Chapter 118 Part Three - Fourteen

Nekhludoff usually talked to Maslova alone after tea and dinner.Now, sitting next to Kryltzov, chatting with him, he had the same idea in mind.In passing, Nekhludoff told him about Makar's request, and also told about Makar's crimes.Kryltzov looked intently at Nekhludoff's face and listened attentively. "Yes," said Kryltzoff suddenly. "I've often thought: We travel with them, shoulder to shoulder - who are 'they'? We travel so far for them. But we don't know them and don't want to know them And they, what's worse, they hate us and see us as enemies. Look, how terrible it is."

"What's so terrible about that," interrupted Novodvorov, who had been listening to their conversation. "The masses have always only worshiped power," he said in a shrill voice. "The government is in power, they adore the government and hate us. Once we are in power, they will adore us..." Suddenly there was a sound of cursing, banging against the wall, clanging of chains, screams and shouts from the partition.Someone was being beaten, someone was shouting: "Help!" "Look, they are beasts! How can we make friends with them?" said Novodvorov calmly.

"You say they are beasts. But listen to what Nekhludoff told us just now," Kryltzov said angrily, and went on to tell how Makar risked his life to save fellow countrymen. "Not only is this not something a beast can do, it is simply a chivalrous act." "You are too sentimental!" Novodvorov said sarcastically. "It's hard for us to understand their emotions and their motives. You think it's because he has a good heart, maybe he's jealous of the convict." "Why don't you always want to see something good in people!" Shekinina suddenly said excitedly (she was like everyone).

"What is not there cannot be seen." "They don't hesitate to take the risk of death, why do they still say it doesn't exist?" "I think," said Novodvorov, "that if we want to pursue our business," Marchay, who had been reading by the lamp, put down the book and listened attentively to his teacher. "Then, the most important thing is not to think wildly, but to face reality. You should do your best to work for the masses, but don't expect to get anything from them. The masses are the object of our work, but as long as they are as muddle-headed as they are now, they will cannot be our comrades for a day," he said in a speech. "For that reason, it is pure fantasy to expect them to help us until we have helped them through the development process."

"What development?" said Kryltzoff, flushing. "We often say that we oppose domineering and domineering. Isn't this the most terrifying form of domineering?" "Not at all overbearing," Novodvorov replied calmly. "I'm just saying that I know which way the people should go and can show them that way." "But why do you believe that the path you pointed out is correct? Isn't this the kind of arrogance that produced the Inquisition and the massacres of the Great Revolution? They also believed that it was the only correct path in line with science."

-------- ①The scouting and judging agency of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages.Mainly set up in France, Italy, Spain and other countries, under the name of suppressing heretics, they cruelly persecuted people who participated in the anti-feudal struggle, progressive thinkers and natural scientists, and subjected them to torture such as secret interrogation, torture, burning, and exile. "They lost their way, but it doesn't prove that I lost my way too. Besides, the fantasies of thinkers and the figures of economics are two different things." Novodvorov's voice shook the cell.Only he was talking, the rest were silent.

"It's always been arguing," Sekinina said after a pause in Novodvorov. "And what do you think of the matter?" Nekhludoff asked Sekinina. "I think Kryltzov is right that our views should not be imposed on the people." "And you, Katyusha?" asked Nekhludoff, smiling, waiting for Maslova's answer, but worried that she might say something inappropriate. "I think people are bullied all the time," she said, flushing. "People are bullied too much." "That's right, Maslova, that's right," cried Nabatov, "the common people are being bullied. They must not be bullied anymore. This is what our whole work is about."

"That's a very strange idea of ​​the revolutionary task," said Novodvorov, and then fell silent, puffing on his cigarette angrily. "I can't get on with him," Kryltzoff said in a low voice, and then fell silent. "Better not to talk about it," said Nekhludoff.