按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ling himself superfluous to this great toil。 It vexed him to feel that he was superfluous among men； and the more closely he watched them； the more intense was this vexation。 And he was stung most by the thought that all this was being done for him。 And yet he was out of place there。
〃Where is my place； then？〃 he thought gloomily。 〃Where is my work？ Am I； then； some deformed being？ I have just as much strength as any of them。 But of what use is it to me？〃The chains clanged； the pulleys groaned； the blows of the axes resounded loud over the river； and the barges rocked from the shocks of the waves； but to Foma it seemed that he was rocking not because the barge was rocking under his feet； but rather because he was not able to stand firmly anywhere； he was not destined to do so。
The contractor； a small…sized peasant with a small pointed gray beard； and with narrow little eyes on his gray wrinkled face； came up to him and said； not loud； but pronouncing his words with a certain m the bottom of the river。 He wished that they might not succeed； that they might feel embarrassed in his presence； and a wicked thought flashed through his mind：
〃Perhaps the chains will break。〃
〃Boys！ Attention！〃 shouted the contractor。 〃Start all together。 God bless us！〃 And suddenly； clasping his hands in the air； he cried in a shrill voice：
〃Lethergo…o…o！〃
The labourers took up his shout； and all cried out in one voice； with excitement and exertion：
〃Let her go！ She moves。〃
The pulleys squeaked and creaked； the chains clanked； strained under the heavy weight that suddenly fell upon them； and the labourers； bracing their chests against the handle of the windlasses； roared and tramped heavily。 The waves splashed noisily between the barges as though unwilling to give up their prize to the men。 Everywhere about Foma； chains and ropes were stretched and they quivered from the strainthey were creeping somewhere across the deck； past his feet； like huge gray worms； they were lifted upward； link after link； falling back with a rattling noise； and all these sounds were drowned by the deafening roaring of the labourers。
〃It goes； it goes； it goes；〃 they all sang in unison； triumphantly。 But the ringing voice of the contractor pierced the deep wave of their voices； and cut it even as a knife cuts bread。
〃My boys！ Go ahead； all at once； all at once。〃
Foma was seized with a strange emotion； passionately he now longed to mingle with this excited roaring of the labourers； which was as broad and as powerful as the riverto blend with this irritating； creaking； squeaking； clanging of iron and turbulent splashing of waves。 Perspiration came out on his face from the intensity of his desire； and suddenly pale from agitation； he tore himself away from the mast； and rushed toward the windlasses with big strides。
〃All at once！ At once！〃 he cried in a fierce voice。 When he reached the lever of the windlass； he dashed his chest against it with all his might； and not feeling the pain； he began to go around the windlass； roaring； and firmly stamping his feet against the deck。 Something powerful and burning rushed into his breast； replacing the efforts which he spent while turning the windlass…lever！ Inexpressible joy raged within him and forced itself outside in an agitated cry。 It seemed to him that he alone； that only his strength was turning the lever； thus raising the weight； and that his strength was growing and growing。 Stooping； and lowering his head； like a bull he massed the power of the weight； which threw him back； but yielded to him； nevertheless。 Each step forward excited him the more； each expended effort was immediately replaced in him by a flood of burning and vehement pride。 His head reeled； his eyes were blood… shot； he saw nothing； he only felt that they were yielding to him； that he would soon conquer； that he would overthrow with his strength something huge which obstructed his waywould overthrow； conquer and then breathe easily and freely； full of proud delight。 For the first time in his life he experienced such a powerful； spiritualizing sensation； and he drank it with all the strength of a hungry； thirsty soul； he was intoxicated by it and he gave vent to his joy in loud； exulting cries in unison with the workers：
〃It goesit goesit goes。〃
〃Hold on！ Fasten！ Hold on； boys！〃
Something dashed against Foma's chest； and he was hurled backward。
〃I congratulate you on a successful result； Foma Ignatyich！〃 the contractor congratulated him and the wrinkles quivered on his face in cheerful beams。
〃Thank God！ You must be quite tired now？〃
Cold wind blew in Foma's face。 A contented； boastful bustle was in the air about him； swearing at one another in a friendly way； merry； with smiles on their perspiring brows； the peasants approached him and surrounded him closely。 He smiled in embarrassment： the excitement within him had not yet calmed down and this hindered him from understanding what had happened and why all those who surrounded him were so merry and contented。
〃We've raised a hundred and seventy thousand puds as if we plucked a radish from a garden…bed！〃 said some one。
〃We ought to get a vedro of whisky from our master。〃
Foma； standing on a heap of cable； looked over the heads of the workers and saw； between the barges； side by side with them； stood a third barge； black； slippery； damaged； wrapped in chains。 It was warped all over； it seemed as though it swelled from some terrible disease and； impotent； clumsy； it was suspended between its companions； leaning against them。 Its broken mast stood out mournfully in the centre； reddish streams of water； like blood； were running across the deck； which was covered with stains of rust。 Everywhere on the deck lay heaps of iron； of black； wet stumps of wood； and of ropes。
〃Raised？〃 asked Foma； not knowing what to say at the sight of this ugly； heavy mass； and again feeling offended at the thought that merely for the sake of raising this dirty； bruised monster from the water； his soul had foamed up with such joy。
〃How's the barge？〃 asked Foma； indefinitely； addressing the contractor。
〃It's pretty good！ We must unload right away； and put a company of about twenty carpenters to work on itthey'll bring it quickly into shape I 〃said the contractor in a consoling tone。
And the light…haired fellow； gaily and broadly smiling into Foma's face； asked：
〃Are we going to have any vodka？〃
〃Can't you wait？ You have time！〃 said the contractor； sternly。 〃Don't you seethe man is tired。〃
Then the peasants began to speak：
〃Of course； he is tired！
〃That wasn't easy work！〃
〃Of course； one gets tired if he isn't used to work。〃
〃It is even hard to eat gruel if you are not used to it。〃
〃I am not tired；〃 said Foma； gloomily； and again were heard the respectful exclamations of the peasants； as they surrounded him more closely。
〃Work； if one likes it； is a pleasant thing。〃
〃It's just like play。〃
〃It's like playing with a woman。〃
But the light…haired fellow persisted in his request：
〃Your Honour！ You ought to treat us to a vedro of vodka； eh？〃 he said； smiling and sighing。
Foma looked at the bearded faces before him and felt like saying something offensive to them。 But somehow everything became confused in his brain； he found no thoughts in it and； finally； without giving himself an account of his words； said angrily：
〃All you want is to drink all the time！ It makes no difference to you what you do！ You should have thoughtwhy？ to what purpose？ Eh； you！〃
There was an expression of perplexity on the faces of those that surrounded him； blue and red； bearded figures began to sigh； scratch themselves； shift themselves from one foot to another。 Others cast a hopeless glance at Foma and turned away。
〃Yes； yes！〃 said the contractor； with a sigh。 〃That wouldn't harm！ That isto thinkwhy and how。 These are words of wisdom。〃
The light…haired fellow had a different opinion on the matter； smiling kind…heartedly； he waved his hand and said：
〃We don't have to think over our work！ If we have itwe do it！ Our business is simple！ When a rouble is earnedthank God！ we can do everything。〃
〃And do you know what's necessary to do？〃 questioned Foma； irritated by the contradiction。
〃Everything is necessarythis and that。〃
〃But where's the sense？〃
〃There's but one and the same sense in everything for our class when you have earned for bread and taxeslive！ And when there's something to drink； into the bargain。〃
〃Eh； you！〃 exclaimed Foma； with contempt。 〃You're also talking！ What do you understand？〃
〃Is it our business to understand？〃 said the light…haired fellow； with a nod of the head。 It now bored him to speak to Foma。 He suspected that he was unwilling to treat them to vodka and he was somewhat angry。
〃That's it！〃 said Foma； instructively； pleased that the fellow yielded to him； and not noticing the cross； sarcastic glances。 〃And he who understands feels that it is necessary to do everlasting work！〃
〃That is； for God！〃 explained the contractor； eyeing the peasants； and added； with a devout sigh：
〃That's true。 Oh； how true that is！〃
And Foma was inspired with the desire to say something correct and important； after which these peo