06-the young tsar-第2章

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looking　at　nobody。　　Of　these　men　one；　appar…
ently　a　young　peasant；　with　curly　hair；　would
have　been　handsome　were　it　not　for　the　unnatural
pallor　of　his　face；　and　the　concentrated；　wicked；
scarcely　human；　look　in　his　eyes。　　Another　was
a　Jew；　hairy　and　gloomy。　　The　third　was　a　lean
old　man；　bald；　with　a　beard　that　had　been　shaven
and　had　since　grown　like　bristles。　　The　fourth　was
extraordinarily　heavily　built；　with　well…developed
muscles；　a　low　receding　forehead　and　a　flat　nose。　
The　fifth　was　hardly　more　than　a　boy；　long；
thin；　obviously　consumptive。　　The　sixth　was
small　and　dark；　with　nervous；　convulsive　move…
ments。　　He　walked　as　if　he　were　skipping；　and
muttered　continuously　to　himself。　　They　were
all　walking　rapidly　backwards　and　forwards　past
the　hole　through　which　the　young　Tsar　was　look…
ing。　　He　watched　their　faces　and　their　gait　with
keen　interest。　　Having　examined　them　closely；　he
presently　became　aware　of　a　number　of　other　men
at　the　back　of　the　room；　standing　round；　or　lying
on　the　shelf　that　served　as　a　bed。　　Standing　close
to　the　door　he　also　saw　the　pail　which　caused
such　an　unbearable　stench。　　On　the　shelf　about
ten　men；　entirely　covered　with　their　cloaks；　were
sleeping。　　A　red…haired　man　with　a　huge　beard
was　sitting　sideways　on　the　shelf；　with　his　shirt
off。　　He　was　examining　it；　lifting　it　up　to　the
light；　and　evidently　catching　the　vermin　on　it。　
Another　man；　aged　and　white　as　snow；　stood　with
his　profile　turned　towards　the　door。　　He　was
praying；　crossing　himself；　and　bowing　low；　ap…
parently　so　absorbed　in　his　devotions　as　to　be
oblivious　of　all　around　him。

〃I　seethis　is　a　prison；〃　thought　the　young
Tsar。　　〃They　certainly　deserve　pity。　　It　is　a
dreadful　life。　　But　it　cannot　be　helped。　　It　is
their　own　fault。〃

But　this　thought　had　hardly　come　into　his
head　before　HE；　who　was　his　guide；　replied　to
it。

〃They　are　all　here　under　lock　and　key　by　your
order。　　They　have　all　been　sentenced　in　your
name。　　But　far　from　meriting　their　present　con…
dition　which　is　due　to　your　human　judgment；　the
greater　part　of　them　are　far　better　than　you　or
those　who　were　their　judges　and　who　keep　them
here。　　This　one〃he　pointed　to　the　handsome；
curly…headed　fellow〃is　a　murderer。　　I　do　not
consider　him　more　guilty　than　those　who　kill　in
war　or　in　duelling；　and　are　rewarded　for　their
deeds。　　He　had　neither　education　nor　moral
guidance；　and　his　life　had　been　cast　among　thieves
and　drunkards。　　This　lessens　his　guilt；　but　he　has
done　wrong；　nevertheless；　in　being　a　murderer。　
He　killed　a　merchant；　to　rob　him。　　The　other
man；　the　Jew；　is　a　thief；　one　of　a　gang　of　thieves。　
That　uncommonly　strong　fellow　is　a　horse…stealer；
and　guilty　also；　but　compared　with　others　not　as
culpable。　　Look！〃and　suddenly　the　young
Tsar　found　himself　in　an　open　field　on　a　vast
frontier。　　On　the　right　were　potato　fields；　the
plants　had　been　rooted　out；　and　were　lying　in
heaps；　blackened　by　the　frost；　in　alternate　streaks
were　rows　of　winter　corn。　　In　the　distance　a　little
village　with　its　tiled　roofs　was　visible；　on　the　left
were　fields　of　winter　corn；　and　fields　of　stubble。　
No　one　was　to　be　seen　on　any　side；　save　a　black
human　figure　in　front　at　the　border…line；　a　gun
slung　on　his　back；　and　at　his　feet　a　dog。　　On　the
spot　where　the　young　Tsar　stood；　sitting　beside
him；　almost　at　his　feet；　was　a　young　Russian
soldier　with　a　green　band　on　his　cap；　and　with　his
rifle　slung　over　his　shoulders；　who　was　rolling　up
a　paper　to　make　a　cigarette。　　The　soldier　was
obviously　unaware　of　the　presence　of　the　young
Tsar　and　his　companion；　and　had　not　heard　them。　
He　did　now　turn　round　when　the　Tsar；　who　was
standing　directly　over　the　soldier；　asked；　〃Where
are　we？〃　　〃On　the　Prussian　frontier；〃　his　guide
answered。　　Suddenly；　far　away　in　front　of　them；
a　shot　was　fired。　　The　soldier　jumped　to　his　feet；
and　seeing　two　men　running；　bent　low　to　the
ground；　hastily　put　his　tobacco　into　his　pocket；
and　ran　after　one　of　them。　　〃Stop；　or　I'll
shoot！〃　cried　the　soldier。　　The　fugitive；　without
stopping；　turned　his　head　and　called　out　something
evidently　abusive　or　blasphemous。

〃Damn　you！〃　shouted　the　soldier；　who　put　one
foot　a　little　forward　and　stopped；　after　which；
bending　his　head　over　his　rifle；　and　raising　his
right　hand；　he　rapidly　adjusted　something；　took
aim；　and；　pointing　the　gun　in　the　direction　of　the
fugitive；　probably　fired；　although　no　sound　was
heard。　　〃Smokeless　powder；　no　doubt；〃　thought
the　young　Tsar；　and　looking　after　the　fleeing　man
saw　him　take　a　few　hurried　steps；　and　bending
lower　and　lower；　fall　to　the　ground　and　crawl　on
his　hands　and　knees。　　At　last　he　remained　lying
and　did　not　move。　　The　other　fugitive；　who　was
ahead　of　him；　turned　round　and　ran　back　to
the　man　who　was　lying　on　the　ground。　　He
did　something　for　him　and　then　resumed　his
flight。

〃What　does　all　this　mean？　〃　asked　the　Tsar。

〃These　are　the　guards　on　the　frontier；　enforc…
ing　the　revenue　laws。　　That　man　was　killed　to
protect　the　revenues　of　the　State。〃

〃Has　he　actually　been　killed？　〃

The　guide　again　laid　his　hand　upon　the　head　of
the　young　Tsar；　and　again　the　Tsar　lost　conscious…
ness。　　When　he　had　recovered　his　senses　he　found
himself　in　a　small　roomthe　customs　office。　
The　dead　body　of　a　man；　with　a　thin　grizzled
beard；　an　aquiline　nose；　and　big　eyes　with　the
eyelids　closed；　was　lying　on　the　floor。　　His　arms
were　thrown　asunder；　his　feet　bare；　and　his　thick；
dirty　toes　were　turned　up　at　right　angles　and　stuck
out　straight。　　He　had　a　wound　in　his　side；　and
on　his　ragged　cloth　jacket；　as　well　as　on　his　blue
shirt；　were　stains　of　clotted　blood；　which　had
turned　black　save　for　a　few　red　spots　here　and
there。　　A　woman　stood　close　to　the　wall；　so
wrapped　up　in　shawls　that　her　face　could　scarcely
be　seen。　　Motionless　she　gazed　at　the　aquiline
nose；　the　upturned　feet；　and　the　protruding　eye…
balls；　sobbing　and　sighing；　and　drying　her　tears　at
long；　regular　intervals。　　A　pretty　girl　of　thirteen
was　standing　at　her　mother's　side；　with　her　eyes
and　mouth　wide　open。　　A　boy　of　eight　clung　to
his　mother's　skirt；　and　looked　intensely　at　his　dead
father　without　blinking。

From　a　door　near　them　an　official；　an　officer；　a
doctor；　and　a　clerk　with　documents；　entered。　
After　them　came　a　soldier；　the　one　who　had　shot
the　man。　　He　stepped　briskly　along　behind　his
superiors；　but　the　instant　he　saw　the　corpse　he
went　suddenly　pale；　and　quivered；　and　dropping
his　head　stood　still。　　When　the　official　asked　him
whether　that　was　the　man　who　was　escaping　across
the　frontier；　and　at　whom　he　had　fired；　he　was
unable　to　answer。　　His　lips　trembled；　and　his
face　twitched。　　〃The　sss〃　he　began；　but
could　not　get　out　the　words　which　he　wanted　to
say。　　〃The　same；　your　excellency。〃　　The　of…
ficials　looked　at　each　other　and　wrote　something
down。

〃You　see　the　beneficial　results　of　that　same
system！〃

In　a　room　of　sumptuous　vulgarity　two　men　sat
drinking　wine。　　One　of　them　was　old　and　grey；
the　other　a　young　Jew。　　The　young　Jew　was
holding　a　roll　of　bank…notes　in　his　hand；　and　was
bargaining　with　the　old　man。　　He　was　buying
smuggled　goods。

〃You've　got　'em　cheap；〃　he　said；　smiling。

〃Yesbut　the　risk〃

〃This　is　indeed　terrible；〃　said　the　young　Tsar；
but　it　cannot　be　avoided。　　Such　proceedings　are
necessary。〃

His　companion　made　no　response；　saying
merely；　〃Let　us　move　on；〃　and　laid　his　hand
again　on　the　head　of　the　Tsar。　　When　the　Tsar
recovered　consciousness；　he　was　standing　in　a
small　room　lit　by　a　shaded　lamp。　　A　woman　was
sitting　at　the　table　sewing。　　A　boy　of　eight　was
bending　over　the　table；　drawing；　with　his　feet
doubled　up　under　him　in　the　armchair。　　A　stu…
dent　was　reading　aloud。　　The　father　and　daugh…
ter　of　the　family　entered　the　room　noisily。

〃You　signed　the　order　concerning　the　sale　of
spirits；〃　said　the　guide　to　the　Tsar。

〃Well？〃　said　the　woman。

〃He's　not　likely　to　live。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃

〃They've　kept　him　drunk　all　the　time。〃

〃It's　not　possible！〃　exclaimed　the　wife。　

〃It's　true。　　And　the　boy's　only　nine　years　old；
that　Vania　Moroshkine。〃

〃What　did　you　do　to　try　to　save　him？〃　asked
the　wife。

〃I　tr