Chapter 21 The Captain's Daughter (3)

Chapter 7 Onslaught Big brother, my big brother! The big brother of my brothers! Served in the army for thirty and three years, The big brother of my brothers! well!He neither earned a house, Nor did I live happily ever after, and won no high office, Not to mention gaining a good reputation. Only two tall pillars, All that was left was a horizontal maple, All that was left was a loop of silk lasso for hanging. folk song I didn't sleep that night and I didn't take off my clothes.I intend to go to the gate of the fortress at dawn, because Marya Ivanovna is going to pass there.I want to say goodbye to her one last time.I felt a great change in my heart: compared with the discouragement not long ago, my mood was not so uncomfortable now.An indistinct but ardent and sweet hope in the heart, an anxiety about imminent danger, and a lofty sense of honor—all these are fused with the sorrow of parting and parting.The night passed without knowing it.I was about to go out, when the door opened, and a sergeant came into the room and reported to me: Our Cossacks evacuated the fortress without authorization last night, and hijacked Yulai. horsemen on a parade.I immediately thought that Marya Ivanovna would not be able to leave, and this made me shudder.I gave the sergeant a few quick instructions and ran to the commander immediately.

It was already dawn.I was running down the street when I suddenly heard someone calling me.I stop. "Where are you going?" said Ivan Ignadyitch, after me. "Ivan Kuzmitch is on the wall and sent me to call you. Pugachev is here." "Is Marya Ivanovna gone?" I asked anxiously. "No way," answered Ivan Ignatyitch. "The road to Orenburg is cut off. The fortress is besieged. It's bad! Pyotr Andreitch!" We went up to the city wall, which was a naturally formed high ground, and then made a barrier with wooden fences.All the inhabitants of the fortress were gathered there.The garrison stands with guns.The cannon had been towed there last night.The commander walked up and down in front of the few teams.The imminent danger excited the old soldier.On the grassland, not far from the fortress, there were about twenty people riding on horses.They appear to be Cossacks, but there are also Bashkirs among them, easily identifiable by their lynx fur hats and quiveres.The commander inspected the ranks and said to the soldiers: "Brothers! Today, we will swear to the death to defend Her Majesty the Queen and show the world that we are worthy of bravery and loyalty!" The soldiers replied loudly, expressing their allegiance.Shivabrin stood beside me, staring intently at the enemy.Those on horseback who were lingering on the grassland gathered in one place when they saw movement in the fortress, as if they were discussing something.The commander ordered Ivan Ignadyitch to aim his cannon at the crowd, and he himself fired the fuse.The shells hissed and flew over their heads without hitting any of them.The riders dispersed one after another, fled immediately, and disappeared.The grasslands became empty.

At this moment Vasilisa Egolovna came, bringing Masha with her, because she did not want to leave her mother. "How is it?" said the commander's wife, "how is the battle going? Where is the enemy?" "Just ahead," answered Ivan Kuzmitch, "by God, everything is going well. How is it, Masha? Are you afraid?" "Don't be afraid, papa!" Marya Ivanovna answered, "it's more terrible to be alone at home." Then she glanced at me and forced a smile.I held my sword hilt tightly, remembering that this sword was taken from her last night, as if it should be used by me to defend the girl I love.My heart beats up.I imagined myself as her knight.Eager to prove myself worthy of her trust, I waited impatiently for the crunch time.

At this time, a new group of horsemen appeared from behind the hill half a mile away from the fortress, and then a wave of people and horses rushed over from the grassland, all armed with spears, bows and arrows.Among them was a man in a red robe riding a white horse, holding a sheathed saber in his hand.He was Pugachev himself.He stopped and everyone surrounded him.Then, apparently at his orders, four men galloped up to the fort at full gallop.We recognized them as traitors on our side, and one of them held a piece of paper up to his head, and the other held Yulai's head on the point of a spear, shook it, and the head was thrown over the fence.The poor Kalmyk's head fell right at the commander's feet.The traitors cried out:

"Don't shoot! Come out, come to the Emperor." "I'll beat you!" cried Ivan Kuzmich. "Brothers! Shoot!" Our soldiers fired a volley of guns.The Cossack with the letter in his hand wobbled and fell off his horse.The other three leaped back.I looked at Maria Ivanovna.She was terrified by Yulai's bloody head and deafened by the gunshots, as if she had lost consciousness.The commander called the sergeant to him and ordered him to fetch the paper from the slain Cossack.The sergeant went out into the field and brought back the horse on which the slain man was riding.He handed a letter to the commander.Ivan Kuzmich read it in silence and tore it to pieces at once.By this time, the rebels were clearly preparing to attack.Immediately, bullets whistled past our ears, and several arrows shot into the ground and the wooden fence around us. "Vasilisa Egolovna!" said the commander, "there is no such thing as a woman. Take Masha away! You see, the girl is half dead."

Vasilisa Egolovna was already speechless at the sound of the bullets, and she looked at the steppe, where there was evidently a large number of men and horses, menacing.Then she turned to her husband and said: "Ivan Kuzmitch! There is life and death. Bless Masha! Masha, come to Papa!" Pale and trembling, Masha went up to Ivan Kuzmich, knelt down, and kowtowed to the ground.The old commander crossed her three times, then helped her up, kissed her, and said to her in a strangled voice: "Well, Martha! I wish you happiness. Pray to God! He will not abandon you. If you find You are a good man, and God blesses you with love and peace. Live as I and Vasilisa Egolovna did. Well, farewell, Masha! Vasilisa Egolovna! Take her away quickly." (Martha throws her arms around his neck and wails bitterly.)

"Let us kiss good-bye too!" cried the commander's wife. "Farewell, my Ivan Kuzmitch! Forgive me if I have wronged you!" "Farewell, farewell, old Mother!" said the Commander, embracing his old companion, "well, that's enough, go! Go home! Put Martha in a long waistcoat before it's too late." The commander's wife left with her daughter.I followed Maria Ivanovna with my eyes.She turned to me and nodded.At this moment, Ivan Kuzmitch turned to us, his attention turned to the enemy.The rebels gathered in a group on horseback, surrounded their leader, and suddenly all dismounted. "Now, let's hold on," said the Commander, "they're going to attack..." Just then there was a burst of screaming and shouting.The rebels came running towards the fort.Our cannons were loaded with shot.The commander told them to run to the nearest distance, and suddenly fired a cannon.Shots were falling into the middle of the crowd.The rebels spread out to both sides and retreated.The chief remained alone in the lead... brandishing his saber, as if to embolden them fervently...the screaming and yelling ceased for a moment, then broke out again. "Listen, brethren!" said the commander, "open the gates and beat the drums! brethren! Forward, go! Come with me!"

The commander, Ivan Ignadych and I jumped outside the walls in one fell swoop.But the terrified garrison soldiers did not move. "Brothers! Why are you standing there?" cried Ivan Kuzmich. "Die! Be a soldier!" At that instant the rebels rushed up and stormed the fortress.The drums stopped.The soldiers dropped their guns.I was bumped and staggered, but I stood up and was crowded into the fort by the rebels again.The commander was wounded in the head and was surrounded by a mob.They asked him to hand over the keys.I wanted to rush to help him, but some tough Cossacks caught me, tied me up with a belt, and said, "It's enough for you to turn back, dare to defy the emperor!" We were dragged along the street.Residents came out of their houses one after another, holding bread and salt in their hands.The church bell rang.Suddenly, there was shouting from the crowd.The emperor waited in the square to take the captives and take the oath from everyone.People flocked to the square.We were also driven there.

Pugachev was sitting in an armchair on the steps of the commander's house.He wore a fiery red Cossack robe trimmed with gold.The golden-tipped sable hat pressed down to his eyebrows, and his eyes were piercing.I seem to have seen this person somewhere.The Cossack chieftains surrounded him.Father Gerasim, pale and trembling, stood on the steps, holding a cross in his hand, and apparently silently begged the chief for the man he was about to execute.Gallows were soon erected in the square.As we approached, some Bashkirs broke through the crowd and ushered us up to Pugachev.The bells stopped and there was a dead silence.

"Who is the commander of the fortress?" asked the pretended emperor. Our sergeant stepped out from the crowd and pointed to Ivan Kuzmich.Pugachev looked at the old man majestically and said to him: "How dare you rebel against me, against your emperor?" The commander, who was exhausted due to the injury, gathered the last strength in his body and replied firmly: "You are not my emperor, you are a fake, you are a thief! Did you hear that?" Pugachev frowned sullenly, and waved the white handkerchief in his hand.Several Cossacks grabbed the aged captain and dragged him toward the gallows.On the gallows rode a crippled Bashkir, the same one we interrogated last night.He has a noose in his hand.A minute later I saw poor Ivan Kuzmich hanging in mid-air.At this time Ivan Ignadyitch was brought before Pugachev again.

"Swear!" Pugachev said to him, "swear allegiance to Tsar Peter Fyodorovich!" ① Peter III.Pugachev impersonated the dead tsar. "You are not our emperor," answered Ivan Ignatyitch, repeating what the captain had just said, "you are a thief, a false emperor, you fellow." Pugachev waved his handkerchief again, and the good lieutenant was hung beside his old officer. It's my turn.I looked boldly at Pugachev, ready to repeat the words of my two generous companions.At this moment, to my unexpected surprise, I suddenly found Shivabrin among the leaders of the traitors.His hair was shaved in a circle and he wore a Cossack robe.He walked up to Pugachev and whispered a few words in his ear. "Hang him!" said Pugachev, without even looking at me.The noose was around my neck.I prayed silently, sincerely repented of all my sins to God, and begged God to save all my loved ones.I was dragged under the gallows. "Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid!" the gang of executioners repeated to me, and it is likely that they really encouraged me.Suddenly, a cry was heard: "Stop! Damn it! Wait! ..." The executioner stopped.I saw: Saweiliqi prostrate at Pugachev's feet. "My dear father!" said my poor chaperone, "what good will it do you to hang the young master? Let him go! You will pay him a ransom if you save him. If you want to make an example, then you Just order the old man to be hanged!" Pugachev made a gesture, and they immediately untied me and let me go. "Our father forgives you," they said to me.At this moment, I cannot say that I am happy that I am saved, but I will not say that I am disappointed that I am saved.My emotions were too confused at the time.I was brought before the pretended emperor again, and they knelt down on me.Pugachev stretched out his veiny hand, "Kiss his hand! Kiss his hand!" people around said to me.But I would rather suffer the most terrible torture than suffer this low humiliation. "Master Pyotr Andreich!" Savelitch whispered to me, standing behind me and touching me. "Don't be stubborn! What's that? Spit and kiss that bad... (Bah!) Kiss his hand!" I didn't move.Putting his hands down, Pugachev sneered, and said, "It looks like his young master is very happy. Help him up!" I was lifted up and let me move freely.I began to watch the continuation of this dreadful comedy. Residents began to take oaths.One by one they stepped forward, kissed the crucifix, and saluted the pretended emperor.Garrison soldiers stood there too.The company tailor cut their braids with his blunt scissors.Shaking out their broken hair, they came up and kissed Pugachev's hand, and he pardoned them and took them in.All this was done for about three hours.At last Pugachev got up from his armchair and came down the steps, surrounded by the chief Cossacks.A white horse with rich saddles was brought to him.Two Cossacks helped him onto the horse.He announced to Father Gerasim that he was going to lunch at his house.At this time, a woman's cry was heard.The robbers dragged Vasilisa Egolovna out onto the steps, with her hair disheveled and her naked body stripped.One of the thugs had put her waistcoat on himself.Others carried boxes, quilts, clothes, bowls, and all daily necessities were robbed. "Masters!" cried the poor old lady, "rest in peace! dear old man! Lead me to Ivan Kuzmich!" Suddenly she looked up and saw her wife hanging in the air . "Vampire!" she cried in rage, "how dare you treat him like this! My darling, Ivan Kuzmitch! You brave leader of the soldiers, the Prussian saber will not touch you, nor the Turkish bullet." wounded you, who died not in an honorable struggle, but at the hands of a fugitive!" "Don't let the old hag scream!" said Pugachev.A young Cossack slashed at her head.She fell on the steps, dead.Pugachev rode away, and the crowd rushed after him. Chapter 8 The Uninvited Guest Uninvited guests are worse than Tartars. proverb The square is empty.I was still standing in the same place, unable to organize my thoughts, my mind bewildered by a train of such horrible impressions. What worries me most is the unknown condition of Marya Ivanovna.where is she?What happened?Did you hide?Is the hiding place reliable? ...I was so worried that I walked into the commander's room...it was completely swept away.Chairs, tables, and boxes were beaten to pieces, porcelain was smashed to pieces, and all the soft goods were looted.I climbed the little staircase leading to her boudoir.For the first time in his life he entered Marya Ivanovna's boudoir.I saw that her bed had been turned upside down by the robbers.The big cabinet was broken and its contents were emptied.A magic lamp was still burning before the empty shrine.A mirror hung between the window frames, still intact... Where is the owner of this modest virginal boudoir?A terrible thought flashed through my mind.I imagined that she had fallen into the clutches of robbers... My heart ached... I wept, wept bitterly, calling out the name of the girl in my heart... At this moment, there was a slight noise, Balasha came out from behind the big cabinet, his face pale and his whole body trembling. "Oh! Pyotr Andreitch!" she said, and she clapped her hands up in horror. "It's frightening to be in this place!" "Where is Marya Ivanovna?" I asked anxiously. "How is she?" "Mademoiselle is alive," answered Balasha, "she is hiding at Akulina Panfinovna's." "At the priest's wife's house!" I exclaimed in horror. "My God! Pugachev is there..." I rushed out of the room, and in an instant I was in the street, and ran hurriedly towards the priest's house, without looking or thinking.There are shouts, laughter, and singing... Pugachev and his companions are drinking and having fun.Balasha came running after me.I sent her to ask Akulina Panfilovna quietly.A minute later, the priest's wife came to me in the hall, holding an empty flagon in her hand. "For God's sake, tell me where Marya Ivanovna is?" I asked her, with an indescribably disturbed heart. "She's lying on my bed, and my good girl is behind the partition," answered the priest's wife. "Oh, Pyotr Andreitch! What a near miss! Thank God it was saved! The leader of the robbers." I was just sitting down to eat, when suddenly my poor girl woke up and snorted. I was petrified. When he heard it, he asked: "Who is sighing, old lady?" I bowed deeply to the thief, and said: It's my niece, Your Majesty! She's sick and has been lying in bed for two weeks. Is your niece young? Young. Your Majesty, let me see your niece, old lady! My heart is about to jump into my mouth, but there's another What can I do? Please, Your Majesty! It's just that the girl can't get out of bed and come out to see Your Majesty. That's all right, old lady! I'll go and see her myself. Just think, if he went behind the partition, damn it! Opening the curtains, the old kite-like eyes glanced at the bed. But it was all right...God bless! Believe it or not, my old man and I have made up our minds to be martyred. Fortunately, she—my good girl did not recognize Let him out. Almighty God! We have waited for such a day! What can we say! Poor Ivan Kuzmich! Who would have thought? . . . And Vasilisa Egolovna And Ivan Ignadych! And for what? . . And why did you spare you? Look at Shvabrin, what happened to Alexey Ivanitch? He He cut his hair in a circle too, and is drinking with them at my house at the moment! He's speculative, there's nothing else to say! When I said my niece was sick, guess what he did, he gave me a look, okay Elephant stabbed me in the heart. After all, I must thank him for not betraying her!" At this moment came the drunken shouts of the guests and Father Gerasim's call.The guest calls Tianjiu, and the host calls his wife.The priest's wife had to deal with it. "Go home, Pyotr Andreitch!" she said to me, "I don't care about you now. The gang of robbers are drunk. It would be bad if they fell into the hands of drunks. Good-bye, Pyotr Andreitch! Do as you please! There may be no other way." The priest's wife is gone.I felt a little better and went back to my residence.As I walked across the square, I saw some Bashkirs bustling under the gallows, taking the boots off the feet of the hanged.It took me a lot of effort to suppress the anger in my heart, because I knew it would be futile to interfere.Bandits were running about the fort and were robbing the officers' houses.The shouts of drunken rebels can be heard everywhere.I got home.Saverich was waiting for me at the door. "Thank God!" he exclaimed when he saw me. "I think the robbers have caught you again. Oh! Believe it or not, Master Pyotr Andreitch, we've got everything we have, the gang! Shameless fellow! Clothes, sheets, china, petty household items, nothing left. How bad it is! Thank goodness for letting you go! But, sir! Do you recognize the chief?" "No, no recognition. Who is he?" "What's the matter with you, master? Have you forgotten the drunkard who tricked you into taking your fur coat at the inn? That rabbit fur coat is still brand new. That old slicker is wearing it, and even the seams are torn!" " I was surprised.Indeed, Pugachev resembled my guide.I concluded that Pugachev and he were the same person, and only then did I understand why I had just been released.Circumstances in life are so queer that I cannot but be amazed: a rabbit-skin jacket given to a tramp saved my life from the gallows; a drunkard wandering in an inn could lay siege to a fortress and shake it The whole empire! "Would you like something to eat?" Savreich asked, not breaking his old habit. "There's nothing in the house. Let me look and find something for you." I was left alone, and I used my brain to think.what should I do?It was disgraceful for a soldier to remain in a fortress occupied by rebels, or to follow their ranks.My vocation required me to go at once to the place where I could be most useful to my country in the face of this national crisis... But love strongly compelled me to remain with Marya Ivanovna as her guardian and guardian. guard.Although I had a presentiment that the situation would no doubt soon change, yet I shuddered at the thought of the danger to which she was in. A Cossack came in and interrupted my thoughts.He came to inform me: "The great emperor wants to receive you." "Where is he?" I asked, ready to obey orders. "In the house of the Commander of the Fortress. After supper, our father went to the bathhouse and is resting now. Say, my lord! From all indications, he is quite a man! Two braised piglets for lunch. In the bathhouse, he demanded that the fire be heated as hard as possible, and Taras Kurochkin could not bear the heat, and he handed over the birch broom to Foma Pikbayev, and poured cold water on it himself. Sickened. Don't mention it! His words and deeds are different... In the bathhouse, it was said that he had the emperor's seal on his chest: on one side was a two-headed eagle the size of a five-kopeck piece, On the other side is his own portrait." I thought it unnecessary to refute the Cossack's argument, and went with him to the commander's residence.I imagined the meeting with Pugachev in advance, trying to figure out how the meeting would end.The reader can easily imagine that my mood will not be completely peaceful. ①In the Russian bathhouse, use a birch broom to get out and decontaminate. It was already dark when I reached the commander's residence.Several corpses hung on the gallows, dark and eerie.The body of the poor commander's wife was still thrown on the steps.Two Cossacks stood guard on the steps.The Cossack who had brought me went in to announce my arrival, returned shortly after, and took me into the same room where I had said good-bye to Marya Ivanovna the night before, so reluctantly. An extraordinary sight appeared before me.The table was covered with a tablecloth, jugs and glasses, and around the table sat Pugachev and a dozen or so Cossack chiefs. They were all wearing tall fur hats and colorful Cossack robes, drinking hot, flushed faces, and bright eyes.There was not Shvabrin and the sergeant who had just turned traitor among them. "Ah, my lord!" said Pugachev, as soon as he saw me, "welcome, salute! There is a seat reserved for you.Please appreciate it! " His mates squeezed a little tighter to make room for me.I sat down at the table in silence.My neighbor, a well-proportioned, handsome young Cossack, sifted me a glass of ordinary wine, which I did not touch.I observed the assembled group with curiosity.Pugachev sat in the first chair, leaning his elbows on the table, his black bearded chin resting on a huge old fist.He has a dignified appearance, good facial features, and no trace of fierceness, which makes people feel happy to see him.Now and then he addressed a man of fifty, calling him now count, now Timafyitch, and now uncle.They all treated each other like comrades, without any special flattery towards their leader.They talked about the attack this morning, the victory of the rebellion, and future actions.Everyone boasted, offered their opinion, and dared to refute Pugachev at will.At this strange council of war it was decided to march on Lemburg: a bold enough move, which, however, came close to an unfortunate success.Immediately announced the order to march tomorrow. "Okay, brothers!" Pugachev said, "before we go to bed, let's sing a song! Zhumakov, let's sing!" My neighbor let go of his high-pitched voice and sang a generous and sad song. The tracker's song, and everyone sang along with him: ① Name Fedor, Pugachev army artillery chief. Be quiet, green oak forest! Please don't disturb my peace, I'm thinking!I am a good young man. Tomorrow, my young hero will go to trial, I face the majestic judge, the Tsar himself. His Majesty the Tsar asked me: Tell me, boy!you farmer's son, You boldly cut a path, who is your partner? How many cronies do you have? I answer: Orthodox tsar, supreme benevolence! I tell you everything, tell the truth, Well, there are four of my henchmen in total. The first place is the night of killing people in the dark of the moon, The second place, a shining steel knife, The third place, a fast horse, life and death together, Fourth place, a strong and taut bow. Another sharp arrow means that the spies go first. The Supreme Orthodox Tsar said: Well done!You farmer's son, you can do it! You are bold to be a robber, and you also boldly answer my interrogation. child!I will reward you for your boldness, I give you, on the high hills of the wilderness, There are two tall pillars, one of which is horizontal. I cannot tell what impression the folk songs about the gallows made on me by these doomed men.They all looked serious, and their voices were neat, and they added a generous and elegiac emotional color to the already touching words-all these together had the magic of thrilling poetry, which shocked me. The party drank another drink, got up from the table, and said goodbye to Pugachev one by one.I wanted to follow them out, but Pugachev said to me: "Sit down! I want to talk to you again. "I sat down face to face with him. We looked at each other and were silent for a few minutes.Pugachev stared at my face, his left eye narrowed from time to time, showing a sly and comical expression.Finally he smiled, so innocently; I looked at him and laughed too, not knowing why. "Well, my lord?" he said to me. "When my boy put the noose around your neck, you must have been terrified, didn't you? Be honest! I think there was something in your eyes then." The sky is only as big as a lamb's skin. If your servant hadn't shown up, Your Excellency would have been swinging there. I recognized the old fellow at a glance. Come, Your Excellency! The one who led you into the big cart shop Man is a great emperor, do you think so? (Here, he assumes a majestic and mysterious posture.) You have committed a great crime in front of me." He went on to say: "However, because you Well done, you have served me when I had to hide my name from my enemies, and I spare you. See you later! When I have recovered my empire, then I will still I will reward you well. Will you pledge your allegiance to me? " ①Russian proverb, meaning "the soul is out of possession". The liar's questions and his ignorant tone were so ridiculous that I couldn't help but smile. "What are you laughing at?" he asked me, frowning, "Or you don't believe that I am a majestic emperor? Answer me, straight to the point!" I panicked.I can't admit that this vagabond is emperor: I think that's a loss of integrity.But to call him a liar to his face would surely lead to his death; besides, when I was dragged under the gallows, under the eyes of everyone, and my anger was rising, I had planned to do it, but it would be impossible to do it now. It seemed like a blind act of bravado.I hesitated.Pugachev waited sullenly for my answer.Finally, a sense of duty overcame my human weakness (to this day I recall that moment with pride.) I replied to Pugachev: "Please listen: I tell you the whole truth. Judge for yourself: Can I call you emperor? You are a shrewd man: you can tell at a glance if I am telling a lie." "So, who am I? Tell me what you think." "God knows who you are. But whoever you are, you're playing dangerous jokes." Pugachev cast a quick glance at me. "Well, you don't believe I'm Tsar Pyotr Fedorovich, do you?" he said. Didn’t Shika Otrebyev also become emperor? You can think of me as you like! Anyway, don’t leave me. Don’t worry about anything else! It’s Lao Tzu. As long as you are loyal to me, our family guarantees to make you a Duke and Marshal. Do you want to do it?” ① This person pretended to be the dead prince Dimitri in 1604 and rebelled, but he was actually a puppet of the Polish nobles.He occupied Moscow and served as tsar for a short time before being overthrown and ruined. "No!" I replied decisively, "I am a nobleman close to the court, and I have sworn an oath to the Empress. I cannot serve you. If you really wish me well, then please let me go back to Orenburg!" Pugachev thought about it. "If I let you go," he said, "then, will you promise not to oppose me at least?" "How can I promise you?" I replied, "you know it yourself, it's not up to me: if I'm ordered against you, I'll have to go, there's no other way. Now you're the chief yourself, don't you also ask Do the subordinates obey? When I need my service, I will not go, is that plausible? My head is in your hands: if you let me go, I will thank you; if you kill me, God will judge you .I'm telling you the truth." Pugachev was surprised by my frankness. "Just do it!" he said, and slapped me on the shoulder. "Kill if you want to kill, let go if you want. You can go east, west, north, south, and do whatever you want! Please come and say goodbye to me tomorrow, and go to sleep now! I should sleep too." I left Pugachev and went into the street.The night was very still and very cold.The stars and the moon are bright and clear, illuminating the square and the gallows.Everything in the fortress seemed still and dark.Only the small tavern was still lit, and the shouts of the belated drunks could be heard.I looked up at the priest's house.The shutters and doors are closed.It seemed that there was no movement in the house. I went back to my lodgings and saw Saveridge was worrying about my absence.His joy was beyond description when he heard the news that I was free. "Thank you, my God!" he said, making the sign of the cross. "Let's leave this fort at daybreak, and go wherever we see. I've got you something to eat, and you can eat it, young master! Eat and go to sleep, as if you were in the arms of Christ." , and slept until daylight." I listened to his words, wolfed down my dinner, and then fell asleep on the bare floor, exhausted physically and mentally. Chapter 9 Parting Met you, girl! my heart is sweet as honey; Once parted, like farewell to the soul, How miserable I am. Hraskov ① ① Khraskov (1733-1807) Russian poet.The verses here are quoted from his poem "Farewell". Early in the morning, the sound of drums, Dongdong, woke me up.I went to the assembly place and saw that Pugachev's team had gathered there, near the gallows.Those who were executed yesterday are still hanging on the gallows.Cossacks are on horseback, soldiers are carrying spears.The flags flutter in the wind.Several cannons were already on mounts, of which I recognized ours.The entire population has assembled there, waiting for the pretended emperor.On the steps of the commander's house, a Cossack brought a white Kyrgyz horse.I looked around for the commander's wife's body.It was found that she moved aside slightly and covered the cattail bag.Finally, Pugachev appeared at the door.The crowd took off their hats.Pugachev stood on the steps and greeted everyone.A leader handed him a bag full of copper coins, and he grabbed them and threw them out.The people cheered and rushed forward to pick it up. It was inevitable that someone would be injured.Pugachev's main accomplices surrounded him, including Khivabrin.I exchanged eyebrows with him, and he could only receive contempt in my eyes, so he deliberately pretended to be bitter and self-defeating.Pugachev spotted me in the crowd, nodded to me, and called me over. "Listen," he said to me, "go to Orenburg at once! Announce on my behalf to the prefect and all the generals that they will come to meet me in a week's time. Advise them and make them bow their heads. Ear, welcome me with the heart of a child. Otherwise, they will not escape the harsh punishment. Well, Your Excellency! I wish you a safe journey." Then he turned to the crowd, pointed to Shvabrin, and said: "Boys! He is your new commander. All must obey him, he will defend you, defend this fort, and be responsible to me." Hearing these few words, I was terrified.Shvabrin has become the governor of the fortress, and Maria Ivanovna will surely fall into his clutches!God!What will she do?Pugachev came down the steps.Bring him a horse.Without waiting for the Cossack to help him, he quickly jumped on his horse. At this moment, my Saweiliqi suddenly emerged from the crowd, but I saw him walking up to Pugachev and handing him a piece of paper.I couldn't figure out what he was going to do. "What?" Pugachev asked haughtily. "请读一下就明白了。"沙威里奇回答。 普加乔夫拿了那张纸看了半晌，显出聚精会神的样子。 "你怎么写得这么潦草，"他终于说，"我雪亮的眼睛也看不清。 我的书记长在哪儿？ " 一个身穿军士制服的小伙子机灵地跑到普加乔夫跟前。"大声念一念！"冒充的皇帝说，给他那张纸。我非常好奇地想要知道，我的管教人想给普加乔夫申诉什么事情。书记长一字一顿地大声朗读如下文字： 两件袍子，一件细棉布的，一件丝质条纹的，值六卢布。 "这是什么意思？"普加乔夫说，锁紧眉头。 "请让他念下去。"沙威里奇从容回答。 书记长再往下读： 细呢绿色军服一件，值七卢布。 白呢裤一条，值五卢布。 带扣袖的荷兰亚麻布衬衫十二件，值十卢布。 一套茶具外带食品盒子，值两个半卢布…… "胡说八道！"普加乔夫打断他的话，"食品盒子和带扣袖的裤子跟咱家有什么相干？" 沙威里奇干咳一声，开口解释。 "老爷子！这是我主人失物的清单，被那些恶棍抢劫……" "谁是恶棍？"普加乔夫狠狠地问道。 "我错了，说走了嘴，"沙威里奇回答。"恶棍倒不是恶棍，是你的弟兄们，连摸带扒弄走了。请别生气：人有失错，马有失蹄嘛！请让他念完。" "念下去！"普加乔夫说。书记读下去： 印花布被单一床，塔夫绸被面一床，值四卢布。 大红绒面狐皮大衣一件，值四十卢布。 此外，还有在客栈奉送给大王的兔皮袄子一件，值四卢布。 "搞什么鬼名堂！"普加乔夫怒吼一声，眼光咄咄逼人。 说实话，我真为我这可怜的管教人捏了一把冷汗。他还想狡辩，但普加乔夫喝住了他："你怎么胆敢跟我纠缠这等小事？"他吼起来，从书记长手里一把夺过那张纸，对准沙威里奇的脸摔过去。"老不死的蠢货！拿了点东西，有啥了不起？老家伙！你应该为咱家和弟兄们永远祷告上帝，因为你和你少爷没有跟那些叛徒一道被绞死……什么兔皮袄子！看老子给你兔皮袄子！你知道吗？老子就命令活剥你一张皮做袄子！" "听你吩咐，"沙威里奇回答，"我是奴仆，要对主人的财产负责。" 看来，普加乔夫突然动了宽恕之情。他调转马头走了，不再说一句话。希瓦卜林和头目们追随在后。匪帮秩序井然地出了要塞。人民出动欢送普加乔夫。只有我跟沙威里奇留在广场上。我这位管教人手里还是捏着那张清单，望着它，样子非常难过。 见到我跟普加乔夫关系融洽，他便想趁机利用一下。但他的如意算盘没有成功。我骂了他一顿，因为他这种效劳实在是帮倒忙。我忍不住笑了起来。"你就笑吧，老爷！"他说，"笑吧！等到要再添置这些家什的时候，走着瞧，看你还笑得成！" 我匆匆赶到神父的家里去跟玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜会面。神父太太一碰面就告诉我一个坏消息。昨夜里玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜发高烧。她躺在床上，人事不知并且说胡话。神父太太领我进了她的房间。我轻轻地走到她的床边。她脸色大大变样，使我惊讶。她认不出我了。我在她床边站了好久，盖拉西姆神父和他心地慈悲的太太似乎说了不少安慰我的话，可我一概没有听进去。阴森恐怖的念头使得我心潮起伏。这个可怜无靠的孤女，置身于凶狠的暴徒中间，自然处境不堪设想，而我又无能为力。想到此，我不禁毛骨悚然。希瓦卜林！一想起希瓦卜林，我就心如刀割。冒充的皇帝任命他管辖要塞，而这不幸的姑娘正好身陷其中，势必要成为他发泄仇恨的对象，他一朝权在手，就能够为所欲为。我如何对付？如何帮助她？如何从恶棍的掌心里搭救她呢？只有一个办法：我决定立即去奥伦堡，催促他们趁早解放白山炮台，我本人则尽力促其实现。我跟神父以及阿库琳娜·潘菲洛夫娜道别，深情地把那个我已经当成了妻子的姑娘托付给她。我抓住可怜的姑娘的手，吻着它，泪如雨下。"别了！"神父太太送我时对我说，"别了，彼得·安德列伊奇！或许太平以后我们还会见面。别忘了我们，常写信来。可怜的玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜现在除了你，就没有一个安慰她、保护她的人了。" 出来走到广场上，我站了片刻，抬头望望绞架，向它一鞠躬，然后出了要塞，走上去奥伦堡的大道，沙威里奇紧紧跟在我后面。 我走着，思绪万端，突然听到身后马蹄得得。我回转身一看，有个哥萨克从要塞里骑马直奔过来，手里还抓了另一匹巴什基尔马的缰绳，他很远就对我打手势。我停下，立刻就认出那就是我们的军曹。他到了我跟前，下了马，把另一匹马的缰绳交给我，说道："大人！我们的父王赏赐您这匹马和从他身上脱下来的这件皮大衣（马鞍上搁了一件羊皮大衣。）还有嘛，"军曹说到这儿，口齿不清了。"他还赏给你……半个卢布的银币……不过嘛，我路上掉了，请您多多包涵。"沙威里奇斜起眼睛盯着他，气愤地说道："路上掉了！你怀里是啥玩意儿丁当响？没良心的东西！"我怀里有东西丁当响吗？"军曹反驳说，一点也不慌张，"老头，上帝作证！那是笼头上的铜配件磕碰得响，哪来的半个卢布的银币？""好了！"我说，打断他们的争吵，"请你替我感谢派你来的那位。那枚银币，你回去的路上再找找看，找到了就拿去喝酒吧！""谢谢您，大人！"他回答，调转马头，"我要为你永远祷告上帝！"说了这话，他便策马转回程，一只手揣着怀兜，转眼就不见了。 我穿上皮大衣，骑上马，沙威里奇坐我后头。"你看，少爷！"老头儿说，"我向那个骗子叩头请愿没有白费劲吧！那贼不好意思了。虽说这匹巴什基尔长腿劣马和这件羊皮大衣不值几个钱，还不顶那帮强盗抢去的和你送给他的东西的一半，不过，终归用得着，从恶狗身上揪下一撮毛也是好的。" 第十章围城 占领了草地和高冈，他居高临下， 象盘旋的苍鹰，朝下一望。 下令堡垒下边摆开战场， 暗藏一尊尊大炮，今夜要猛攻城垣。 ——赫拉斯可夫① ①引自赫拉斯可夫的长诗《俄罗斯颂》（1779）。 快到奥伦堡的时候，我们见到一群剃光头、带脚镣的囚犯，脸上还打了钤印。他们在驻防军老弱残兵的监督下修筑工事。有的推车运走壕沟里的泥巴，有的挥锄挖土。泥水匠在土城上搬砖，修砌城墙。城门口哨兵拦住我们，要检查身分证。听说我们是从白山炮台来的，那个中士当即带领我们直接去将军的住处。 我们在花园里见到了将军。他正在查看苹果树，秋风已经刮去了树叶。在一个老花匠帮助下，他细心地给树干扎御寒的草包。他脸上显出安详、健康和怡然自得的神色。他欢迎我的到来，询问有关我亲身经历的那些可怕的事件。我都告诉了他。老人注意地听我叙述，一边删剪枯枝。"可怜的米龙诺夫！"当我说完了悲惨的故事以后，他感叹道，"多可惜，一个多好的军官！而米龙诺娃太太是位好心肠的女人，她的蘑菇腌得多好吃啊！玛莎，上尉的女儿怎么样了？"我回答说，她还留在要塞里，由神父太太照管。"唉，唉！"将军说，"那可不好，很不好。无论如何切莫指望叛匪们会有纪律。那苦命的姑娘将来可怎么办呢？"我回答说，白山炮台不远，大概，将军大人会从速调兵去解救那儿的居民。将军摇摇头，不以为然。"再看看，再看看，"他说，"这个问题，我们得从长计议。回头请你来喝杯茶。今日我这儿要开军事会议。你可以在会上汇报有关普加乔夫这个无赖以及他的军队的真实情况。现在你去休息吧！" 我走到派给我的住处，沙威里奇早已在那儿动手收拾，我焦急地等待开会的时刻。读者不难猜想，这次会议对我的命运既然有如此重大的影响，我自然不会耽误的。我准时到了将军家。 在将军家里我碰到了一位本城的大员，记得似乎是税务局长。他是个满面红光的胖大官人，上了年纪，身穿锦缎长袍。他向我打听他称之为教亲的伊凡·库兹米奇的惨死情况。他常常打断我的叙述，节外生枝地提出一堆问题，发表感时伤世的议论。他的谈吐，如若不能证明他素谙用兵韬略，起码也说明他观察敏锐，是个天生的智囊。这时，被邀的人陆续到齐了。他们中间，除了将军本人以外，没有一个军人。大家就座，给每个人上了茶。将军非常清楚细致地说明当前的事态。"时至今日，先生们！"他继续说道，"必须决定，我们应该采取何种策略以剿灭叛匪：是攻还是守？两种策略各有利弊。攻则可望速战速决，守则较为稳妥无虞……好！请诸位按法定程序各抒己见，即是说，以最低的官阶开始。准尉先生！"他转向我说："请您首先发表高见。" 我起立，三言两语描述了普加乔夫和他那一伙匪帮，然后十分肯定地说，那冒充的皇帝是无法抵挡官军的。 我的意见，在场的官员都大不以为然。他们认为，那不过是年轻人鲁莽和逞能罢了。大家窃窃私议，我分明听到有人细声说："乳臭未干。"将军转脸望着我，脸上浮现一丝笑意，说道："准尉先生！军事会议上首先发言的总是主张进攻。这成了一条规律。下面，继续听取诸位的意见。六品文官先生！请您发表高见。" 那位穿锦缎长袍的老头匆匆喝光羼了不少甜酒的第三杯茶，对将军说："大人！我想，应当不攻也不守。" "那怎么行，六品文官先生？"困惑不解的将军说。"不是攻，便是守，再无其他用兵之法了。" "大人！可用收买之法。" "嘿嘿！您的高见妙不可言。收买当成策略，是可行的。我们要采用您的计谋。可以悬赏收买那个无赖的脑袋，出七十个卢布，甚至出一百……可以从秘密经费中开支……" "到那时，"税务局长抢着说，"如若那帮匪徒不把他们的头头带上脚镣手铐献给我们，那么，我就是一头吉尔吉斯公羊，而不是什么六品文官了。" "让我们从长计议吧！"将军回答，"不过，在任何情况下，军事上必须采取措施。先生们！请再按程序发表意见。" 大家的议论全都反对我。官员们一致谈到军队不可靠，成功没把握，说是必须小心谨慎以及诸如此类的论调。全都认为，以大炮作掩护，躲到石头城墙后面是为上策，比暴露在开阔地带去碰运气要明智得多。最后，将军听取了大家的意见以后，敲掉烟斗里的灰烬，说了下面的话： "诸位先生！我应当向诸位表明，我个人是完全同意准尉先生的意见的，因为他的意见符合一切健全的战术原则，进攻的策略差不多总是比防御的策略要优越。" 说到这儿，他不说了，动手装烟斗。我的自尊心得到了满足。我高傲地望着兖兖诸公，他们却交头接耳，流露出不满和不安的神色。 "不过，诸位先生！"将军又接着说下去，深深叹了一口气，同时吐出一口浓烟，"我不敢贸然担当如此重大的责任，因为我受仁圣之君女皇陛下之命，对此数省有守土之责，此事非同小可。因此，我赞同在座诸位大多数人的意见，现在决定：采用最明智的万全之策，即坚守城池以待围攻，依仗炮兵的威力，如若可能，再加短促突击，以期粉碎敌人的进攻。" 这一回，轮到官儿们嘲弄地瞅着我了。Break up the meeting.我不能不为这位可敬的军人的软弱无能而惋惜，他竟然放弃自己的见解，屈从毫无经验的外行的意见。 在这次重要会议几天之后，我们便得知普加乔夫说到做到，果然向奥伦堡进逼了。我站在城墙上从高处瞭望叛匪的队伍。我觉得，他们的人数自从我目击的最后一次进攻以来，已经增加十倍。他们还有了炮队，那是普加乔夫攻陷几座小炮台之后缴获的。我想起了军事会议上的决定，预料到将长期困守在奥伦堡城内，我禁不住伤心得差点哭了起来。 我不来描述奥伦堡之围，那是史学家的事，家庭纪事中不必过多涉及。我只简单说几句。这次围城，由于地方当局考虑不周，致使居民蒙受极大的苦难，他们忍饥挨饿，经历了各种灾殃。不难猜想，奥伦堡城内的生活是不堪忍受的。大家全都灰心丧气，听天由命；物价飞涨，大家为此唉声叹气；炮弹呼啸，落进院子里，他们视若等闲；甚至连普加乔夫的进攻也不大能引起他们的惶恐了。我烦闷得要死。时间在飞逝。我收不到白山炮台寄来的信。道路全被切断了。跟玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜的分离使我万难忍受。她生死不明，一想起来我就心痛。我唯一的消愁解闷之法便是策马出城打游击。多亏普加乔夫送了我一匹好马，我跟它分享我那一点点可怜的食物，每天骑着它冲出城去跟普加乔夫的骑兵互相射击。这类交锋，由于对方吃得饱，喝得足，马匹又精壮，因而叛匪们总是占上风。城内疲惫不堪的骑兵不能打败他们。我方饿着肚子的步兵间或也到城外去，但深深的积雪妨碍他们有效地抗击敌方分散的骑兵。大炮从城墙高处漫无目标地乱放，而要把大炮拖到城外去又由于马匹瘦弱，总是陷在雪里不能动弹。我们的军事行动就是这个样子。这一切，便是奥伦堡大员称颂的所谓谨慎和明智之策。 有一天，我们竟然有幸打散了敌方一支密集的人马，追逐他们，我骑马赶上了一名落荒的哥萨克。我正要举起土耳其军刀朝他砍下去，他却突然摘下帽子，喊道： "您好哇，彼得·安德列伊奇！上帝保佑您！" 我一看，认出了他就是我们的军曹。我说不出地高兴。 "你好哇，马克西梅奇！"我对他说，"你离开白山炮台好久了吗？" "不久。彼得·安德列伊奇少爷！昨天刚从那里来。我有一封信带给您。" "信在哪里？"我喊道，心里无比激动。 "在我兜里。"马克西梅奇回答，手伸进怀里去摸，"我答应巴拉莎无论如何要把这封信交给您。"他当即递给我一张折叠的纸，立刻策马而去。我展开那张纸，战战兢兢默读如下的文字： 上帝突然无端夺走了我的父母。从今以后，世上便没有了我的亲人和保护人了。我只得请求您，因为我深知您一向希望我好并且您一贯乐于帮助任何人。我祈祷上帝，但愿这封信无论如何也要落到您手里。马克西梅奇答应把这封信送给您。巴拉莎从马克西梅奇那儿听说，他多次从远处看见您出城打游击，说您完全不顾死活，说您并不怀念那些为您而流泪祈祷的人。我病了好久。康复以后，那个顶替先父管辖我们要塞的亚历克赛·伊凡诺维奇搬出普加乔夫相威胁，逼迫盖拉西姆神父将我交给他。我此刻住在我原来的房子里，行动受监视。亚历克赛·伊凡诺维奇强迫我嫁给他。他说，他救过我的命，因为阿库琳娜·潘菲洛夫娜曾经对强盗佯称我是她的侄女，这个骗局他没有揭穿。不过，我宁死也不愿做亚历克赛·伊凡诺维奇这样的人的妻室。他待我很残忍，威胁我说，如果我不回心转意答应他，那么，他就把我送交强盗营里去，到那时，您就跟莉莎维塔·哈尔洛娃①有同样的下场了。我请求亚历克赛·伊凡诺维奇让我考虑考虑。他答应再等三天。三天以后如果还不嫁他，那他就毫不留情了。Dear Pyotr Andreich!您是我唯一的保护人了。请您来拯救我这苦命的孤女吧！请您恳求将军和全体指挥官火速派来救兵，如若可能，您自己也来一趟。 永远忠于您的苦命的孤女：玛利亚·米龙诺娃启 ①下湖要塞司令的年轻的妻子，被俘后，得到普加乔夫的宠幸，不久被普加乔夫的左右处死。 念完了这封信，我差点发疯了。我毫不吝惜地鞭策我那匹可怜的马向城里飞驰。一路上我左思右想，设想各种搭救可怜的姑娘的办法，终于还是束手无策。进了城，我直奔将军家，慌慌张张跑进他的府邸。 将军在他办公室里来回踱步，抽着他那海泡石烟斗。见到我，他站住了。大概，我的脸色使他大为惊讶。他关切地探问我匆忙找他的原因。 "大人！"我向他说，"我特来求您，把您当成父亲。看在上帝的分上，请别拒绝我的请求。这件事关系我一生的幸福。" "什么事，亲爱的？"吃惊的老人问道，"我能为你做点什么事呢？说吧！" "大人！请您命令我带一连士兵和五十名哥萨克去清剿白山炮台。" 将军专注地盯着我，大概以为我发疯了，（这猜想差不多没有错。） "怎么？清剿白山炮台？"他终于开口问道。 "我保证成功，"我热烈地回答，"只求您放我去。" "不行！年青人！"他说，摇摇头，"这么远的距离，敌人很容易切断交通线，使你们失去跟战略基地之间的联络，彻底打垮你们。交通线一旦切断……" 我见他一心想纵谈用兵之术了，心里着慌，便赶紧打断他的话。"米龙诺夫上尉的女儿，"我对他说，"给我写来了一封信。 她请求救援。希瓦卜林逼她嫁给他。 " "真有这事？哦！希瓦卜林是个大大的骗子，有朝一日落进我的掌心，我要当天就审判他，然后绑赴城墙上把他枪毙！ 不过，暂时还得忍耐一下……" "忍耐一下！"我禁不住叫了起来，"可他就要娶玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜哩！……" "哦！"将军又说，"那倒不坏。先让她暂时做做希瓦卜林的老婆也好：他目前可以保护她。将来等我们把他枪毙了，到那时，上帝保佑，再给她找个男人。漂亮的小寡妇不守空闺，我是说，小寡妇找男人要比黄花闺女容易得多。" "我甘愿死掉！"我发疯似的说，"也不愿让她嫁给希瓦卜林！" "哦，哦！"老头说，"现在我明白了。看起来，你爱上了玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜。啊！那又当别论了。我可怜的小伙子！不过，我还是不能给你一连兵和五十名哥萨克。那种远征是不明智的。我不能贸然承担责任。" 我垂下头，绝望了。突然，我脑子里一闪念：欲知后事如何，且听下回分解——正如旧时小说家之所言。