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！
crisis one becomes energetic 。 。 。 and if life were fuller of
them and every moment of it so arranged that we were compelled
to tremble for our lives all the time 。 。 。 By God！ life would be
livelier and even fuller of interest and energy than it is！〃
〃That means that people would all go about cutting one another's
throats；〃 explained Abyedok smilingly。
〃Well； what about it？〃 asked the Captain angrily。 He did not
like to hear his thoughts illustrated。
〃Oh！ Nothing！ When a person wants to get anywhere quickly he
whips up the horses； but of course it needs fire to make engines
go。 。 。 。〃
〃Well； let everything go to the Devil as quickly as possible。
I'm sure I should be pleased if the earth suddenly opened up or
was burned or destroyed somehow 。 。 。 only I were left to the
last in order to see the others consumed。 。 。 。〃
66 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Ferocious creature！〃 smiled Abyedok。
〃Well； what of that？ I 。 。 。 I was once a man 。 。 。 now I am
an outcast 。 。 。 that means I have no obligations。 It means
that I am free to spit on everyone。 The nature of my present
life means the rejection of my past 。 。 。 giving up all relations
toward men who are well fed and well dressed； and who look upon
me with contempt because I am inferior to them in the matter of
feeding or dressing。 I must develop something new within myself；
do you understand？ Something that will make Judas Petunikoff and
his kind tremble and perspire before me！〃
〃Ah！ You have a courageous tongue！〃 jeered Abyedok。
〃Yes 。 。 。 You miser！〃 And Kuvalda looked at him contemptuously。
〃What do you understand？ What do you know？ Are you able to
think？ But I have thought and I have read 。 。 。 books of which
you could not have understood one word。〃
〃Of course！ One cannot eat soup out of one's hand 。 。 。 But
though you have read and thought； and I have not done that or
anything else； we both seem to have got into pretty much the
same condition； don't we？〃
〃Go to the Devil！〃 shouted Kuvalda。 His conversations with
Abyedok always ended thus。 When the teacher was absent his
speeches； as a rule； fell on the empty air； and received no
attention； and he knew this； but still he could not help
speaking。 And now； having quarrelled with his companion； he
felt rather deserted； but； still longing for conversation； he
turned to Simtsoff with the following question：
67 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃And you； Aleksei Maksimovitch； where will you lay your gray
head？〃
The old man smiled good…humoredly； rubbed his hands； and
replied； 〃I do not know 。 。 。 I will see。 One does not require
much； just a little drink。〃
〃Plain but honorable fare！〃 the Captain said。 Simtsoff was
silent； only adding that he would find a place sooner than any
of them； because women loved him。 This was true。 The old man
had； as a rule； two or three prostitutes； who kept him on their
very scant earnings。 They very often beat him； but he took this
stoically。 They somehow never beat him too much； probably
because they pitied him。 He was a great lover of women； and
said they were the cause of all his misfortunes。 The character
of his relations toward them was confirmed by the appearance of
his clothes； which； as a rule； were tidy； and cleaner than those
of his companions。 And now； sitting at the door of the dosshouse；
he boastingly related that for a long time past Redka had been
asking him to go and live with her； but he had not gone because
he did not want to part with the company。 They heard this with
jealous interest。 They all knew Redka。 She lived very near the
town； almost below the mountain。 Not long ago； she had been in
prison for theft。 She was a retired nurse； a tall； stout peasant
woman with a face marked by smallpox； but with very pretty；
though always drunken； eyes。
〃Just look at the old devil！〃 swore Abyedok； looking at Simtsoff；
who was smiling in a self…satisfied way。
〃And do you know why they love me？ Because I know how to cheer
up their souls。〃
68 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Do you？〃 inquired Kuvalda。
〃And I can make them pity me 。 。 。 And a woman； when she pities！
Go and weep to her； and ask her to kill you 。 。 。 she will pity
youand she will kill you。〃
〃I feel inclined to commit a murder；〃 declared Martyanoff；
laughing his dull laugh。
〃Upon whom？〃 asked Abyedok； edging away from him。
〃It's all the same to me 。 。 。 Petunikoff 。 。 。 Egorka or even
you！〃
〃And why？〃 inquired Kuvalda。
〃I want to go to Siberia 。 。 。 I have had enough of this vile
life 。 。 。 one learns how to live there！〃
〃Yes； they have a particularly good way of teaching in Siberia；〃
agreed the Captain sadly。
They spoke no more of Petunikoff； or of the turning out of the
inhabitants of the dosshouse。 They all knew that they would
have to leave soon； therefore they did not think the matter
worth discussion。 It would do no good； and besides the weather
was not very cold though the rains had begun 。 。 。 and it would
be possible to sleep on the ground anywhere outside the town。
They sat in a circle on the grass and conversed about all sorts
of things； discussing one subject after another； and listening
attentively even to the poor speakers in order to make the time
pass； keeping quiet was as dull as listening。 This society of
〃creatures that once were men〃 had one fine characteristicno
one of them endeavored to make out that he was better than the
others； nor compelled the others to acknowledge his superiority。
69 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
The August sun seemed to set their tatters on fire as they sat
with their backs and uncovered heads exposed to it 。 。 。 a
chaotic mixture of the vegetable； mineral； and animal kingdoms。
In the corners of the yard the tall steppe grass grew
luxuriantly 。 。 。 Nothing else grew there but some dingy
vegetables； not attractive even to those who nearly always
felt the pangs of hunger。
* * * * * * * * * *
The following was the scene that took place in Vaviloff's
eating…house。
Young Petunikoff entered slowly； took off his hat； looked around
him； and said to the eating…house keeper：
〃Egor Terentievitch Vaviloff？ Are you he？〃
〃I am；〃 answered the sergeant； leaning on the bar with both arms
as if intending to jump over it。
〃I have some business with you；〃 said Petunikoff。
〃Delighted。 Please come this way to my private room。〃
They went in and sat down； the guest on the couch and his host
on the chair opposite to him。 In one corner a lamp was burning
before a gigantic icon； and on the wall at the other side there
were several oil lamps。 They were well kept and shone as if
they were new。 The room； which contained a numbe