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three miles to the bottom。 After sinking sixty or seventy feet； he began
moving more and more slowly； swaying rhythmically； as though he were
hesitating and； carried along by the current； moved more rapidly sideways
than downwards。
Then he was met by a shoal of the fish called harbour pilots。 Seeing
the dark body the fish stopped as though petrified； and suddenly turned
round and disappeared。 In less than a minute they flew back swift as an
arrow to Gusev； and began zig…zagging round him in the water。
After that another dark body appeared。 It was a shark。 It swam under
Gusev with dignity and no show of interest； as though it did not notice him；
and sank down upon its back； then it turned belly upwards； basking in the
warm； transparent water and languidly opened its jaws with two rows of
teeth。 The harbour pilots are delighted； they stop to see what will come
next。 After playing a little with the body the shark nonchalantly puts its
jaws under it； cautiously touches it with its teeth； and the sailcloth is rent
its full length from head to foot； one of the weights falls out and frightens
the harbour pilots； and striking the shark on the ribs goes rapidly to the
bottom。
Overhead at this time the clouds are massed together on the side where
the sun is setting； one cloud like a triumphal arch； another like a lion； a
third like a pair of scissors。 。 。 。 From behind the clouds a broad； green
shaft of light pierces through and stretches to the middle of the sky； a little
later another； violet…coloured； lies beside it； next that； one of gold； then
one rose…coloured。 。 。 。 The sky turns a soft lilac。 Looking at this gorgeous；
enchanted sky； at first the ocean scowls； but soon it； too； takes tender；
joyous； passionate colours for which it is hard to find a name in human
speech。
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
THE STUDENT
AT first the weather was fine and still。 The thrushes were calling； and
in the swamps close by something alive droned pitifully with a sound like
blowing into an empty bottle。 A snipe flew by； and the shot aimed at it
rang out with a gay； resounding note in the spring air。 But when it began to
get dark in the forest a cold； penetrating wind blew inappropriately from
the east； and everything sank into silence。 Needles of ice stretched across
the pools； and it felt cheerless； remote； and lonely in the forest。 There was
a whiff of winter。
Ivan Velikopolsky； the son of a sacristan； and a student of the clerical
academy； returning home from shooting； walked all the time by the path in
the water…side meadow。 His fingers were numb and his face was burning
with the wind。 It seemed to him that the cold that had suddenly come on
had destroyed the order and harmony of things； that nature itself felt ill at
ease； and that was why the evening darkness was falling more rapidly than
usual。 All around it was deserted and peculiarly gloomy。 The only light
was one gleaming in the widows' gardens near the river； the village； over
three miles away； and everything in the distance all round was plunged in
the cold evening mist。 The student remembered that； as he went out from
the house； his mother was sitting barefoot on the floor in the entry；
cleaning the samovar； while his father lay on the stove coughing； as it was
Good Friday nothing had been cooked； and the student was terribly hungry。
And now； shrinking from the cold； he thought that just such a wind had
blown in the days of Rurik and in the time of Ivan the Terrible and Peter；
and in their time there had been just the same desperate poverty and
hunger； the same thatched roofs with holes in them； ignorance； misery； the
same desolation around； the same darkness； the same feeling of oppression
all these had existed； did exist； and would exist； and the lapse of a
thousand years would make life no better。 And he did not want to go
home。
The gardens were called the widows' because they were kept by two
widows； mother and daughter。 A camp fire was burning brightly with a
crackling sound； throwing out light far around on the ploughed earth。 The
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
widow Vasilisa； a tall； fat old woman in a man's coat； was standing by and
looking thoughtfully into the fire； her daughter Lukerya； a little pock…
marked woman with a stupid…looking face； was sitting on the ground；
washing a caldron and spoons。 Apparently they had just had supper。 There
was a sound of men's voices； it was the labourers watering their horses at
the river。
〃Here you have winter back again；〃 said the student； going up to the
camp fire。 〃Good evening。〃
Vasilisa started； but at once recognized him and smiled cordially。
〃I did not know you； God bless you；〃 she said。
〃You'll be rich。〃
They talked。 Vasilisa； a woman of experience； who had been in service
with the gentry； first as a wet…nurse； afterwards as a children's nurse；
expressed herself with refinement； and a soft； sedate smile never left her
face； her daughter Lukerya； a village peasant woman； who had been
beaten by her husband； simply screwed up her eyes at the student and said
nothing； and she had a strange expression like that of a deaf mute。
〃At just such a fire the Apostle Peter warmed himself；〃 said the student；
stretching out his hands to the fire； 〃so it must have been cold then； too。
Ah； what a terrible night it must have been； granny！ An utterly dismal long
night！〃
He looked round at the darkness； shook his head abruptly and asked：
〃No doubt you have been at the reading of the Twelve Gospels？〃
〃Yes； I have；〃 answered Vasilisa。
〃If you remember at the Last Supper Peter said to Jesus； 'I am ready to
go with Thee into darkness and unto death。' And our Lord answered him
thus： 'I say unto thee； Peter； before the cock croweth thou wilt have denied
Me thrice。' After the supper Jesus went through the agony of death in the
garden and prayed； and poor Peter was weary in spirit and faint； his
eyelids were heavy and he could not struggle against sleep。 He fell asleep。
Then you heard how Judas the same night kissed Jesus and betrayed Him
to His tormentors。 They took Him bound to the high priest and beat Him；
while Peter； exhausted； worn out