第44章

“Idonotknowforcertain，since，thoughmenwhotookanactualpartintheexpedition’sengagementshavesaidthattheywereso(theChechintzeisaviciousbrute，andnevergivesin)，Imyselfknowbutlittleoftheaffair，sinceIspentmywholetimeinthereserve，andneveroncedidmycompanyadvancetotheassault。

No，itmerelylayaboutonthesand，andfiredatlongrange。Infact，nothingbutsandwastobeseenthereabouts；nordidweeversucceedinfindingoutwhatthefightingwasfor。True，ifapieceofcountrybegood，itisinourinteresttotakeit；butinthepresentcasethecountrywaspoorandbare，withneverariverinsight，andaclimatesohotthatallonethoughtofwasone’smortalneedofadrink。Infact，someofourfellowsdiedofthirstoutright。Moreover，inthosepartstheregrowsasortofmilletcalleddzhugar——milletwhichnotonlyhasahorribletaste，butprovesabsolutelydelusive，sincethemoreoneeatsofit，thelessonefeelsfilled。“

Astheex-soldiertoldmethetalecolourlesslyandreluctantly，withfrequentpausesbetweenthesentences(asthougheitherhefounditdifficulttorecalltheexperienceorhewerethinkingofsomethingelse)，heneveroncelookedmestraightintheface，butkepthiseyesshamefacedlyfixedupontheground。

Unwieldilyandunhealthilystout，healwaysconveyedtometheimpressionofbeingchargedwithavaguediscontent，asortofcaptiousinertia。

“Absolutelyunfitforsettlementisthiscountry“hecontinuedasheglancedaroundhim。“Itisfitonlytodonothingin。Forthatmatter，onedoesn’tWANTtodoanythinginit，savetolivewithone’seyesbulginglikeadrunkard’s——fortheclimateistoohot，andtheplacesmellslikeachemist’sshoporahospital。“

Nevertheless，forthepasteightyearshadhebeenroamingthis“toohot“country，asthoughfascinated！

“WhynotreturntoRiazan？“Isuggested。

“Nothingwouldtherebethereformetodo，“herepliedthroughhisteeth，andwithanodddivisionofhiswords。

MyfirstencounterwithhimhadbeenattherailwaystationatArmavir，where，purpleinthefacewithexcitement，hehadbeenstampinglikeahorse，and，withdistendedeyes，hissing，or，rather，snarling，atacoupleofGreeks:

“I’lltearthefleshfromyourbones！“

Meanwhilethetwolean，withered，ragged，identicallysimilardenizensofHellashadbeenbaringtheirsharpwhiteteethatintervals，andsayingapologetically:

“Whathasangeredyou，sir？“

Finally，regardlessoftheGreeks’words，theex-soldierhadbeathisbreastlikeadrum，andshoutedinaccentsofincreasedvenom:

“Now，whereareyouliving？InRussia，doyousay？Thenwhoissupportingyouthere？Aha-a-a！Russia，itissaid，isagoodfoster-mother。Iexpectyousaythesame。“

And，lastly，hehadapproachedafat，grey-headed，bemedalledgendarme，andcomplainedtohim:

“EveryonecursesusbornRussians，yeteveryonecomestolivewithus——Greeks，Germans，Songs，andthelot。Andwhiletheygettheirlivelihoodhere，andcatand

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节