； with a cast in one eye
and a bristling wolf…tooth。 Makamuk was angry； but the Pole remained
imperturbable； rolling and lighting another cigarette。
〃Make haste；〃 he threatened。 〃If you are not quick； I shall demand
yet more。〃
In the silence that followed； the dreary northland scene faded before
him； and he saw once more his native land； and France； and； once； as he
glanced at the wolf…toothed girl； he remembered another girl； a singer and
a dancer； whom he had known when first as a youth he came to Paris。
〃What do you want with the girl？〃 Makamuk asked。
〃To go down the river with me。〃 Subienkow glanced over her
critically。 〃She will make a good wife； and it is an honour worthy of my
medicine to be married to your blood。〃
Again he remembered the singer and dancer and hummed aloud a song
she had taught him。 He lived the old life over； but in a detached；
impersonal sort of way； looking at the memory…pictures of his own life as
if they were pictures in a book of anybody's life。 The chief's voice；
abruptly breaking the silence； startled him
〃It shall be done；〃 said Makamuk。 〃The girl shall go down the river
with you。 But be it understood that I myself strike the three blows with
the axe on your neck。〃
〃But each time I shall put on the medicine；〃 Subienkow answered；
with a show of ill…concealed anxiety。
〃You shall put the medicine on between each blow。 Here are the
hunters who shall see you do not escape。 Go into the forest and gather
your medicine。〃
Makamuk had been convinced of the worth of the medicine by the
Pole's rapacity。 Surely nothing less than the greatest of medicines could
enable a man in the shadow of death to stand up and drive an old…
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woman's bargain。
〃Besides；〃 whispered Yakaga； when the Pole； with his guard； had
disappeared among the spruce trees； 〃when you have learned the medicine
you can easily destroy him。〃
〃But how can I destroy him？〃 Makamuk argued。 〃His medicine will
not let me destroy him。〃
〃There will be some part where he has not rubbed the medicine；〃 was
Yakaga's reply。 〃We will destroy him through that part。 It may be his
ears。 Very well； we will thrust a spear in one ear and out the other。 Or
it may be his eyes。 Surely the medicine will be much too strong to rub
on his eyes。〃
The chief nodded。 〃You are wise； Yakaga。 If he possesses no other
devil…things； we will then destroy him。〃
Subienkow did not waste time in gathering the ingredients for his
medicine； he selected whatsoever came to hand such as spruce needles； the
inner bark of the willow； a strip of birch bark； and a quantity of moss…
berries； which he made the hunters dig up for him from beneath the snow。
A few frozen roots completed his supply； and he led the way back to camp。
Makamuk and Yakaga crouched beside him； noting the quantities and
kinds of the ingredients he dropped into the pot of boiling water。
〃You must be careful that the moss…berries go in first；〃 he explained。
〃Andoh； yes； one other thingthe finger of a man。 Here； Yakaga；
let me cut off your finger。〃
But Yakaga put his hands behind him and scowled。
〃Just a small finger；〃 Subienkow pleaded。
〃Yakaga； give him your finger；〃 Makamuk commanded。
〃There be plenty of fingers lying around；〃 Yakaga grunted； indicating
the human wreckage in the snow of the score of persons who had been
tortured to death。
〃It must be the finger of a live man；〃 the Pole objected。
〃Then shall you have the finger of a live man。〃 Yakaga strode over to
the Cossack and sliced off a finger。
〃He is not yet dead；〃 he announced； flinging the bloody trophy in the
snow at the Pole's feet。 〃Also； it is a good finger； because it is large。〃
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Subienkow dropped it into the fire under the pot and began to sing。 It
was a French love…song that with great solemnity he sang into the brew。
〃Without these words I utter into it； the medicine is worthless；〃 he
explained。 〃The words are the chiefest strength of it。 Behold； it is
ready。〃
〃Name the words slowly； that I may know them；〃 Makamuk
commanded。
〃Not until after the test。 When the axe flies back three times from my
neck； then will I give you the secret of the words。〃
〃But if the medicine is not good medicine？〃 Makamuk queried
anxiously。
Subienkow turned upon him wrathfully。
〃My medicine is always good。 However； if it is not good； then do by
me as you have done to the others。 Cut me up a bit at a time； even as you
have cut him up。〃 He pointed to the Cossack。 〃The medicine is now
cool。 Thus； I rub it on my neck； saying this further medicine。〃
With great gravity he slowly intoned a line of the 〃Marseillaise；〃 at the
same time rubbing the villainous brew thoroughly into his neck。
An outcry interrupted his play…acting。 The giant Cossack； with a last
resurgence of his tremendous vitality； had arisen to his knees。 Laughter
and cries of surprise and applause arose from the Nulatos； as Big Ivan
began flinging himself about in the snow with mighty spasms。
Subienkow was made sick by the sight； but he mastered his qualms
and made believe to be angry。
〃This will not do；〃 he said。 〃Finish him； and then we will make the
test。 Here； you； Yakaga； see that his noise ceases。〃
While this was being done； Subienkow turned to Makamuk。
〃And remember； you are to strike hard。 This is not baby…work。
Here； take the axe and strike the log； so that I can see you strike like a
man。〃
Makamuk obeyed； striking twice； precisely and with vigour； cutting
out a large chip。
〃It is well。〃 Subienkow looked about him at the circle of savage
faces that somehow seemed to symbolize the wall of savagery that had
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hemmed him about ever since the Czar's police had first arrested him in
Warsaw。 〃Take your axe； Makamuk； and stand so。 I shall lie down。
When I raise my hand； strike； and strike with all your might。 And be
careful that no one stands behind you。 The medicine is good； and the axe
may bounce from off my neck and right out of your hands。〃
He looked at the two sleds； with the dogs in harness； loaded with furs
and fish。 His rifle lay on top of the beaver skins。 The six hunters who
were to act as his guard stood by the sleds。〃
〃Where is the girl？〃 the Pole demanded。 〃Bring her up to the sleds
before the test goes on。〃
When this had been carried out； Subienkow lay down in the snow；
resting his head on the log like a tired child about to sleep。 He had lived
so many dreary years that he was indeed tired。
〃I laugh at you and your strength； O Makamuk；〃 he said。 〃Strike； and
strike hard。〃
He lifted his hand。 Makamuk swung the axe； a broadaxe for the
squaring of logs。 The bright steel flashed through the frosty air； poised
for a perceptible instant above Makamuk's head； then descended upon
Subienkow's bare neck。 Clear through flesh and bone it cut its way；
biting deeply into the log beneath。 The amazed savages saw the head
bounce a yard away from the blood…spouting trunk。
There was a great bewilderment and silence； while slowly it began to
dawn in their minds that there had been no medicine。 The fur…thief had
outwitted them。 Alone； of all their prisoners； he had escaped the torture。
That had been the stake for which he played。 A great roar of laughter
went up。 Makamuk bowed his head in shame。 The fur… thief had fooled
him。 He had lost face before all his people。 Still they continued to roar
out their laughter。 Makamuk turned； and with bowed head stalked away。
He knew that thenceforth he would be no longer known as Makamuk。
He would be Lost Face； the record of his shame would be with him until
he died； and whenever the tribes gathered in the spring for the salmon； or
in the summer for the trading； the story would pass back and forth across
the camp…fires of how the fur…thief died peaceably； at a single stroke； by
the hand of Lost Face。
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〃Who was Lost Face？〃 he could hear； in anticipation； some insolent
young buck demand； 〃Oh； Lost Face；〃 would be the answer； 〃he who once
was Makamuk in the days before he cut off the fur…thief's head。〃
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TRUST
All lines had been cast off； and the Seattle No。 4 was pulling slowly
out f
