the foreigner-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



The　Sergeant　stood　still　to　analyse　this　confused　clamour。　　Above　the　thumping　and　the　singing　of　the　dancers　could　be　heard　the　sound　of　breaking　boards；　mingled　with　yells　and　curses。

〃Murchuk；　there　is　fighting　going　on。〃

〃Suppose；〃　agreed　the　Interpreter；　〃when　Galician　man　get　married；　he　want　much　joy。　　He　get　much　beer；　much　fight。〃

〃I　will　just　be　taking　a　walk　round　there；〃　said　the　Sergeant。　〃These　people　have　got　to　learn　to　get　married　with　less　fuss　about　it。　　I　am　not　going　to　stand　this　much　longer。　　What　do　they　want　to　fight　for　anyway？〃

〃Oh；〃　replied　Murchuk　lightly；　〃Polak　not　like　Slovak；　Slovak　not　like　Galician。　　Dey　drink　plenty　beer；　tink　of　someting　in　Old　Country；　get　mad；　make　noise；　fight　some。〃

〃Come　along　with　me；〃　replied　the　Sergeant；　and　he　squared　his　big　shoulders　and　set　off　down　the　street　with　the　quick；　light　stride　that　suggested　the　springing　step　of　his　Highland　ancestors　on　the　heather　hills　of　Scotland。

Just　as　they　arrived　at　the　house　of　feasting；　a　cry；　wild；　weird　and　horrible；　pierced　through　the　uproar。　　The　Interpreter　stopped　as　if　struck　with　a　bullet。

〃My　God！〃　he　cried　in　an　undertone；　clutching　the　Sergeant　by　the　arm；　〃My　God！　　Dat　terrible！〃

〃What　is　it？　　What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Murchuk？〃

〃You　know　not　dat　cry？　　No？〃　　He　was　all　trembling。　　〃Dat　cry　I　hear　long　ago　in　Russland。　　Russian　man　mak　dat　cry　when　he　kill。　Dat　Nihilist　cry。〃

〃Go　back　and　get　Dr。　Wright。　　He　will　be　needed；　sure。　　You　know　where　he　lives；　second　corner　down　on　Main　Street。　　Get　a　move　on！　Quick！〃

Meantime；　while　respectable　Winnipeg　lay　snugly　asleep　under　snow…　covered　roofs　and　smoking　chimneys；　while　belated　revellers　and　travellers　were　making　their　way　through　white；　silent　streets　and　under　avenues　of　snow…laden　trees　to　homes　where　reigned　love　and　peace　and　virtue；　in　the　north　end　and　in　the　foreign　colony　the　festivities　in　connection　with　Anka's　wedding　were　drawing　to　a　close　in　sordid　drunken　dance　and　song　and　in　sanguinary　fighting。

In　the　main　room　dance　and　song　reeled　on　in　uproarious　hilarity。　In　the　basement　below；　foul　and　fetid；　men　stood　packed　close；　drinking　while　they　could。　　It　was　for　the　foreigner　an　hour　of　rare　opportunity。　　The　beer　kegs　stood　open　and　there　were　plenty　of　tin　mugs　about。　　In　the　dim　light　of　a　smoky　lantern；　the　swaying　crowd；　here　singing　in　maudlin　chorus；　there　fighting　savagely　to　pay　off　old　scores　or　to　avenge　new　insults；　presented　a　nauseating　spectacle。

In　the　farthest　corner　of　the　room；　unmoved　by　all　this　din；　about　a　table　consisting　of　a　plank　laid　across　two　beer　kegs；　one　empty；　the　other　for　the　convenience　of　the　players　half　full；　sat　four　men　deep　in　a　game　of　cards。　　Rosenblatt　with　a　big　Dalmatian　sailor　as　partner；　against　a　little　Polak　and　a　dark…bearded　man。　This　man　was　apparently　very　drunk；　as　was　evident　by　his　reckless　playing　and　his　jibing；　jeering　manner。　　He　was　losing　money；　but　with　perfect　good　cheer。　　Not　so　his　partner；　the　Polak。　　Every　loss　made　him　more　savage　and　quarrelsome。　　With　great　difficulty　Rosenblatt　was　able　to　keep　the　game　going　and　preserve　peace。　　The　singing；　swaying；　yelling；　cursing　crowd　beside　them　also　gave　him　concern；　and　over　and　again　he　would　shout；　〃Keep　quiet；　you　fools。　The　police　will　be　on　us；　and　that　will　be　the　end　of　your　beer；　for　they　will　put　you　in　prison！〃

〃Yes；〃　jeered　the　black…bearded　man；　who　seemed　to　be　set　on　making　a　row；　〃all　fools；　Russian　fools；　Polak　fools；　Galician　fools；　Slovak　fools；　all　fools　together。〃

Angry　voices　replied　from　all　sides；　and　the　noise　rose　higher。

〃Keep　quiet！〃　cried　Rosenblatt；　rising　to　his　feet；　〃the　police　will　surely　be　here！〃

〃That　is　true；〃　cried　the　black…bearded　man；　〃keep　them　quiet　or　the　police　will　herd　them　in　like　sheep；　like　little　sheep；　baa；　baa；　baa；　baa！〃

〃The　police！〃　shouted　a　voice　in　reply；　〃who　cares　for　the　police？〃

A　yell　of　derisive　assent　rose　in　response。

〃Be　quiet！〃　besought　Rosenblatt　again。　　He　was　at　his　wits'　end。　the　police　might　at　any　time　appear　and　that　would　end　what　was　for　him　a　very　profitable　game；　and　besides　might　involve　him　in　serious　trouble。　　〃Here　you；　Joseph！〃　he　cried；　addressing　a　man　near　him；　〃another　keg　of　beer！〃

Between　them　they　hoisted　up　a　keg　of　beer　on　an　empty　cask；　knocked　in　the　head；　and　set　them　drinking　with　renewed　eagerness。

〃Swine！〃　he　said；　seating　himself　again　at　the　table。　　〃Come；　let　us　play。〃

But　the　very　devil　of　strife　seemed　to　be　in　the　black…bearded　man。　He　gibed　at　the　good…natured　Dalmatian；　setting　the　Polak　at　him；　suggested　crooked　dealing；　playing　recklessly　and　losing　his　own　and　his　partner's　money。　　At　length　the　inevitable　clash　came。　　As　the　Dalmatian　reached　for　a　trick；　the　Polak　cried　out；　〃Hold！　　It　is　mine！〃

〃Yes；　certainly　it　is　his！〃　shouted　the　black…bearded　man。

〃Liar！　　It　is　mine；〃　said　the　Dalmatian；　with　perfect　good　temper；　and　held　on　to　his　cards。

〃Liar　yourself！〃　hissed　the　little　Polak；　thrusting　his　face　toward　the　Dalmatian。

〃Go　away；〃　said　the　Dalmatian。　　His　huge　open　hand　appeared　to　rest　a　moment　on　the　Polak's　grinning　face；　and　somehow　the　little　man　was　swept　from　his　seat　to　the　floor。

〃Ho；　ho；〃　laughed　the　Dalmatian；　〃so　I　brush　away　a　fly。〃

With　a　face　like　a　demon's；　the　Polak　sprang　at　his　big　antagonist；　an　open　knife　in　his　hand；　and　jabbed　him　in　the　arm。　　For　a　moment　the　big　man　sat　looking　at　his　assailant　as　if　amazed　at　his　audacity。　　Then　as　he　saw　the　blood　running　down　his　fingers　he　went　mad；　seized　the　Polak　by　the　hair；　lifted　him　clear　out　of　his　seat；　carrying　the　plank　table　with　him；　and　thereupon　taking　him　by　the　back　of　the　neck；　proceeded　to　shake　him　till　his　teeth　rattled　in　his　head。

At　almost　the　same　instant　the　black…bearded　man　leaped　across　the　fallen　table　like　a　tiger；　at　Rosenblatt's　throat；　and　bore　him　down　to　the　earthen　floor　in　the　dark　corner。　　Sitting　astride　his　chest；　his　knees　on　Rosenblatt's　arms；　and　gripping　him　by　the　throat；　he　held　him　voiceless　and　helpless。　　Soon　his　victim　lay　still；　looking　up　into　his　assailant's　face　in　surprise；　fear　and　rage　unspeakable。

〃Rosenblatt；〃　said　the　bearded　man　in　a　soft　voice；　〃you　know　me　me？〃

〃No；〃　gasped　Rosenblatt　in　terrible　fury；　〃what　do　you〃

〃Look；〃　said　the　man。　　With　his　free　hand　he　swept　off　the　black　beard　which　he　stuffed　into　his　pocket。

Rosenblatt　looked。　　〃Kalmar！〃　he　gasped；　terror　in　his　eyes。

〃Yes；　Kalmar；〃　replied　the　man。

〃Help！〃　　The　cry　died　at　his　teeth。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Kalmar；　shutting　his　fingers　upon　his　windpipe。　　〃No　noise。　　We　are　to　have　a　quiet　moment　here。　　They　are　all　too　busy　to　notice　us。　　Listen。〃　　He　leaned　far　down　over　the　ghastly　face　of　the　wretched　man　beneath　him。　　〃Shall　I　tell　you　why　I　am　here？　Shall　I　remind　you　of　your　crimes？　　No；　I　need　not。　　You　remember　them　well；　and　in　a　few　minutes　you　will　be　in　hell　for　them。　　Five　years　I　froze　and　burned　in　Siberia；　through　you。〃　　As　he　said　the　word　〃you〃　he　leaned　a　little　closer。　　His　voice　remained　low　and　soft；　but　his　eyes　were　blazing　with　a　light　as　of　madness。　　〃For　this　moment；〃　he　continued　gently；　〃I　have　hungered；　thirsted；　panted。　　Now　it　has　come。　　I　regret　I　must　hurry　a　little。　　I　should　like　to　drink　this　sweet　cup　slowly；　oh　so　slowly；　drop　by　drop。　　Butah；　do　not　struggle；　nor　cry。　　It　will　only　add　to　your　pain。　　Do　you　see　this？〃　　He　drew　from　his　pocket　what　seemed　a　knife　handle；　pressed　a　spring；　and　from　this　handle　there　shot　out　a　blade；　long；　thin；　murderous　looking。　　〃It　has　a　sharp　point；　oh；　a　very　sharp　point。〃　　He　pricked　Rosenblatt　in　the　cheek；　and　as　Rosenblatt　squirmed；　laughed　a　laugh　of　singular　sweetness。　　〃With　this　beautiful　instrument　I　mean　to　pick　out　your　eyes；　and　then　I　shall　drive　it　down　through　your　heart；　and　you　will　be　dead。　　It　will　not　hurt　so　very　much；〃　he　continued　in　a　tone　of　regret。　　〃No　no；　not　so　very　much；　not　so　much　as　when　you　put　out　the　light　of　my　life；　when　you　murdered　my　wife；　not　so　much　as　when　you　pierced　my　heart　in　betraying　my　cause。　　See；　it　will　not　hurt　so　very　much。〃　　He　put　the　sharp　blade　against　Rosenblatt's　breast　high　up　above　the