战争与和平(上)-第237章

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The　clear　evening　sky　was　all　overcast　with　smoke。　And　a　new　crescent　moon　looked　strange；　shining　high　up　in　the　sky；　through　that　smoke。　After　the　terrible　thunder　of　the　cannons　had　ceased；　a　hush　seemed　to　hang　over　the　town；　broken　only　by　the　footsteps；　which　seemed　all　over　the　town；　the　sound　of　groans　and　distant　shouts；　and　the　crackle　of　fires。　The　cook’s　moans　had　ceased　now。　On　two　sides　black　clouds　of　smoke　from　fires　rose　up　and　drifted　away。　Soldiers　in　different　uniforms　walked　and　ran　about　the　streets　in　different　directions；　not　in　ranks；　but　like　ants　out　of　a　disturbed　ant　heap。　Several　of　them　ran　in　Ferapontov’s　yard　before　Alpatitch’s　eyes。　He　went　out　to　the　gate。　A　regiment；　crowded　and　hurrying；　blocked　up　the　street；　going　back。
“The　town’s　surrendered；　get　away；　get　away；”　said　an　officer　noticing　his　figure；　and　turning　immediately　to　the　soldiers；　he　shouted；　“I’ll　teach　you　to　run　through　the　yards！”
Alpatitch　went　back　to　the　house；　and　calling　the　coachman　told　him　to　set　off。　Alpatitch　and　the　coachman　were　followed　out　by　all　the　household　of　Ferapontov。　When　they　saw　the　smoke　and　even　the　flames　of　burning　houses；　which　began　to　be　visible　now　in　the　dusk；　the　women；　who　had　been　silent　till　then；　broke　into　a　sudden　wail；　as　they　gazed　at　the　fires。　As　though　seconding　them；　similar　wails　rose　up　in　other　parts　of　the　street。　Alpatitch　and　the　coachman　with　trembling　hands　pulled　out　the　tangled　reins　and　the　traces　of　the　horses　under　the　shed。
As　Alpatitch　was　driving　out　of　the　gate；　he　saw　about　a　dozen　soldiers　in　loud　conversation　in　Ferapontov’s　open　shop。　They　were　filling　their　bags　and　knapsacks　with　wheaten　flour　and　sunflower　seeds。　At　that　moment　Ferapontov　returned　and　went　into　the　shop。　On　seeing　the　soldiers；　he　was　about　to　shout　at　them；　but　all　at　once　he　stopped　short；　and　clutching　at　his　hair　broke　into　a　sobbing　laugh。
“Carry　it　all　away；　lads！　Don’t　leave　it　for　the　devils；”　he　shouted；　snatching　up　the　sacks　himself　and　pitching　them　into　the　street。　Some　of　the　soldiers　ran　away　in　a　fright；　others　went　on　filling　up　their　bags。　Seeing　Alpatitch；　Ferapontov　turned　to　him。
“It’s　all　over　with　Russia！”　he　shouted。　“Alpatitch！　it’s　all　over！　I’ll　set　fire　to　it　myself。　It’s　over…”Ferapontov　ran　into　the　house。
An　unbroken　stream　of　soldiers　was　blocking　up　the　whole　street；　so　that　Alpatitch　could　not　pass　and　was　obliged　to　wait。　Ferapontov’s　wife　and　children　were　sitting　in　a　cart　too；　waiting　till　it　was　possible　to　start。
It　was　by　now　quite　dark。　There　were　stars　in　the　sky；　and　from　time　to　time　the　new　moon　shone　through　the　veil　of　smoke。　Alpatitch’s　and　his　hostess’s　vehicles　moved　slowly　along　in　the　rows　of　soldiers　and　of　other　conveyances；　and　on　the　slope　down　to　the　Dnieper　they　had　to　halt　altogether。　In　a　lane　not　far　from　the　cross…roads　where　the　traffic　had　come　to　a　full　stop；　there　were　shops　and　a　house　on　fire。　The　fire　was　by　now　burning　down。　The　flame　died　down　and　was　lost　in　black　smoke；　then　flared　up　suddenly；　lighting　up　with　strange　distinctness　the　faces　of　the　crowd　at　the　cross…roads。　Black　figures　were　flitting　about　before　the　fire；　and　talk　and　shouts　could　be　heard　above　the　unceasing　crackling　of　the　flames。　Alpatitch；　seeing　that　it　would　be　some　time　before　his　gig　could　move　forward；　got　out　and　went　back　to　the　lane　to　look　at　the　fire。　Soldiers　were　scurrying　to　and　fro　before　the　fire；　and　Alpatitch　saw　two　soldiers　with　a　man　in　a　frieze　coat　dragging　burning　beams　from　the　fire　across　the　street　to　a　house　near；　while　others　carried　armfuls　of　hay。
Alpatitch　joined　a　great　crowd　of　people　standing　before　a　high　corn　granary　in　full　blaze。　The　walls　were　all　in　flames；　the　back　wall　had　fallen　in；　the　plank　roof　was　breaking　down；　and　the　beams　were　glowing。　The　crowd　were　evidently　watching　for　the　moment　when　the　roof　would　fall　in。　Alpatitch　too　waited　to　see　it。
“Alpatitch！”　the　old　man　suddenly　heard　a　familiar　voice　calling　to　him。
“Mercy　on　us；　your　excellency；”　answered　Alpatitch；　instantly　recognising　the　voice　of　his　young　master。
Prince　Andrey；　wearing　a　cape；　and　mounted　on　a　black　horse；　was　in　the　crowd；　and　looking　at　Alpatitch。
“How　did　you　come　here？”　he　asked。
“Your…your　excellency！”　Alpatitch　articulated；　and　he　broke　into　sobs。…“Your；　your…is　it　all　over　with　us；　really？　Master…”
“How　is　it　you　are　here？”　repeated　Prince　Andrey。　The　flames　flared　up　at　that　instant；　and　Alpatitch　saw　in　the　bright　light　his　young　master’s　pale　and　worn　face。　Alpatitch　told　him　how　he　had　been　sent　to　the　town　and　had　difficulty　in　getting　away。
“What　do　you　say；　your　excellency；　is　it　all　over　with　us？”　he　asked　again。
Prince　Andrey；　making　no　reply；　took　out　his　note…book；　and　raising　his　knee；　scribbled　in　pencil　on　a　leaf　he　had　torn　out。　He　wrote　to　his　sister：
“Smolensk　has　surrendered；”　he　wrote。　“Bleak　Hills　will　be　occupied　by　the　enemy　within　a　week。　Set　off　at　once　for　Moscow。　Let　me　know　at　once　when　you　start；　send　a　messenger　to　Usvyazh。”
Scribbling　these　words；　and　giving　Alpatitch　the　paper；　he　gave　him　further　directions　about　sending　off　the　old　prince；　the　princess　and　his　son　with　his　tutor；　and　how　and　where　to　let　him　hear；　as　soon　as　they　had　gone。　Before　he　had　finished　giving　those　instructions；　a　staff　officer；　followed　by　his　suite；　galloped　up　to　him。
“You　a　colonel；”　shouted　the　staff　officer；　in　a　voice　Prince　Andrey　knew　speaking　with　a　German　accent。　“Houses　are　being　set　on　fire　in　your　presence　and　you　stand　still！　What’s　the　meaning　of　it？　You　will　answer　for　it；”　shouted　Berg；　who　was　now　assistant　to　the　head　of　the　staff　of　the　assistant　of　the　chief　officer　of　the　staff　of　the　commander　of　the　left　flank　of　the　infantry　of　the　first　army；　a　very　agreeable　and　prominent　position；　so　Berg　said。
Prince　Andrey　stared　at　him；　and　without　making　any　reply　went　on　addressing　Alpatitch。
“Tell　them　then　that　I　shall　wait　for　an　answer　till　the　10th；　and　if　I　don’t　receive　news　by　the　10th；　that　they　have　all　gone　away；　I　shall　be　obliged　to　throw　up　everything　and　go　myself　to　Bleak　Hills。”
“Prince；”　said　Berg；　recognising　Prince　Andrey；　“I　only　speak　because　it’s　my　duty　to　carry　out　my　instructions；　because　I　always　do　exactly　carry　out…You　must　please　excuse　me；”　Berg　tried　to　apologise。
There　was　a　crash　in　the　fire。　The　flames　subsided　for　an　instant；　black　clouds　of　smoke　rolled　under　the　roof。　There　was　another　fearful　crash；　and　the　falling　of　some　enormous　weight。
“Ooo…roo！”　the　crowd　yelled；　as　the　ceiling　of　the　granary　fell　in；　and　a　smell　of　baked　cakes　rose　from　the　burning　wheat。　The　flames　flared　up　again；　and　lighted　up　the　delighted　and　careworn　faces　of　the　crowd　around　it。
The　man　in　the　frieze　coat；　brandishing　his　arms　in　the　air；　was　shouting：
“First…rate！　Now　she’s　started！　First…rate；　lads！…”　“That’s　the　owner　himself；”　murmured　voices。
“So　you　tell　them　everything　I　have　told　you；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　addressing　Alpatitch。　And　without　bestowing　a　word　on　Berg；　who　stood　mute　beside　him；　he　put　spurs　to　his　horse　and　rode　down　the　lane。


Chapter　5
FROM　SMOLENSK　the　troops　continued　to　retreat。　The　enemy　followed　them。　On　the　10th　of　August　the　regiment　of　which　Prince　Andrey　was　in　command　was　marching　along　the　high…road　past　the　avenue　that　led　to　Bleak　Hills。　The　heat　and　drought　had　lasted　more　than　three　weeks。　Every　day　curly　clouds　passed　over　the　sky；　rarely　covering　the　sun；　but　towards　evening　the　sky　cleared　again　and　the　sun　set　in　a　glowing；　red　mist。　But　a　heavy　dew　refreshed　the　earth　at　night。　The　wheat　left　in　the　fields　was　burnt　up　and　dropping　out　of　the　ear。　The　marshes　were　dry。　The　cattle　lowed　from　hunger；　finding　nothing　to　graze　on　in　the　sunbaked　meadows。　Only　at　night　in　the　woods；　as　long　as　the　dew　lasted；　it　was　cool。　But　on　the　road；　on　the　high…road　along　which　the　troops　marched；　there　was　no　coolness　even　at　night；　not　even　where　the　road　passed　through　the　woods。　The　dew　was　imperceptible　on　the　sandy　dust　of　the　road；　more　than　a　foot　deep。　As　soon　as　it　was　daylight；　the　soldiers　began　to　move。　The　transports　and　artillery　mov