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〃What vodka does！ Ah； my God！〃 he muttered； shaking his aching
head。 〃For Christ's sake； forgive me； brother and sister； I'm not happy
myself。〃
As it was a holiday； they bought a herring at the tavern and made a
soup of the herring's head。 At midday they all sat down to drink tea； and
went on drinking it for a long time； till they were all perspiring； they
looked positively swollen from the tea…drinking； and after it began sipping
the broth from the herring's head； all helping themselves out of one bowl。
But the herring itself Granny had hidden。
In the evening a potter began firing pots on the ravine。 In the meadow
below the girls got up a choral dance and sang songs。 They played the
concertina。 And on the other side of the river a kiln for baking pots was
lighted； too； and the girls sang songs； and in the distance the singing
sounded soft and musical。 The peasants were noisy in and about the tavern。
They were singing with drunken voices； each on his own account； and
swearing at one another； so that Olga could only shudder and say：
〃Oh； holy Saints！〃
She was amazed that the abuse was incessant； and those who were
loudest and most persistent in this foul language were the old men who
were so near their end。 And the girls and children heard the swearing； and
were not in the least disturbed by it； and it was evident that they were used
to it from their cradles。
It was past midnight； the kilns on both sides of the river were put out；
but in the meadow below and in the tavern the merrymaking still went on。
The old father and Kiryak； both drunk； walking arm…in…arm and jostling
against each other's shoulders； went to the barn where Olga and Marya
were lying。
〃Let her alone；〃 the old man persuaded him； 〃let her alone。 。 。 。 She is a
harmless woman。 。 。 。 It's a sin。 。 。 。〃
〃Ma…arya！ 〃 shouted Kiryak。
〃Let her be。 。 。 。 It's a sin。 。 。 。 She is not a bad woman。〃
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
Both stopped by the barn and went on。
〃I lo…ove the flowers of the fi…ield；〃 the old man began singing
suddenly in a high； piercing tenor。 〃I lo…ove to gather them in the
meadows！〃
Then he spat； and with a filthy oath went into the hut。
IV
Granny put Sasha by her kitchen…garden and told her to keep watch
that the geese did not go in。 It was a hot August day。 The tavernkeeper's
geese could make their way into the kitchen…garden by the backs of the
huts； but now they were busily engaged picking up oats by the tavern；
peacefully conversing together； and only the gander craned his head high
as though trying to see whether the old woman were coming with her stick。
The other geese might come up from below； but they were now grazing far
away the other side of the river； stretched out in a long white garland about
the meadow。 Sasha stood about a little； grew weary； and； seeing that the
geese were not coming； went away to the ravine。
There she saw Marya's eldest daughter Motka； who was standing
motionless on a big stone； staring at the church。 Marya had given birth to
thirteen children； but she only had six living； all girls； not one boy； and the
eldest was eight。 Motka in a long smock was standing barefooted in the
full sunshine； the sun was blazing down right on her head； but she did not
notice that； and seemed as though turned to stone。 Sasha stood beside her
and said； looking at the church：
〃God lives in the church。 Men have lamps and candles； but God has
little green and red and blue lamps like little eyes。 At night God walks
about the church； and with Him the Holy Mother of God and Saint
Nikolay； thud； thud； thud！ 。 。 。 And the watchman is terrified； terrified！ Aye；
aye； dearie；〃 she added； imitating her mother。 〃And when the end of the
world comes all the churches will be carried up to heaven。〃
〃With the…ir be…ells？〃 Motka asked in her deep voice； drawling every
syllable。
〃With their bells。 And when the end of the world comes the good will
go to Paradise； but the angry will burn in fire eternal and unquenchable；
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dearie。 To my mother as well as to Marya God will say： 'You never
offended anyone； and for that go to the right to Paradise'； but to Kiryak
and Granny He will say： 'You go to the left into the fire。' And anyone who
has eaten meat in Lent will go into the fire； too。〃
She looked upwards at the sky； opening wide her eyes； and said：
〃Look at the sky without winking； you will see angels。〃
Motka began looking at the sky； too； and a minute passed in silence。
〃Do you see them？〃 asked Sasha。
〃I don't；〃 said Motka in her deep voice。
〃But I do。 Little angels are flying about the sky and flap； flap with
their little wings as though they were gnats。〃
Motka thought for a little； with her eyes on the ground； and asked：
〃Will Granny burn？〃
〃She will； dearie。〃
From the stone an even gentle slope ran down to the bottom； covered
with soft green grass； which one longed to lie down on or to touch with
one's hands。 。 。 Sasha lay down and rolled to the bottom。 Motka with a
grave； severe face； taking a deep breath； lay down； too； and rolled to the
bottom； and in doing so tore her smock from the hem to the shoulder。
〃What fun it is！〃 said Sasha； delighted。
They walked up to the top to roll down again； but at that moment they
heard a shrill； familiar voice。 Oh； how awful it was！ Granny； a toothless；
bony； hunchbacked figure； with short grey hair which was fluttering in the
wind； was driving the geese out of the kitchen…garden with a long stick；
shouting。
〃They have trampled all the cabbages； the damned brutes！ I'd cut your
throats； thrice accursed plagues！ Bad luck to you！〃
She saw the little girls； flung down the stick and picked up a switch；
and； seizing Sasha by the neck with her fingers； thin and hard as the
gnarled branches of a tree； began whipping her。 Sasha cried with pain and
terror； while the gander； waddling and stretching his neck； went up to the
old woman and hissed at her； and when he went back to his flock all th