resurrection(复活)-第99章

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who　were　provided　with　better　accomodations；　better　food；　and
were　treated　less　rudely；　but　besides　all　this　Maslova's
condition　was　much　improved　because　among　the　political　prisoners
she　was　no　longer　molested　by　the　men；　and　could　live　without
being　reminded　of　that　past　which　she　was　so　anxious　to　forget。
But　the　chief　advantage　of　the　change　lay　in　the　fact　that　she
made　the　acquaintance　of　several　persons　who　exercised　a　decided
and　most　beneficial　influence　on　her　character。　Maslova　was
allowed　to　stop　with　the　political　prisoners　at　all　the
halting…places；　but　being　a　strong　and　healthy　woman　she　was
obliged　to　march　with　the　criminal　convicts。　In　this　way　she
walked　all　the　way　from　Tomsk。　Two　political　prisoners　also
marched　with　the　gang；　Mary　Pavlovna　Schetinina；　the　girl　with
the　hazel　eyes　who　had　attracted　Nekhludoff's　attention　when　he
had　been　to　visit　Doukhova　in　prison；　and　one　Simonson；　who　was
on　his　way　to　the　Takoutsk　district；　the　dishevelled　dark　young
fellow　with　deep…lying　eyes；　whom　Nekhludoff　had　also　noticed
during　that　visit。　Mary　Pavlovna　was　walking　because　she　had
given　her　place　on　the　cart　to　one　of　the　criminals；　a　woman
expecting　to　be　confined；　and　Simonson　because　he　did　not　dare　to
avail　himself　of　a　class　privilege。

These　three　always　started　early　in　the　morning　before　the　rest
of　the　political　prisoners；　who　followed　later　on　in　the　carts。

They　were　ready　to　start　in　this　way　just　outside　a　large　town；
where　a　new　convoy　officer　had　taken　charge　of　the　gang。

It　was　early　on　a　dull　September　morning。　It　kept　raining　and
snowing　alternately；　and　the　cold　wind　blew　in　sudden　gusts。　The
whole　gang　of　prisoners；　consisting　of　four　hundred　men　and　fifty
women；　was　already　assembled　in　the　court　of　the　halting　station。
Some　of　them　were　crowding　round　the　chief　of　the　convoy；　who　was
giving　to　specially　appointed　prisoners　money　for　two　days'　keep
to　distribute　among　the　rest；　while　others　were　purchasing　food
from　women　who　had　been　let　into　the　courtyard。　One　could　hear
the　voices　of　the　prisoners　counting　their　money　and　making　their
purchases；　and　the　shrill　voices　of　the　women　with　the　food。

Simonson；　in　his　rubber　jacket　and　rubber　overshoes　fastened　with
a　string　over　his　worsted　stockings　（he　was　a　vegetarian　and
would　not　wear　the　skin　of　slaughtered　animals）；　was　also　in　the
courtyard　waiting　for　the　gang　to　start。　He　stood　by　the　porch
and　jotted　down　in　his　notebook　a　thought　that　had　occurred　to
him。　This　was　what　he　wrote：　〃If　a　bacteria　watched　and　examined
a　human　nail　it　would　pronounce　it　inorganic　matter；　and　thus　we；
examining　our　globe　and　watching　its　crust；　pronounce　it　to　be
inorganic。　This　is　incorrect。〃

Katusha　and　Mary　Pavlovna；　both　wearing　top…boots　and　with　shawls
tied　round　their　heads；　came　out　of　the　building　into　the
courtyard　where　the　women　sat　sheltered　from　the　wind　by　the
northern　wall　of　the　court；　and　vied　with　one　another；　offering
their　goods；　hot　meat　pie；　fish；　vermicelli；　buckwheat　porridge；
liver；　beef；　eggs；　milk。　One　had　even　a　roast　pig　to　offer。

Having　bought　some　eggs；　bread；　fish；　and　some　rusks；　Maslova　was
putting　them　into　her　bag；　while　Mary　Pavlovna　was　paying　the
women；　when　a　movement　arose　among　the　convicts。　All　were　silent
and　took　their　places。　The　officer　came　out　and　began　giving　the
last　orders　before　starting。　Everything　was　done　in　the　usual
manner。　The　prisoners　were　counted；　the　chains　on　their　legs
examined；　and　those　who　were　to　march　in　couples　linked　together
with　manacles。　But　suddenly　the　angry；　authoritative　voice　of　the
officer　shouting　something　was　heard；　also　the　sound　of　a　blow
and　the　crying　of　a　child。　All　was　silent　for　a　moment　and　then
came　a　hollow　murmur　from　the　crowd。　Maslova　and　Mary　Pavlovna
advanced　towards　the　spot　whence　the　noise　proceeded。


CHAPTER　II。

AN　INCIDENT　OF　THE　MARCH。

This　is　what　Mary　Pavlovna　and　Katusha　saw　when　they　came　up　to
the　scene　whence　the　noise　proceeded。　The　officer；　a　sturdy
fellow；　with　fair　moustaches；　stood　uttering　words　of　foul　and
coarse　abuse；　and　rubbing　with　his　left　the　palm　of　his　right
hand；　which　he　had　hurt　in　hitting　a　prisoner　on　the　face。　In
front　of　him　a　thin；　tall　convict；　with　half　his　head　shaved　and
dressed　in　a　cloak　too　short　for　him　and　trousers　much　too　short；
stood　wiping　his　bleeding　face　with　one　hand；　and　holding　a
little　shrieking　girl　wrapped　in　a　shawl　with　the　other。

〃I'll　give　it　you〃　（foul　abuse）；　〃I'll　teach　you　to　reason〃　（more
abuse）；　〃you're　to　give　her　to　the　women！〃　shouted　the　officer。
〃Now；　then；　on　with　them。〃

The　convict；　who　was　exiled　by　the　Commune；　had　been　carrying　his
little　daughter　all　the　way　from　Tomsk；　where　his　wife　had　died
of　typhus；　and　now　the　officer　ordered　him　to　be　manacled。　The
exile's　explanation　that　he　could　not　carry　the　child　if　he　was
manacled　irritated　the　officer；　who　happened　to　be　in　a　bad
temper；　and　he　gave　the　troublesome　prisoner　a　beating。　＇A　fact
described　by　Lineff　in　his　〃Transportation〃。＇　Before　the　injured
convict　stood　a　convoy　soldier；　and　a　black…bearded　prisoner　with
manacles　on　one　hand　and　a　look　of　gloom　on　his　face；　which　he
turned　now　to　the　officer；　now　to　the　prisoner　with　the　little
girl。

The　officer　repeated　his　orders　for　the　soldiers　to　take　away　the
girl。　The　murmur　among　the　prisoners　grew　louder。

〃All　the　way　from　Tomsk　they　were　not　put　on；〃　came　a　hoarse
voice　from　some　one　in　the　rear。　〃It's　a　child；　and　not　a　puppy。〃

〃What's　he　to　do　with　the　lassie？　That's　not　the　law；〃　said　some
one　else。

〃Who's　that？〃　shouted　the　officer　as　if　he　had　been　stung；　and
rushed　into　the　crowd。

〃I'll　teach　you　the　law。　Who　spoke。　You？　You？〃

〃Everybody　says　so；　because…〃　said　a　short；　broad…faced　prisoner。

Before　he　had　finished　speaking　the　officer　hit　him　in　the　face。

〃Mutiny；　is　it？　I'll　show　you　what　mutiny　means。　I'll　have　you
all　shot　like　dogs；　and　the　authorities　will　be　only　too
thankful。　Take　the　girl。〃

The　crowd　was　silent。　One　convoy　soldier　pulled　away　the　girl；
who　was　screaming　desperately；　while　another　manacled　the
prisoner；　who　now　submissively　held　out　his　hand。

〃Take　her　to　the　women；〃　shouted　the　officer；　arranging　his　sword
belt。

The　little　girl；　whose　face　had　grown　quite　red；　was　trying　to
disengage　her　arms　from　under　the　shawl；　and　screamed
unceasingly。　Mary　Pavlovna　stepped　out　from　among　the　crowd　and
came　up　to　the　officer。

〃Will　you　allow　me　to　carry　the　little　girl？〃　she　said。

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　officer。

〃A　political　prisoner。〃

Mary　Pavlovna's　handsome　face；　with　the　beautiful　prominent　eyes
（he　had　noticed　her　before　when　the　prisoners　were　given　into　his
charge）；　evidently　produced　an　effect　on　the　officer。　He　looked
at　her　in　silence　as　if　considering；　then　said：　〃I　don't　care；
carry　her　if　you　like。　It　is　easy　for　you　to　show　pity；　if　he　ran
away　who　would　have　to　answer？〃

〃How　could　he　run　away　with　the　child　in　his　arms？〃　said　Mary
Pavlovna。

〃I　have　no　time　to　talk　with　you。　Take　her　if　you　like。〃

〃Shall　I　give　her？〃　asked　the　soldier。

〃Yes；　give　her。〃

〃Come　to　me；〃　said　Mary　Pavlovna；　trying　to　coax　the　child　to
come　to　her。

But　the　child　in　the　soldier's　arms　stretched　herself　towards　her
father　and　continued　to　scream；　and　would　not　go　to　Mary
Pavlovna。

〃Wait　a　bit；　Mary　Pavlovna；〃　said　Maslova；　getting　a　rusk　out　of
her　bag；　〃she　will　come　to　me。〃

The　little　girl　knew　Maslova；　and　when　she　saw　her　face　and　the
rusk　she　let　her　take　her。　All　was　quiet。　The　gates　were　opened；
and　the　gang　stepped　out；　the　convoy　counted　the　prisoners　over
again；　the　bags　were　packed　and　tied　on　to　the　carts；　the　weak
seated　on　the　top。　Maslova　with　the　child　in　her　arms　took　her
place　among　the　women　next　to　Theodosia。　Simonson；　who　had　all
the　time　been　watching　what　was　going　on；　stepped　with　large；
determined　strides　up　to　the　officer；　who；　having　given　his
orders；　was　just　getting　into　a　trap；　and　said；　〃You　have　behaved
badly。〃

〃Get　to　your　place；　it　is　no　business　of　yours。〃

〃It　is　my　business　to　tell　you　that　you　have　behaved　badly　and　I
have