the witch and other stories(女巫)-第2节
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the darkness。
〃And it's the same thing now！〃 Savely went on。 〃It's not for nothing
the postman is lost！ Blast my eyes if the postman isn't looking for you！ Oh；
the devil is a good hand at his work； he is a fine one to help！ He will turn
him round and round and bring him here。 I know； I see！ You can't conceal
it； you devil's bauble； you heathen wanton！ As soon as the storm began I
knew what you were up to。〃
〃Here's a fool！〃 smiled his wife。 〃Why； do you suppose； you thick…
head； that I make the storm？〃
〃H'm！ 。 。 。 Grin away！ Whether it's your doing or not； I only know that
when your blood's on fire there's sure to be bad weather； and when there's
bad weather there's bound to be some crazy fellow turning up here。 It
happens so every time！ So it must be you！〃
To be more impressive the sexton put his finger to his forehead； closed
his left eye； and said in a singsong voice：
〃Oh； the madness！ oh； the unclean Judas！ If you really are a human
being and not a witch； you ought to think what if he is not the mechanic；
or the clerk； or the huntsman； but the devil in their form！ Ah！ You'd better
think of that！〃
〃Why； you are stupid； Savely；〃 said his wife； looking at him
compassionately。 〃When father was alive and living here； all sorts of
people used to come to him to be cured of the ague： from the village； and
the hamlets； and the Armenian settlement。 They came almost every day；
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and no one called them devils。 But if anyone once a year comes in bad
weather to warm himself； you wonder at it； you silly； and take all sorts of
notions into your head at once。〃
His wife's logic touched Savely。 He stood with his bare feet wide apart；
bent his head； and pondered。 He was not firmly convinced yet of the truth
of his suspicions； and his wife's genuine and unconcerned tone quite
disconcerted him。 Yet after a moment's thought he wagged his head and
said：
〃It's not as though they were old men or bandy…legged cripples； it's
always young men who want to come for the night。 。 。 。 Why is that？ And
if they only wanted to warm themselves But they are up to mischief。
No； woman； there's no creature in this world as cunning as your female
sort！ Of real brains you've not an ounce； less than a starling； but for
devilish slyness oo…oo…oo！ The Queen of Heaven protect us！ There is the
postman's bell！ When the storm was only beginning I knew all that was in
your mind。 That's your witchery； you spider！〃
〃Why do you keep on at me； you heathen？〃 His wife lost her patience
at last。 〃Why do you keep sticking to it like pitch？〃
〃I stick to it because if anything God forbid happens to…night 。 。 。
do you hear？ 。 。 。 if anything happens to…night； I'll go straight off to…
morrow morning to Father Nikodim and tell him all about it。 'Father
Nikodim；' I shall say； 'graciously excuse me； but she is a witch。' 'Why so？'
'H'm！ do you want to know why？' 'Certainly。 。 。 。' And I shall tell him。 And
woe to you； woman！ Not only at the dread Seat of Judgment； but in your
earthly life you'll be punished； too！ It's not for nothing there are prayers in
the breviary against your kind！〃
Suddenly there was a knock at the window； so loud and unusual that
Savely turned pale and almost dropped backwards with fright。 His wife
jumped up； and she； too； turned pale。
〃For God's sake； let us come in and get warm！〃 they heard in a
trembling deep bass。 〃Who lives here？ For mercy's sake！ We've lost our
way。〃
〃Who are you？〃 asked Raissa； afraid to look at the window。
〃The post；〃 answered a second voice。
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〃You've succeeded with your devil's tricks；〃 said Savely with a wave
of his hand。 〃No mistake； I am right！ Well； you'd better look out！〃
The sexton jumped on to the bed in two skips； stretched himself on the
feather mattress； and sniffing angrily； turned with his face to the wall。
Soon he felt a draught of cold air on his back。 The door creaked and the
tall figure of a man； plastered over with snow from head to foot； appeared
in the doorway。 Behind him could be seen a second figure as white。
〃Am I to bring in the bags？〃 asked the second in a hoarse bass voice。
〃You can't leave them there。〃 Saying this； the first figure began
untying his hood； but gave it up； and pulling it off impatiently with his cap；
angrily flung it near the stove。 Then taking off his greatcoat； he threw that
down beside it； and； without saying good…evening； began pacing up and
down the hut。
He was a fair…haired； young postman wearing a shabby uniform and
black rusty…looking high boots。 After warming himself by walking to and
fro； he sat down at the table； stretched out his muddy feet towards the
sacks and leaned his chin on his fist。 His pale face； reddened in places by
the cold； still bore vivid traces of the pain and terror he had just been
through。 Though distorted by anger and bearing traces of recent suffering；
physical and moral； it was handsome in spite of the melting snow on the
eyebrows； moustaches； and short beard。
〃It's a dog's life！〃 muttered the postman； looking round the walls and
seeming hardly able to believe that he was in the warmth。 〃We were nearly
lost！ If it had not been for your light； I don't know what would have
happened。 Goodness only knows when it will all be over！ There's no end
to this dog's life！ Where have we come？〃 he asked； dropping his voice and
raising his eyes to the sexton's wife。
〃To the Gulyaevsky Hill on General Kalinovsky's estate；〃 she
answered； startled and blushing。
〃Do you hear； Stepan？〃 The postman turned to the driver； who was
wedged in the doorway with a huge mail…bag on his shoulders。 〃We've got
to Gulyaevsky Hill。〃
〃Yes 。 。 。 we're a long way out。〃 Jerking out these words like a hoarse
sigh； the driver went out and soon after returned with another bag； then
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went out once more and this time brought the postman's sword on a big
belt； of the pattern of that long flat blade with which Judith is portrayed by
the bedside of Holofernes in cheap woodcuts。 Laying the bags along the
wall； he went out into the outer room； sat down there and lighted his pipe。
〃Perhaps you'd like some tea after your journey？〃 Raissa inquired。
〃How can we sit drinking tea？〃 said the postman； frowning。 〃We must
make haste and get warm； and then set off； or we shall be late for the mail
train。 We'll stay ten minutes and then get on our way。 Only be so good as
to show us the way。〃
〃What an infliction it is； this weather！〃 sighed Raissa。
〃H'm； yes。 。 。 。 Who may you be？〃
〃We？ We live here； by the church。 。 。 。 We belong to the clergy。 。 。 。
There lies my husband。 Savely； get up and say good…evening！ This used to
be a separate parish till eighteen months ago。 Of course； when the gentry
lived here there were more people； and it was worth while to have the
services。 But now the gentry have gone； and I need not tell you there's
nothing for the clergy to live on。 The nearest village is Markovka； and
that's over three miles away。 Savely is on the retired list now； and has got
the watchman's job； he has to look after the church。 。 。 。〃
And the postman was immediately informed that if Savely were to go
to the General's lady and ask her for a letter to the bishop； he would be
given a good berth。 〃But he doesn't go to the General's lady because he is
lazy and afraid of people。 We belong to the clergy all the same 。 。 。〃 added
Raissa。
〃What do you live on？〃 asked the postman。
〃There's a kitchen garden and a meadow belonging to the church。 Only
we don't get much from that；〃 sighed Raissa。 〃The old skinflint； Father
Nikodim； from the next village celebrates here on St。 Nicolas' Day in the
winter and on St。 Nicolas' Day in the summer； and for that he takes almost
all t
