creatures that once were men-第32章
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〃That's true; brother! Ah; how true it is! Look at you; now;
what you've become away from the land! Aha! The land;
brother; is like a mother; you can't forget it for long。〃
161 CHELKASH
Chelkash awaked from his reverie。 He felt that scalding
irritation in his chest; which always came as soon as his
pride; the pride of the reckless vagrant; was touched by
anyone; and especially by one who was of no value in his eyes。
〃His tongue's set wagging!〃 he said savagely; 〃you thought;
maybe; I said all that in earnest。 Never fear!〃
〃But; you strange fellow !〃Gavrilo began; overawed again
〃Was I speaking of you? Why; there's lots like you! Ah;
what a lot of unlucky people among the people! Wanderers〃
〃Take the oars; you sea…calf!〃 Chelkash commanded briefly; for
some reason holding back a whole torrent of furious abuse;
which surged up into his throat。
They changed places again; and Chelkash; as he crept across
the boat to the stern; felt an intense desire to give Gavrilo
a kick that would send him flying into the water; and at the
same time could not pluck up courage to look him in the face。
The brief conversation dropped; but now Gavrilo's silence even
was eloquent of the country to Chelkash。 He recalled the past;
and forgot to steer the boat; which was turned by the current
and floated away out to sea。 The waves seemed to understand
that this boat had missed its way; and played lightly with it;
tossing it higher and higher; and kindling their gay blue light
under its oars。 While before Chelkash's eyes floated pictures
of the past; the far past; separated from the present by the
whole barrier of eleven years of vagrant life。
162 CHELKASH
He saw himself a child; his village; his mother; a red…cheeked
plump woman; with kindly gray eyes; his father; a red…bearded
giant with a stern face。 He saw himself betrothed; and saw his
wife; black…eyed Anfisa; with her long hair; plump; mild; and
good…humored; again himself a handsome soldier in the Guards;
again his father; gray now and bent with toil; and his mother
wrinkled and bowed to the ground; he saw; too; the picture of
his welcome in the village when he returned from the service;
saw how proud his father was before all the village of his
Grigory; the mustached; stalwart soldier; so smart and handsome。
Memory; the scourge of the unhappy; gives life to the very
stones of the past; and even into the poison drunk in old days
pours drops of honey; so as to confound a man with his mistakes
and; by making him love the past; rob him of hope for the future。
Chelkash felt a rush of the softening; caressing air of home;
bringing back to him the tender words of his mother and the
weighty utterances of the venerable peasant; his father; many
a forgotten sound and many a lush smell of mother…earth;
freshly thawing; freshly ploughed; and freshly covered with
the emerald silk of the corn。 And he felt crushed; lost;
pitiful; and solitary; torn up and cast out for ever from that
life which had distilled the very blood that flowed in his veins。
〃Hey! but where are we going?〃 Gavrilo asked suddenly。
Chelkash started and looked round with the uneasy look of a bird
of prey。
〃Ah; the devil's taken the boat! No matter。 Row a bit harder。
We'll be there directly。〃
163 CHELKASH
〃You were dreaming?〃 Gavrilo inquired; smiling。
Chelkash looked searchingly at him。 The youth had completely
regained his composure; he was calm; cheerful and even seemed
somehow triumphant。 He was very young; all his life lay before
him。 And he knew nothing。 That was bad。 Maybe the earth would
keep hold of him。 As these thoughts flashed through his head;
Chelkash felt still more mournful; and to Gavrilo he jerked out
sullenly:
〃I'm tired。 And it rocks; too。〃
〃It does rock; that's true。 But now; I suppose; we shan't get
caught with this?〃 Gavrilo shoved the bale with his foot。
〃No。 You can be easy。 I shall hand it over directly and get
the money。 Oh; yes!〃
〃Five hundred?〃
〃Not less; I dare say。〃
〃I saythat's a sum! If I; poor wretch; had that! Ah; I'd
have a fine time with it。〃
〃On your land?〃
〃To be sure! Why; I'd be off〃
And Gravilo floated off into day dreams。 Chelkash seemed
crushed。 His mustaches drooped; his right side was soaked by
the splashing of the waves; his eyes looked sunken and had
lost their brightness。 He was a pitiable and depressed figure。
All that bird…of…prey look in his figure seemed somehow
eclipsed under a humiliated moodiness; that showed itself in
the very folds of his dirty shirt。
〃I'm tired out; tooregularly done up。〃
〃We'll be there directly。 See over yonder。〃
164 CHELKASH
Chelkash turned the boat sharply; and steered it toward
something black that stood up out of the water。
The sky was again all covered with clouds; and fine; warm rain
had come on; pattering gayly on the crests of the waves。
〃Stop! easy!〃 commanded Chelkash。
The boat's nose knocked against the hull of the vessel。 〃Are
they asleep; the devils?〃 grumbled Chelkash; catching with his
boat…hook on to some ropes that hung over the ship's side。
〃The ladder's not down。 And this rain; too。 As if it couldn't
have come before! Hi; you spongeos。 Hi! Hi!〃
〃Is that Selkash?〃 they heard a soft purring voice say overhead。
〃Come; let down the ladder。〃
〃Kalimera; Selkash。〃
〃Let down the ladder; you smutty devil!〃 yelled Chelkash。
〃Ah; what a rage he's come in to…day。 Ahoy!〃
〃Get up; Gavrilo!〃 Chelkash said to his companion。
In a moment they were on the deck; where three dark…bearded
figures; eagerly chattering together; in a strange staccato
tongue looked over the side into Chelkash's boat。 The fourth
clad in a long gown; went up to him and pressed his hand
without speaking; then looked suspiciously round at Gavrilo。
〃Get the money ready for me by the morning;〃 Chelkash said to
him shortly。 〃And now I'll go to sleep。 Gavrilo; come along!
Are you hungry?〃
165 CHELKASH
〃I'm sleepy;〃 answered Gavrilo; and five minutes later he was
snoring in the dirty hold of the vessel; while Chelkash;
sitting beside him; tried on somebody's boots。 Dreamily
spitting on one side; he whistled angrily and mournfully
between his teeth。 Then he stretched himself out beside
Gavrilo; and pulling the boots off his feet again and putting
his arms under his head; he fell to gazing intently at the
deck; and pulling his mustaches。
The vessel rocked softly on the frolicking water; there was a
fretful creaking of wood somewhere; the rain pattered softly
on the deck; and the waves splashed on the ship's side。
Everything was melancholy and sounded like the lullaby of a
mother; who has no hope of her child's happiness。 And
Chelkash fell asleep。
CHAPTER III
He was the first to wake; he looked round him uneasily; but at
once regained his self…possession and stared at Gavrilo who was
still asleep。 He was sweetly snoring; and in his sleep smiled
all over his childish; sun…burned healthy face。 Chelkash
sighed and climbed up the narrow rope…ladder。 Through the
port…hole he saw a leaden strip of sky。 It was daylight; but
a dreary autumn grayness。
Chelkash came back two hours later。 His face was red; his
mustaches were jauntily curled; a smile of good…humored gayety
beamed on his lips。 He was wearing a pair of stout high boots;
a short jacket; and leather breeches; and he looked like a
sportsman。 His whole costume was worn; but strong and very
becoming to him; making him look broader; covering up his
angularity; and giving him a military air。
166 CHELKASH
〃Hi; little calf; get up!〃 He gave Gavrilo