beasts, men and gods-第43章
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s a man； but dominated by his own superstition； because Sepailoff had found in Transbaikalia a witch doctor who predicted the death of the Baron if he dismissed Sepailoff。 Sepailoff knew no pardon for Bolshevik nor for any one connected with the Bolsheviki in any way。 The reason for his vengeful spirit was that the Bolsheviki had tortured him in prison and； after his escape； had killed all his family。 He was now taking his revenge。
I put up with a Russian firm and was at once visited by my associates from Uliassutai； who greeted me with great joy because they had been much exercised about the events in Van Kure and Zain Shabi。 When I had bathed and spruced up； I went out with them on the street。 We entered the bazaar。 The whole market was crowded。 To the lively colored groups of men buying； selling and shouting their wares； the bright streamers of Chinese cloth； the strings of pearls； the earrings and bracelets gave an air of endless festivity； while on another side buyers were feeling of live sheep to see whether they were fat or not； the butcher was cutting great pieces of mutton from the hanging carcasses and everywhere these sons of the plain were joking and jesting。 The Mongolian women in their huge coiffures and heavy silver caps like saucers on their heads were admiring the variegated silk ribbons and long chains of coral beads； an imposing big Mongol attentively examined a small herd of splendid horses and bargained with the Mongol zahachine or owner of the horses； a skinny； quick； black Tibetan； who had come to Urga to pray to the Living Buddha or； maybe； with a secret message from the other 〃God〃 in Lhasa； squatted and bargained for an image of the Lotus Buddha carved in agate； in another corner a big crowd of Mongols and Buriats had collected and surrounded a Chinese merchant selling finely painted snuff…bottles of glass； crystal； porcelain； amethyst； jade； agate and nephrite； for one of which made of a greenish milky nephrite with regular brown veins running through it and carved with a dragon winding itself around a bevy of young damsels the merchant was demanding of his Mongol inquirers ten young oxen； and everywhere Buriats in their long red coats and small red caps embroidered with gold helped the Tartars in black overcoats and black velvet caps on the back of their heads to weave the pattern of this Oriental human tapestry。 Lamas formed the common background for it all； as they wandered about in their yellow and red robes； with capes picturesquely thrown over their shoulders and caps of many forms； some like yellow mushrooms； others like the red Phrygian bonnets or old Greek helmets in red。 They mingled with the crowd； chatting serenely and counting their rosaries； telling fortunes for those who would hear but chiefly searching out the rich Mongols whom they could cure or exploit by fortune telling； predictions or other mysteries of a city of 60；000 Lamas。 Simultaneously religious and political espionage was being carried out。 Just at this time many Mongols were arriving from Inner Mongolia and they were continuously surrounded by an invisible but numerous network of watching Lamas。 Over the buildings around floated the Russian； Chinese and Mongolian national flags with a single one of the Stars and Stripes above a small shop in the market； while over the nearby tents and yurtas streamed the ribbons； the squares； the circles and triangles of the princes and private persons afflicted or dying from smallpox and leprosy。 All were mingled and mixed in one bright mass strongly lighted by the sun。 Occasionally one saw the soldiers of Baron Ungern rushing about in long blue coats； Mongols and Tibetans in red coats with yellow epaulets bearing the swastika of Jenghiz Khan and the initials of the Living Buddha； and Chinese soldiers from their detachment in the Mongolian army。 After the defeat of the Chinese army two thousand of these braves petitioned the Living Buddha to enlist them in his legions； swearing fealty and faith to him。 They were accepted and formed into two regiments bearing the old Chinese silver dragons on their caps and shoulders。
As we crossed this market； from around a corner came a big motor car with the roar of a siren。 There was Baron Ungern in the yellow silk Mongolian coat with a blue girdle。 He was going very fast but recognized me at once； stopping and getting out to invite me to go with him to his yurta。 The Baron lived in a small； simply arranged yurta； set up in the courtyard of a Chinese hong。 He had his headquarters in two other yurtas nearby； while his servants occupied one of the Chinese fang…tzu。 When I reminded him of his promise to help me to reach the open ports； the General looked at me with his bright eyes and spoke in French：
〃My work here is coming to an end。 In nine days I shall begin the war with the Bolsheviki and shall go into the Transbaikal。 I beg that you will spend this time here。 For many years I have lived without civilized society。 I am alone with my thoughts and I would like to have you know them； speaking with me not as the 'bloody mad Baron；' as my enemies call me； nor as the 'severe grandfather；' which my officers and soldiers call me； but as an ordinary man who has sought much and has suffered even more。〃
The Baron reflected for some minutes and then continued：
〃I have thought about the further trip of your group and I shall arrange everything for you； but I ask you to remain here these nine days。〃
What was I to do？ I agreed。 The Baron shook my hand warmly and ordered tea。
CHAPTER XXXVI
A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
〃Tell me about yourself and your trip；〃 he urged。 In response I related all that I thought would interest him and he appeared quite excited over my tale。
〃Now I shall tell you about myself； who and what I am！ My name is surrounded with such hate and fear that no one can judge what is the truth and what is false； what is history and what myth。 Some time you will write about it； remembering your trip through Mongolia and your sojourn at the yurta of the 'bloody General。'〃
He shut his eyes； smoking as he spoke； and tumbling out his sentences without finishing them as though some one would prevent him from phrasing them。
〃The family of Ungern von Sternberg is an old family； a mixture of Germans with HungariansHuns from the time of Attila。 My warlike ancestors took part in all the European struggles。 They participated in the Crusades and one Ungern was killed under the walls of Jerusalem； fighting under Richard Coeur de Lion。 Even the tragic Crusade of the Children was marked by the death of Ralph Ungern； eleven years old。 When the boldest warriors of the country were despatched to the eastern border of the German Empire against the Slavs in the twelfth century； my ancestor Arthur was among them； Baron Halsa Ungern Sternberg。 Here these border knights formed the order of Monk Knights or Teutons； which with fire and sword spread Christianity among the pagan Lithuanians； Esthonians； Latvians and Slavs。 Since then the Teuton Order of Knights has always had among its members representatives of our family。 When the Teuton Order perished in the Grunwald under the swords of the Polish and Lithuanian troops； two Barons Ungern von Sternberg were killed there。 Our family was warlike and given to mysticism and asceticism。
〃During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries several Barons von Ungern had their castles in the lands of Latvia and Esthonia。 Many legends and tales lived after them。 Heinrich Ungern von Sternberg； called 'Ax；' was a wandering knight。 The tournaments of France； England； Spain and Italy knew his name and lance； which filled the hearts of his opponents with fear。 He fell at Cadiz 'neath the sword of a knight who cleft both his helmet and his skull。 Baron Ralph Ungern was a brigand knight between Riga and Reval。 Baron Peter Ungern had his castle on the island of Dago in the Baltic Sea； where as a privateer he ruled the merchantmen of his day。
〃In the beginning of the eighteenth century there was also a well… known Baron Wilhelm Ungern； who was referred to as the 'brother of Satan' because he was an alchemist。 My grandfather was a privateer in the Indian Ocean； taki
