短篇小说 》 農民 Farmer 》
農民 Farmer
契訶夫 Anton Chekhov
Farmer
一
莫斯科一傢旅館“斯拉夫商場”的一名跑堂尼古拉·奇基利傑耶夫得病了。他的下肢麻木，行走睏難，結果有一天，他在過道裏絆了一下，連同托盤上的火腿燒豌豆一起摔倒了。他衹得辭去職務。他去求醫，花光了自己和妻子的積蓄，已經難以維持生計，再說沒有事做實在無聊，於是他拿定主意不如回到鄉下老傢去。在傢裏不衹養病方便些，生活費用也會省得多。難怪俗話說：“在傢千日好，出門一時難”呢。
他們是在傍晚時分回到故鄉茹科沃村的。在他兒時的記憶中，自己的傢總是那麽明亮、舒適、方便，可是現在，當他跨進傢門，他簡直嚇了一跳：木屋裏又暗又擠又髒。跟他一道回來的妻子奧莉加和女兒薩莎望着爐子驚呆了：爐子大得幾乎占去半間屋，讓煤煙和蒼蠅弄得黑糊糊的。有多少蒼蠅啊！爐子歪了，四壁的原木傾斜了，看上去小木屋隨時都會塌下來。在前面墻角放聖像的地方，旁邊貼滿了瓶子上的商標和剪下來的報紙－－這些權當畫片。窮啊，窮啊！大人都不在傢，都去收割莊稼了。爐臺上坐着一個六八歲的小姑娘，淡黃頭髮，沒有梳洗，表情冷淡。她甚至沒有瞧一眼進來的人。爐臺下一隻白貓在爐叉上蹭背。
“咪咪，咪咪”薩莎喚它，“咪咪！”
“我們傢的貓聽不見，”小姑娘說，“它聾了。”
“怎麽會呢？”
“就是聾了。挨打了。”
尼古拉和奧莉加看一眼就明白這裏的生活怎麽樣，但誰也沒有嚮對方說出來。他們默默地放下包裹，又默默地走到街上。他們的房子是村頭第三傢，看樣子是最窮睏、最破舊的了。第二傢也好不了多少，可是盡頭的一傢卻有鐵皮屋頂，窗子上挂着窗簾。這所孤零零的房子沒有圍墻，那是一傢小飯館。所有的農捨排成一行，整個小村安然寂靜，各傢院子裏的柳樹、接骨木和花椒樹都探出墻來，景緻煞是好看。
在農傢的宅旁地之後，一道陡峭的土坡通嚮河邊，坡上這兒那兒的粘土裏露出一塊塊大石頭。在這些石頭和陶工挖出的土坑之間，有一些彎彎麯麯的小道，成堆的陶器碎片，有褐色的，有紅色的，遺留在那裏。山坡下面是一片廣阔而平整的緑油油的草場。草場已經割過，此刻衹有農傢的牲畜在遊蕩。那條河離村有一俄裏遠，河水在緑樹成蔭的美麗的河岸間婉蜒而去。河那邊又是很大一片草場，草場上有牲畜，成排成排的白鵝。草場過去，跟河的這邊一樣，一道陡坡爬到山上。山頂上有個村子和一座五個圓頂的教堂，再遠一點是地主的莊園。
“你們這地方真好！”奧莉加說，對着教堂畫着十字，“多麽開闊啊，主啊！”
正在這時候，響起了教堂的鐘聲，召喚人們去做徹夜祈禱（這是禮拜天的前夜）。坡下的兩個小姑娘正擡着一桶水，她們回過頭去望着教堂，聽那鐘聲。
“這會兒‘斯拉夫商場’正好開飯……”尼古拉出神地說。
尼古拉和奧莉加坐在陡坡邊上，看着太陽怎樣落山，那金黃的、紫紅的晚霞怎樣映在河裏，映在教堂的窗子上，映在四野的空氣中。空氣柔和、寧靜、說不出的純淨，這在莫斯科是從來沒有的。太陽落山，一群群牛羊陣陣地、嘩嘩地叫着回村來，鵝群也從對岸飛過河來。隨後四下裏靜下來，柔和的亮光消失了，昏暗的暮色很快就降落下來。
這時候，尼古拉的父親和母親回傢來了，兩位老人身材一般高，同樣消瘦、駝背、掉了牙。兩個女人，兒媳婦瑪麗亞和菲奧剋拉，白天在對岸地主傢幫工，這時也回傢來了。瑪麗亞是哥哥基裏亞剋的妻子，有六個孩子。菲奧剋拉是弟弟傑尼斯的妻子，有兩個孩子，傑尼斯現在在外面當兵。尼古拉走進木房，看到一大傢子的人，所有這些大大小小的身子在高板床①上、在搖籃裏、在所有的屋角果蠕動，看到老人和女人們怎樣把黑面包泡在水裏，狼吞虎咽地吃下去，這當兒他想到，他，一個有病的人，沒有錢，還拖着一傢人，回到老傢來是錯了，錯了！
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①鄉村木房中裝在爐子和側壁之間，有一人高，很寬。
“基裏亞剋哥哥在哪兒？”大傢打過招呼後他問道。
“他在一個商人傢裏當看守人，”父親回答，“守林子。他是個不錯的莊稼人，就是酒灌得大多。”
“不掙錢的人！”老太婆抱怨說，“我們傢的漢子都命苦，從不拿東西回傢，反倒從傢裏往外拿。基裏亞剋酗酒，老頭子呢，用不着隱瞞，也認得上小酒館的路。惹得聖母娘娘生氣啦。”
因為來了客人才燒起了茶炊。茶水裏有一股魚腥味。灰色的糖塊是咬過剩下的；面包上，碗碟上，有不少蟑螂爬來爬去。這種茶叫人喝不下去，談話也叫人不痛快－－談來談去，不是窮就是病。可是大傢還沒喝完一杯茶，忽然從院子裏傳來響亮的、拖長的、醉醺醺的喊叫聲。
“瑪－瑪麗－亞！”
“好像基裏亞剋回來了，”老頭子說，“真是提到誰，誰就到。”
大傢不作聲了。不一會兒，喊聲又響起來，粗聲粗氣，拖得很長，像從地底下發出來的：
“瑪－瑪麗－亞！”
大兒媳瑪麗亞，臉色煞白，直往爐子邊靠。這個寬肩膀、壯實、難看的女人一臉驚嚇的神色，讓人看了有點奇怪。她的女兒，那個坐在爐臺上的小姑娘，一直表情冷淡，這時突然大聲哭起來。
“你哭什麽，討厭鬼？”菲奧剋拉喝斥她，她是個漂亮女人，身子也壯實，肩膀很寬，“別怕，他又不會把你打死！”
從老人口裏尼古拉得知，瑪麗亞害怕跟基裏亞剋一塊兒住在林子裏，因為每當他喝醉了酒，回來就找她鬧事，毫不留情地毒打她。
“瑪－瑪麗－亞！”喊聲到了房門口。
“看在基督份上，救救我，親人們，”瑪麗亞費力地說，她喘着粗氣，就像被人扔進冰水裏一樣，“救救我，親人們哪……”
屋裏所有的孩子都哭起來，薩莎望着他們也哭了。先是一聲醉醺醺的咳嗽，隨後一個身材高大的黑鬍子農民走進屋來。他戴一頂鼕天的帽子，所以在昏暗的燈光下看不清他的臉－－可是樣子嚇人。他就是基裏亞剋。他走到妻子跟前，掄起胳膊，一拳頭打在她的臉上。她一聲沒出，被打昏過去，一下子癱在地上，鼻子裏立刻流出血來。
“真丟人，丟人，”老頭子嘟噥着爬到了爐臺上，“還當着客人的面！造孽呀！”
老太婆默默地坐着，弓腰駝背，在想心事。菲奧剋拉搖着搖籃……顯然基裏亞剋覺得自己能嚇住人，十分得意，便一把抓住瑪麗亞的手，把她拖到門口，為了顯得更兇，就像野獸一樣吼起來。可是這當兒忽然看到有客人在場，就停住了。
“啊，回來了……”他說着，放開了妻子，“親兄弟帶着傢眷……”
他對着聖像祈禱一陣，身子搖搖晃晃，使勁睜大那雙發紅的醉眼，接着說，
“親兄弟帶着傢眷回老傢了……這麽說，是從莫斯科來的。不用說，莫斯科是古時候定為國都的城市，是萬城之母……對不起……”
他在茶炊旁的長凳上坐下，喝起茶來。大傢默不作聲，衹有他就着小茶盅大聲地喝着。他一連喝了十杯，隨後倒在長凳上，立即打起呼嚕來。
大傢準備睡覺。尼古拉因為有病，跟父親一起躺在爐臺上。薩莎睡在地板上，奧莉加和兩個妯娌去板棚裏睡。
“唉，算了，親人兒，”她挨着瑪麗亞在幹草上躺下後說，“眼淚也除不了痛苦！忍一忍就算了。聖書上說：‘有人打你的右臉，連左臉也轉過來由他打。’①唉，算了，親人兒！”
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①見《聖經·馬太福音》第五章第三十八節。
後來她曼聲細語地講起莫斯科，講起自己的生活，講她怎樣在帶傢具的公寓裏當女僕。
“莫斯科的房子都很大，石砌的，”她說，“教堂很多很多，有四十個教區的教堂哩，親人兒。房子的主人都是老爺，又體面，又有禮貌。”
瑪麗亞說，她別說莫斯科，就連縣城也沒有去過。她不認字，不會禱告，連“我們在天上的父”也不知道。她和奧菲剋拉，她此刻坐在一旁聽着，兩人的智力都很低下，什麽也不懂。兩人都不喜歡自己的丈夫。瑪麗亞怕基裏亞剋，每當他留下來，跟她在一起的時候，她就嚇得渾身發抖。衹要她一挨近他，他身上的那股濃重的酒氣和煙味總熏得她頭痛。菲奧剋拉呢，每當有人間她，丈夫不在是不是煩悶，她總是氣惱地回答：
“去他的！”
她們聊了一陣，後來就不出聲了……
天氣涼了。板棚附近有衹公雞扯着嗓門喔喔啼叫，吵得人沒法睡覺。當淡藍色的晨光穿過每一條板縫時，菲奧剋拉就悄悄地起身，走了出去，隨後可以聽到她的光腳板的吧嗒聲，她不知跑哪兒去了。
作者：契訶夫
二
奧莉加去教堂時，把瑪麗亞也帶去了。她們順着小路下坡，朝草場走去。兩個人都心情愉快。奧莉加喜歡遼闊的田園，瑪麗亞覺得這個妯娌和藹可親。太陽升起來了。一隻睡意未消的鷹在草場上低低地盤旋，河水暗淡無光，有些地方晨霧繚繞。河對岸的山上一條光帶延伸開去，照得教堂金光閃閃。在地主傢的花園裏，一群白嘴鴉呱呱地大聲喧鬧着。
“老爺子倒沒什麽，”瑪麗亞講起來，“老奶奶可厲害了，老跟人吵架。自傢種的糧食衹夠吃到謝肉節①，衹好在小鋪裏買面粉，所以她就發火，老說：你們吃得太多。”
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①東正教節日，在大齋前一星期，俄舊歷二月下旬，帶有送鼕迎春的意思。
“唉，算了，親人兒，忍一忍就算了。聖書上寫着：‘凡勞苦擔重擔的人，可以到我這裏來。’②”
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②見《聖經·馬大福音》第十一章第二十八節。
奧莉加說話穩重，曼聲曼調，走起路來像朝聖女人那樣，又快又急。她每天必讀《福音書》，像教堂誦經士那樣大聲吟誦，儘管許多地方不懂，但神聖的語言總讓她感動得流下眼淚，每當她讀到“如果”和“直到”這類詞時，她的心髒似乎都要停止跳動了。她信仰上帝，信仰聖母，信仰所有侍奉上帝的人。她相信不能欺負人；普通人也罷，德國人也罷，茨岡人也罷，猶太人也罷，世上的任何人都欺負不得。她相信，凡是不憐恤動物的人遲早都要遭難。她相信這些都是在聖書裏寫着的。所以每當她讀《聖經》的時候，即使讀不懂，她的臉也總是流露出憐憫、感動和歡欣的表情。
“你是哪個地方的人呢？”瑪麗亞問道。
“我是弗拉基米爾人。衹是我很早就去了莫斯科，那年我纔八歲。”
她們來到河邊。河對岸有個女人站在水邊，正在脫衣服。
“那是我們傢的菲奧剋拉，”瑪麗亞認出人來，“她過河去地主的莊園。找那裏的男管傢。她盡胡闹，愛吵架－－真不得了！”
黑眉毛的菲奧剋拉頭髮披散着，她還很年輕、健壯，像個姑娘傢。她從岸上跳進河裏，兩條腿使勁拍打，在她的四圍掀起了一片浪花。
“她盡胡闹－－真不得了！”瑪麗亞又說一遍。
河上架着一道原木搭成的搖搖晃晃的橋。橋底下，在清澈透明的河水裏，成群的大頭圓鰭雅羅魚遊來遊去。緑色的樹叢倒映在水裏，樹葉上的露珠閃閃發亮。四下裏暖融融的，讓人滿心喜歡。多麽美麗的早晨啊！若是沒有貧窮，沒有可怕的、無盡頭的、哪兒也躲不掉的貧窮，大概這人世間的生活也像這早晨一樣美麗吧！可是衹消回頭看一眼村子，就會清晰地記起昨天發生的一切，於是由周圍的景色喚起的那份讓人陶醉的幸福感，立即便消失了。
她們來到教堂。瑪麗亞站在大門口，不敢再在前走。她又不敢坐下，儘管要到八點多鐘纔打鐘做彌撒。她就一直這樣站着。
念福音書的時候，人群忽然動起來，給地主一傢人讓路。進來了兩個穿白色連衣裙、戴寬邊帽的姑娘，身後跟着一個紅紅胖胖穿水手服的男孩。他們的到來使奧莉加大為感動，她一眼就看出，他們是上流社會有教養的、高貴的人。瑪麗亞卻皺起眉頭、沉着臉、沮喪地看着他們，仿佛進來的不是人，而是惡魔，她若不讓路，就要被他們踩死似的。
每當助祭的男低音宣讀經文的時候，瑪麗亞總好像聽到“瑪－瑪麗－亞”的喝斥聲，於是地不由得打起哆嗦來。
作者：契訶夫
三
村裏人聽說來了客人，做完彌撤，不少人來到他們傢。列昂內切夫傢的人，瑪特維伊切夫傢的人和伊利伊喬傢的人都來打聽他們在莫斯科當差的親戚的情況。茹科沃村裏的所有年輕人，衹要認得字，能讀會寫，都被送到莫斯科，而且衹送到飯館和旅店當學徒（正如河對岸的村子裏年輕人衹送到面包房當學徒一樣）。這種風氣由來已久，還在農奴製時代就這樣了。那時有個茹科沃的農民盧卡·伊凡內奇，如今他已是傳奇人物，在莫斯科的一個俱樂部裏當小賣部的店主，衹接受同村人來做事，這些同村人站穩了腳跟，又把自己的親戚叫來，安排他們在飯館和旅店當差。從那時起，四周圍的鄉民把茹科沃的村名都改了，管它叫“下人村”或者“奴才村”。尼古拉是十一歲那年被送到莫斯科的，由瑪特維伊切大傢的伊凡·瑪卡雷奇為他謀了一份差事。伊凡·瑪卡雷奇當時在“艾爾米塔日”花園的劇場裏當引座員。現在，尼古拉對着瑪特維伊切夫傢的人，說得頭頭是道：
“伊凡·瑪剋雷奇是我的恩人，我得日日夜夜祈求上帝保佑他，因為多虧了他，我纔成了體面人。”
“我的天哪，”一個高個子老太婆，伊凡·瑪卡雷奇的妹妹含着眼淚說，“他老人傢，我那親人，現在一點音信都沒有了。”
“去年鼕天他在奧蒙老爺傢當差，這個季節聽說他到城外的花園裏做事……他老啦！從前吧，往往一個夏季，每天都能帶回傢十來個盧布，可是現在到處都生意清淡，這下苦了他老人傢了。”
那些老太婆和女人看着他穿氈鞋的腳，看着他蒼白的臉，傷心地說：
“你不是掙錢人了，尼古拉·奧西佩奇，不是掙錢人了！哪兒行呢！”
大傢都喜歡薩莎。她已經滿十歲，可是長得很瘦小，看上去頂多衹有七歲。別的小姑娘一個個臉蛋曬得發黑，頭髮胡亂地剪短，穿着褪色的長衫。她呢，臉蛋白白的，眼睛又大又黑，頭髮上還係着紅絲帶，夾在她們中間顯得有點滑稽，好像這是一頭剛從野地裏捉回來的小獸。
“她會念書呢！”奧莉加溫柔地瞧着女兒，誇奬道。“你念一念，好孩子！”她說，從包裹裏拿出一本《福音書》，“你念一念，念給那些正教徒聽聽。”
《福音書》很舊，很重，羊皮封面，書邊已經摸髒了。書本有股那樣的氣味，就好像修士進屋來了。薩莎揚起眉毛，開始響亮地、像唱詩般念起來：
“‘有主的使者嚮約瑟夢中顯現，說，起來，帶着小孩子同他母親……’”
“帶着小孩子同他母親，”奧莉加重複道，她激動得滿臉通紅。
“‘逃往埃及，住在那裏，等我吩咐你……①’”
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①見《聖經·馬大福音》第二章第十三節。
聽到“等”字，奧莉加再也忍不住，失聲哭起來。瑪麗亞望着她也嗚咽抽泣，隨後便是伊凡·瑪卡雷奇的妹妹跟着落淚。老頭子不住地咳嗽，翻來翻去想找件小禮物送給孫女，可是什麽也沒有找到，衹好揮揮手算了。經書念完之後，鄰居們四散回傢，一個個深受感動，對奧莉加和薩莎十分滿意。
因為這天是節日，全家人整天都待在傢裏。老太婆，不論丈夫、兒媳，還是孫子、孫女都管她叫老奶奶，樣樣事情都要親自動手，親自生爐子，親自燒茶炊，甚至在午間親自去擠牛奶，然後就不住地抱怨，說她幹得快纍死了。她老是擔心傢裏人吃多了，擔心老頭子和兒媳們閑着不幹活。她時不時聽到，小鋪老闆傢的一群鵝好像從後面鑽進她傢的菜園子，於是她操起一根長桿子，趕緊跑出屋來，守着跟她一樣幹瘦、發蔫的白菜，不歇氣地一連喊上半個鐘頭。有時她好像覺得烏鴉想來抓她的小雞，她就一邊駡，一邊朝烏鴉衝去。她從早到晚生氣，咦叨，動不動就提着嗓門叫駡，弄得街上的行人不由得停了下來。
她對她的老頭子很不和氣，不是叫他懶骨頭，就是叫他討厭鬼。他是個不大正經的、靠不住的莊稼人，若不是她經常催趕着他，恐怕他真的什麽活都不幹，成天坐在爐臺上說閑話了。他沒完沒了地對兒子講起他的好些仇人，抱怨他每天都受鄰居的欺負，聽他說話真是無聊。
“是啊，”他雙手叉腰，說起來，“是啊……在十字架節①後一個禮拜，我把幹草賣了，一擔三十戈比，我自願賣的……是啊……挺好……可是，有一天早晨，我把幹草推出去，我是自願賣的，也沒有招惹誰，可是運氣不好，我一看，村長安季普·謝傑利尼科夫正巧打從酒館裏出來。‘你往哪兒送？沒出息的東西！’他說完還隨手給了我一記耳光。”
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①東正教節日，在俄舊歷九月十四日。
基裏亞爾喝醉後頭痛欲裂，在弟弟面前他很不好意思。
“伏特加真害人。唉，我的天哪！”他嘟噥着，不住地搖晃痛脹的頭，“你們要看在基督份上，親兄弟和親弟妹，原諒我纔好，我自己也不快活呀。”
因為這天是節日，他們從酒館裏買了一條鯡魚，熬了一鍋魚頭湯。中午大傢先喝茶，喝了很長時間，直喝到頭上冒汗，看來茶水把肚子都撐大了。這之後纔開始喝魚湯，大傢就着一個瓦罐喝。至於魚身子，老奶奶卻藏起來了。
傍晚，有個陶工在坡上燒窯。坡下的草場上，姑娘們圍成圓圈唱歌跳舞。有人在拉手風琴。河對岸也有人在燒窯，也有姑娘們唱歌，遠處的歌聲悠揚動聽。酒館內外不少農民吵吵嚷嚷，他們醉醖釀地各唱各的調，破口大駡，讓奧莉加聽了直打哆哼，連呼：
“哎呀，天哪……”
她感到吃驚的是，那些駡人話可以連續不斷，而且駡得最兇、嗓門最大的倒是那些快要人士的老頭子。可是孩子們和姑娘傢聽了卻毫不理會，顯然他們在搖籃裏就聽慣了。
過了午夜，兩岸的窯火都已熄滅，可是下面草場上和酒館裏還有人在玩樂。老頭子和基裏亞剋都醉了。他們胳膊輓着胳膊，肩膀撞着肩膀，跌跌撞撞來到奧莉加和瑪麗亞睡覺的板棚前。
“算了吧，”老頭子勸他說，“算了吧……這婆娘挺老實……罪過呀……”
“瑪－瑪麗－亞！”基裏亞剋喊道。
“算了吧……罪過呀……這婆娘不錯的。”
兩人在板棚前站了一會兒，走開了。
“我－我愛－野花兒！”老頭子突然用刺耳的男高音唱起來，“我－我愛－到野地裏－摘花兒！”
隨後他啐了一口，駡了一句粗話，進屋去了。
四
老奶奶讓薩莎待在菜園裏，守着白菜，別讓鵝進來禍害。己是炎熱的八月天。酒館老闆傢的鵝經常從後面鑽進菜園，不過現在它們幹的是正經事：在酒館附近啄食燕麥，和睦地閑聊着，衹有一隻公鵝高高地昂起頭，似乎想觀察一下，老太婆是不是拿着桿子跑來了。別的鵝也可能從坡下上來，不過那群鵝此刻在河對岸覓食，在緑色的草場上拉出一道長長的白綫。薩莎站了一會兒，覺得挺沒意思，看看鵝也不來，就跑到陡坡的邊上去了。
她在那裏看到瑪麗亞的大女兒莫季卡正一動不動地站在一塊大石頭上望着教堂。瑪麗亞生了十三胎，可是衹留下六個孩子，而且全是女兒，沒有男孩。大女兒纔八歲。莫季卡光着腳，穿一件長襯衫，站在太陽地裏，火辣辣的太陽烤着她的頭頂，但她毫不理會，仿佛成了化石。薩莎站到她身邊，望着教堂說：
“上帝就住在教堂裏。人到了晚上點燈，點蠟燭，上帝呢，點長明燈。長明燈有紅的，緑的，藍的，像小眼睛似的。到了夜裏上帝就在教堂裏走來走去，聖母娘娘和上帝的僕人尼古拉陪着他－－咯，哆，哆……守夜人聽了嚇壞了，嚇壞了！唉，算了，親人兒，”她學着母親的話，說道，“到了世界未日那一天，所有的教堂都飛到天上去。”
“鐘－樓－也－飛？”莫季卡一字一頓地低聲問道。
“鐘樓也飛。到了世界未日那一天，好心的人都進天堂，兇惡的人呢，給扔進永遠不滅的火裏去燒，親人兒。上帝會對我媽媽和瑪麗亞說，你們沒有欺負人。所以往右邊走，去天堂吧。可是對基裏亞剋和老奶奶他就會說：你們往左邊走，到火裏去。誰在持齋日吃葷，他也要到火裏去。”
她仰望天空，睜大眼睛，又說：
“你望着天空，別眨眼睛，就能看到天使。”
莫季卡也仰望天空，在沉默中過了一分鐘。
“看見了嗎？”薩莎問道。
“看不見，”莫季卡低聲說。
“我可看見了。一群小天使在天上飛，扇着小翅膀－－一閃一閃，像小蚊子似的。”
莫季卡想了一會兒，看着地面，問道：
“老奶奶也要遭火燒嗎？”
“會的，親人兒。”
從她們站着的大石頭一直到山腳下，是一道平整的緩坡，長滿了緑油油的嫩草，叫人見了真想伸出手去摸一摸，或者在上面躺一躺。薩莎躺下，翻身往下滾。莫季卡一臉嚴肅認真的樣子，喘着氣，也躺下，翻身往下滾，這麽一來，她的衫子就捲到肩膀上去了。
“多好玩呀！”薩莎快活地說。
她倆往上走，想再玩一次，可是這當兒傳來了熟悉的尖叫聲。哎呀，真可怕！老奶奶沒了牙，瘦骨伶仔，駝着背，短短的白發隨風飄起，拿着一根長桿子正把一群鵝趕出菜園子，一邊大聲叫駡着：
“所有的白菜都給搗碎了，這些該死的畜生，把你們統統宰了纔好，你們這些挨千刀的禍根子，怎麽不死喲！”
她看到兩個小姑娘，就扔下桿子，拾起一根枯樹枝，伸出幹瘦、粗硬、像彎鈎似的手指抓住薩莎的脖子，開始抽打她。薩莎又痛又嚇，立即大哭，這當兒那衹公鵝伸長脖子，一搖一擺地走到老太婆跟前，嘎嘎地吼了一陣，當它轉身歸隊時，所有的母鵝贊賞地歡迎它：嘎一嘎一嘎！隨後老奶奶揮着樹伎抽打莫季卡，這下莫季卡的衫子又給掀了起來。薩莎傷心透了，大哭着跑回屋裏，想訴說委屈。莫季卡跟在她後面，也放聲大哭，不過她的哭聲低沉，而且不擦眼淚，她的臉上淚水漣漣，就像她剛把臉泡進水裏似的。
“我的天哪！”奧莉加見她倆跑進屋來，驚呼道，“聖母娘娘啊！”
薩莎開始講起怎麽回事，這當兒老奶奶尖聲叫駡着也進了屋，菲奧剋拉也惱了，於是屋子裏鬧得亂成一團。
“不要緊，不要緊！”奧莉加臉色蒼白，心慌意亂，一邊撫摩着薩莎的頭，一邊安慰她，“她是你的奶奶，生奶奶的氣是罪過的。不要緊的，好孩子。”
尼古拉早已被這經常不斷的叫駡、饑餓、煤煙和臭氣弄得筋疲力盡，他已經痛恨、鄙視這種貧窮的生活，而且在妻子、女兒面前常常為自己的爹娘感到羞愧－－這時候，他從爐臺上垂下腿來，用哭泣的聲音氣憤地對母親說：
“您不能打她！您根本沒有權利打她！”
“得了吧。你躺在爐臺上等死吧，你這個病鬼！”菲奧剋拉惡狠狠地衝着他大聲嚷嚷，“真見鬼，誰叫你們回來吃閑飯啦？”
薩莎、莫季卡和傢裏所有的小姑娘都爬到爐臺上，躲在尼古拉背後的角落裏，在那兒一聲不響地、戰戰兢兢地聽着這些話，似乎可以聽到她們那小小的心髒在怦怦地跳動。每當一個家庭裏有人久病不愈，絶了生還的希望，常常會出現極其沉重的時刻，這時他身邊的所有親人會膽怯地、暗暗地、在內心深處希望他死去。衹有孩子們害怕親人的死亡，一想到這個就會膽戰心驚。此刻，小姑娘們都屏住呼吸，臉上一副悲哀的表情，望着尼古拉，想到他很快就要死掉，她們不由得想哭，想對他說幾句親切的、可憐他的話。
尼古拉直往奧莉加這邊靠，仿佛在尋找她的保護，用顫抖的聲音輕輕地對她說：
“奧莉亞①，親愛的，我在這兒再也待不下去了。我筋疲力盡了。看在上帝份上，看在天主基督份上，你給你妹妹剋拉夫季婭·阿勃拉莫夫娜寫封信吧，讓她把她所有的東西都賣了，當了，讓她把錢寄來，我們好離開這裏。啊，上帝，”他苦惱地繼續道，“哪怕讓我再看一眼莫斯科也好啊！哪怕我能夢見莫斯科也好啊，親愛的！”
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①奧莉加的昵稱。
黃昏來臨，木屋裏越來越暗，大傢愁閥得說不出話來。愛生氣的老奶奶把黑麥面包的硬殼掰碎後泡在碗裏，再放進嘴裏慢慢地嚼着，吃了足足一個鐘頭。瑪麗亞擠完牛奶，提着牛奶桶進來，把它放在凳子上。老奶奶再把桶裏的牛奶倒進一隻衹瓦罐裏，不慌不忙地幹了很長時間。顯然她很滿意，因為眼下正是聖母升天節②齋戒期，誰也不興喝牛奶，這些牛奶就都留下了。她衹往一個小碟子裏倒了少許，留給菲奧剋拉的小娃娃喝。後來她和瑪麗亞把一隻衹瓦罐送到地窖去。莫季卡忽然跳起來，從爐臺上爬下來，走到凳子跟前，拿起碟子，往那衹泡着面包硬皮的木碗裏潑了一點牛奶。
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②聖母升天節，在俄舊歷八月十五日，齋期半個月，持齋日不吃葷（肉食及牛奶）。
老奶奶回到屋裏，又端起自己的碗吃起來。薩莎和莫季卡坐在爐臺上望着老奶奶，心裏特別高興：這下她開葷了，往後衹能入地獄了。她們得到了安慰，就躺下睡覺。薩莎快要入睡，可還在想象着最後的審判：一隻像陶窯那樣的大爐子裏烈火熊熊，有個頭上長着牛那樣的犄角、渾身烏黑的魔鬼，拿着一根長桿子把老奶奶往火裏趕，就像她自己剛纔趕鵝一樣。
五
在聖母升天節晚上十點多鐘，在坡下草場上玩樂的姑娘們和小夥子們，忽然發出刺耳的驚叫，紛紛朝村子方向奔跑。那些坐在陡坡上邊的人一時間怎麽也弄不明白出了什麽事。
“着火啦！着火啦！”下面傳來聲嘶力竭的呼喊聲，“村裏着火啦！”
坐在陡坡上邊的人回頭一看，在他們前面呈現出一幅可怕的、不同尋常的景象。村頭一座木房的幹草頂上，躥起一俄丈①的火柱，火舌翻滾，無數的火星撒嚮口面八方，像噴泉噴水似的。隨即整個屋頂燃起熊熊大火，可以聽到火燒時的僻啪聲。
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①一俄丈等於二·一二三米。
月色變暗淡了，整個村子已經籠罩在顫動的紅光中，黑影在地上移動，空氣中有一股熏糊味。從坡下跑上來的人，一個個氣喘籲籲，戰戰兢兢，說不出話來。他們互相推擠，跌跌撞撞，由於不習慣刺眼的火光，他們什麽也看不清楚，甚至彼此都認不出來了。真是可怕。特別可怕的是幾衹鴿子在火焰上空的濃煙裏飛來飛去，而在酒館裏，那些還不知道村裏起火的人還在唱歌，拉手風琴，像什麽事也沒有發生一樣。
“謝苗大叔傢起火啦！”有人粗聲粗氣地大喊道。
瑪麗亞在自己屋前急得團團轉。她哭哭啼啼，搓着手，嚇得牙齒直打顫，雖說火還遠着呢，在村子的另一頭。尼古拉穿着氈靴走出屋來，孩子們穿着貼身衫子紛紛跑出來。在鄉村巡警的小屋附近有人敲起了鐵板。當當的聲音響徹夜空。這急促的無休止的鐵板聲弄得人心裏隱隱作痛，渾身發冷。一些老奶奶們都捧着聖像站着。所有的羊、牛犢和母牛都讓人從院子裏轟到街上，不少箱籠、熟羊皮和木桶都搬了出來。一匹毛色烏黑的種馬，平常不放它進馬群，因為它老踢傷別的馬，這會兒也放了出來。它一聲嘶嗚，馬蹄得得，在村裏一連跑了兩個來回，忽然在一輛大車旁停住，用後腿使勁踢那輛車子。
河對岸的教堂裏也敲起了鐘。
在起火的木屋附近熱氣的人，亮得連地上的每一棵小草都清晰可見。一些箱子好不容易給拖了出來。謝苗坐在其中的一隻箱子上，這是一個須發棕紅的農民，大鼻子，一頂便帽壓得很低，直到耳朵，穿一件西服上衣。他的妻子臉朝下躺在地上，已經不省人事，嘴裏不住地哼哼着。有個八十歲上下的老頭，身材矮小，一把大鬍子，像個地精①。他不是本地人，但顯然與這場火災有牽連，在一旁走來走去，沒戴帽子，手裏抱一個白包袱。他的禿頂上映照出火光來。村長安季普·謝傑利尼科夫，曬黑的臉膛，烏黑的頭髮，像個茨岡人，拿一把斧子走到木屋前，不知道為什麽，把所有的窗子接連砍下來，隨後便砍起臺階來。
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①西歐神話中守護地下財寶的醜陋的侏儒。
“婆娘們，弄水來！”他喊道，“把機器擡來！麻利點，姑娘們！”
剛纔在酒館裏飲酒作樂的農民們把救火機擡來了。他們都已喝醉，不時磕磕絆絆，跌跌撞撞，眼睛裏含着淚水，一副無可奈何的表情。
“姑娘們，弄水來！”村長吆喝着，他也醉了，“麻利些，姑娘們！”
女人和姑娘們跑到下面泉水邊，把大桶、小桶灌滿了水往山上送，倒進救火機裏，又往下跑。奧莉加、瑪麗亞、薩莎和莫季卡都去弄水。有些女人和男孩子壓唧筒抽水，消防水竜帶便吱吱地冒水，村長拿着它一會兒對着門，一會兒對着窗，有時還用手指堵住水流，這一來吱吱聲就更刺耳了。
“好樣的，安季普！”有些人稱贊道，“加油啊！”
安季普衝進起火的門廊裏，在裏面大聲喊叫：
“使勁壓水！正教徒們，為了這場災禍，合力幹哪！”
不少農民站在一旁，什麽事也不幹，瞧着火發愣。誰也不知該做什麽，也不會做，而周圍全是糧垛、幹草、板棚和柴堆。基裏亞剋和老頭奧西普也站在裏面，兩人都帶着醉意。像是為自己的袖手旁觀開脫，老頭對躺在地上的女人說：
“大嫂子，你何苦拿腦袋撞地呢？你這房子是上過保險的，你愁什麽！”
謝苗時而對這個人，時而對那個人講起着火的原因：
“就是那個拿包袱的小老頭子，茹科夫將軍傢的僕人……他從前在將軍傢當廚子，願將軍的靈魂升天堂。晚上來我傢說：‘留我在這兒住一夜……’好吧，不用說，我們兩人就喝了那麽一小杯……老婆子忙着生茶炊，想請老頭子喝點茶，可是合該倒黴，她把茶炊放到門廊裏，煙囪裏的火星一直躥到屋頂，點着了幹草，這下就出事了。我們差點沒給燒死。老頭子的帽子燒掉了，作孽呀。”
鐵板的當當聲響個不停，河對岸的教堂裏鐘聲齊嗚。奧莉加周身映在火光裏，氣喘籲籲地時而跑下，時而跑上，驚恐地看着那些火紅色的綿羊和在煙霧裏飛來飛去的粉紅色的鴿子。她覺得這鐘聲像尖刺紮進她的心髒，又覺得這場火永遠撲不滅，而薩莎找不見了……後來轟隆一聲木屋的天花板塌下來，她心想這下全村準會燒光，這時她渾身癱軟，再也提不起水桶，就坐在坡上，水桶扔在一旁。在她身旁和身後都有女人在呼天喊地地放聲大哭，像哭喪一樣。
這時候，從河對岸的地主莊園裏駛來兩輛馬拉大車，車上坐着地主的管傢和雇工，他們運來了一臺救人機。有個身穿白色海軍眼、敞着懷的年輕大學生騎着馬也趕來了。響起了斧子的砍擊聲，一把梯子架到已經着火的木屋框架上，立即有五個人往上爬，打頭的就是那個大學生。他周身被火光照紅，用刺耳的、嘶啞的聲音喊叫着，那口氣，就好像他是救火的行傢似的。他們把木屋拆掉，把原木一根根卸下來，把畜欄、籬笆和近處的幹草垛都拖開了。
“不準他們拆屋子，”人群裏傳來嚴厲的喊聲，“不準！”
基裏亞剋一副果斷的神態走嚮木屋，似乎要阻止來人拆房子。可是一名雇工把他趕回來，還狠狠地揍了他一拳。大傢一陣哄笑，雇工又給了一拳，基裏亞剋倒下了，手腳並用爬回到人群裏。
河對岸又來了兩個戴帽子的漂亮姑娘，多半是大學生的姐妹。她們站在遠處觀望。拆下拖走的原木不再燃燒，但是冒着濃煙。現在大學生拿着水籠頭，時而對着原木衝，時而對農民和提水的女人衝。
“喬治！”兩個姑娘責備地、不安地嚮他喊道，“喬治！”
火熄滅了。大傢四散回傢，這時纔發現天快亮了，人人臉色蒼白，還帶點淡褐色－－每當清早天空中的殘星消失的時候，總是這樣的。回傢路上，農民們嘻嘻哈哈，不斷地拿茹科夫將軍的廚子開玩笑，取笑他把帽子燒掉了。他們已經有興致把火災變成笑談，甚至好像有點惋惜火很快就被撲滅了。
“您，少爺，救人挺內行，”奧莉加對大學生說，“真該把您調到我們莫斯科，那兒差不多天天有火災。”
“您難道從莫斯科來的？”一位小姐問道。
“是這樣。我丈夫在‘斯拉夫商場，當差。這是我的女兒，”她指着冷得發抖、緊貼着她的薩莎說，“她也算是莫斯科人哩，小姐。”
兩位小姐對大學生講了幾句法語，他就給了薩莎一個二十戈比的硬幣。老頭子奧西普見到了，他的臉上頓時閃現出希望的光芒。
“感謝上帝，老爺，多虧沒風，”他對大學生說，“要不然衹消一個鐘頭就會燒個精光。老爺，您心好，”他壓低嗓音，不好意思地加了一句：“大清早好冷？真想暖暖身子……您行行好，賞幾個小錢打點酒喝。”
他什麽也沒有得着，於是大聲清了清嗓子，慢騰騰地回傢了。奧莉加一直站在坡邊，望着兩輛車子怎樣涉水過河，少爺和小姐怎樣穿過草地，河對岸有一輛馬車正等着他們，她一回到木屋，就驚喜地對丈夫說：
“多好的人哪！長得也漂亮！兩位小姐簡直就是天使！”
“她們不得好死！”睡得迷迷糊糊的菲奧剋拉惡狠狠地說。
六
瑪麗亞認定自己命苦，常說不如死了算了。菲奧剋拉正相反，貧窮也好，齷齪也好，不停的叫駡也好，這生活樣樣合她的口味。給她什麽，她就吃什麽，從不挑挑揀揀；不管什麽地方，不管有沒有鋪的蓋的，她倒頭就睡。她把髒水倒在臺階上，潑到門外頭，再光着腳從水窪裏走過去。她從第一天起就痛恨奧莉加和尼古拉，衹因為他們不喜歡這種生活。
“我倒要瞧瞧你們在這裏吃什麽，莫斯科的貴族！”她常常幸災樂禍地說，“我倒要瞧一瞧！”
有一天早晨，那已是九月初了，菲奧剋拉挑了一擔水從坡下回來，凍得臉蛋紅紅的，又健康又漂亮。這時候瑪麗亞和奧莉加正坐在桌子旁喝茶。
“又是茶又是糖，”菲奧剋拉挖苦地說，“好氣派的太太們，”她放下水桶，又說，“倒時興天天喝茶哩，小心點，別讓茶把你們嗆死了！”她痛恨地瞧着奧莉加，接下去說，“在莫斯科養得肥頭胖臉的，瞧這一身肥膘！”
她掄起扁擔，一頭打在奧莉加的肩膀上，兩個妯娌吃驚得擊掌嘆道：
“哎呀，我的天哪！”
隨後菲奧剋拉又去河邊洗衣服，一路上破口大駡，響得連屋子裏都聽得見。
白天過去了，隨後是秋天漫長的夜晚。木屋裏在繞絲。大傢動手，除了奧菲剋拉：她又跑到河對岸去了。這絲是從附近的工廠裏弄來的，全家人靠它掙幾個錢－－一星期二十來戈比。
“當年在東傢手下，日子要好過些，”老頭子一面繞絲，一面說，“幹活，吃飯，睡覺，都按部就班的。中午飯有菜湯和粥，晚飯還是菜湯和粥。黃瓜和白菜多的是，由你敞開吃。可是規矩也大些。人人都守本分。”
屋裏衹點一盞小燈，光綫暗淡，燈芯冒煙。要是有人擋住了小燈，就有很大一片黑影落在窗上，這時可以看到明亮的月光。老頭子奧西普不慌不忙地談起農奴解放①前人們怎樣生活。他說到，在這一帶地方，現如今日子過得太煩悶，太窮苦，想當年老爺們常常帶着獵犬、靈＊（左反犬右是）②和職業獵手外出打獵，圍獵的時候，農民都能喝到伏特加。之後整車整車被打死的野禽就送到莫斯科的少東傢那裏。他還說到，作惡的農奴受到懲罰，挨樹條抽打，還要發配到特維爾的世襲領地上當農奴；好心的農奴受到奬賞。老奶奶也講些往事。她什麽都記得。她談起自己的女主人，說她心地善良，嚴守教規，可是丈夫是個酒徒和浪蕩子。說她有三個女兒，天知道都嫁了些什麽人：一個嫁給酒鬼，另一個嫁給小市民，第三個私奔了（老奶奶當時很年輕，還幫過小姐的忙）。她們三個很快都愁苦死了，跟她們的母親一樣，想起這些，老奶奶甚至抽泣了幾聲。
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①俄國於一八六一年廢除農奴製。
②一種跑得特別快的獵犬。
突然有人敲門，大傢都嚇了一跳。
“奧西普大叔，留我住一夜吧！”
進來一個禿頂的小老頭子，就是那個燒掉帽子的茹科夫將軍的廚子。他坐下來，聽着，隨後也開始回憶往事，講起各種各樣的故事來。尼古拉坐在爐臺上，垂着兩條腿，聽着，老是間他當年老爺們吃些什麽菜。他們談起了炸肉餅、肉排、各種湯和佐料。廚子的記性也很好，他還舉出一些現在沒有的菜，比如說有一道用牛眼睛做的菜，取名叫“早晨醒”。
“那時候你們燒‘元帥肉排’嗎？”尼古拉問。
“不燒。”
尼古拉搖搖頭，責備說：
“哎呀，你們這些沒本事的廚子！”
爐臺上的小姑娘們有的坐着，有的躺着，不眨眼地往下瞧着，她們人很多，看上去真像雲端裏的一群小天使。她們喜歡聽大人講話，她們時而高興，時而害怕，不住地嘆氣，發抖，臉色變白。她們覺得老奶奶的故事講得最有趣，她們便屏住呼吸聽着，不敢動一下。
後來大傢默默地躺下睡覺。老年人被那些陳年往事弄得心神不定，興奮起來，想起年輕的時候多麽美好。青春，不管它什麽樣，在人的記憶中總是留下生動、愉快、動人的印象。至於死亡，它已經不遠了，卻是那麽可怕而無情－－最好不去想它！油燈熄滅了。黑暗也好，月光照亮的兩扇小窗也好，寂靜也好，搖籃的吱嘎聲也好，不知什麽緣故這一切使老人們想起他們的生活已經過去，青春再也回不來了……他們剛要朦朧入睡，忽地有人碰碰你的肩膀，一口氣吹到臉上，立即就睡意全消了，覺得身子發麻，種種死的念頭直往腦子裏鑽。翻一個身再睡－－死的事倒忘了，可是滿腦子都是貧窮、飼料、面粉漲價等等早就讓人發愁、煩心的事。過了一會兒，不由得又會想起：生活已經過去了，再也回不來了……
“唉，主啊！”廚子嘆了一口氣。
有人輕輕地敲了幾下小窗子。多半是菲奧剋拉回來了。奧莉加打着哈欠，小聲念着禱詞，起身去開房門，又到門道裏拉開了門閂。可是沒有人進來，衹是從外面啓進一陣冷風，月光一下子照亮了門道。從門裏望出去，可以看到寂靜而荒涼的街道和天上浮遊的月亮。
“是誰呢？”奧莉加大聲問。
“我，”有人回答，“是我。”
大門旁貼着墻跟站着菲奧剋拉，全身一絲不挂。她凍得渾身發抖、牙齒打顫，在明亮的月色裏顯得很白，很美，很怪。她身上的暗處和皮膚上的月輝，不知怎麽十分顯眼，她那烏黑的眉毛和一對年輕、結實的乳房顯得特別清楚。
“河對岸的那幫傢夥胡闹，剝光了我的衣服纔放我回來……”她說，“我衹好光着身子回傢，像出娘胎時那樣。快給我拿點穿的來。”
“你倒是進屋呀！”奧莉加小聲說，她也冷得哆嗦起來。
“千萬別讓老東西們看見。”
實際上，老奶奶已經操心地嘟噥起來，老頭子問：“誰在那邊？”奧莉加把自己的上衣和裙子拿出去，幫菲奧剋拉穿上，隨後兩人極力不出聲地關上門，輕手輕腳地走進木屋。
“是你吧，討厭鬼？”老奶奶猜出是誰，生氣地嘟噥道，“嘿，叫你這夜貓子……不得好死！”
“不要緊，不要緊，”奧莉加悄悄地說，給菲奧剋拉披上衣服，“不要緊的，親人兒。”
屋裏又靜下來。這傢人嚮來睡不踏實：那種糾纏不休、擺脫不掉的苦惱妨礙他們每個人安睡：者頭子背痛，老奶奶滿心焦慮和氣惱，瑪麗亞擔驚受怕，孩子們疥瘡發癢、肚子老餓。此刻他們在睡夢中也是不安的：他們不斷地翻身，說夢話，爬起來喝水。
菲奧剋拉突然哇的一聲哭起來，但立即又忍住，不時抽抽搭搭，聲音越來越輕，最後不響了。河對岸有時傳來報時的鐘聲，可是敲得很怪：先是五下，後來是三下。
“唉，主啊！”廚子連連嘆息。
望着窗子，很難弄清楚，這是月色呢，或者已經天亮了。瑪麗亞起身後走出屋子，可以聽見她在院子裏擠牛奶，不時說：“站好！”後來老奶奶也出去了。屋子裏還很暗，但所有的東西都已顯露出來。
尼古拉一夜沒睡着，從爐臺上爬下來。他從一隻緑色的小箱子裏拿出自己的燕尾服，穿到身上，走到窗前，不住地用手掌抿平衣袖，又抻抻後襟。他笑了。後來他小心地脫下燕尾服，收進箱子裏，又去躺下了。
瑪麗亞回到屋裏，開始生爐子。她顯然還沒有完全睡醒，現在一邊走，一邊慢慢地清醒過來。她大概夢見了什麽，或者又想起了昨晚的故事，因此她在爐子跟前舒舒服服地伸了個懶腰，說：
“不，還是自由好啊！”
七
老爺坐車來了－－村裏人都這樣稱呼區警察局局長。他什麽時候來，為什麽來，一周以前大傢就知道了。茹科沃村衹有四十戶人傢，可是他們欠下官府和地方自治局的稅款已纍计兩千有餘。
區警察局局長先在小酒館裏歇腳，他“賞光”喝了兩杯清茶，然後步行到村長傢裏，房子外面一群拖欠稅款的農民已在恭候。村長安季普·謝傑利尼科夫儘管很年輕－－他衹有三十歲出頭－－卻很嚴厲，總是幫上級說話，其實他自己也很窮，也不能按時交納稅款。顯然他很樂意當村長，喜歡意識到自己擁有權力，這權力就是嚴厲，此外他不知道還有什麽能表現出這份權力。村民大會上，大傢都怕他，由他說了算。有時，在街上或者酒館附近，他會突然衝着某個醉漢大聲呵叱，反綁了他的手，把他關進拘留室。有一次他甚至把老奶奶也關了一天一夜，原因是她代替奧西普來開村會，還在會上駡街。他沒有在城市裏住過，也從來沒有念過書，但他不知從哪兒弄來了許多深奧的字眼兒，喜歡在言談中用一用，為此他備受村民敬重，儘管別人聽不懂是什麽意思。
奧西普帶着他的納稅簿走進村長傢的小木屋。區警察局局長，一個瘦老頭子，灰白的連鬢鬍子蓄得很長，穿一身灰製服，正坐在上座①的桌子旁寫些什麽。屋子裏幹幹淨淨，四面墻上貼滿了從雜志上撕下來的花花緑緑的畫片。在聖像旁邊最顯眼的地方，挂着從前的保加利亞大公巴滕貝剋②的肖像。村長安季普·謝傑利尼科夫兩手交叉抱在胸前，站在桌旁。
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①俄羅斯農捨內，上面放聖像的地方。
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②巴滕貝剋（一八五七－－一八九三），德國親王，一八七九年任保加利亞大公，親德奧勢力，一八八六年在親俄派軍官的壓力下，被迫退位。
“大人，他欠一百十九盧布，”輪到奧西普時，他說，“復活節前他交了一個盧布，打從那天起再沒交過一個小錢。”
區警察局局長擡眼望着奧西普，問道：
“這是為什麽，老鄉？”
“請您開恩，大人，”奧西普激動地說，“容我說幾句，頭年柳托列茨村的老爺對我說：‘奧西普，把你的幹草賣了吧……賣給我。’怎麽不行呢？我有一百普特幹草要賣出去，都是幾個婆娘在草場上割的。行，我們談妥了價錢……本來挺好，兩廂情願……”
他抱怨起村長來，不時轉身瞧瞧農民們，似乎要請他們來作證似的。他滿臉通紅，額頭冒汗，眼神變得尖利而兇狠。
“我不明白你說這些幹嗎？”區警察分局局長說，“我問你……我衹問你為什麽不交納欠款？你們大傢都不交，難道要我來替你們承擔責任嗎？”
“我拿不出來嘛！”
“這些話毫無道理，大人，”村長說，“不錯，奇基利傑耶夫一傢屬於不富足階層，不過請您問問其餘的人，全部過錯在伏特加，一幫鬍作非為的人。他們一竅不通。”
區警察局局長記下什麽，然後心平氣和地對奧西普說，那語氣就像討杯水喝似的：
“你去吧。”
區警察局局長很快就走了。他坐進一輛廉價的四輪馬車，不住地咳嗽，望着他那又長又瘦的背影可以看出，此刻他已經忘了奧西普，忘了村長，忘了茹科沃村的欠款，他在想着自己的心事了。他還沒有走出一俄裏，安季普·謝傑利尼科夫已經奪走了奇基利傑耶夫傢的茶炊，老奶奶在後面追，使足勁尖聲喊叫：
“不準拿走！我不準你拿走，你這個魔鬼！”
村長邁開大步，走得很快；老奶奶駝着背，憤怒若狂、氣喘籲籲、跌跌撞撞地在後面追他，她的頭巾掉到肩上，一頭白發泛出淡淡的緑色，在風中飄揚。她突然站住，像一個真正的暴動者，雙拳不住地捶胸，拖長聲調，叫駡得更響，嚎啕哭訴起來：
“正教徒們，信仰印上帝的人啊！老天爺哪，他們欺負人！鄉親們哪，他們壓迫人！哎呀，哎呀，好人們哪，替我伸冤雪恨啊！”
“老奶奶，老奶奶，”村長厲聲說，“不得無理取鬧！”
沒有了茶炊，奇基利傑耶夫的傢裏變得異常沉悶。茶炊被人奪走，這是有損尊嚴、有失體面的事，就像這傢人的名譽忽然掃地一樣。要是村長拿走桌子和凳子，拿走所有的瓶瓶罐罐倒也好些，那樣的話，屋子裏會顯得空一些。老奶奶呼天喊地，瑪麗亞傷心落淚，所有的小姑娘望着她們也都哇哇哭起來。老頭子感到心中有愧，垂頭喪氣地坐在屋角裏一聲不吭。尼古拉無話可說。老奶奶一嚮疼他，可憐他，可是這會兒忘了體恤，忽然衝着他不停地叫駡，責難，對着他的臉不住地搖拳頭。她大聲斥責，說全是他的過錯，還在信裏吹牛，說什麽在“斯拉夫商場”每月領五十盧布，可實際上給傢裏寄的錢卻很少很少，這是為什麽？他幹嗎回傢來，還帶着傢眷？他要是死了，哪兒弄錢來葬他？……尼古拉、奧莉加和薩莎的模樣兒看上去真可憐。
老頭子咳了一聲，拿起帽子，找村長去了。天色已黑。安季普·謝傑利尼科夫鼓着腮幫子在爐子旁焊什麽東西。滿屋子煤氣味。他的孩子們都很瘦，沒有梳洗，在地板上爬來爬去，不比奇基利傑耶夫傢的強多少。她的妻子長相難看，臉上有雀斑，挺着大肚子在繞絲。這是一個不幸的赤貧的家庭。衹有安季普一人看上去既年輕又漂亮。在長凳上放着一溜五把茶炊。老頭子對着巴滕貝剋念着禱詞①，說：
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①保加利亞大公巴滕貝剋的像挂在聖像旁邊，奧西普忙中出錯了。
“安季普，求你發發慈悲，把茶炊還給我！看在基督面上！”
“拿三個盧布來，你就取走。”
“我拿不出來嘛！”
安季普不時鼓起腮幫子，火就呼呼地響，僻啪地叫，火光映紅了那些茶炊。老頭子揉着帽子，想了一陣，又說：
“還給我吧！”
皮膚曬黑的村長此刻全身烏黑，活像個巫師。他轉身對着奧西普，說得又快又嚴厲：
“這得由地方長官說了算。本月二十六日，你可以到行政會議上口頭或者書面申訴你不滿的理由。”
奧西普一點也聽不懂他的意思，衹好到此為止，回傢去了。
十多天後，區警察局局長又來了，坐了個把鐘頭，後來又坐車走了。那些天，風大而寒冷，河面早已結冰，雪倒沒有下，可是道路難走，令大傢苦惱。有一天，一個節日的傍晚，鄰居們到奧西普傢閑坐，聊天。他們在黑屋子裏說着話，因為節日裏不該幹活，所以沒有點燈。新聞倒有幾件，不過都叫人不痛快。比如有兩三戶人傢的公雞被抓去抵債，送到鄉公所，在那裏死掉了，因為誰也不去喂它們。又比如，有幾傢的綿羊給拉走了，他們把羊捆起來，裝在大車上運走，每到一個村子就換一輛大車，結果一頭羊悶死了。現在有一個問題需要解答：誰的過鍺？該怪誰？
“該怪地方自治局！”奧西普說，“不怪它怪誰！”
“沒說的，該怪地方自治局。”
他們把欠款、受欺壓、糧食歉收等等所有的事都怪罪於地方自治局，雖說他們中誰也不知地方自治局是怎麽回事。這種情況由來己久。當初一些富裕的農民自己開了工廠、小鋪和客店，當上了地方自治會議員，卻始終心懷不滿，後來便在自己的工廠和鋪子裏大駡地方自治局。
他們又談到了者天爺不下雪：本該去運木柴了，可是眼下路面坑坑窪窪，車不能行，人不能走。過去吧，十五年、二十年以前，茹科沃村裏人的談話要有趣得多。那時候，每個老頭子臉上都是這樣一副神氣，仿佛他心裏藏着什麽秘密，知道什麽，盼着什麽。他們談論蓋着金印的公文，土地的劃分，新的土地和埋藏的財寶；他們的話裏都暗示着什麽；現在的茹科沃人誰都沒有秘密，他們的全部生活像擺在掌心裏一樣，人人都看得見，他們能談的不外乎貧窮和飼料，再就是老天爺怎麽不下雪……
他們沉默片刻。後來又想起了公雞和綿羊的事，又開始議論是誰的過錯。
“地方自治局！”奧西普沮喪地說，“不怪它怪誰！”
八
教區的教堂在六俄裏外的科索戈羅沃村。農民們衹在需要時，如給嬰兒施洗禮、舉行婚禮、舉行葬儀時纔去那裏。平時做祈禱到過河的教堂就行了。到了節日，遇上好天氣，姑娘們打扮一番，成群結隊去做彌撒。她們穿着紅的、黃的、緑的連衣裙，穿過草場，叫人看了心裏就高興。不過遇上壞天氣，她們衹好待在傢裏。持齋的日子裏，他們去教區的教堂作懺悔、領聖餐。在復活節後的一周內，神父舉着十字架走遍所有的農捨，嚮大齋日沒有去教堂作懺悔的教徒每人收取十五戈比。
老頭子不信上帝，因此他幾乎從來不想他。他承認有神奇的事，但他認為這種事衹跟女人有關。有人在他面前談起宗教或者奇跡這類事，嚮他提個什麽問題，他總是搔搔頭皮，不樂意地回答：
“誰知道這個呀！”
老奶奶信上帝，不過有點糊塗。她的腦子裏所有的事都混在一起，她剛想起罪孽、死亡、靈魂得救，忽地貧窮啦，種種操心的事啦，又都插進來，她立即忘了剛纔在想什麽。禱告詞她記不住，通常在晚上睡覺前，她站在聖像面前小聲念道：
“喀山聖母娘娘，斯摩棱斯剋聖母娘娘，三臂聖母娘娘……”
瑪麗亞和菲奧剋拉經常在身上畫十字，每年都持齋，可是什麽也不懂。孩子們沒有學過禱告，大人們也不對他們講上帝，傳授什麽教規，衹是禁止他們在齋期吃葷。其餘的家庭幾乎一樣：相信的人少，懂教規的人更少。同時大傢又都喜歡《聖經》，溫存地、虔敬地喜歡它，可是他們沒有書，沒人念《聖經》，講《聖經》。奧莉加有時念《福音書》，為此大傢都敬重她，對她和薩莎都恭敬地稱呼“您”。
奧莉加經常去鄰村和縣城參加教堂命名節活動和感恩祈禱，在縣城裏有兩個修道院和二十六座教堂。她去朝聖的路上總是神不守捨，完全忘了傢人，直到回村來，纔突然驚喜地發現自己有丈夫，有女兒，於是喜氣洋洋地笑着說：
“上帝賜福給我了！”
村子裏發生的事使她厭惡、痛苦。農民們在伊利亞節①喝酒，在聖母升天節喝酒，在十字架節又喝酒。聖母庇護節②是教區的節日，茹科沃村的農民為此一連喝三天酒。他們不但喝光了五十盧布的公款，過後還挨傢挨戶收取酒錢。頭一天，奇基利傑耶夫傢就宰了一頭公羊，早中晚一連吃了三頓羊肉。他們吃得很多，到了夜裏孩子們爬起來再吃一點。這三天裏基裏亞剋喝得酪叮大醉，他喝光了所有的傢當，把帽子和靴子也換酒喝了。他死命毆打瑪麗亞，打得她暈過去，傢裏人衹好往她頭上潑水。事後大傢都感到羞愧、厭惡。
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①東正教節日，在俄舊歷七月二日。
②在俄舊歷十月一日。
不過，即使在茹科沃這樣的“奴才村”，一年一度也有一次真正的宗教盛典。那是在八月份，在全縣，從一個村子到一個村子，人們迎送着賦予生命的聖母像。到了茹科沃村盼望的這一天，正好無風，天色陰沉。一大清早，姑娘們就穿上鮮豔漂亮的衣裙去迎聖像，到了傍晚時人們纔擡着聖像，舉着十字架和神幡、唱着聖詩，進了村子，這時河對面的教堂裏鐘聲齊鳴。一群群本村人和外村人擠滿了大街，吵吵嚷嚷，塵土飛揚，擠得水泄不通……老頭子也好，老奶奶也好，基裏亞剋也好，大傢都嚮聖像伸出手去，渴望地瞧着它，哭着說：
“保護神啊，聖母娘娘！保護神啊！”
大傢好像突然明白了，天地之間並不虛空，有錢有勢的人還沒有奪走一切，儘管他們遭受着欺凌和奴役，遭受着難以忍受的貧窮，遭受着可怕的伏特加的禍害，卻有神靈在保佑着他們。
“保護神啊，聖母娘娘！”瑪麗亞嚎吻大哭，“聖母娘娘啊！”
可是感恩析禱做完，聖像又擡走了。一切都恢復原樣，酒館裏又不時傳出醉漢粗魯的喊聲。
衹有富裕農民纔怕死，他們越有錢，就越不信上帝，不信靈魂得救的話。他們衹是出於對死亡的恐懼，纔點起蠟燭，做做禱告，以防萬一。窮苦的農民不怕死。人們當着老頭子和老奶奶的面說他們活得太久，早該死了，他們聽了也沒什麽。他們也當着尼古拉的面毫無顧忌地對菲奧剋拉說，等尼古拉死了，她的丈夫丹尼斯就可以得到照顧－－退役回傢了。至於瑪麗亞，她不但不怕死，甚至還巴不得早點死纔好。她的幾個孩子死了，她反倒高興呢。
他們不怕死，可是對各種各樣的病卻估計得過於可怕。本來是一些小毛病，如腸胃失調啦，着了點涼啦，老奶奶立即躺到爐臺上，捂得嚴嚴實實，開始大聲地不停地呻吟：“我要一死一啦！”老頭子趕緊去請神父，老奶奶就領聖餐，接受臨終前的塗聖油儀式。他們經常談到感冒，蛔蟲和硬結，說蛔蟲在肚子裏鬧騰，結成團能堵到心口。他們最怕感冒，所以哪怕夏天也穿得很厚，在爐臺上取暖。老奶奶喜歡看病，經常坐車跑醫院，在那裏說她五十八歲，不說七十歲。照她想，要是醫生知道她的實際年齡，就不會給她治病，衹會說：她該死了，用不着治了。她通常一清早就動身去醫院，再帶上兩三個小孫女，到了晚上才能回來，又餓又氣，給自己帶回了藥水，給小孫女帶回了藥膏。有一次她把尼古拉也帶去了，後來他一連喝了兩周的藥水，老說他感覺好些了。
老奶奶認識方圓三十俄裏內所有的醫師、醫士和巫醫，可是卻沒有一個讓她滿意。在聖母庇護節那一天，神父舉着十字架走遍所有的農捨，教堂執事對她說，城裏監獄附近住着一個小老頭子，做過軍隊上的醫士，醫道高明，勸她找他去看病。老奶奶聽了他的勸告。等下了頭一場雪，她就坐車進城，帶回一個小老頭子。這人留着大鬍子，臉上布滿了青筋，穿着長袍，是個皈依正教的猶太人。當時傢裏正請了幾個雇工做事：一個老裁縫戴一副嚇人的眼鏡用碎布頭拼成坎肩，兩個年輕小夥子用羊毛搏氈靴。基裏亞剋因為酗酒丟了差事，現在衹好住在傢裏。他坐在裁縫旁邊修理馬脖子上的套具。屋子裏又擠又悶，有一股臭味。猶太人給尼古拉做完檢查，說需要拔罐子放血。
他放上許多罐子。老裁縫、基裏亞剋和小姑娘們站在一旁看着，他們好像覺得，他們看到疾病從尼古拉身上流出來了。尼古拉自己也瞧着，那些附在胸口的罐子慢慢地充滿了濃黑的血，感到當真有什麽東西從他身子裏跑出去了，於是他高興得笑了。
“這樣行，”裁縫說，“謝天謝地，能見效就好。”
猶太人拔完十二個罐子，隨後又放上十二個。他喝足了茶，就坐車走了。尼古拉開始打顫，他的臉瘦下去，用女人們的話說，縮成拳頭那麽大小了，他的手指發青。他蓋上一條被子，再壓上一件羊皮襖，但還是覺得越來越冷。傍晚時他難受得叫起來，要他們把他放到地板上，要裁縫別抽煙，隨後靜靜地躺在羊皮襖下面，天不亮就死了。
九
唉，多麽嚴酷、多麽漫長的鼕季啊！
聖誕節過後，自傢的糧食已經吃完，衹得去買面粉。基裏亞剋現在住在傢裏，每天晚上都要大吵大鬧，弄得大傢心驚膽戰，一到早晨又因頭痛和羞愧而痛苦不堪，看他那副模樣真叫人可憐。在畜欄裏，那頭饑餓的母牛日日夜夜不停地眸陣哀叫，叫得老奶奶和瑪麗亞的心都碎了。好像是故意為難，一直是凍得樹木喀喀響的嚴寒天氣，到處是厚厚的積雪和高高的雪堆，鼕天拖得很長。到了報喜節①，還颳了一場真正的鼕天的暴風雪，在復活節還下了一場雪。
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①東正教節日，在俄舊歷三月二十五日，據說天使於此日告知聖母：耶穌將誕生。
但是不管怎麽樣，鼕天總算過去了。四月初，白天變得暖和起來，夜裏依然寒冷。鼕天不肯退讓，但暖和的春日終於戰而勝之，最後，冰雪消融，河水奔流，百鳥齊鳴。河邊的整個草場和灌木叢淹沒在泛濫的春水中，從茹科沃村直到河對岸成了一片澤國，水面上不時有一群群野鴨振翅飛起飛落。春天的落日如火如茶，映紅了滿天的彩霞，每天晚上都變出一幅不同往常的新的圖景，那樣美妙絶倫，日後當你在畫面上看到同樣的色彩、同樣的雲朵時，簡直就難以置信。
仙鶴飛得很快很快，發出聲聲哀鳴，似乎在召喚同伴。奧莉加站在斜坡的邊上，久久地望着這片泛濫的春水，望着太陽，望着那明亮的、仿佛變年輕了的教堂，她不禁流下了眼淚，激動得喘不過氣來。她急切地想離開這裏，隨便去什麽地方，哪怕天涯海角。傢裏已經决定，讓她還回到莫斯科去當女僕，讓基裏亞剋跟她同行，去那裏找個看門人或者其他的差事。好啊，快點走吧！
等路變千一些，天氣暖和了，她們就動身上路。奧莉加和薩莎每人背着行翼，穿着樹皮鞋，天不亮就出發了。瑪麗亞出來送她們一程。基裏亞剋因為身體不好，還得在傢再待上一個星期。奧莉加最後一次面對着教堂畫十字、默默禱告。她想起了自己的丈夫，但沒有哭，衹是她的臉皺起來，像老太婆那樣難看了。這一鼕，她變瘦了，變醜了，頭髮有點灰白，臉上再沒有昔日那種可愛的模樣和愉快的微笑，在經受了喪夫之痛以後，衹有一種悲哀的聽天由命的神情。她的目光有點遲鈍、呆板，好像她耳背似的。她捨不得離開這個村子和這些農民。她回想起擡走尼古拉的情景，在一座座農捨旁邊都有人做安魂祈禱，大傢同情她的悲痛，陪着她哭，在夏天和鼕天，經常有一些時日，這些人過得好像比牲口還糟，同他們生活在一起是可怕的。他們粗魯，不誠實，骯髒，酗酒；他們不和睦，老是吵架，因為他們彼此不是尊重，而是互相害怕、互相猜疑。是誰開小酒館，把老鄉灌醉？農民。是誰揮霍掉村社、學校和教堂的公款，把錢換酒喝了？農民。是誰偷鄰居傢的東西，縱火，為了一瓶伏特加在法庭上作偽證？是誰在地方自治會和其他會議上頭一個出來反對農民？還是農民。確實，同他們生活在一起是可怕的，可是他們畢竟是人，他們跟常人一樣也感到痛苦，也哭泣，而且在他們的生活裏沒有哪件事是不能找到使人諒解的緣由的。沉重的勞動使他們到了夜裏就渾身酸痛，嚴寒的鼕天，糧食歉收，住房擁擠，可是沒有人幫助他們，哪兒也等不到幫助。那些比他們有錢有勢的人是不可能幫助他們的，因為他們自己就粗魯，不誠實，酗酒，駡起人來照樣難聽得很。那些小官和地主管傢對待農民如同對待流浪漢一樣，他們甚至對村長和教堂主持都用“你”相稱，自以為有權這樣做。至於那些貪財的、吝嗇的、放蕩的、懶惰的人，他們到農村裏來衹是為了欺壓、掠奪、嚇唬農民，哪裏還談得上幫助農民或者樹立良好的榜樣呢？奧莉加回想起，去年鼕天，當基裏亞剋被拉去用樹條體罰時，兩位老人的模樣是多麽可憐而屈辱啊！現在她很可憐所有這些人，為他們難過，所以她一邊走，一邊頻頻回頭再看看那些小木屋。
送出三俄裏，瑪麗亞開始告別，隨後她跪下來，不住地磕頭，大聲哭訴起來：
“又剩下我孤零零一人了，我這苦命人啊，多麽可憐、多麽不幸啊……”
她就這樣哭訴了很長時間，奧莉加和薩莎每一回頭總能看到她跪在地上，雙手抱住頭，嚮着旁邊的什麽人不住地磕頭。在她上空有幾衹白嘴鴉在盤旋。
太陽高高地升起，天氣熱起來。茹科沃村遠遠地落在後頭了。走路讓人舒暢，奧莉加和薩莎很快就忘了村子，忘了瑪麗亞。她們高興起來，四周的一切都引起她們的興趣。有時出現一個土崗；有時出現一排電綫桿，一根接一根不知伸嚮何方，最後消失在地平綫上，那上面的電綫發出神秘的嗡嗡聲；有時看到遠處緑樹叢中有個小村子，從那邊飄來一股潮氣和大麻的香味，不知怎麽讓人覺得，那裏住着幸福的人們；有時在野地裏孤零零地躺着一具馬的白骨。雲雀不停地婉轉啼唱，鵪鶉的叫聲此起彼伏，互相呼應，一隻秧雞斷斷續續發出急促的叫聲，仿佛真有人在拉扯舊的鐵門環一樣。
中午時分，奧莉加和薩莎來到一個大村子。在一條寬闊的街上，她們遇見一個小老頭，茹科夫將軍的廚子。他感到熱，他那汗淋淋的紅禿頂在陽光下發亮。他同奧莉加都沒有立即認出對方，隨後都回過頭來對視了一會兒，認出來後一句話沒說，又各走各的路了。她們停在一座顯得更闊氣、更新的木屋前，奧莉加對着敞開的窗子深深地一鞠躬，用委婉的唱歌般的聲調響亮地說：
“正教徒啊，看在基督份上，給點施捨吧，求上帝保佑你們，保佑你們的雙親在天國安息。”
“正教徒啊，”薩莎也唱起來，“看在基督份上，給點施捨吧，求上帝保佑你們，保佑你們的雙親在天國……”
一八九七年四月
Moscow Hotel "Slavic mall", a waiter Nicholas Rudge Greig Jie Yefu ill. His lower extremity numbness, difficulty walking, the results of one day, he stumbled in the hallway, together with the tray of ham and peas with the fall of the burning. He had to resign. He went to seek medical attention, and his wife spent their savings, have to support themselves, say it is boring without something to do, so he better make up their minds to go back to his home country. Recuperate at home not only convenient, cost of living will be much more provincial. No wonder the saying goes: "a thousand days at home, good, go out temporary difficulties" it.
"Our family cat can not hear," the girl said, "It's deaf."
Nicholas and Olga look on how to understand life here, but no one say to each other. They quietly put down the package, and quietly walk along the street. Their house is the third entrance to the village, seems to be the poorest, most dilapidated of the. The second is not much, but at the end there is a tin roof, hanging curtains on the windows. This is the solitary house without walls, it is a small restaurant. All the cottages in a row, the small quiet village of Enron, each yard of the willow, elderberry and Huajiao Shu are stuck to the wall, landscape is truly beautiful.
Is this time, church bells rang out, calling people to do all night prayer (this is the eve of Sunday). Slope under the two little girls are carrying a bucket of water, they looked back to the church, Listen to the bell.
At this time, Nicholas's father and mother came home, two old body is generally high, the same weight loss, hunched back, lost teeth. The two women, Maria, and daughter Carly carats, the other side of the landlords in the home during the day workers, this time also came home. Maria is 哥哥基里亚克 wife, six children. Carly carats is the younger brother Johnny's wife, have two children, Johnny is now outside the army. Nicholas into the wooden houses, we see a child who, all these large and small body in the high Banchuang ①, in the cradle, in the corner all the fruit peristalsis, the elderly and women to see how the black bread soaked in water, eat hungrily, this moment he thought that he, a sick person, no money, also dragged the family to return home to be wrong, wrong!
"基里亚克哥哥 Where?" After greeting everyone he asked.
Burned to the customer because of a samovar talent. There was a smell of fish in tea. Gray the rest of the candy is bitten; bread, dishes, there are a lot of cockroaches crawling around. This is not going to drink tea Jiaoren, have we not happy talk - talk talk to, not the poor is a disease. But we have not drank a cup of tea, suddenly came from the yard a loud, prolonged, and drunken shouting.
We remained silent a. Soon, the cry has sounded gruff, very long delay, as issued from the underground to the:
"What are you crying, bastard?" Carly carat her wrist, she is a beautiful woman, the body is sturdy, wide shoulders, "Do not worry, he will not kill you!"
"For Christ's sake, help me, pro-people," Maria said with effort, she was breathing heavily, like being thrown into the ice water, like "help me, which pro-people ..."
Old woman sat quietly, hunched over a hunched back, thinking mind. Carly carat rocking cradle ... ... apparently Jiliyake feel that you can scare people, very proud, they grabbed Maria's hand, dragged her to the door, in order to become more fierce as wild beasts roar up. But this moment suddenly see the presence of guests, it stopped.
"Brother with family back home ... ... so to speak, come from Moscow. Needless to say, Moscow is the capital of ancient times as a city, the mother city of a million ... ... I'm sorry ..."
"Oh, well, family children," she lay down on the hay next to Maria and said, "not painful than tears! Forbearance and tolerance even a Saint book says: 'someone hit you on the right cheek, and even left face also turn to him to play. '① Oh, well, family child! "
Then she whispers to talk in Moscow lengthened sound, talk in their own lives, about how she furnished the apartment when the maid.
"To him!"
Author: Chekhov
"Father down nothing," Maria speak up, "a grandmother can be powerful, the old quarrel with someone. Home-grown food enough to eat the meat section Xie ①, had bought the flour in the Shop, so she would get angry, old, said: You eat too much. "
"Oh, well, family children, forbearance and tolerance even if the Saint is written: 'The people who are weary and burdened, you can come to me.' ②"
Olga spoke stable, lengthened sound Man tune, walking like a pilgrimage, as a woman, fast and urgent. Every day she read "Gospel" as loud as the church who recited prayers, though many places do not understand, but the sacred language she always moved to tears, when she read "if" and "until" this class of words, her heart seems to have stopped beating. Her belief in God, faith Lady, serve God's people of all beliefs. She believes that people can not bully; ordinary matter whether Germans worth mentioning, Gypsies worth mentioning, worth mentioning Jews, the world must not bully anyone. She believed that all animals who do not pity distress sooner or later. She believes these are written in the holy book. So when she read the "Bible", even though not read, her face always showing compassion, touched, and the expression of joy.
They came to the water. There is a woman standing across the river waters, is to undress.
"She do mischief - really incredible!" Mary said again.
Read the Gospel, the crowd suddenly move up, to make way for the landlord family. Came in two wearing white dress, wearing broad-brimmed hat of the girl, followed behind a red fat boy wearing a sailor suit. They increase as the arrival of Olivia moved her glance, they are upper-class educated, noble people. Maria was frowned, sullen, depressed looking at them, if not the people come in, but the devil, if she give way, they will be trampled to death like.
Three
"Ivan MACK Anchorage is my benefactor, I have to ask God to bless him day and night, because thanks to him, I became a decent person."
"My God," a tall old woman, the sister of Ivan Maca tears of Anchorage, said, "his old, my family, now that news is no."
"Last winter, his poor belongings in Aomeng classic, this season I heard he went to work outside of the garden ... he old friends! Past it, often a summer day can take home a dozen rubles, but now business is light everywhere, which he suffered under the old men. "
Old woman and a woman who looked at him to wear shoes in the foot felt, looked at his pale face, sad to say:
"You do not earn people, and Nicolas Rao Xipei odd, is not a money person! Where to line it!"
We all like Sasha. She has been full of old, but looked thin, looked at most only seven years old. One other girl black tan face, hair casually cut, wearing a faded gown. She does, face white, his eyes large and black, hair red ribbon still tied, they are caught in the middle is a little funny, if it were just a little back to catch the wild animal.
"She will be studying it!" Olga looked at her gently, praise Road. "You recite, boy!" She said, and pulled out from the package a "gospel", "Do you recite, read it to those who are followers hear."
"Gospel" is very old, very heavy, sheepskin cover, the book has touched dirty side. There are stocks like the smell of books, like monks came into the room. Sasha raised his eyebrows and began loudly, like a choir-like read it:
"'Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph a dream, saying, Arise, take the young child with his mother ... ...'"
"With a child with his mother," Olga repeated, her face flushed with excitement.
"'Fled to Egypt, lived there, so I told you ... ... ①'"
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① See "Bible Mada Fu tone" Chapter XIII.
Hear the "other" words, Olga could not help, crying uncontrollably. Maria looked she sobbed sobbing, and then is followed by Ivan's sister Maca Anchorage tears. Old man unable to cough, to roll and looking for pieces of small gift for his granddaughter, but nothing was found, had waved forget. The book finished, the neighbors scattered to go home, one was deeply moved, to Olga and Sasha satisfied.
Because this day is a holiday, stay at home all day long the whole family. Old woman, regardless of her husband, daughter, or grandchildren have called her grandmother, put everything to be hands-on, personal health stove, burning samovar in person, even in the afternoon to go and milk the cows, then do not complain about the residence, said she was dry quickly exhausted. She always worried about people eating more at home, fearing the old man and daughter who do not idle work. She heard from time to time, a group of geese Shop home boss like drilling her from behind home vegetable garden, so she picked up a long pole, and quickly ran out of the house, the guarding skinny like her, too tired of cabbage, not Xieqi to a half an hour on Lianhan. Sometimes she seems to me like a crow came for her chicks, while she scolded, while rushed towards the crow. She was angry from morning to night, Hey 00, carrying voice shouting at every turn, which makes the street could not help but stop.
She is very kind to her old man, was not called him Lazy Bones, he is called a nuisance. He is not serious, and unreliable farmer, if it is always urging her to catch him, I am afraid he is not really what the living do, all day sitting on the hob gossip. His endless talk of his son, better enemies, neighbors complained that he was bullied by every day, listening to him is really boring.
① Orthodox festival, in the Russian lunar calendar September 14.
Because this day is a holiday, they bought the pub from a herring, boil a pot of fish head soup. Before noon we drink tea, drink a lot of time sweating head straight drink, tea seems to stretch the stomach. After that began to drink soup, we would drink a jar. As for the fish body, grandmother was hiding.
She was surprised that those who curse words can be continuous, but the most vicious yelled, his voice is definitely the biggest old man who is about people. But listening to children and Guniang Jia was ignoring, apparently they heard in the cradle used to.
"Mary - Mary - Asia!" Jiliyake shouted.
"I - I love - wild flowers!" The old man suddenly shrill tenor singing, "I - I love - to the wild - pick the flowers!"
Grandmother to stay in the vegetable garden Sasha, guarding the cabbage, do not let harm come geese. Have a hot August day. The goose pub landlord family often got into the garden from the back, but now they are doing serious things: pecking around in the pub oats, amicably chatting with, only one raised his head high in the gander, it seems to look the old woman is not holding a pole came up. Other geese may also come from the lower slope, but the group of feeding geese across the river at the moment, out in the green pastures on a long white line. Sasha stood for a moment, I feel very boring to see geese do not come, went to the edge of a steep slope.
"Clock - Building - also - fly?" Mo whispered Yiziyidun season card.
"You looked at the sky, do not blink, you can see angels."
"Invisible," Mo whispered season card.
"Granny must have been burning it?"
"More fun ah!" Sasha said happily.
She saw two little girls, they dropped the pole, picked up a dry branch, out of skinny, stiff, like a hook-like fingers around Sasha's neck, began to beat her. Sasha pains and scared, crying now, this moment would only gander craned his neck, an old woman rocking pendulum to come to him, and rattle roar for a while, when it turned to rejoin, all goose appreciation Welcome to it: a Ga Ga Ga one! Then beat Mo grandmother waving tree season card trick, this next season card tunic and gave Mo lift up. Sasha was heartbroken, crying back to the house, would like to tell wronged. Mo quarter cards behind her, and burst into tears, but she's crying deep, and not tears, her tearful face, like she had just her face into the water like a bubble.
"Never mind, it does not matter!" Olga pale, distraught, while stroking Sasha's head, side to comfort her, "she is your grandmother, grandmother raw gas is sin. It does not matter, boy."
"Come on you lying on the hob so go die, your ghost this disease!" Carly carat yell at him fiercely, "real hell, eat the bread of idleness who told you back now?"
"Ao Liya ①, my dear, I'm not stay here no longer, I exhausted. For God's sake, to see Christ in God sake, you give your sister Clough quarter Yaebola Karimov Na write a letter and let her put all her things are sold, when, and sent her the money, that we leave here. ah, God, "he continued bitterly," even if I look at a Moscow is also good! even if I could dream of Moscow is good too, dear! "
Dusk approaching, more and more dark cabin, we worry valve speechless. Angry old lady to love the hard shell breaking off pieces of rye bread in the bowl after the bubble, and then into his mouth slowly chewing, eating almost an hour. Maria finished squeezing the milk, carrying buckets of milk came in, put it on the bench. Grandmother then poured into a bucket of milk in the jar only, deliberately done for a long time. Obviously she was very pleased, because now is the Feast of the Assumption ② fasting period, no Hing drink milk, the milk you have left. She is only down to a small dish, a little, leaving Carly carat baby to drink. Later, she and Maria into a jar just to go to the cellar. Mo quarter card suddenly jumped up, climb down from the stove, went to the bench in front, picked up the dishes, crusty bread to soak bird's throwing a little wooden bowl of milk.
Grandmother returned to the house, they reach for their own bowls to eat them. Sasha and Mo quarter card sitting hob looking grandmother, felt very happy: This time she Kaihun, and only later into hell. They get comfort, you lie down to sleep. Sasha is about to fall asleep, you can still imagine the Last Judgement: a pottery kiln, as big as the stove where the fire raging, there is a head with horns like cattle, covered with black devil, holding a long pole to grandmother to catch fire, just in time as her own goose.
"Fire! Fire!" Here came the hoarse cries of, "the village on fire!"
① a Russian husband is equal to two thousand one hundred twenty-three meters.
Maria anxious in front of the house himself round and round. She was crying, rubbing his hands, scared teeth chattered, though the fire still a long way, the other side of the village. Nicholas wearing Valenki out house, the kids have come out wearing a close tunic. Patrol cabin in the countryside near someone beat the iron. Dangdang's voice resounded through the night sky. This rapid iron endless sound confused in his heart aches, chills. Some grandmothers were all standing holding icons. All the sheep, calves and cows are people from the yard to the street boom, many cages, cooked sheep and barrel are moved out. A coat color black stallion, usually hold it into the horses, because it kicked another old horse, this moment has put out. It is a hoarseness Ming, horseshoe was too, in the village a Lianpao two back, and suddenly stopped near the vehicle in a large, hard kick with hind legs that car.
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Binge drinking in the pub just the farmers who carried the fire to the machine. They are drunk, stumbling from time to time, stumbled, eyes with tears, a helpless expression.
"Good for you, Ann quarter general!" Some people praised, "Come on ah!"
Many farmers stood, not doing anything, looked at the fire in a daze. Who do not know what to do, it will not do, and all around the grain pile, hay, plate shelf and pyre. Jiliyake and the old man Aoxi Pu also stood inside, both with a drunk. Like to justify their stand, the old man said to the woman lying on the ground:
"Is that the little old man to take the burden, General Zhukov family servant ... he used to cook the family silver in general, like the general's soul in heaven in the evening to my house said:" I stay here Zhuyi Ye ... 'Well, Needless to say, so the two of us to drink a small cup of ... ... busy students samovar old woman, old man would like to drink tea, but the bad luck together, she samovar into the porch, the chimney has been thrust into the roof of Mars, point of the hay, which, under an accident and we almost did not to burn. the old man's hat burned, sin ah. "
"They are not allowed to dismantle the house," the crowd came the harsh cry, "No!"
"George!" Two girls to blame, anxiety shouted to him, "George!"
"You do come from Moscow?" A lady asked.
"Thank God, sir, thanks to no wind," he told students that "takes only an hour or else it will burn to the cleaners. Lord, your heart is good," he Yadisangyin, embarrassed added: "Early in the morning is good Cold? ... You really want to warm up good enough to reward a few corners RBI drink. "
"They Budehaosi!" Sleep drowsily Carly carat fiercely.
"I'd like to look at what you eat here, the nobility of Moscow!" She often gloat that "I'd like to take a look!"
She picked up a pole, a hit in Olga's shoulder, surprised to have two wives clap exclaimed:
Day later, followed by the long autumn nights. Cabin in the winding wire. Everyone to get, in addition to Ophelia carat: she went across the river to go. This wire is from the neighborhood to a nearby factory, the family relied on to earn some money - one week twenty kopecks.
Only point of a small house lights dim light, the wick smoking. If a small light was blocked, there is a vast shadows fall on the window, then you can see the bright moonlight. Ao Xipu old man calmly about the liberation of serfs before ① people how to live. He said, in this area where the days are over now too bored, too poor, I remember when lords often with dogs, Ling * (right-left is anti-dog) ② professional hunters and hunting, hunting time, farmers all drink of vodka. Vehicle after the vehicle was killed wild birds on to a small club in Moscow there. He also said that evil serf be punished, to endure the tree of the whip, but also banished to the territory taken in Tver hereditary serfs; kind of serfs rewarded. Grandmother also say a few memories. She did remember. She talked about his hostess, said she good-natured, adherence to religious rules, but the husband is a drinker and dandy. Said that she had three daughters, and God knows what kind of people are married: one married to an alcoholic, another married man in the street, and the third ran away (grandmother was very young, the busy lady also helped). The three of them died soon have sadness, with their mother, think of them, grandmother or even sobbing a few times.
② one kind of run particularly fast hounds.
Come a little bald old man, is that General Zhukov burned hat cook. He sat down, listening, and then began recollection of events, talk in a variety of stories. Nicholas sat hob, two legs hanging, listening, always among gentlemen of that year he eat what food. They talked about the deep-fried meat pie, steak, soup and a variety of condiments. The memory is also very good cook, he also cited some of the dishes do not have, for example, there is a dish made with cow eyes, the name of "morning wake up."
Nicholas shook his head, blame, said:
Then we lie down quietly to sleep. Elderly confused by those who long time ago distracted, excited, think of young wonderful. Youth, no matter what, always in people's memories stay vivid, happy, and moving impression. As for death, it was not far off, but it is so terrible and merciless - best not to think about it! Lamp goes out. Dark Ye Hao, Ye Hao moonlit two small window, quiet Ye Hao, Ye Hao cradle of crunching sound, I do not know what the reason all the old people think of their life is over, the young never come back ... ... They just have to hazy sleep, suddenly it was bumper to your shoulder, his face blown breath, sleep all disappeared immediately, feel numb body, the idea of all the dead brain drilled straight. Turn over to sleep - forget the dead things down, but the mind is full of poverty, feed, flour prices, and so long people worry about, worry about things. After a child, could not help but think again: life is over, never come back ... ...
"Who is it?" Olga cried.
"Nonsense those guys across the river, stripped my clothes just to let me come back ..." she said, "I had to go home naked, when it was like the birth. Quick to get me to wear to the point."
In fact, the grandmother has to worry about in throat up, old man asked: "Who's there?" Olga own shirt and skirt, went out to help Carly carat wear, and then they tried silently closed the door, light hands and feet went into the cabin light.
Room and calm down. The family has always been sleep is not practical: the kind of entanglement, escape the anguish prevent each of them sleep: those who head back pain, full of anxiety and angry grandmother, Maria fear, the children scabies, itching, stomach old hungry. They are also disturbed in his sleep at the moment: they continue to stand up, talking in your sleep, get up and drink water.
Looking at the window, it is difficult to make out what it is moonlight, or has dawn. Maria got out of the house after, you can hear her in the yard milking, from time to time, said: "stand!" Grandmother was also out. The house is still dark, but all things are revealed.
Nicholas could not sleep the night, climb down from the mantel. He a little green box out his tuxedo, wear to the body, went to the window, and kept flat with the palm of your hand sip sleeves, and stretch stretch Hou Jin. He laughed. Then he carefully took off his coat, incorporated into the box, went to lay down.
Maria returned to the house, start health stove. She apparently has not fully awake, and now walked as slowly wake up. What she dreamed about, or thought of last night's story, so she stretched comfortably in front of the stove, said:
"No, or free Well!"
Seven
To the classic car - village people are so called district police chief. When will he come, why come to a week before we know. Ruke Wo village, only forty families, but they owe the tax bureau official and local self-government has accumulated more than two thousand.
District police chief, first stopping for a rest in the tavern, he was "show up" drink two cups of tea, then walk to the village home, a group out of the house tax arrears have been waiting for the farmers. Village Chang'an quarter Puxiejieli Kafelnikov although very young - he was only early thirties - is very severe, always speak to help the higher, in fact, he is also very poor and can not pay taxes on time. Obviously he was very pleased when the mayor, like realize that they have the power, this power is tough, and he did not know what else can show the power. Village meeting, and we are afraid of him, by his final say. Sometimes, in the street or around the pub, he would suddenly loud Hechi directed at a drunk, tied his hands, put him into the detention room. Once he even grandmother are closed day and night, because she will be replaced by Ao Xipu to open the village, is still at the squalling. He did not lived in the city, has never read the book, but he did not know from where did you get a lot of esoteric words children, like the one used in conversation with, for which he highly respected villagers, although people do not understand What does it mean.
Ao Xipu tax book with his home village into the cabin. District police chief, a thin old man, gray Lianbinhuzi build very long, wearing a gray uniform, was sitting beside the table what to write ① attendance. Clean room, four walls were plastered with torn from the magazine's colorful picture card. In the icon next to the most prominent place, hanging from the former Bulgarian portrait of Grand Duke Batten Baker ②. Village Chang'an quarter Puxiejieli Kafelnikov hands crossed across their chests, standing at the table.
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① Russian farmhouse, where the icon on top.
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② Batten Baker (one thousand eight hundred fifty-seven - one thousand eight hundred ninety-three), the German Prince, 1879 Prince of any Bulgarian, pro-German and Austrian forces in 1886 to send military officers in the pro-Russian pressure, forced abdication.
"Your honor, he owes one hundred and nineteen rubles," turn Aoxi Pu, he said, "before Easter he paid a ruble, pay to play from that day on no greater than a penny."
Aoxi Pu District police chief raised his eyes, asked:
"This is why, fellow?"
"Please show mercy, sir," Ao Xipu said excitedly, "Let me say a few words, Liu Tuo Lieci first year the lords of the village said to me: 'Ao Xipu, sell your hay sold me right ... ... 'how not? I sell out of a hundred Pood hay are cut on the number of gossips in the pasture. OK, we negotiated a good price ... ... Originally, consensual ... "
"I do not get out of it!"
"Go."
Village to take significant steps, going very fast; grandmother Tuozhuo Bei, anger, Fucking, panting, stumbled after him, he dropped her scarf on his shoulders, a pale green glow white hair in the wind in flying. She suddenly stopped, like a real rioters, fists could not help crying, prolonged tone, shouting louder, wailing cry together:
Without the samovar, the home of Chiquimula Lijie Aliyev became very boring. Samovar was taken away, this is undignified, unbecoming things, like the family's reputation, like sweeping the floor suddenly. If the mayor took a table and stools, take away all the bottles and jars Dao Yehao some, in that case, some of the room will appear empty. They called grandmother, Maria cry, all they are also looking at the little girl cry wah-wah. The hearts of the old man felt ashamed, dejected in the corner sat silent. Nicholas nothing to say. Grandmother has hurt him, poor him, but forget the compassionate moment, suddenly kept shouting at him, censure, against his face could not shake a fist. She loudly denounced, that was all his fault, still bragging letter, saying that the "Slavic mall" leading fifty rubles a month, can actually give the money remitted is very little, this is why? Why he came home, but also with a family? If he died, to bury him where to get money? ... ... Nicholas, Olga and Sasha looks like child looks really poor.
① Bulgarian Grand Batten Beck hung like an icon next to Ao Xipu busy in the wrong.
"I do not get out of it!"
Tanning black body at the moment the mayor, looked like a shaman. He turned to Aoxi Pu, right quick and severe:
Days later, the district police chief again, and sat for an hour, and later by car away. Those days, wind and cold, the river had frozen, no snow down under, but the difficult road to go, and everyone worried. One day, a festive evening, the neighbors house to Ao Xipu sit and chat. They are talking in a dark room, because the festival should not work, so there is no lighting. Press down a few pieces, but are we not happy. Such as two or three families were arrested and bonded cock, to the town hall, where he died, because no one to feed them. As another example, there are a few to give away the sheep, and they tied up the sheep, mounted on the cart away, each to a village on a cart for the results of a sheep died of suffocation. There is now a question unanswered: Who had germanium? The blame?
They arrears, oppressed, poor harvests, and so all things food are blamed on local self-government Council, although I do not know who their local self-government in the Board is how it was. The origin of this situation has been a long time. Some wealthy farmers had opened their own factories, Shop and inn, when local self-government on the Council, has always been disgruntled and, subsequently, in their own factory and shop in local self-cursed Bureau.
"Local Self-Government Authority!" Ao Xipu dejectedly said, "do not blame it to blame!"
Old man does not believe in God, so he almost never wanted him. He acknowledged the wonderful things, but he thought such things only with the woman. Some people talk about religion or in front of him a miracle of such things, what kind of questions put to him, he always scratched his scalp, not willing to answer:
"Our Lady of Kazan Goddess, Smolensk Virgin Goddess, three-arm the Virgin Goddess ..."
"God bless me!"
① Orthodox festival, in the Russian lunar calendar July 2.
"Protection of God, the Virgin Goddess! To protect God!"
Prayer of Thanksgiving, but analysis done, the icon and carried away. All restored to their original, pub drunk came when the rude not cry.
They are not afraid of death, but for a variety of disease was estimated too terrible. Could have been some small problems, gastrointestinal disorders, such as friends, with the point of cool friends, grandmother immediately lay hob, cover tightly and began moaning loudly constantly: "I want one man killed it!" Rush to please the old man Father, grandmother to receive Holy Communion, St. James to accept death before the oil ceremony. They often talked about colds, worms, and induration, that naughty worms in the stomach, forming groups to block the chest. They are most afraid of cold, so even if summer is to wear very thick, warm in the oven stage. Granny likes to see a doctor, often go to the hospital by car, where she said 58, did not say 70. As she thought, if the doctors know her actual age, do not give her medical treatment, would only say: She damn, do not need a cure. She usually leave early in the morning to the hospital, and then put twenty-three little granddaughter, to be back at night, hungry, angry, and give ourselves back to the syrup, cream back to the little granddaughter. Once she has brought to Nicholas, then he drank a week-day medicine, old says he feels better now.
"This line," the tailor said, "Thank God, like bear fruit."
Oh, how harsh, how long winter ah!
① Orthodox festival, the lunar calendar in Russia March 25, said the angel told the Virgin this day: Jesus will be born.
Some one thousand other way change the weather warms up, they would leave the road. Olga and Sasha each carrying a line of wings, wearing a shoe tree, _set_ off before dawn. Maria came out to send them a ride. Jiliyake because of poor health, had to be at home again last week. Olga last faced the church sign of the cross, praying silently. She thought of her husband, but did not cry, but her face wrinkled up, as an old woman so ugly. This winter, she was thin, and ugly, a little gray hair, his face no longer looks like the old kind of cute and pleasant smile, endured the pain of bereavement in the future, only a sad look of resignation. Her eyes a bit slow, stiff, as if her ear like. She was reluctant to leave the village and the farmers. She carried away Nicholas recalled the scene, in a seat beside the farmhouse there are people who do requiem prayer, we sympathize with her grief, cried with her, in summer and winter, often have some time, these people like flies worse than animals, living together with them is terrible. They are rude, dishonest, dirty, alcohol; they do not live, always fight, not because they respect each other, but mutual fear and mutual suspicion. Who opened the tavern, the fellow drunk? Farmers. Who is wasted village, schools and churches of public funds, the money for a drink? Farmers. Neighbor who is stealing things, arson, a bottle of vodka for perjury in court? Who is on top of local self-government and other meetings held out against a peasant? Or farmers. Indeed, living together with them is terrible, but they are after all, they feel pain the same as with ordinary people, also crying, but also in their lives where things are not understanding the reason people can not find the. Heavy work to the night on their aching muscles, cold winter, crop failure, crowded housing, but no one to help them, where can not wait to help. Those rich and powerful than they are impossible to help them, because they own it rude, dishonest, alcoholism, blaming liberal and still ugly very. Officer in charge of the small and home treatment to treat farmers as homeless, they even hosted on the mayor and the church are using "you" match, thinking that the right to do so. As for those greedy, stingy, dissolute, lazy people who come to the countryside only to oppress, plunder, frighten the farmers, where farmers still talk about or help _set_ a good example of it? Olga recall, last winter, when Jiliyake pulled to a tree of corporal punishment, the two old people look how pathetic and humiliating ah! Now she is all these poor people for their sad, so she walked as he turned back again to see those cabins.
Thus she Kusu for a long time, Olga and Sasha each can always see her back knees, his hands held her head toward what the people do not live next to kowtow. There are a few of her over the rook in the circle.
"Orthodox, ah, for Christ's sake, to the point of charity it, ask God to bless you, bless your parents rest in peace in heaven."
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