the man who was afraid- 第66部分

〃Put　him　ashore！〃　suddenly　roared　Robustov；　springing　to　his　feet。

And　Kononov　shouted　to　the　captain：

〃Back！　To　the　town！　To　the　Governor。〃

And　someone　insinuatingly；　in　a　voice　trembling　with　feeling：

〃That's　a　collusive　agreement。　That　was　done　on　purpose。　He　was　instigated；　and　made　drunk　to　give　him　courage。〃

〃No；　it's　a　revolt！〃

〃Bind　him！　Just　bind　him！〃

Foma　grasped　a　champagne　bottle　and　swung　it　in　the　air。

〃Come　on　now！　No；　it　seems　that　you　will　have　to　listen　to　me。〃

With　renewed　fury；　frantic　with　joy　at　seeing　these　people　shrinking　and　quailing　under　the　blows　of　his　words；　Foma　again　started　to　shout　names　and　vulgar　oaths；　and　the　exasperated　tumult　was　hushed　once　more。　The　men；　whom　Foma　did　not　know；　gazed　at　him　with　eager　curiosity；　with　approval；　while　some　looked　at　him　even　with　joyous　surprise。　One　of　them；　a　gray…　haired　little　old　man　with　rosy　cheeks　and　small　mouse　eyes；　suddenly　turned　toward　the　merchants；　who　had　been　abused　by　Foma；　and　said　in　a　sweet　voice：

〃These　are　words　from　the　conscience！　That's　nothing！　You　must　endure　it。　That's　a　prophetic　accusation。　We　are　sinful。　To　tell　the　truth　we　are　very〃

He　was　hissed；　and　Zubov　even　jostled　him　on　the　shoulder。　He　made　a　low　bow　and　disappeared　in　the　crowd。

〃Zubov！〃　cried　Foma。　〃How　many　people　have　you　fleeced　and　turned　to　beggars？　Do　you　ever　dream　of　Ivan　Petrov　Myakinnikov；　who　strangled　himself　because　of　you？　Is　it　true　that　you　steal　at　every　mass　ten　roubles　out　of　the　church　box？〃

Zubov　had　not　expected　the　attack；　and　he　remained　as　petrified；　with　his　hand　uplifted。　But　he　immediately　began　to　scream　in　a　shrill　voice；　as　he　jumped　up　quickly：

〃Ah！　You　turn　against　me　also？　Against　me；　too？

And　suddenly　he　puffed　up　his　cheeks　and　furiously　began　to　shake　his　fist　at　Foma；　as　he　screamed　in　a　shrill　voice：

〃The　fool　says　in　his　heart　there　is　no　God！　I'll　go　to　the　bishop！　Infidel！　You'll　get　the　galleys！〃

The　tumult　on　the　steamer　grew；　and　at　the　sight　of　these　enraged；　perplexed　and　insulted　people；　Foma　felt　himself　a　fairy…tale　giant；　slaying　monsters。　They　bustled　about；　waving　their　arms；　talking　to　one　anothersome　red　with　anger；　others　pale；　yet　all　equally　powerless　to　check　the　flow　of　his　jeers　at　them。

〃Send　the　sailors　over　here！〃　cried　Reznikov；　tugging　Kononov　by　the　shoulder。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Ilya？　Ah？　Have　you　invited　us　to　be　ridiculed？〃

〃Against　one　puppy；〃　screamed　Zubov。

A　crowd　had　gathered　around　Yakov　Tarasovitch　Mayakin；　and　listened　to　his　quiet　speech　with　anger；　and　nodded　their　heads　affirmatively。

〃Act；　Yakov！〃　said　Robustov；　loudly。　〃We　are　all　witnesses。　Go　ahead！〃

And　above　the　general　tumult　of　voices　rang　out　Foma's　loud；　accusing　voice：

〃It　was　not　life　that　you　have　builtyou　have　made　a　cesspool！　You　have　bred　filth　and　putrefaction　by　your　deeds！　Have　you　a　conscience？　Do　you　remember　God？　Moneythat's　your　God！　And　your　conscience　you　have　driven　away。　Whither　have　you　driven　it　away？　Blood…suckers！　You　live　on　the　strength　of　others。　You　work　with　other　people's　hands！　You　shall　pay　for　all　this！　When　you　perish；　you　will　be　called　to　account　for　everything！　For　everything；　even　to　a　teardrop。　How　many　people　have　wept　blood　at　those　great　deeds　of　yours？　And　according　to　your　deserts；　even　hell　is　too　good　a　place　for　you；　rascals。　Not　in　fire；　but　in　boiling　mud　you　shall　be　scorched。　Your　sufferings　shall　last　for　centuries。　The　devils　will　hurl　you　into　a　boiler　and　will　pour　into　itha；　ha；　ha！　they'll　pour　into　itha；　ha；　ha！　Honourable　merchant　class！　Builders　of　Life。　Oh；　you　devils！〃

Foma　burst　into　ringing　laughter；　and；　holding　his　sides；　staggered；　tossing　his　head　up　high。

At　that　moment　several　men　quickly　exchanged　glances；　simultaneously　rushed　on　Foma　and　downed　him　with　their　weight。　A　racket　ensued。

〃Now　you're　caught！〃　ejaculated　some　one　in　a　suffocating　voice。

〃Ah！　Is　that　the　way　you're　doing　it？〃　cried　Foma；　hoarsely。

For　about　a　half　a　minute　a　whole　heap　of　black　bodies　bustled　about　on　one　spot；　heavily　stamping　their　feet；　and　dull　exclamations　were　heard：

〃Throw　him　to　the　ground！〃

〃Hold　his　hand；　his　hand！　Oh！〃

〃By　the　beard？〃

〃Get　napkins；　bind　him　with　napkins。〃

〃You'll　bite；　will　you？〃

〃So！　Well；　how's　it？　Aha！〃

〃Don't　strike！　Don't　dare　to　strike。〃

〃Ready！〃

〃How　strong　he　is！〃

〃Let's　carry　him　over　there　toward　the　side。〃

〃Out　in　the　fresh　air；　ha；　ha！〃

They　dragged　Foma　away　to　one　side；　and　having　placed　him　against　the　wall　of　the　captain's　cabin；　walked　away　from　him；　adjusting　their　costumes；　and　mopping　their　sweat…covered　brows。　Fatigued　by　the　struggle；　and　exhausted　by　the　disgrace　of　his　defeat；　Foma　lay　there　in　silence；　tattered；　soiled　with　something；　firmly　bound；　hand　and　foot；　with　napkins　and　towels。　With　round；　blood…shot　eyes　he　gazed　at　the　sky；　they　were　dull　and　lustreless；　as　those　of　an　idiot；　and　his　chest　heaved　unevenly　and　with　difficulty。

Now　came　their　turn　to　mock　him。　Zubov　began。　He　walked　up　to　him；　kicked　him　in　the　side　and　asked　in　a　soft　voice；　all　trembling　with　the　pleasure　of　revenge：

〃Well；　thunder…like　prophet；　how　is　it？　Now　you　can　taste　the　sweetness　of　Babylonian　captivity；　he；　he；　he！〃

〃Wait；〃　said　Foma；　hoarsely；　without　looking　at　him。　〃Wait　until　I'm　rested。　You　have　not　tied　up　my　tongue。〃

But　saying　this；　Foma　understood　that　he　could　no　longer　do　anything；　nor　say　anything。　And　that　not　because　they　had　bound　him；　but　because　something　had　burned　out　within　him；　and　his　soul　had　become　dark　and　empty。

Zubov　was　soon　joined　by　Reznikov。　Then　one　after　another　the　others　began　to　draw　near。　Bobrov；　Kononov　and　several　others　preceded　by　Yakov　Mayakin　went　to　the　cabin；　anxiously　discussing　something　in　low　tones。

The　steamer　was　sailing　toward　the　town　at　full　speed。　The　bottles　on　the　tables　trembled　and　rattled　from　the　vibration　of　the　steamer；　and　Foma　heard　this　jarring；　plaintive　sound　above　everything　else。　Near　him　stood　a　throng　of　people；　saying　malicious；　offensive　things。

But　Foma　saw　them　as　though　through　a　fog；　and　their　words　did　not　touch　him　to　the　quick。　A　vast；　bitter　feeling　was　now　springing　up　within　him；　from　the　depth　of　his　soul；　he　followed　its　growth　and　though　he　did　not　yet　understand　it；　he　already　experienced　something　melancholy　and　degrading。

〃Just　think；　you　charlatan！　What　have　you　done　to　yourself？〃　said　Reznikov。　〃What　sort　of　a　life　is　now　possible　to　you？　Do　you　know　that　now　no　one　of　us　would　care　even　as　much　as　to　spit　on　you？〃

〃What　have　I　done？〃　Foma　tried　to　understand。　The　merchants　stood　around　him　in　a　dense；　dark　mass。

〃Well；〃　said　Yashchurov；　〃now；　Fomka；　your　work　is　done。〃

〃Wait；　we'll　see；〃　bellowed　Zubov　in　a　low　voice。

〃Let　me　free！〃　said　Foma。

〃Well；　no！　we　thank　you　humbly！〃

〃Untie　me。〃

〃It's　all　right！　You　can　lie　that　way　as　well。〃

〃Call　up　my　godfather。〃

But　Yakov　Tarasovich　came　up　at　this　moment。　He　came　up；　stopped　near　Foma；　sternly　surveyed　with　his　eyes　the　outstretched　figure　of　his　godson；　and　heaved　a　deep　sigh。

〃Well；　Foma；〃　he　began。

〃Order　them　to　unbind　me；〃　entreated　Foma；　softly；　in　a　mournful　voice。

〃So　you　can　be　turbulent　again？　No；　no；　you'd　better　lie　this　way；〃　his　godfather　replied。

〃I　won't　say　another　word。　I　swear　it　by　God！　Unbind　me。　I　am　ashamed！　For　Christ's　sake。　You　see　I　am　not　drunk。　Well；　you　needn't　untie　my　hands。〃

〃You　swear　that　you'll　not　be　troublesome？〃　asked　Mayakin。

〃0h　Lord！　I　will　not；　I　will　not；〃　moaned　Foma。

They　untied　his　feet；　but　left　his　hands　bound。　When　he　rose；　he　looked　at　them　all；　and　said　softly　with　a　pitiful　smile：

〃You　won。〃

〃We　always　shall！〃　replied　his　godfather；　smiling　sternly。

Foma　bent；　with　his　hands　tied　behind　his　back；　advanced　toward　the　table　silently；　without　lifting　his　eyes　to　anyone。　He　seemed　shorter　in　stature　and　thinner。　His　dishevelled　hair　fell　on　his　forehead　and　temples；　the　torn　and　crumpled　bosom　of　his　shirt　protruding　from　under　his　vest；　and　the　collar　covered　his　lips。　He　turned　his　head　to　push　the　collar　down　under　his　chin；　and　was　unable　to　do　it。　Then　the　gray…headed　little　old　man　walked　up　to　him；　adjusted　what　was　necessary；　looked　into　his　eyes　with　a　smile　and　said：

〃You　must　endure　it。〃

Now；　in　Mayakin's　presence；　those　who　had　mocked　Foma　were　silent；　looking　at　the　old　man　questioningly；　with　curiosity　and　expectancy。　He　was　calm　but　his　eyes　gleamed　in　a　way　not　at　all　becoming　to　the　occasion；　contentedly　and　brightly。

〃Give　me　some　vodka；〃　begged　Foma；　seating　himself　at　the　table；　and　leaning　his　chest　against　its　edge。　His　bent　figure　look　piteous　and　helpless。　Around　they　were　talking　in　whispers；　passing　this　way　and　that　cautiously。　And　everyone　looked　now　at　him；　now　at　Mayakin；　who　had　seated　himself　opposite　him。　The　old　man　did　not　give　Foma　the　vodka　at　once。　First　he　surveyed　him　fixedly；　then　he　slowly　poured　out　a　wine　glassful；　and　finally；　without　saying　a　word；　raised　it　to　Foma's　lips。　Foma　drank　the　vodka；　and　asked：

〃Some　more！〃

〃That's　enough！〃　replied　Mayakin。

And　immediately　after　this　there　fell　a　minute　of　perfect；　painful　silence。　People　were　coming　up　to　the　table　noiselessly；　on　tiptoe；　and　when　they　were　near　they　stretched　their　necks　to　see　Foma。

〃Well；　Fomka；　do　you　understand　now　what　you　have　done？〃　asked　Mayakin。　He　spoke　softly；　but　all　heard　his　question。

Foma　nodded　his　head　and　maintained　silence。

〃There's　no　forgiveness　for　you！〃　Mayakin　went　on　firmly；　and　raising　his　voice。　〃Though　we　are　all　Christians；　yet　you　will　receive　no　forgiveness　at　our　hands。　Just　know　this。〃

Foma　lifted　his　head　and　said　pensively：

〃I　have　quite　forgotten　about　you；　godfather。　You　have　not　heard　anything　from　me。〃

〃There　you　have　it！〃　exclaimed　Mayakin；　bitterly；　pointing　at　his　godson。　〃You　see？〃

A　dull　grumble　of　protest　burst　forth。

〃Well；　it's　all　the　same！〃　resumed　Foma　with　a　sigh。　〃It's　all　the　same！　Nothingno　good　came　out　of　it　anyway。〃

And　again　he　bent　over　the　table。

〃What　did　you　want？〃　asked　Mayakin；　sternly。

〃What　I　wanted？〃　Foma　raised　his　head；　looked　at