the witch and other stories-第39部分

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stove；　she　said：

〃No；　freedom　is　better。〃

VII

The　master　arrived　　that　was　what　they　called　the　police
inspector。　When　he　would　come　and　what　he　was　coming　for　had　been
known　for　the　last　week。　There　were　only　forty　households　in
Zhukovo；　but　more　than　two　thousand　roubles　of　arrears　of　rates
and　taxes　had　accumulated。

The　police　inspector　stopped　at　the　tavern。　He　drank　there　two
glasses　of　tea；　and　then　went　on　foot　to　the　village　elder's　hut；
near　which　a　crowd　of　those　who　were　in　debt　stood　waiting。　The
elder；　Antip　Syedelnikov；　was；　in　spite　of　his　youth　　he　was
only　a　little　over　thirty　　strict　and　always　on　the　side　of　the
authorities；　though　he　himself　was　poor　and　did　not　pay　his　taxes
regularly。　Evidently　he　enjoyed　being　elder；　and　liked　the　sense
of　authority；　which　he　could　only　display　by　strictness。　In　the
village　council　the　peasants　were　afraid　of　him　and　obeyed　him。
It　would　sometimes　happen　that　he　would　pounce　on　a　drunken　man
in　the　street　or　near　the　tavern；　tie　his　hands　behind　him；　and
put　him　in　the　lock…up。　On　one　occasion　he　even　put　Granny　in　the
lock…up　because　she　went　to　the　village　council　instead　of　Osip；
and　began　swearing；　and　he　kept　her　there　for　a　whole　day　and
night。　He　had　never　lived　in　a　town　or　read　a　book；　but　somewhere
or　other　had　picked　up　various　learned　expressions；　and　loved　to
make　use　of　them　in　conversation；　and　he　was　respected　for　this
though　he　was　not　always　understood。

When　Osip　came　into　the　village　elder's　hut　with　his　tax　book；
the　police　inspector；　a　lean　old　man　with　a　long　grey　beard；　in　a
grey　tunic；　was　sitting　at　a　table　in　the　passage；　writing
something。　It　was　clean　in　the　hut；　all　the　walls　were　dotted
with　pictures　cut　out　of　the　illustrated　papers；　and　in　the　most
conspicuous　place　near　the　ikon　there　was　a　portrait　of　the
Battenburg　who　was　the　Prince　of　Bulgaria。　By　the　table　stood
Antip　Syedelnikov　with　his　arms　folded。

〃There　is　one　hundred　and　nineteen　roubles　standing　against　him；〃
he　said　when　it　came　to　Osip's　turn。　〃Before　Easter　he　paid　a
rouble；　and　he　has　not　paid　a　kopeck　since。〃

The　police　inspector　raised　his　eyes　to　Osip　and　asked：

〃Why　is　this；　brother？〃

〃Show　Divine　mercy；　your　honour；〃　Osip　began；　growing　agitated。
〃Allow　me　to　say　last　year　the　gentleman　at　Lutorydsky　said　to
me；　'Osip；'　he　said；　'sell　your　hay　。　。　。　you　sell　it；'　he　said。
Well；　I　had　a　hundred　poods　for　sale；　the　women　mowed　it　on　the
water…meadow。　Well；　we　struck　a　bargain　all　right；　willingly。　。　。
。〃

He　complained　of　the　elder；　and　kept　turning　round　to　the
peasants　as　though　inviting　them　to　bear　witness；　his　face
flushed　red　and　perspired；　and　his　eyes　grew　sharp　and　angry。

〃I　don't　know　why　you　are　saying　all　this；〃　said　the　police
inspector。　〃I　am　asking　you　。　。　。　I　am　asking　you　why　you　don't
pay　your　arrears。　You　don't　pay；　any　of　you；　and　am　I　to　be
responsible　for　you？〃

〃I　can't　do　it。〃

〃His　words　have　no　sequel；　your　honour；〃　said　the　elder。　〃The
Tchikildyeevs　certainly　are　of　a　defective　class；　but　if　you　will
just　ask　the　others；　the　root　of　it　all　is　vodka；　and　they　are　a
very　bad　lot。　With　no　sort　of　understanding。〃

The　police　inspector　wrote　something　down；　and　said　to　Osip
quietly；　in　an　even　tone；　as　though　he　were　asking　him　for　water：

〃Be　off。〃

Soon　he　went　away；　and　when　he　got　into　his　cheap　chaise　and
cleared　his　throat；　it　could　be　seen　from　the　very　expression　of
his　long　thin　back　that　he　was　no　longer　thinking　of　Osip　or　of
the　village　elder；　nor　of　the　Zhukovo　arrears；　but　was　thinking
of　his　own　affairs。　Before　he　had　gone　three…quarters　of　a　mile
Antip　was　already　carrying　off　the　samovar　from　the
Tchikildyeevs'　cottage；　followed　by　Granny；　screaming　shrilly　and
straining　her　throat：

〃I　won't　let
　you　have　it；　I　won't　let　you　have　it；　damn　you！〃

He　walked　rapidly　with　long　steps；　and　she　pursued　him　panting；
almost　falling　over；　a　bent；　ferocious　figure；　her　kerchief
slipped　on　to　her　shoulders；　her　grey　hair　with　greenish　lights
on　it　was　blown　about　in　the　wind。　She　suddenly　stopped　short；
and　like　a　genuine　rebel；　fell　to　beating　her　breast　with　her
fists　and　shouting　louder　than　ever　in　a　sing…song　voice；　as
though　she　were　sobbing：

〃Good　Christians　and　believers　in　God！　Neighbours；　they　have
ill…treated　me！　Kind　friends；　they　have　oppressed　me！　Oh；　oh！
dear　people；　take　my　part。〃

〃Granny；　Granny！〃　said　the　village　elder　sternly；　〃have　some
sense　in　your　head！〃

It　was　hopelessly　dreary　in　the　Tchikildyeevs'　hut　without　the
samovar；　there　was　something　humiliating　in　this　loss；　insulting；
as　though　the　honour　of　the　hut　had　been　outraged。　Better　if　the
elder　had　carried　off　the　table；　all　the　benches；　all　the　pots　
it　would　not　have　seemed　so　empty。　Granny　screamed；　Marya　cried；
and　the　little　girls；　looking　at　her；　cried；　too。　The　old　father；
feeling　guilty；　sat　in　the　corner　with　bowed　head　and　said
nothing。　And　Nikolay；　too；　was　silent。　Granny　loved　him　and　was
sorry　for　him；　but　now；　forgetting　her　pity；　she　fell　upon　him
with　abuse；　with　reproaches；　shaking　her　fist　right　in　his　face。
She　shouted　that　it　was　all　his　fault；　why　had　he　sent　them　so
little　when　he　boasted　in　his　letters　that　he　was　getting　fifty
roubles　a　month　at　the　Slavyansky　Bazaar？　Why　had　he　come；　and
with　his　family；　too？　If　he　died；　where　was　the　money　to　come
from　for　his　funeral　。　。　。　？　And　it　was　pitiful　to　look　at
Nikolay；　Olga；　and　Sasha。

The　old　father　cleared　his　throat；　took　his　cap；　and　went　off　to
the　village　elder。　Antip　was　soldering　something　by　the　stove；
puffing　out　his　cheeks；　there　was　a　smell　of　burning。　His
children；　emaciated　and　unwashed；　no　better　than　the
Tchikildyeevs；　were　scrambling　about　the　floor；　his　wife；　an
ugly；　freckled　woman　with　a　prominent　stomach；　was　winding　silk。
They　were　a　poor；　unlucky　family；　and　Antip　was　the　only　one　who
looked　vigorous　and　handsome。　On　a　bench　there　were　five　samovars
standing　in　a　row。　The　old　man　said　his　prayer　to　Battenburg　and
said：

〃Antip；　show　the　Divine　mercy。　Give　me　back　the　samovar；　for
Christ's　sake！〃

〃Bring　three　roubles；　then　you　shall　have　it。

〃I　can't　do　it！〃

Antip　puffed　out　his　cheeks；　the　fire　roared　and　hissed；　and　the
glow　was　reflected　in　the　samovar。　The　old　man　crumpled　up　his
cap　and　said　after　a　moment's　thought：

〃You　give　it　me　back。〃

The　swarthy　elder　looked　quite　black；　and　was　like　a　magician；　he
turned　round　to　Osip　and　said　sternly　and　rapidly：

〃It　all　depends　on　the　rural　captain。　On　the　twenty…sixth　instant
you　can　state　the　grounds　for　your　dissatisfaction　before　the
administrative　session；　verbally　or　in　writing。〃

Osip　did　not　understand　a　word；　but　he　was　satisfied　with　that
and　went　home。

Ten　days　later　the　police　inspector　came　again；　stayed　an　hour
and　went　away。　During　those　days　the　weather　had　changed　to　cold
and　windy；　the　river　had　been　frozen　for　some　time　past；　but
still　there　was　no　snow；　and　people　found　it　difficult　to　get
about。　On　the　eve　of　a　holiday　some　of　the　neighbours　came　in　to
Osip's　to　sit　and　have　a　talk。　They　did　not　light　the　lamp；　as　it
would　have　been　a　sin　to　work；　but　talked　in　the　darkness。　There
were　some　items　of　news；　all　rather　unpleasant。　In　two　or　three
households　hens　had　been　taken　for　the　arrears；　and　had　been　sent
to　the　district　police　station；　and　there　they　had　died　because
no　one　had　fed　them；　they　had　taken　sheep；　and　while　they　were
being　driven　away　tied　to　one　another；　shifted　into　another　cart
at　each　village；　one　of　them　had　died。　And　now　they　were
discussing　the　question；　who　was　to　blame？

〃The　Zemstvo；〃　said　Osip。　〃Who　else？〃

〃Of　course　it　is　the　Zemstvo。〃

The　Zemstvo　was　blamed　for　everything　　for　the　arrears；　and　for
the　oppressions；　and　for　the　failure　of　the　crops；　though　no　one
of　them　knew　what　was　meant　by　the　Zemstvo。　And　this　dated　from
the　time　when　well…to…do　peasants　who　had　factories；　shops；　and
inns　of　their　own　were　members　of　the　Zemstvos；　were　dissatisfied
with　them；　and　took　to　swearing　at　the　Zemstvos　in　their
factories　and　inns。

They　talked　of　God's　not　sending　the　snow；　they　had　to　bring　in
wood　for　fuel；　and　there　was　no　driving　nor　walking　in　the　frozen
ruts。　In　old　days　fifteen　to　twenty　years　ago　conversation　was
much　more　interesting　in　Zhukovo。　In　those　days　every　old　man
looked　as　though　he　were　treasuring　some　secret；　as　though　he
knew　something　and　was　expecting　something。　They　used　to　talk
about　an　edict　in　golden　letters；　about　the　division　of　lands；
about　new　land；　about　treasures；　they　hinted　at　something。　Now
the　people　of　Zhukovo　had　no　mystery　at　all；　their　whole　life　was
bare　and　open　in　the　sight　of　all；　and　they　could　talk　of　nothing
but　poverty；　food；　there　being　no　snow　yet。　。　。　。

There　was　a　pause。　Then　they　thought　again　of　the　hens；　of　the
sheep；　and　began　discussing　whose　fault　it　was。

〃The　Zemstvo；〃　said　Osip　wearily。　〃Who　else？〃

VIII

The　parish　church　was　nearly　five　miles　away　at　Kosogorovo；　and
the　peasants　only　attended　it　when　they　had　to　do　so　for
baptisms；　weddings；　or　funerals；　they　went　to　the　services　at　the
church　across　the　river。　On　holidays　in　fine　weather　the　girls
dressed　up　in　their　best　and　went　in　a　crowd　together　to　church；
and　it　was　a　cheering　sight　to　see　them　in　their　red；　yellow；　and
green　dresses　cross　the　meadow；　in　bad　weather　they　all　stayed　at
home。　They　went　for　the　sacrament　to　the　parish　church。　From　each
of　those　who　did　not　manage　in　Lent　to　go　to　confession　in
readiness　for　the　sacrament　the　parish　priest；　going　the　round　of
the　huts　with　the　cross　at　Easter；　took　fifteen　kopecks。

The　old　father　did　not　believe　in　God；　for　he　hardly　ever　thought
about　Him；　he　recognized　the　supernatural；　but　considered　it　was
entirely　the　women's　concern；　and　when　religion　or　miracles　were
discussed　before　him；　or　a　question　were　put　to　him；　he　would　say
reluctantly；　scratching　himself：

〃Who　can　tell！〃

Granny　believed；　but　her　faith　was　somewhat　hazy；　everything　was
mixed　up　in　her　memory；　and　she　could　scarcely　begin　to　think　of
sins；　of　death；　of　the　salvation　of　the　soul；　before　poverty　and
her　d