第2章

ThenIunderstoodwhatwasthematter，forIhadseenasimilarcasebefore。Yetforthemomentacertainfeelingofshynessmademeedgeawayfromheralittle；andasIdidso，sheutteredaprolongedmoan，andheralmostburstingeyeballsventedhot，murkytearswhichtrickleddownhertenseandlividfeatures。 ThereuponIturnedtoheragain，and，throwingdowncooking-pot，teapot，andwallet，laidheronherback，andstrovetobendherkneesupwardsinthedirectionofherbody。Meanwhileshesoughttorepelmewithblowsonfaceandbreast，andatlengthrolledontoherstomach。Then，raisingherselfonallfours，she，sobbing，gasping，andcursinginabreath，crawledawaylikeabearintoaremoterportionofthethicket。 “Beast！“shepanted。“Oh，youdevil！“ Yet，evenasthewordsescapedherlips，herarmsgavewaybeneathher，andshecollapseduponherface，withlegsstretchedout，andherlipsemittingafreshseriesofconvulsivemoans。 Excitednowtofeverpitch，Ihurriedlyrecalledmysmallstoreofknowledgeofsuchcasesandfinallydecidedtoturnheronherback，and，asbefore，tostrivetobendherkneesupwardsinthedirectionofherbody。Alreadysignsofimminentparturitionwerenotwanting。 “Liestill，“Isaid，“andifyoudothatitwillnotbelongbeforeyouaredeliveredofthechild。“ Whereafter，runningdowntothesea，Ipulledupmysleeves，and，onreturning，embarkeduponmyrole，ofaccoucheur。 Scoringtheearthwithherfingers，uprootingtuftsofwitheredgrass，andstrugglingtothrustthemintohermouth，scatteringsoiloverherterrible，inhumanfaceandbloodshoteyes，thewomanwrithedlikeastripofbirchbarkinawoodfire。Indeed，bythistimealittleheadwascomingintoview，anditneededallmyeffortstoquellthetwitchingsofherlegs，tohelpthechildtoissue，andtopreventitsmotherfromthrustinggrassdownherdistorted，moaningthroat。Meanwhilewecursedoneanother——shethroughherteeth，andIinanundertone；she，I shouldsurmise，outofpainandshame，andI，Ifeelcertain，outofnervousness，mingledwithaperfectagonyofcompassion。 “OLord！“shegaspedwithbluelipsfleckedwithfoamashereyes(suddenlybereftoftheircolourinthesunlight)shedtearsbornoftheintolerableanguishofthematernalfunction，andherbodywrithedandtwistedasthoughherframehadbeenseveredinthemiddle。 “Away，youbrute！“washeroft-repeatedcryaswithherweakhands，handsseeminglydislocatedatthewrists，shestrovetothrustmetoadistance。YetallthetimeIkeptsayingpersuasively:“Youfool！Bringforthasquicklyasyoucan！“ and，asamatteroffact，wasfeelingsosorryforherthattearscontinuedtospurtfrommyeyesasmuchasfromhers，andmyveryheartcontractedwithpity。Also，neverdidIceasetofeelthatIoughttokeepsayingsomething；wherefore，I repeated，andagainrepeated:“Nowthen！Bringforthasquicklyaseveryoucan！“ Andatlastmyhandsdidindeedholdahumancreatureinallitspristinebeauty。Norcouldeventhemistoftearspreventmefromseeingthatthathumancreaturewasredintheface，andthattojudgefromthemannerinwhichitkeptkickingandresistingandutteringhoarsewails(whilestillboundtoitsmotherbytheligament)，itwasfeelingdissatisfiedinadvancewiththeworld。Yes，blue-eyed，andwithanoseabsurdlysunkenbetweenapairofscarlet，rumpledcheeksandlipswhichceaselesslyquiveredandcontracted，itkeptbawling:“A-aah！ A-a-ah！“ Moreover，soslipperywasitthat，asIkneltandlookedatitandlaughedwithreliefatthefactthatithadarrivedsafely，Icameneartolettingitfallupontheground:whereforeI entirelyforgotwhatnextIoughttohavedone。 “Cutit！“atlengthwhisperedthemotherwitheyesclosed，andfeaturessuddenlyswollenandresemblingthoseofacorpse。 “Aknife！“againshewhisperedwithherlividlips。“Cutit！“ Mypocket-knifeIhadhadstolenfrommeintheworkmen’sbarraque；butwithmyteethIseveredthecaul，andthenthechildgaverenewedtongueintrueOrlovianfashion，whilethemothersmiled。Also，insomecuriousfashion，themother’sunfathomableeyesregainedtheircolour，andbecamefilledaswithbluefireas，plungingahandintoherbodiceandfeelingforthepocket，shecontrivedtoarticulatewithrawandblood-fleckedlips: “Ihavenotasinglepieceofstringorribandtobindthecaulwith。“ UponthatIsetto，andmanagedtoproduceapieceofriband，andtofastenitintherequiredposition。 Thereaftershesmiledmorebrightlythanever。Soradiantlydidshesmilethatmyeyescameneartobeingblindedwiththespectacle。 “Andnowrearrangeyourself，“Isaid，“andinthemeanwhileI willgoandwashthebaby。“ “Yes，yes，“shemurmureduneasily。“Butbeverycarefulwithhim——beverygentle。“ Yetitwaslittleenoughcarethattherosylittlehomunculusseemedtorequire，sostrenuouslydidheclenchhisfists，andbawlasthoughheweremindedtochallengethewholeworldtocombat。 “Come，now！“atlengthIsaid。“Youmusthavedone，oryourveryheadwilldropoff。“ Yetnosoonerdidhefeelthetouchoftheoceanspray，andbegintobesprinkledWithitsjoyouscaresses，thanhelamentedmoreloudlyandvigorouslythanever，andsocontinuedthroughouttheprocessofbeingslappedonthebackandbreastas，frowningandstruggling，heventedsquallaftersquallwhilethewaveslavedhistinylimbs。 “Shout，youngOrlovian！“saidIencouragingly。“Letflywithallthepowerofyourlungs！“ Andwiththat，Itookhimbacktohismother。Ifoundherwitheyesclosedandlipsdrawnbetweenherteethasshewrithedinthetormentofexpellingtheafter-birth。ButpresentlyI detectedthroughthesighsandgroansawhispered: “Givehimtome！Givehimtome！“ “Youhadbetterwaitalittle，“Iurged。 “Ohno！Givehimtomenow！“ Andwithtremulous，unsteadyhandssheunhookedthebosomofherbodice，and，freeing(withmyassistance)thebreastwhichnaturehadpreparedforatleastadozenchildren，appliedthemutinousyoungOrloviantothenipple。Asforhim，heatonceunderstoodthematter，andceasedtosendforthfurtherlamentation。 “OpureandholyMotherofGod！“shegaspedinalong-drawn，quiveringsighasshebentadishevelledheadoverthelittleone，and，betweenintervalsofsilence，felltoutteringsoft，abruptexclamations。Then，openingherineffablybeautifulblueeyes，thehallowedeyesofamother，sheraisedthemtowardstheazureheavens，whileintheirdepthstherewascomingandgoingaflameofjoyandgratitude。Lastly，liftingalanguidhand，shewithaslowmovementmadethesignofthecrossoverbothherselfandherbabe。 “ThankstotheeOpurestMotherofGod！“shemurmured。 “Thanksindeedtothee！“ Thenhereyesgrewdimandvagueagain，andafterapause(duringwhichsheseemedtobescarcelybreathing)shesaidinahardandmatter-of-facttone: “Youngfellow，unfastenmysatchel。“ AndwhilstIwassoengagedshecontinuedtoregardmewithasteadygaze；but，whenthetaskwascompletedshesmiledshamefacedly，andonhersunkencheeksandsweat-fleckedtemplestheredawnedtheghostofablush。 “Now，“saidshe，“doyou，forthepresent，goaway。“ “AndifIdoso，seethatinthemeanwhileyoudonotmoveabouttoomuch。“ “No，Iwillnot。Butpleasegoaway。“ SoIwithdrewalittle。Inmybreastasortofwearinesswaslurking，butalsoinmybreasttherewasechoingasoftandgloriouschorusofbirds，achorussoexquisitelyinaccordwiththenever-ceasingsplashoftheseathatforevercouldIhavelistenedtoit，andtotheneighbouringbrookasitpurledonitswaylikeamaidenengagedinrelatingconfidencesaboutherlover。 Presently，thewoman’syellow-scarfedhead(thescarfnowtidilyrearranged)reappearedoverthebushes。 “Come，come，goodwoman！“wasmyexclamation。“Itellyouthatyoumustnotmoveaboutsosoon。“ Andcertainlyherattitudenowwasoneofutterlanguor，andshehadperforcetograspthestemofabushwithonehandtosupportherself。Yetwhilethebloodwasgonefromherface，therehadformedinthehollowswherehereyeshadbeentwolakesofblue。 “Seehowheissleeping！“shemurmured。 And，trueenough，thechildwassoundasleep，thoughtomyeyeshelookedmuchasanyotherbabymighthavedone，savethatthecouchofautumnleavesonwhichhewasensconcedconsistedofleavesofakindwhichcouldnothavebeendiscoveredinthefarawayforestsofOrlov。 “Now，doyouyourselfliedownawhile，“wasmyadvice。 “Oh，no，“sherepliedwithashakeofherheadonitssinuousneck；“forImustbecollectingmythingsbeforeImoveontowards——“ “TowardsOtchenchiri“ “Yes。Bynowmyfolkwillhavegonemanyaverstinthatdirection。“ “Andcanyouwalksofar？“ “TheHolyMotherwillhelpme。“