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！
We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding great lights。 The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue and remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating ourselves。
〃To the wireless station！〃 commanded the Baron。
We veritably leapt forward。 The city swarmed； as earlier； with the Oriental throng； but its appearance now was even more strange and miraculous。 In among the noisy crowd Mongol； Buriat and Tibetan riders threaded swiftly； caravans of camels solemnly raised their heads as we passed； the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed in pain； and all was illumined by splendid great arc lights from the electric station which Baron Ungern had ordered erected immediately after the capture of Urga； together with a telephone system and wireless station。 He also ordered his men to clean and disinfect the city which had probably not felt the broom since the days of Jenghiz Khan。 He arranged an auto…bus traffic between different parts of the city； built bridges over the Tola and Orkhon； published a newspaper； arranged a veterinary laboratory and hospitals； re…opened the schools； protected commerce； mercilessly hanging Russian and Mongolian soldiers for pillaging Chinese firms。
In one of these cases his Commandant arrested two Cossacks and a Mongol soldier who had stolen brandy from one of the Chinese shops and brought them before him。 He immediately bundled them all into his car； drove off to the shop； delivered the brandy back to the proprietor and as promptly ordered the Mongol to hang one of the Russians to the big gate of the compound。 With this one swung he commanded： 〃Now hang the other！〃 and this had only just been accomplished when he turned to the Commandant and ordered him to hang the Mongol beside the other two。 That seemed expeditious and just enough until the Chinese proprietor came in dire distress to the Baron and plead with him：
〃General Baron！ General Baron！ Please take those men down from my gateway； for no one will enter my shop！〃
After the commercial quarter was flashed past our eyes； we entered the Russian settlement across a small river。 Several Russian soldiers and four very spruce…looking Mongolian women stood on the bridge as we passed。 The soldiers snapped to salute like immobile statues and fixed their eyes on the severe face of their Commander。 The women first began to run and shift about and then； infected by the discipline and order of events； swung their hands up to salute and stood as immobile as their northern swains。 The Baron looked at me and laughed：
〃You see the discipline！ Even the Mongolian women salute me。〃
Soon we were out on the plain with the car going like an arrow； with the wind whistling and tossing the folds of our coats and caps。 But Baron Ungern； sitting with closed eyes； repeated： 〃Faster！ Faster！〃 For a long time we were both silent。
〃And yesterday I beat my adjutant for rushing into my yurta and interrupting my story；〃 he said。
〃You can finish it now；〃 I answered。
〃And are you not bored by it？ Well； there isn't much left and this happens to be the most interesting。 I was telling you that I wanted to found an order of military Buddhists in Russia。 For what？ For the protection of the processes of evolution of humanity and for the struggle against revolution； because I am certain that evolution leads to the Divinity and revolution to bestiality。 But I worked in Russia！ In Russia； where the peasants are rough； untutored； wild and constantly angry； hating everybody and everything without understanding why。 They are suspicious and materialistic； having no sacred ideals。 Russian intelligents live among imaginary ideals without realities。 They have a strong capacity for criticising everything but they lack creative power。 Also they have no will power； only the capacity for talking and talking。 With the peasants； they cannot like anything or anybody。 Their love and feelings are imaginary。 Their thoughts and sentiments pass without trace like futile words。 My companions； therefore； soon began to violate the regulations of the Order。 Then I introduced the condition of celibacy； the entire negation of woman； of the comforts of life； of superfluities； according to the teachings of the Yellow Faith； and； in order that the Russian might be able to live down his physical nature； I introduced the limitless use of alcohol； hasheesh and opium。 Now for alcohol I hang my officers and soldiers； then we drank to the 'white fever；' delirium tremens。 I could not organize the Order but I gathered round me and developed three hundred men wholly bold and entirely ferocious。 Afterward they were heroes in the war with Germany and later in the fight against the Bolsheviki； but now only a few remain。〃
〃The wireless； Excellency！〃 reported the chauffeur。
〃Turn in there！〃 ordered the General。
On the top of a flat hill stood the big； powerful radio station which had been partially destroyed by the retreating Chinese but reconstructed by the engineers of Baron Ungern。 The General perused the telegrams and handed them to me。 They were from Moscow； Chita； Vladivostok and Peking。 On a separate yellow sheet were the code messages； which the Baron slipped into his pocket as he said to me：
〃They are from my agents； who are stationed in Chita； Irkutsk； Harbin and Vladivostok。 They are all Jews； very skilled and very bold men； friends of mine all。 I have also one Jewish officer； Vulfovitch； who commands my right flank。 He is as ferocious as Satan but clever and brave。 。 。 。 Now we shall fly into space。〃
Once more we rushed away； sinking into the darkness of night。 It was a wild ride。 The car bounded over small stones and ditches； even taking narrow streamlets； as the skilled chauffeur only seemed to guide it round the larger rocks。 On the plain； as we sped by； I noticed several times small bright flashes of fire which lasted but for a second and then were extinguished。
〃The eyes of wolves；〃 smiled my companion。 〃We have fed them to satiety from the flesh of ourselves and our enemies！〃 he quietly interpolated； as he turned to continue his confession of faith。
〃During the War we saw the gradual corruption of the Russian army and foresaw the treachery of Russia to the Allies as well as the approaching danger of revolution。 To counteract this latter a plan was formed to join together all the Mongolian peoples which had not forgotten their ancient faiths and customs into one Asiatic State； consisting of autonomous tribal units； under the moral and legislative leadership of China； the country of loftiest and most ancient culture。 Into this State must come the Chinese； Mongols； Tibetans； Afghans； the Mongol tribes of Turkestan； Tartars； Buriats； Kirghiz and Kalmucks。 This State must be strong； physically and morally； and must erect a barrier against revolution and carefully preserve its own spirit； philosophy and individual policy。 If humanity； mad and corrupted； continues to threaten the Divine Spirit in mankind； to spread blood and to obstruct moral development； the Asiatic State must terminate this movement decisively and establish a permanent； firm peace。 This propaganda even during the