creatures that once were men-第44章
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as though flung back into an abyss of darkness。 The air was
filled with rumblings and vibrations; with sounds and echoes。
The lowering; angry sky seemed purifying itself by fire; from
the dust and the foulness which had risen toward it from the
earth; and the earth; it seemed; was quaking in terror at its
wrath。 Shakro was shaking and whimpering like a scared dog。
But I felt elated and lifted above commonplace life as I
watched the mighty; gloomy spectacle of the storm on the
steppe。 This unearthly chaos enchanted me and exalted me to
an heroic mood; filling my soul with its wild; fierce harmony。
And I longed to take part in it; and to express; in some way
or other; the rapture that filled my heart to overflowing; in
the presence of the mysterious force which scatters gloom;
and gathering clouds。 The blue light which lit up the sky
seemed to gleam in my soul too; and how was I to express my
passion and my ecstasy at the grandeur of nature? I sang
aloud; at the top of my voice。 The thunder roared; the
lightning flashed; the grass whispered; while I sang and felt
myself in close kinship with nature's music。 I was delirious;
and it was pardonable; for it harmed no one but myself。 I was
filled with the desire to absorb; as much as possible; the
mighty; living beauty and force that was raging on the steppe;
and to get closer to it。 A tempest at sea; and a thunderstorm
on the steppes! I know nothing grander in nature。 And so I
shouted to my heart's content; in the absolute belief that I
troubled no one; nor placed any one in a position to criticize
my action。 But suddenly; I felt my legs seized; and I fell
helpless into a pool of water。
222 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
Shakro was looking into my face with serious and wrathful eyes。
〃Are you mad? Aren't you? No? Well; then; be quiet! Don't
shout! I'll cut your throat! Do you understand?〃
I was amazed; and I asked him first what harm I was doing him?
〃Why; you're frightening me! It's thundering; God is speaking;
and you bawl。 What are you thinking about?〃
I replied that I had a right to sing whenever I chose。 Just as
he had。
〃But I don't want to!〃 he said。
〃Well; don't sing then!〃 I assented。
〃And don't you sing!〃 insisted Shakro。
〃Yes; I mean to sing!〃
〃Stop! What are you thinking about?〃 he went on angrily。 〃Who
are you? You have neither home nor father; nor mother; you
have no relations; no land! Who are you? Are you anybody; do
you suppose? It's I am somebody in the world! I have
everything!〃
He slapped his chest vehemently。
〃I'm a prince; and youyou're nobodynothing! You say
you're this and that! Who else says so? All Koutais and
Tiflies know me! You shall not contradict me! Do you hear?
Are you not my servant? I'll pay ten times over for all you
have done for me。 You shall obey me! You said yourself that
God taught us to serve each other without seeking for a reward;
but I'll reward you。
223 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
〃Why will you annoy me; preaching to me; and frightening me?
Do you want me to be like you? That's too bad! You can't
make me like yourself! Foo! Foo!〃
He talked; smacked his lips; snuffled; and sighed。 I stood
staring at him; open…mouthed with astonishment。 He was
evidently pouring out now all the discontent; displeasure and
disgust; which had been gathering up during the whole of our
journey。 To convince me more thoroughly; he poked me in the
chest from time to time with his forefinger; and shook me by
the shoulder。 During the most impressive parts of his speech
he pushed up against me with his whole massive body。 The rain
was pouring down on us; the thunder never ceased its muttering;
and to make me hear; Shakro shouted at the top of his voice。
The tragic comedy of my position struck me more vividly than
ever; and I burst into a wild fit of laughter。 Shakro turned
away and spat。
CHAPTER X
The nearer we draw to Tiflis; the gloomier and the surlier grew
Shakro。 His thinner; but still stolid face wore a new
expression。 Just before we reached Vladikavkas we passed
through a Circassian village; where we obtained work in some
maize fields。
The Circassians spoke very little Russian; and as they
constantly laughed at us; and scolded us in their own language;
we resolved to leave the village two days after our arrival;
their increasing enmity had begun to alarm us。
224 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
We had left the village about ten miles behind; when Shakro
produced from his shirt a roll of home…spun muslin; and handing
it to me; exclaimed triumphantly:
〃You need not work any more now。 We can sell this; and buy all
we want till we get to Tiflis! Do you see?〃
I was moved to fury; and tearing the bundle from his hands; I
flung it away; glancing back。
The Circassians are not to be trifled with! Only a short time
before; the Cossacks had told us the following story:
A tramp; who had been working for some time in a Circassian
village; stole an iron spoon; and carried it away with him。 The
Circassians followed him; searched him; and found the iron
spoon。 They ripped open his body with a dagger; and after
pushing the iron spoon into the wound; went off quietly;
leaving him to his fate on the steppes。 He was found by some
Cossacks at the point of death。 He told them this story; and
died on the way to their village。 The Cossacks had more than
once warned us against the Circassians; relating many other
edifying tales of the same sort。 I had no reason to doubt the
accuracy of these stories。 I reminded Shakro of these facts。
For some time he listened in silence to what I was saying;
then; suddenly; showing his teeth and screwing up his eyes;
he flew at me like a wild cat。 We struggled for five minutes
or so; till Shakro exclaimed angrily: 〃Enough! Enough!〃
225 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
Exhausted with the struggle; we sat in silence for some time;
facing each other。 Shakro glanced covetously toward the spot;
where I had flung the red muslin; and said:
〃What were we fighting about? FaFaFa! It's very stupid。
I did not steal it from you did I? Why should you care? I
was sorry for you that is why I took the linen。 You have to
work so hard; and I cannot help you in that way; so I thought
I would help you by stealing。 Tse'! Tse'!
I made an attempt to explain to him how wrong it was to steal。
〃Hold your tongue; please! You're a blockhead!〃 he exclaimed
contemptuously; then added: 〃When one is dying of hunger;
there is nothing for it but to steal; what sort of a life is
this?〃
I was silent; afraid of rousing his anger again。 This was the
second time he had committed a theft。 Some time before; when
we were tramping along the shores of the Black Sea; he stole
a watch belonging to a fisherman。 We had nearly come to blows
then。
〃Well; come along;〃 he said; when; after a short rest; we had
once more grown quiet and friendly。
So we trudged on。 Each day made him grow more gloomy; and he
looked at me strangely; from under his brows。
As we walked over the Darial Pass; he remarked: 〃Another day
or two will bring us to Tiflis。 Tse'! Tse'!〃
He clicked his tongue; and his face beamed with delight。
226 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
〃When I get home; they will ask me where I have been? I shall
tell them I have been travelling。 The first thing I shall do
will be to take a nice bath。 I shall eat a lot。 Oh! what a
lot。 I have only to tell my mother 'I am hungry!' My father
will forgive when I tell him how much trouble and sorrow I have
undergone。 Tramps are a good sort of people! Whenever I meet
a tramp; I shall always give him a rouble; and take him to the
beer…house; a