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us。 。 。 。〃
〃About whom？〃
〃About the village。〃
They laughed at him； and threw him the paper。 He took it； and
read in it how in the village the hail had destroyed the
cornfields； how in another village fire destroyed thirty houses；
and that in a third a woman had poisoned her familyin fact；
everything that it is customary to write ofeverything； that
is to say； which is bad； and which depicts only the worst side
of the unfortunate village。
31 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE。 MEN
Tyapa read all this silently and roared； perhaps from sympathy；
perhaps from delight at the sad news。
He passed the whole Sunday in reading his Bible； and never went
out collecting rags on that day。 While reading； he groaned and
sighed continually。 He kept the book close to his breast； and
was angry with any one who interrupted him or who touched his
Bible。
〃Oh； you drunken blackguard；〃 said Kuvalda to him； 〃what do you
understand of it？〃
〃Nothing； wizard！ I don't understand anything； and I do not
read any books 。 。 。 But I read。 。 。 。〃
〃Therefore you are a fool 。 。 。〃 said the Captain； decidedly。
〃When there are insects in your head； you know it is
uncomfortable； but if some thoughts enter there too； how will
you live then； you old toad？〃
〃I have not long to live；〃 said Tyapa； quietly。
Once the teacher asked how he had learned to read。
〃In prison；〃 answered Tyapa shortly。
〃Have you been there？〃
〃I was there。 〃
〃For what？〃
〃Just so 。 。 。 It was a mistake 。 。 。 But I brought the Bible
out with me from there。 A lady gave it to me 。 。 。 It is good
in prison； brother。〃
〃Is that so？ And why？〃
〃It teaches one 。 。 。 I learned to read there 。 。 。 I also got
this book 。 。 。 And all these you see； free。 。 。 。〃
When the teacher appeared in the dosshouse； Tyapa had already
lived there for some time。 He looked long into the teacher's
face； as if to discover what kind of a man he was。
32 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
Tyapa often listened to his conversation； and once；
sitting down beside him； said：
〃I see you are very learned 。 。 。 Have you read the Bible？〃
〃I have read it。 。 。 。〃
〃I see； I see 。 。 。 Can you remember it？〃
〃Yes 。 。 。 I remember it。 。 。 。〃
Then the old man leaned to one side and gazed at the other
with a serious； suspicious glance。
〃There were the Amalekites； do you remember？〃
〃Well？〃
〃Where are they now？〃
〃Disappeared 。 。 。 Tyapa 。 。 。 died out。 。 。 。〃
The old man was silent； then asked again： 〃And where are
the Philistines？〃
〃These also。 。 。 。〃
〃Have all these died out？〃
〃Yes 。 。 。 all。 。 。 。〃
〃And so 。 。 。 we also will die out？〃
〃There will come a time when we also will die；〃 said the
teacher indifferently。
〃And to what tribe of Israel do we belong？〃
The teacher looked at him； and began telling him about
Scythians and Slavs。 。 。 。
The old man became all the more frightened； and glanced at
his face。
〃You are lying！〃 he said scornfully； when the teacher had
finished。
〃What lie have I told？〃 asked the teacher。
33 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃You mentioned tribes that are not mentioned in the Bible。〃
He got up and walked away； angry and deeply insulted。
〃You will go mad； Tyapa；〃 called the teacher after him with
conviction。
Then the old man came back again； and stretching out his hand；
threatened him with his crooked and dirty finger。
〃God made Adamfrom Adam were descended the Jews； that means
that all people are descended from Jews 。 。 。 and we also。 。 。 。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Tartars are descended from Ishmael； but he also came of the
Jews。 。 。 。〃
〃What do you want to tell me all this for？〃
〃Nothing！ Only why do you tell lies？〃 Then he walked away；
leaving his companion in perplexity。 But after two days he came
again and sat by him。
〃You are learned 。 。 。 Tell me； then； whose descendants are we？
Are we Babylonians； or who are we？〃
〃We are Slavs； Tyapa；〃 said the teacher； and attentively awaited
his answer； wishing to understand him。
〃Speak to me from the Bible。 There are no such men there。〃
Then the teacher began criticizing the Bible。 The old man
listened； and interrupted him after a long while。
〃Stop 。 。 。 Wait！ That means that among people known to God
there are no Russians？ We are not known to God？ Is it so？
God knew all those who are mentioned in the Bible 。 。 。 He
destroyed them by sword and fire； He destroyed their cities；
but He also sent prophets to teach them。
34 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
That means that He also pitied them。 He scattered the Jews
and the Tartars 。 。 。 But what about us？ Why have we prophets
no longer？〃
〃Well； I don't know！〃 replied the teacher； trying to understand
the old man。 But the latter put his hand on the teacher's
shoulder； and slowly pushed him backward and forward； and his
throat made a noise as if he were swallowing something。 。 。 。
〃Tell me！ You speak so much 。 。 。 as if you knew everything。
It makes me sick to listen to you 。 。 。 you darken my soul 。 。 。
I should be better pleased if you were silent。 Who are we； eh？
Why have we no prophets？ Ha； ha！ 。 。 。 Where were we when Christ
walked on this earth？ Do you see？ And you too； you are
lying 。 。 。 Do you think that all die out？ The Russian people
will never disappear 。 。 。 You are lying。 It has been written
in the Bible； only it is not known what name the Russians are
given。 Do you see what kind of people they are？ They are
numberless 。 。 。 How many villages are there on the earth？
Think of all the people who live on it； so strong； go numerous I
And you say that they will die out； men shall die； but God wants
the people； God the Creator of the earth！ The Amalekites did
not die out。 They are either German or French 。 。 。 But you；
eh； you！ Now then； tell me why we are abandoned by God？ Have
we no punishments nor prophets from the Lord？ Who then will
teach us？〃 Tyapa spoke strongly and plainly； and there was
faith in his words。
35 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
He had been speaking a long time； and the teacher； who was
generally drunk and in a speechless condition； could not stand
it any longer。 He looked at the dry； wrinkled old man； felt
the great force of these words； and suddenly began to pity
himself。 He wished to say something so strong and convincing
to the old man that Tyapa would be disposed in his favor； he
did not wish to speak in such a serious； earnest way； but in
a soft and fatherly tone。 And the teacher felt as if something
were rising from his breast into his throat 。 。 。 But he could
not find any powerful words。
〃What kind of a man are you？ 。 。 。 Your soul seems to be t