the witch and other stories-第39章
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The shepherds were not alone。 A couple of yards from them in the
dusk that shrouded the road a horse made a patch of darkness；
and； beside it； leaning against the saddle； stood a man in high
boots and a short full…skirted jacket who looked like an overseer
on some big estate。 Judging from his upright and motionless
figure； from his manners； and his behaviour to the shepherds and
to his horse； he was a serious； reasonable man who knew his own
value； even in the darkness signs could be detected in him of
military carriage and of the majestically condescending
expression gained by frequent intercourse with the gentry and
their stewards。
The sheep were asleep。 Against the grey background of the dawn；
already beginning to cover the eastern part of the sky； the
silhouettes of sheep that were not asleep could be seen here and
there； they stood with drooping heads； thinking。 Their thoughts；
tedious and oppressive； called forth by images of nothing but the
broad steppe and the sky； the days and the nights； probably
weighed upon them themselves； crushing them into apathy； and；
standing there as though rooted to the earth； they noticed
neither the presence of a stranger nor the uneasiness of the
dogs。
The drowsy； stagnant air was full of the monotonous noise
inseparable from a summer night on the steppes； the grasshoppers
chirruped incessantly； the quails called； and the young
nightingales trilled languidly half a mile away in a ravine where
a stream flowed and willows grew。
The overseer had halted to ask the shepherds for a light for his
pipe。 He lighted it in silence and smoked the whole pipe； then；
still without uttering a word； stood with his elbow on the
saddle； plunged in thought。 The young shepherd took no notice of
him； he still lay gazing at the sky while the old man slowly
looked the overseer up and down and then asked：
〃Why； aren't you Panteley from Makarov's estate？〃
〃That's myself；〃 answered the overseer。
〃To be sure； I see it is。 I didn't know you that is a sign you
will be rich。 Where has God brought you from？〃
〃From the Kovylyevsky fields。〃
〃That's a good way。 Are you letting the land on the part…crop
system？〃
〃Part of it。 Some like that； and some we are letting on lease；
and some for raising melons and cucumbers。 I have just come from
the mill。〃
A big shaggy old sheep…dog of a dirty white colour with woolly
tufts about its nose and eyes walked three times quietly round
the horse； trying to seem unconcerned in the presence of
strangers； then all at once dashed suddenly from behind at the
overseer with an angry aged growl； the other dogs could not
refrain from leaping up too。
〃Lie down； you damned brute；〃 cried the old man； raising himself
on his elbow； 〃blast you； you devil's creature。〃
When the dogs were quiet again； the old man resumed his former
attitude and said quietly：
〃It was at Kovyli on Ascension Day that Yefim Zhmenya died。 Don't
speak of it in the dark； it is a sin to mention such people。 He
was a wicked old man。 I dare say you have heard。〃
〃No； I haven't〃
〃Yefim Zhmenya； the uncle of Styopka； the blacksmith。 The whole
district round knew him。 Aye； he was a cursed old man； he was！ I
knew him for sixty years； ever since Tsar Alexander who beat the
French was brought from Taganrog to Moscow。 We went together to
meet the dead Tsar； and in those days the great highway did not
run to Bahmut； but from Esaulovka to Gorodishtche； and where
Kovyli is now； there were bustards' nests there was a
bustard's nest at every step。 Even then I had noticed that Yefim
had given his soul to damnation； and that the Evil One was in
him。 I have observed that if any man of the peasant class is apt
to be silent； takes up with old women's jobs； and tries to live
in solitude； there is no good in it； and Yefim from his youth up
was always one to hold his tongue and look at you sideways； he
always seemed to be sulky and bristling like a cock before a hen。
To go to church or to the tavern or to lark in the street with
the lads was not his fashion； he would rather sit alone or be
whispering with old women。 When he was still young he took jobs
to look after the bees and the market gardens。 Good folks would
come to his market garden sometimes and his melons were
whistling。 One day he caught a pike； when folks were looking on；
and it laughed aloud； 'Ho…ho…ho…ho！' 〃
〃It does happen；〃 said Panteley。
The young shepherd turned on his side and； lifting his black
eyebrows； stared intently at the old man。
〃Did you hear the melons whistling？〃 he asked。
〃Hear them I didn't； the Lord spared me；〃 sighed the old man；
〃but folks told me so。 It is no great wonder 。 。 。 the Evil One
will begin whistling in a stone if he wants to。 Before the Day of
Freedom a rock was humming for three days and three nights in our
parts。 I heard it myself。 The pike laughed because Yefim caught a
devil instead of a pike。〃
The old man remembered something。 He got up quickly on to his
knees and； shrinking as though from the cold； nervously thrusting
his hands into his sleeves； he muttered in a rapid womanish
gabble：
〃Lord save us and have mercy upon us！ I was walking along the
river bank one day to Novopavlovka。 A storm was gathering； such a
tempest it was； preserve us Holy Mother； Queen of Heaven。 。 。 。 I
was hurrying on as best I could； I looked； and beside the path
between the thorn bushes the thorn was in flower at the time
there was a white bullock coming along。 I wondered whose
bullock it was； and what the devil had sent it there for。 It was
coming along and swinging its tail and moo…oo…oo！ but would you
believe it； friends； I overtake it； I come up close and it's
not a bullock； but Yefim holy； holy； holy！ I make the sign of
the cross while he stares at me and mutters； showing the whites
of his eyes； wasn't I frightened！ We came alongside； I was afraid
to say a word to him the thunder was crashing； the sky was
streaked with lightning； the willows were bent right down to the
water all at once； my friends； God strike me dead that I die
impenitent； a hare ran across the path 。 。 。 it ran and stopped；
and said like a man： 'Good…evening； peasants。' Lie down； you
brute！ 〃 the old man cried to the shaggy dog； who was moving
round the horse again。 〃Plague take you！〃
〃It does happen；〃 said the overseer； still leaning on the saddle
and not stirring； he said this in the hollow； toneless voice in
which men speak when they are plunged in thought。
〃It does happen；〃 he repeated； in a tone of profundity and
conviction。
〃Ugh； he was a nasty old fellow；〃 the old shepherd went on with
somewhat less fervour。 〃Five years after the Freedom he was
flogged by the commune at the office； so to show his spite he
took and sent the throat illness upon all Kovyli。 Folks died out
of number； lots and lots of them； just as in cholera。 。 。 。〃
〃How did he send the illness？〃 asked the young shepherd after a
brief silence。
〃We all know how； there is no great cleverness needed where there
is a will to it。 Yefim murdered people with viper's fat。 That is
such a poison that folks will die from the mere smell of it； let
alone the fat。〃
〃That's true；〃 Panteley agreed。
〃The lads wanted to kill him at the time； but the old people
would not let them。 It would never have done to kill him； he knew
the place where the treasure is hidden； and not another soul did
know。 The treasures about here are charmed so that you may find
them and not see them； but he did see them。 At times he would
walk along the river bank or in the forest； and under the bushes
and under the rocks there would be little flames； little flames。
。 。 little flames as though from brimstone。 I have seen them
myself。 Everyone expected that Yefim would show people the places
or dig the treasure up himself； but he as the saying is； like
a dog in the manger so he died without digging it up himself
or showing other people。〃
The overseer lit a pipe； and for an instant lighted up his big
moustaches and his sharp； stern…looking； and dignified nose。
Little circles of light danced from his hands to his cap； raced
over the saddle along the horse's back； and vanished in
