第四章

A fierce and merciless class struggle gripped the Ukraine. More and more people took to arms and each clash brought forth new fighters.

激烈而残酷的阶级斗争席卷着乌克兰。愈来愈多的人拿起了武器,每一次战斗都有新的人参加进来。

An avalanche of Petlyura bands of all shades and hues overran the gubernia, led by little chieftains and big ones, all manner of Golubs, Archangels, Angels and Gordiuses and a host of other bandits.

佩特留拉手下那些五花八门的匪帮在全省横冲直撞,什么戈卢勃、阿尔汉格尔、安格尔、戈尔季以及诸如此类的大小头目,这些数不清的各式各样匪徒,到处为非作歹。

Gone were the days of peace and tranquillity for the respectable citizen.

小市民过惯了的那种安宁平静的日子,已经成为遥远的往事了。

Out of these heterogeneous bands reinforced by kulaks and the Galician regiments of Ataman Konovalets’ siege corps, “Chief Ataman” Petlyura formed his regiments and divisions. And when Red partisan detachments struck at this Socialist-Revolutionary and kulak rabble the very earth trembled under the pounding of hundreds and thousands of hoofs and the rumble of the wheels of machine-gun carts and gun carriages.

“大头目佩特留拉”的团和师,就是由这些乌七八糟的匪帮,加上富农,还有小头目科诺瓦利茨指挥的加里西亚地方的攻城部队拼凑起来的。红色游击队不断向这帮社会革命党和富农组成的乌合之众冲杀,于是大地就在这无数马蹄和炮车车轮下面颤抖。

The little tumbledown houses shook in the storm blasts of gun salvos, and the respectable citizen huddled against the walls of his cellar or took cover in his backyard trench.

战争的风暴袭来,隆隆炮声震撼着破旧的小屋。小市民蜷缩在地窖的墙根底下,或者躲在自家挖的避弹壕里。

Ex-officers of the tsarist army, Right and Left Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionaries — any desperado who could muster a band of cutthroats, declared himself Ataman, and some raised the yellow-and-blue Petlyura flag and established their authority over whatever area was within the scope of their strength and opportunities.

过去的军官、右翼和“左翼”乌克兰社会革命党党徒,一句话,任何一个不要命的冒险家,只要能纠集一批亡命徒,就都自封为首领,不时还打起佩特留拉的蓝黄旗,用尽一切力量和手段夺取政权。

And Avtonom Petrovich would hitch up his trousers and cast a frightened look around. “Can’t say, Afanas Kirillovich. Somebody did enter the town during the night. Who it was we’ll find out soon enough; if they start robbing the Jews, we’ll know they’re Petlyura men, and if they’re some of the ‘comrades’, we’ll be able to tell at once by the way they talk. I’m keeping an eye open myself so’s to know what portrait to hang up. Wouldn’t care to get into trouble like Gerasim Leontievich next door. You see, he didn’t look out properly and had just gone and hung up a picture of Lenin when three men rushed in — Petlyura men as it turned out. They took one look at the picture and jumped on him — a good twenty strokes they gave him. ‘We’ll skin you alive, you Communist sonofabitch,’ they shouted. And no matter how hard he tried to explain and how loud he yelled, nothing helped.”

那个阿夫托诺姆·彼得罗维奇一边系裤带,一边左右张望,惶恐地回答:“不知道啊,阿法纳斯·基里洛维奇。夜里开进来一些队伍。等着瞧吧。要是抢劫犹太人,那就准是佩特留拉的人,要是‘同志们’,那一听说话,也就知道了。我这不是在看吗,看到底该挂谁的像,可别弄错了,招惹是非。您知道吗,隔壁的格拉西姆·列昂季耶维奇就是因为没看准,糊里糊涂地把列宁的像挂了出去。刚好有三个人冲他走过来,没想到就是佩特留拉手下的人。他们一看见列宁像,就把格拉西姆抓住了。好家伙,一口气抽了他二十马鞭,一边打一边骂:‘狗杂种,共产党,我们扒你的皮,抽你的筋!’不管格拉西姆怎么分辩,怎么哭喊,都不顶事。”

In April of that turbulent 1919, the respectable citizen, dazed and terrified, would open his shutters of a morning and, peering out with sleep-heavy eyes, greet his next-door neighbour with the anxious question: “Avtonom Petrovich, do you happen to know who’s in power today?”

在那动乱的一九一九年的四月,吓得昏头昏脑的小市民,早上起来,揉着惺忪的睡眼,推开窗户,提心吊胆地询问比他起得早的邻居:“阿夫托诺姆·彼得罗维奇,今天城里是哪一派掌权?”

Noting groups of armed men coming down the street the respectable citizen closed his windows and went into hiding. Better to be on the safe side…

正说着,有一群武装人员沿着公路走来。他们俩看见,赶紧关上窗户,藏了起来。日子不太平啊!……

Now the town was in the hands of Colonel Golub, the “hope and pride” of the Transdnieper Division.

现在这座小城的主人是外第聂伯师的“荣耀和骄傲”戈卢勃上校。

Pan the Colonel had ridden at the head of the column on a splendid black stallion. In spite of the warm April sun he wore a Caucasian burka, a lambskin Zaporozhye Cossack cap with a raspberry-red crown, a cherkesska, and the weapons that went with the outfit: dagger and sabre with chased-silver hilts. Between his teeth he held a pipe with a curved stem.

上校老爷骑着黑色的高头大马走在队伍的前面。尽管四月的太阳已经暖烘烘的了,他还是披着高加索毡斗篷,戴着扎波罗什哥萨克的红顶羔皮帽子,里边穿的是切尔克斯长袍,佩着全副武装:有短剑,有镶银马刀。

His band of two thousand cutthroats had made a triumphal entry into the town the day before.

昨天他那支两千个亡命徒的队伍趾高气扬地开进了城。

As for the workers, they regarded the yellow-and-blue flags of the Petlyura thugs with suppressed hatred. They were powerless in the face of this wave of Ukrainian bourgeois chauvinism, and their spirits rose only when passing Red units, fighting fiercely against the yellow-and-blues that were bearing down on them from all sides, wedged their way into the town. For a day or two the flag so dear to the worker’s heart would fly over the town hall, but then the unit would move on again and the engulfing gloom return.

至于工人们,却是怀着满腔的仇恨瞧着佩特留拉匪帮的蓝黄旗。他们还没有力量对抗“乌克兰独立运动”这股沙文主义的逆流。只有当浴血奋战的红军部队击退佩特留拉匪帮的围攻,从这一带路过,像楔子一样插进城里的时候,工人们才活跃起来。亲爱的红旗只在市参议会房顶上飘扬一两天,部队一撤,黑暗又重新降临了。

A handsome fellow, Pan the Colonel Golub, with his black eyebrows and pallid complexion tinged slightly green from incessant carousals!

戈卢勃上校老爷是个美男子:黑黑的眉毛,白白的脸,只是由于狂饮无度,脸色白里透着微黄,而且嘴里总是叼着烟斗。

The theatre was packed. Spur-clicking officers who might have been copied from old paintings of Zaporozhye Cossacks pranced around the teachers, the priest’s daughters and the burghers’ ladies who were decked out in Ukrainian national costumes ornamented with bright-coloured embroidered flowers and multihued beads and ribbons.

剧场里挤得满满的。女教师、神甫的女儿和小市民太太们穿着鲜艳的乌克兰绣花民族服装,戴着珠光宝气的项链,饰着五彩缤纷的飘带。她们周围是一群响着马刺的军官。这些军官活像古画上的扎波罗什哥萨克。

Before the revolution Pan the Colonel had been an agronomist at the beet plantations of a sugar refinery, but that was a dull life not to be compared with the position of an Ataman, and so on the crest of the murky waves that swept the land the agronomist emerged as Pan the Colonel Golub.

革命前,上校老爷在一家糖厂的种植园里当农艺师,但是那种生活寂寞无聊,根本不能同哥萨克头目的赫赫声势相比。于是,这位农艺师就乘着浊流在全国泛滥的机会,浮游上来,成了戈卢勃上校老爷。

In the only theatre in town a gala affair was got up in honour of the new arrivals. The “flower” of the Petlyura intelligentsia was there in full force: Ukrainian teachers, the priest’s two daughters, the beautiful Anya and her younger sister Dina, some ladies of lesser standing, former members of the household of Count Potocki, a few members of the middle class, remnants of the Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionaries, who called themselves “free Cossacks”.

为了欢迎新来的队伍,城里唯一的剧院正在举行盛大的晚会。佩特留拉派士绅界的全部“精华”都出席了:一些乌克兰教师,神甫的大女儿、美人阿妮亚,小女儿季娜,一些小地主,波托茨基伯爵过去的管事,自称“自由哥萨克”的一帮小市民,以及乌克兰社会革命党的党徒。

There was no electricity, however, and the fact was reported in due course to Pan the Colonel at headquarters by his adjutant, Sublieutenant Polyantsev, who had now Ukrainianised his name and rank and styled himself Khorunzhy Palyanytsya. The Colonel, who intended to grace the evening with his presence, heard out Palyanytsya and said casually but imperiously: “See that there is light. Find an electrician and start the electric power plant if you have to break your neck doing it.”

但是没有电。事情报告到司令部上校老爷那里。上校老爷正打算光临今天的晚会,为晚会锦上添花。他听了副官(此人原是沙皇陆军少尉,姓波良采夫,现在摇身一变,成了哥萨克少尉帕利亚内查)的报告以后,漫不经心但又威风凛凛地下命令说:“电灯一定要亮。你就是掉了脑袋,也要给我找到电工,立即发电。”

Khorunzhy Palyanytsya found electricians without breaking his neck.

帕利亚内查少尉并没有掉脑袋,他找到了电工。

Within two hours Pavel and two other workers were brought to the power plant by armed guards.

两个小时之内,他的两个士兵押着保尔来到发电厂。电工和机务员也是用同样的办法找来的。

This blunt exposition of the situation had its effect and the lights came on at the appointed time.

这个简短的命令奏了效。到了指定的时间,电灯果然亮了。

“If you don’t have the lights on by seven I’ll have all three of you strung up,” Palyanytsya told them curtly, pointing to an iron beam overhead.

帕利亚内查指着一根铁梁,直截了当地对他们说:“要是到七点钟电灯还不亮,我就把你们三个统统吊死在这里!”

The regimental band blared. On the stage feverish preparations were under way for the performance of Nazar Stodolya scheduled for the evening.

军乐队奏着乐曲。舞台上正在忙乱地准备演出《纳扎尔·斯托多利亚》。

“Very good, Pan Colonel.”

“是,上校大人。”

The evening was in full swing when Pan the Colonel arrived with his lady, the buxom yellow-haired daughter of the barkeeper in whose house he was staying. Her father being a man of means, she had been educated at the Gymnasium in the gubernia town.

当上校老爷带着他的情人到达剧场的时候,晚会进入了高潮。上校的情人是一个胸部丰满、长着浅褐色头发的姑娘,是上校的房东、酒店老板的女儿。酒店老板很有钱,他曾把女儿送到省城中学念过书。

When the two had taken the seats reserved for them as guests of honour in the front row, Pan the Colonel gave the signal and the curtain rose so suddenly that the audience had a glimpse of the stage director’s back as he hurried off the stage.

他们在前排荣誉席就坐之后,上校老爷表示节目可以开演了。于是帷幕立刻拉开,观众看到了匆忙跑进后台的导演的背影。

During the play the officers and their ladies whiled away the time at the refreshment counter, filling up on raw homebrew supplied by the ubiquitous Palyanytsya and delicacies acquired by requisitioning. By the end of the performance they were all well under the weather.

演剧的时候,军官们带着女伴在酒吧间里大吃大喝。那里有神通广大的帕利亚内查搜罗来的上等私酒和强征来的各种美味。到剧终的时候,他们已经酩酊大醉了。

There was general applause and the audience emptied out into the yard to give the Petlyura soldiers posted to guard the guests a chance to carry out the chairs and clear the dance floor.

台下的人一齐鼓掌,接着就都走到院子里,好让那些担任晚会警卫的士兵搬出椅子,清理舞场。

After the final curtain Palyanytsya leaped on the stage “Ladies and gentlemen, the dancing is about to begin,” he announced with a theatrical sweep of his arm.

帕利亚内查跳上舞台,装腔作势地把手一扬,用乌克兰话宣布:“诸位先生,现在开始跳舞!”

A half an hour later the theatre was the scene of wild revelry.

半小时以后,剧场里又热闹起来。

The Petlyura officers, flinging all restraint to the winds, furiously danced the hopak with local belles flushed from the heat, and the pounding of heavy boots rocked the walls of the ramshackle theatre building.

舞兴大发的佩特留拉军官们同那些热得满脸通红的当地美人疯狂地跳着果拍克舞。他们用力跺着脚,震得这座旧剧场的墙壁直发颤。

In the meantime a troop of armed horsemen was approaching the town from the direction of the flour mill.

正在这个时候,一队骑兵从磨坊那边朝城里跑来。

A Petlyura sentry-post stationed at the town limits sprang in alarm to their machine guns and there was a clicking of breech-blocks in the night. Through the darkness came the sharp challenge: “Halt! Who goes there?”

城边有戈卢勃部队的机枪岗哨。哨兵发现了正在走近的骑兵,警觉起来,急忙扑到机枪跟前,哗啦一声推上枪机。夜空里响起了厉声的呼喊:“站住!干什么的?”

“That’s right,” replied an officer who had also stepped forward.

“是的。”一个军官迎上前去说。

Two dark figures loomed out of the darkness. One of them stepped forward and roared out in a hoarse bass: “Ataman Pavlyuk with his detachment. Who are you? Golub’s men?”

黑暗中有两个模糊的人影走上前来。其中一个走到岗哨跟前,用醉鬼的破锣嗓子吼道:“我是头目帕夫柳克,后边是我的部队,你们是戈卢勃的人吗?”

“I’ll phone headquarters at once,” replied the officer and disappeared into a tiny hut on the roadside.

“我马上打电话问司令部。”军官说完,走进了路边的小屋。

“Where can I billet my men?” Pavlyuk asked.

“把我的队伍安顿在哪儿?”帕夫柳克问。

A minute later he came out and began issuing orders: “Clear the machine gun off the road, men! Let the Pan Ataman pass.”

一分钟以后,他从小屋里跑出来,命令说:“弟兄们,机枪从大路上撤开,给帕夫柳克大人让路。”

“Tickets?”

“票?”

Pavlyuk reined in his horse in front of the brightly illuminated theatre where a great many people were strolling out in the open air.

帕夫柳克勒住缰绳,在灯火辉煌的剧院门口停住了。剧场外面十分热闹。

The newcomers were noticed at once. Particularly conspicuous was the huge frame of Pavlyuk; he was wearing an officer’s coat of good cloth, blue breeches of the kind worn in the guards, and a shaggy fur cap. A Mauser hung from a strap slung over his shoulder and a hand grenade stuck out of his pocket.

进来的人立刻引起了场内人们的注意。特别显眼的是帕夫柳克。他身材高大,穿着上等呢料的军官制服和蓝色近卫军制裤,戴着毛茸茸的高加索皮帽,肩上斜挎着一支毛瑟枪,衣袋里露出一颗手榴弹。

“Some fun going on here by the look of it,” he said, turning to the captain riding beside him. “Let’s dismount, Gukmach, and join the merrymaking. We’ll pick ourselves a couple of women — I see the place is thick with them. Hey, Stalezhko,” he shouted. “You billet the lads with the townsfolk.

“嗬,挺快活呢,”他转身对身边的哥萨克大尉说。“古克马奇,下马吧,咱们也来乐一乐。这儿有的是娘们,挑几个可心的玩玩。”接着他喊了一声:“喂,斯塔列日科!你安排弟兄们住到各家去。

At the entrance to the theatre Pavlyuk was stopped by two armed Petlyura men.

两名武装卫兵在剧院门口拦住了帕夫柳克。

We’ll stop here. Escort, follow me.” And he heaved himself heavily from his staggering mount.

我们就留在这儿了。卫兵跟我来。”他一翻身,沉甸甸地跳到地上,把马带得摇晃了一下。

Pavlyuk gave them a derisive look and pushed one of them aside with his shoulder. The dozen men with him followed suit. Their horses were outside, tethered to the fence.

帕夫柳克轻蔑地瞧了他们一眼,肩膀一拱,把一个卫兵推到了一边。他身后的十二个人也这样跟着闯进了剧院。他们的马匹留在外面,拴在栅栏上。

His partner was the priest’s elder daughter, who was whirling round with such abandon that her skirts flared out high enough to give the delighted men a good view of her silk petticoats.

他的舞伴是神甫的大女儿。她兴奋到了极点,飞速地旋转着,裙子就像扇子一样展开,露出她那丝织的三角裤衩。这使周围的军官们看得非常开心。

“Who’s that?” the whisper passed through the crowd around the dance floor where Golub’s second in command was executing a wild dance.

“这个人是谁?”人们交头接耳地问。他们正在看疯狂的“风雪舞”,戈卢勃的助手领着一帮人,围成一圈,跳得正起劲。

Forcing his way through the crowd, Pavlyuk went right out onto the dance floor.

帕夫柳克用肩膀挤开人群,走进圈子里。

Pavlyuk stared with glazed eyes at the priest’s daughter’s legs, passed his tongue over his dry lips, then strode across the dance floor to the orchestra platform, stopped, and flicked his plaited ridingwhip. “Come on, give us the hopak!”

他用混浊的目光盯着神甫女儿的大腿,舔了舔干燥的嘴唇,然后挤出圈子,径直朝乐队走去。他走到舞台脚灯前站住,挥舞了一下马鞭,喊道:“奏果拍克舞曲,卖点力气!”

A sharp movement of Pavlyuk’s hand and the whip cut down the conductor’s back. The latter jumped as if stung and the music broke off, plunging the hall into silence.

帕夫柳克扬起马鞭,朝着指挥的后背使劲抽了一鞭。指挥像给蝎子蜇了似的,跳了起来。音乐立刻停止了,全场顿时寂静下来。

“What insolence!” The barkeeper’s daughter was furious. “You can’t let him do that,” she cried, clutching at the elbow of Golub seated at her side.

“太霸道了!”酒店老板的女儿气愤地说。“你可不能轻饶了他。”她神经质地抓住坐在身旁的戈卢勃的胳膊。

The conductor paid no attention to the order.

乐队指挥没有理睬他。

Golub heaved himself to his feet, kicked aside a chair, took three paces forward and stopped faceto face with Pavlyuk. He had recognised the newcomer at once, and he had scores to settle with this rival claimant for local power.

戈卢勃慢腾腾地站起来,一脚踢开面前的椅子,三大步就走到帕夫柳克跟前,面对面站住了。他立刻认出这个人就是同他在本县争地盘的对手帕夫柳克。他正有一笔帐要找这家伙算呢。

Only a week ago Pavlyuk had played the most scurvy trick on Pan the Colonel.

就在一个星期前,这个帕夫柳克曾用最卑鄙的手段暗算过他戈卢勃上校老爷。

In the meantime the Reds had smashed up Golub’s right flank and moved on.

就在那个时候,红军把戈卢勃的右翼打得落花流水,然后撤走了。

At the height of a battle with a Red regiment which had mauled Golub’s detachment on more than one occasion, Pavlyuk, instead of striking at the Bolsheviks from the rear, had broken into a town, overcome the resistance of the small pickets the Reds had left there, and, leaving a screening force to protect himself, sacked the place in the most thorough fashion.

在戈卢勃的队伍正同多次叫他吃苦头的红军酣战的时候,帕夫柳克本来应该从背后袭击布尔什维克,但是他没有这样做,反而把部队拉到一个小镇,消灭了红军几个岗哨,轻而易举地占领了小镇。接着就把周围警戒起来,在镇里撒开手大肆抢劫。

Of course, being a true Petlyura man, he saw to it that the Jewish population were the chief victims.

作为佩特留拉的“嫡系”部队,他们蹂躏的对象是犹太人。

And now this arrogant cavalry Captain had burst in here and had the audacity to strike Pan the Colonel’s own bandmaster under his very eyes. No, this was too much. Golub knew that if he did not put the conceited upstart in his place his prestige in the regiment would be gone.

现在,这个恬不知耻的骑兵大尉又闯到这里,竟敢当着他上校老爷的面,动手打他的乐队指挥。不行,他决不能善罢甘休。戈卢勃心里明白,要是他现在不给这个妄自尊大的小头目一点厉害瞧瞧,往后他在部下的心目中就会威信扫地。

For several seconds the two men stood there in silence glaring at each other.

他们俩虎视眈眈地对峙了几秒钟。

Gripping the hilt of his sabre with one hand and feeling for the revolver in his pocket with the other, Golub rapped out: “How dare you lay your hands on my men, you scoundrel!”

戈卢勃一只手紧紧握住马刀柄,另一只手去摸衣袋里的手枪。他大声喝道:“混蛋!你竟敢打我的部下!”

Pavlyuk’s hand crept toward the grip of the Mauser.

帕夫柳克的一只手也慢慢地移向毛瑟枪枪套。

“Easy there, Pan Golub, easy, or you may trip yourself up. Don’t step on my pet corn. I’m liable to lose my temper.”

“冷静点,冷静点,戈卢勃大人,小心栽个大跟头。别专踩别人的鸡眼嘛,我也会发火的。”

This was more than Golub could stand. “Throw them out and give them twenty-five lashes each!” he shouted.

这实在太过分了。“把他们抓起来,拉出去,每人二十五鞭子,给我狠狠抽!”戈卢勃大叫。

Pavlyuk lost his fur hat in the scrimmage, his face was bruised and his weapons were gone and now he was beside himself with rage. He and his men leapt into the saddle and galloped down the street.

帕夫柳克被打得鼻青脸肿,羊皮高帽丢了,武器也没有了。他气得暴跳如雷,带着手下的人跳上马,顺着大街飞奔而去。

In a few minutes Pavlyuk and his followers, disarmed and beaten, were dragged out of the hall, and thrown out into the street.

几分钟以后,帕夫柳克一伙人被解除了武装。戈卢勃的人一边打,一边拖,把他们弄到院子里,然后扔到了大街上。

The officers fell upon Pavlyuk and his men like a pack of hounds.

他部下的军官立刻像一群猎狗似的,从四面八方扑向帕夫柳克那一伙。

A shot crashed out with a report that sounded as if an electric bulb had been smashed against the floor, and the struggling men swirled and spun down the hall like two packs of fighting dogs. In the wild melee men slashed at each other with sabres and dug their fingers into hair and throats, while the women, squealing with terror like stuck pigs, scattered away from the contestants.

啪的一声,有人放了一枪,如同灯泡摔在地上一样。接着,这两群野狗扭到一起,厮打起来。混战中,他们用马刀胡乱对砍,你揪我的头发,我掐你的脖子。吓掉了魂的女人们,像猪崽一样尖叫着,四散逃开。

The orchestra struck up again but there was to be no more frolicking that night nevertheless.

乐队又奏起乐曲,但是舞还是没有跳成。

Palyanytsya hastened to carry out the orders.

帕利亚内查赶忙执行了命令。

The Colonel had not circled the dance floor once with the priest’s daughter when the sentries ran into the hall shouting: “Pavlyuk’s surrounding the theatre!”

上校和神甫女儿还没有跳完第一圈,哨兵就闯了进来,大声报告:“帕夫柳克的人把剧院包围了!”

“The dancing will continue until morning, ladies and gentlemen,” Golub replied stubbornly to the protests that showered upon him. “I shall dance the first waltz myself.”

剧场里喧声四起,但是戈卢勃置之不理,仍然固执地宣布:“诸位先生和女士,我们今天要跳个通宵。现在我来领头跳一个华尔兹舞。”

The evening was broken up. No one felt inclined to make merry after what had happened. The women refused to dance and insisted on being taken home, but Golub would not hear of it. “Post sentries,” he ordered. “Nobody is to leave the hall.”

晚会没法进行下去了。在这场厮打之后,谁也没有心思再寻欢作乐了。女人们都坚决拒绝跳舞,要求送她们回家。可是戈卢勃的牛脾气上来了。他下命令说:“谁都不许离开剧场,派人把住门!”

At that moment a window facing the street crashed in and the snub-nosed muzzle of a machine gun was pushed in through the shattered window frame. It moved stupidly this way and that, as if picking out the figures scattering wildly away from it toward the centre of the hall as from the devil himself.

舞台旁边的一个临街窗户哗啦一声被打得粉碎。一挺机枪的枪筒像猪嘴似的,从破窗里探进来。它蠢笨地左右转动着,似乎在搜索剧场里慌忙逃跑的人群。人们一齐挤向剧场的中央,躲避这个可怕的魔鬼。

Palyanytsya fired at the thousand-candle-power lamp in the ceiling which exploded like a bomb, sending a shower of splintered glass down on everyone in the hall.

帕利亚内查瞄准天棚上那只一千瓦的大灯泡放了一枪,灯泡炸开来,雨点般的碎玻璃撒落在人们身上。

A half an hour later a full-dress battle was raging in the town. The silence of the night wasshattered by the incessant cracking of rifle fire interspersed with the rattle of machine guns.

半小时后,城里展开了正式的战斗。爆豆般的枪声夹杂着机枪的哒哒声,打破了夜的寂静。

Completely stupefied, the townsfolk leapt up from warm beds and pressed against window panes.

吓得昏头昏脑的小市民们从热乎乎的被窝里跳出来,脸贴着窗户向外张望。

The wild, hysterical screams of the women, the furious commands issued by Golub as he dashed about the hall trying to rally his officers who had completely lost their heads, the firing and shouting out in the yard all merged into an indescribable pandemonium. In the panic nobody noticed Palyanytsya slip through the back door into a deserted side street and run for all he was worth to Golub’s headquarters.

女人们歇斯底里地尖叫着,戈卢勃在场内来回奔跑,厉声吆喝,想把惊慌失措的军官们集合起来。这些声音跟外面的喊声、枪声汇成一片,混乱到了极点。谁都没有注意到帕利亚内查像一条泥鳅一样,从后门溜到了空荡荡的后街上,向戈卢勃的司令部跑去。

At last the firing abated, and only one machine gun somewhere in the outskirts kept up a desultory shooting like the barking of a dog.

最后,枪声逐渐稀疏,回音仍然像榔头敲击着窗框,城边上的蒸汽机磨坊附近,一挺机枪像狗叫似的,断断续续地响着。

The hall was plunged in darkness. Someone shouted in the yard: “Everybody get outside!” A stream of violent abuse followed.

场内立时一片漆黑。街上传来了吼声:“都滚出来!”跟着是一连串下流的咒骂。

The fighting died down as the glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon…

当黎明的曙光出现在地平线上时,战斗减弱了…

Rumours that a pogrom was brewing crept through the town, finally reaching the tiny, low-roofedewish cottages with crooked windows that somehow managed to cling to the top of the filthy ravine leading down to the river.

城里有个传闻不胫而走,说烧杀掳掠犹太人的事不久就要发生。消息也传到了肮脏的犹太居民区。那里是一些歪歪扭扭、又矮又窄的破房子,对对付付地修建在高高的河岸上。

The compositors and other workers at the printshop where Sergei Bruzzhak had been working for more than a year were Jews. Strong bonds of friendship had sprung up between them and Sergei. Like a closely knit family, they stood solid against their employer, the smug, well-fed Mr. Blumstein. An incessant struggle went on between the proprietor and the printers. Blumstein did his best to grab more and pay his workers less. The printers had gone on strike several times and the printshop had stood idle for two or three weeks running. There were fourteen of them. Sergei, the youngest, spent twelve hours a day turning the wheel of a hand press.

谢廖沙在印刷厂做工已经一年多了。厂里的排字工人和其他工人全是犹太人。谢廖沙同他们处得很好,亲如一家。他们同心协力,团结在一起,共同对付那个傲慢的大肚子老板勃柳姆斯坦。印刷工人同老板不断地进行斗争。老板总是拼命想多榨取一些利润,少支付一些工资。就因为这个,工人们多次罢工,印刷厂一停工就是两三个星期。厂里有十四名工人,谢廖沙最年轻,但是摇起印刷机来,一气也要干十二个小时。

In these incredibly overcrowded hovels called houses lived the Jewish poor.

犹太贫民拥挤不堪地住在这些勉强可以称做房屋的盒子里。

Today Sergei noticed an ominous uneasiness among the workers. For the past several troubledmonths the shop had had little to do apart from printing occasional proclamations issued by the “Chief Ataman”.

今天,谢廖沙发现工人们情绪不安。在最近这几个动乱的月份里,印刷厂没有经常的订货,只是印些哥萨克大头目的告示。

A consumptive compositor named Mendel called Sergei into a corner. “Do you know there’s a pogrom coming?” he said, looking at the boy with his sad eyes.

患肺病的排字工人门德利把谢廖沙叫到一个角落里,用忧郁的目光注视着他,问:“城里又要虐杀犹太人了,你知道吗?”

The compositors were now listening to the conversation.

其他排字工人都注意地听着他俩的谈话。

Sergei looked up in surprise. “No, I hadn’t the slightest idea.”

谢廖沙吃惊地看了他一眼,说:“没听说,不知道。”

“Of course I will, if I only can. What can I do, Mendel?”

“只要我办得到,当然愿意。你说吧,门德利,要我干什么?”

Mendel laid a withered, yellow hand on Sergei’s shoulder and spoke in a confiding, paternal tone. “There’s going to be a pogrom — that’s a fact. The Jews are going to be beaten up. What I want to know is this — will you help your comrades in their misfortune or not?”

门德利把又瘦又黄的手放在谢廖沙肩上,用长辈的口气信赖地对他说:“虐犹的事十有八九要发生。犹太人又要遭殃了。我想问问你,你愿不愿意帮助自己的伙伴躲过这场大灾大难?”

“You’re a good boy, Seryozha, and we trust you. After all, your father’s a worker like us. Now you run home and ask him whether he would agree to hide some old men and women at his place, and then we’ll decide who they will be. Ask your people if there’s anyone else they know willing to do the same. The Russians will be safe from these bandits for the time being. Run along, Seryozha, there’s no time to waste.”

“谢廖沙,你是个好小伙子,我们信得过你。再说,你爸爸也是个工人。你现在赶快回家,问问你爸爸,能不能让几个老人和妇女藏到你们家去。谁到你们家,咱们再商量。你再同家里人合计合计,看谁家还能帮忙藏几个。这帮土匪暂时还不会碰俄罗斯人。快去吧,谢廖沙,晚了就来不及了。”

“You can count on me, Mendel. I’ll see Pavka and Klimka right away — their folks are sure to take in somebody.”

“行,门德利,你放心,我马上到保尔和克利姆卡家去一趟,他们两家也一定会收留你们的。”

“Just a minute,” Mendel anxiously halted Sergei who was about to leave.

“等一等。”门德利有点担心,慌忙叫住要走的谢廖沙。

“Who are Pavka and Klimka? Do you know them well?”

“保尔和克利姆卡是什么人?靠得住吗?”

The pogrom began on the third day after the pitched battle between the Pavlyuk detachment and Golub’s men.

戈卢勃和帕夫柳克双方发生冲突后的第三天,虐杀犹太人的暴行开始了。

Sergei nodded confidently. “Of course. They’re my pals. Pavka Korchagin’s brother is a mechanic.”

谢廖沙很有把握地点点头,说:“看你说的,当然靠得住。他们都是我的好朋友。保尔的哥哥是个钳工。”

The dead were hastily carted off to the cemetery and buried the same day without much ceremony, for there was nothing to boast about in the whole affair. The two Atamans had flown at each other’s throats like two stray curs, and to make a fuss over the funeral would have been unseemly.

死者的尸体匆忙运到公墓,草草掩埋了。没有举行仪式,因为这种事没什么可炫耀的。两个头目一见面就像野狗一样对咬起来,再大办丧事,可不是什么体面的事。

“Ah, Korchagin,” Mendel was reassured. “I know him — used to live in the same house. Yes, you can see the Korchagins. Go, Seryozha, and bring back an answer as soon as you can.”

“啊,原来是阿尔焦姆,”门德利这才放了心。“我认得他,我们在一个房子里住过。他很可靠。去吧,谢廖沙。快去快回,给我个信。”

Sergei shot out into the street.

谢廖沙立刻朝门外跑去。

Pavlyuk, routed and driven out of Shepetovka, had cleared out of the neighbourhood and seized a small town nearby. The night encounter in Shepetovka had cost him a score of men. Golub had lost as many.

那天帕夫柳克打败了,被赶出了城。他夹起尾巴溜到邻近的一个小镇,占领了那个地方。在夜战中,他损失了二十几个人,戈卢勃的损失也差不多。

True, Palyanytsya had wanted to make a big thing of it and declare Pavlyuk a Red bandit, but the Socialist-Revolutionaries headed by the priest Vasili objected.

帕利亚内查本来想在下葬的时候铺张一番,并且宣布柏夫柳克是赤匪,但是以瓦西里神甫为首的社会革命党委员会反对这样做。

The skirmish evoked some grumbling in Golub’s regiment, especially among his bodyguard which had sustained the heaviest losses, and to put an end to the dissatisfaction and bolster up spirits, Palyanytsya proposed staging a pogrom — to provide “a little diversion” for the men, was the cynical way he broached the subject to Golub. He argued that this was essential in view of the grumbling in the unit. And although the Colonel was loth to disturb the peace in the town on the eve of his marriage to the barkeeper’s daughter, he finally gave in.

那天夜间的冲突在戈卢勃的部队里引起了不满,特别是在警卫连,因为这个连的损失最大。为了平息不满情绪,提高士气,帕利亚内查建议戈卢勃让部下“消遣”一下。这个无耻的家伙所说的“消遣”,就是虐杀犹太人。他说这样做是非常必要的,不然就没有办法消除部队中的不满情绪。上校本来不打算在他和酒店老板的女儿举行婚礼之前破坏城里的平静,但是听帕利亚内查讲得那么严重,也就同意了。

Pan the Colonel had another reason for objecting to the operation: his recent admission into the S. R. Party. His enemies might stir up trouble again by branding him a pogrom-monger, and without doubt would slander him to the “Chief Ataman”. So far, however, Golub was not greatly dependent on the “Chief”, since he foraged for himself. Besides, the “Chief” knew very well what riffraff he had serving under him, and himself had time and again demanded money for the Directory’s needs from the so-called requisitions; as for the reputation of a pogrom-monger, Golub already had quite a record in that respect. There was very little that he could add to it now.

不错,上校老爷已经加入了社会革命党,再搞这种名堂,多少有些顾虑。他的敌手又会乘机制造反对他的舆论,说他戈卢勃上校是个虐犹狂,而且一定会在大头目面前说他许多坏话。好在他戈卢勃目前并不靠大头目过日子。他的给养全是自己筹措的。其实,大头目自己也完全清楚,他手下的弟兄是些什么货色。他本人就曾不止一次要他们奉献所谓征来的财物,以解决他那个“政府”的财政困难。至于说戈卢勃是虐犹狂,那么在这一点上他早就名声在外了,再干一次,他的名声也不见得再坏到哪里去。

Outwardly the quarter appeared to be immersed in sound early-morning slumber, but inside the houses there was no sleep. Entire families, fully dressed, huddled together in one room, preparing themselves for the impending disaster. Only children, too young to realise what was happening, slept peacefully in their mothers’ arms.

表面上看来,小屋里的人都沉浸在黎明前的甜梦里。其实,他们并没有睡,而是穿着衣服,一家人挤在一个小房间里,准备应付即将来临的灾难。只有不懂事的婴孩才无忧无虑地、香甜地睡在妈妈的怀抱里。

The pogrom began early in the morning.

烧杀抢劫从大清早就开始了。

Salomyga, the chief of Golub’s bodyguard, a dark fellow with the swarthy complexion of a Gypsy and a livid sabre scar across his cheek, worked hard that morning to wake up Golub’s aide. It was a painful awakening for Palyanytsya — he could not shake himself loose from the nightmare that had beset him all night; the grimacing, hunchbacked devil was still clawing at his throat. At last he raised his splitting head and saw Salomyga bending over him.

这天早上,戈卢勃的卫队长萨洛梅加,一个脸长得像吉卜赛人、腮上有一条绛紫色刀痕的黝黑的家伙,很长时间都没能摇醒戈卢勃的副官帕利亚内查。帕利亚内查睡得死死的,他正做着噩梦,怎么也醒不过来。他梦见一个龇牙咧嘴的驼背妖怪,伸着爪子搔他的喉咙,这个妖怪折磨了他一整夜。最后,他终于抬起那疼得要裂开来的脑袋,明白过来,原来是萨洛梅加在叫他。

The town was still wrapped in the grey mist of dawn. The narrow streets which wound themselves like strips of wet linen around the haphazardly built blocks of the Jewish quarter were deserted and dead. The windows were heavily curtained and shuttered.

小城笼罩在破晓前的灰雾里。犹太居民区的街道空荡荡的,毫无生气。这些街道像浸过水的麻布条,把那些歪歪斜斜的犹太人住屋胡乱捆在一起。小屋的窗户上都挂着窗帘,上着窗板,不透一丝光亮。

Palyanytsya, now wide awake, sat up and, his face grimacing with pain, spat out the bitter saliva that filled his mouth.

帕利亚内查总算完全清醒了,坐了起来。胃疼得他歪扭着嘴,他吐了一口苦水。

“Get up, you souse,” Salomyga was shaking him by the shoulder. “It’s high time to get down to business!”

“醒醒吧,你这个瘟神!”萨洛梅加一面抓住他的肩膀摇晃,一面喊。“已经不早了,该动手啦!让酒把你灌死才好呢!”

“What business?” he stared blankly at Salomyga.

“什么该动手了?”他用无神的眼睛瞪着萨洛梅加。

“To rip up the sheenies, of course! You haven’t forgotten, I hope.”

“怎么?干犹太人去呀,你糊涂了?”

It all came back to Palyanytsya. True enough, he had forgotten about it. The drinking bout at the farm where Pan the Colonel had retired with his fiancée and a handful of boon companions had been a heavy one.

这回帕利亚内查想起来了:可不是,他把这事给忘了。昨天上校带着未婚妻和一群酒鬼溜到郊外田庄里,他们灌了个酩酊大醉。

Golub had found it convenient to leave town for the duration of the pogrom, for afterwards he could put it down to a misunderstanding in his absence, and in the meantime Palyanytsya would have ample opportunity to make a thorough job of it. Yes, Palyanytsya was an expert when it came to providing “diversion”!

戈卢勃认为,在抢劫和屠杀犹太人期间,他最好回避一下,别留在城里。往后他可以推脱责任,说这是他不在时发生的一场误会。他离开的这段时间,足够帕利亚内查漂漂亮亮地大干一场了。嘿,这个帕利亚内查,搞这种“消遣”可是个大行家!

Palyanytsya poured a pail of water over his head and, thus sobered, was soon striding about headquarters issuing orders.

帕利亚内查往头上浇了一桶冷水,思考的能力完全恢复了。他在司令部里东跑西颠,下达了一连串的命令。

The bodyguard hundred was already in the saddle. To avoid possible complications, the farsighted Palyanytsya ordered pickets posted between the town proper and the workers’ quarters and the station. A machine gun was mounted in the Leszczinski garden facing the road in order to meet the workers with a squall of lead if they took it into their heads to interfere.

警卫连已经上了马。办事精明的帕利亚内查为了避免引起麻烦,又命令设置岗哨,把工人住宅区和车站通城区的道路切断。在列辛斯基家的花园里架了一挺机枪,监视大路。如果工人出来干涉,就用铅弹对付他们。

The last remark was addressed to Salomyga, who glared back at him with jaundiced eyes. “There’ll be enough for everybody.”

最后这句话他是问萨洛梅加的。萨洛梅加朝他翻翻黄眼珠,说:“有的是,够大伙受用的。”

When all the preparations were complete, the aide and Salomyga leapt into the saddle.

一切安排就绪之后,副官和萨洛梅加才跨上马。

They spurred their horses down the highway, the aide and Salomyga leading the disorderly mob of mounted men.

队伍顺着大路出发了。副官和萨洛梅加走在前面,警卫连乱哄哄地跟在后面。

The mist had lifted when Palyanytsya reined in his horse in front of a two-storey house with a rusty sign reading “Fuchs, Draper”.

晨雾消散了。眼前是一座两层楼房,生锈的招牌上写着:“福克斯百货店”。帕利亚内查勒住了马缰。

His thin-shanked grey mare nervously stamped her hoof against the cobblestones.

他那匹细腿灰骒马不耐烦地踢了一下脚下的石路。

“Well, with God’s help we’ll begin here,” Palyanytsya said as he jumped to the ground.

“好啦,上帝保佑,就打这儿开始吧。”帕利亚内查说着,下了马。

“All right, men, dismount,” he turned to the men crowding around him.

“喂,弟兄们,下马吧!”他转身对围上来的卫兵们说。

“The show’s beginning. Now I don’t want any heads bashed, there’ll be a time for that. As for the girls, if you can manage it, hold out until evening.”

“好戏开场了。弟兄们,小心,可别敲碎那些猪猡的脑壳,收拾他们的机会多得很。说到娘们呢,要是还能熬得住,那就等到晚上再说。”

“Wait, I nearly forgot,” Palyanytsya said when they had already set out. “Get two carts to bring back Golub’s wedding present. Ha-ha-ha! The first spoils as always to the commander, and the first girl for his aide — and that’s me. Got it, you blockhead?”

已经出发了,帕利亚内查忽然想起一件事,立即下令:“站住。差点忘了大事。带上两辆大车,咱们给戈卢勃弄点礼物,好办喜事。哈,哈,哈!……第一批到手的东西照例归司令。第一个娘们,哈,哈,哈,可得归我这个副官。明白吗,蠢货?”

Palyanytsya went up to the closed door of the store and kicked at it hard, but the sturdy oaken planks did not so much as tremble.

帕利亚内查走到紧闭着的店门前,使劲踢了一脚。但是结实的柞木大门纹丝不动。

There was loud guffawing all around. Palyanytsya eyed the man who had spoken with admiring approbation.

周围的人一阵哄笑。帕利亚内查赞赏地看了看那个卫兵。

One of the men bared his strong teeth and protested: “Now then, Pan Khorunzhy, what if it’s by mutual consent?”

一个卫兵龇着大牙抗议说:“少尉大人,这话怎么说?要是两厢情愿呢?”

“Well, that’s another story — if they’re willing, go right ahead, nobody can prohibit that.”

“当然喽,要是两厢情愿,那就尽管干好了。谁也没有权利禁止这种事。”

This was clearly the wrong place to begin. Palyanytsya rounded the corner of the house and headed for the door leading to Fuchs’ place, supporting his sabre with his hand as he went. Salomyga followed.

是的,不该从这里开始。副官握着军刀,绕过墙角,朝福克斯的住宅门口走去。萨洛梅加跟在后面。

The people inside the house had heard the clatter of hoofs on the pavement outside and when the sound ceased in front of the shop and the men’s voices carried through the walls their hearts seemed to stop beating and their bodies stiffened with fright.

房子里的人早就听到了路上的马蹄声。当马走到店铺前面停下,墙外传来说话声的时候,他们的心都要蹦出来了,吓得气都不敢出。这时屋里一共有三个人。

The wealthy Fuchs had left town the day before with his wife and daughters, leaving his servant Riva, a gentle timid girl of nineteen, to look after his property.

财主福克斯昨天就带着妻子和女儿逃出了城,只留下女仆丽娃看守房产。丽娃是一个温顺胆小的女孩子,才十九岁。

When Riva had tried meekly to protest, the cunning merchant had assured her that in all probability there would be no pogrom at all, for what could they expect to get from beggars? And he promised to give her a piece of stuff for a dress when he returned.

起初丽娃不怎么同意留下,这个狡猾的商人就骗她说,虐犹的事不一定发生。再说,他们从你们穷人手里能抢到什么东西呢?等他回来以后,一定赏给她钱买衣服。

Since she was afraid to remain alone in the house, he had suggested that she bring her old father and mother to stay with her until his return.

福克斯怕她一个人不敢住这么大的空房子,就叫她把父母接来同住,直到福克斯回来。

Now the three waited in fear and trembling, hoping against hope that the men would ride past; perhaps they had been mistaken, perhaps it had only seemed that the horses had stopped in front of their house. But their hopes were dashed by the dull reverberation of a blow at the shop door.

现在,三个人都在侧耳倾听外面的动静,他们忧心如焚,又心怀侥幸:也许外边的人只是路过?也许自己听错了,那些人是停在别人家的门口?也许门外根本就没有什么人,只是错觉?但是,商店门口传来了沉重的砸门声,一下子把他们的希望打得粉碎。

Old, silvery-haired Peisakh stood in the doorway, his blue eyes wide open like a frightened child’s, and he whispered a prayer to Almighty Jehovah with all the passion of the fanatical believer. He prayed to God to protect this house from misfortune and for a while the old woman standing beside him could not hear the approaching footsteps for the mumble of his prayer.

白发苍苍的老人佩萨赫,像孩子那样瞪着恐惧的蓝眼睛,站在通往店铺的门旁,喃喃地祷告着。这个虔诚的教徒用他全部的热忱祈求全能的耶和华帮助他们逃脱不幸。因为他在低声祷告,站在他身旁的老太婆一开头竟没有注意到,店铺墙外的脚步声正向他们逼近。

A shattering blow at the door sent a convulsive tremor through the two old people.

猛烈而粗暴的砸门声吓得两位老人身上起了一阵痉挛。

Riva had fled to the farthest room where she hid behind the big oaken sideboard.

丽娃跑到最里面的一个房间,藏在一只柞木橱子的后面。

But those within, numb with fright, could not lift a hand to unfasten the door.

两位老人连抬手摘门钩的力气都没有了。

Armed men poured into the house; they searched every corner. A blow from a rifle butt smashed in the door leading into the shop and the front door bolts were drawn from within.

屋子里立刻挤满了武装的匪兵。他们奔向各个角落。由住宅通到店铺的门也给枪托砸开了。匪兵们涌了进去,拔掉大门的门闩。

Outside the rifle butts pounded until the bolts gave way and the splintering door crashed open.

外面,枪托雨点般地打在门上,闩着的门跳动起来,终于哗啦一声裂开了。

“Open the door!” Another blow, still more violent than the first, descended on the door, followed by furious curses.

“开门!”跟着就是一阵更加猛烈的砸门声,夹杂着狂暴的咒骂声。

When the carts had been piled high with cloth, shoes and other loot, Salomyga set out with the booty to Golub’s quarters. When he returned he heard a shriek of terror issuing from the house.

两辆大车已经装满布料、鞋子和其他物品,萨洛梅加马上把这些东西押送到戈卢勃的住宅。他回来的时候,听到屋子里传出一声惨叫。

Palyanytsya, leaving his men to sack the shop, had walked into the proprietor’s apartment and found the old folks and the girl standing there. Casting his green lynx-like eyes over them he snapped at the old couple: “Get out of here!” Neither mother nor father stirred.

原来,帕利亚内查放手让部下去抢劫店铺,自己却走进了内室。他用野猫般的绿眼睛打量了一下屋里的三个人,然后对两个老人吼道:“滚出去!”但是两个老人一个也没有动。

The looting began.

抢劫开始了。

Palyanytsya turned to his men who had run in at the cry. “Throw them out!” he barked, pointing at the two old people. When this had been done, he told Salomyga who had now appeared. “You watch here at the door while I have a chat with the wench.”

帕利亚内查转过身,对那些听到喊声跑进来的士兵下令说:“把他们给我弄出去!”他指着两个老人。两个老人被推出了门。帕利亚内查对走进屋来的萨洛梅加说:“你先在门外站一会儿,我跟这个女孩子说几句话。”

Palyanytsya took a step forward and slowly drew his sabre.

帕利亚内查朝前逼近一步,慢慢地把军刀抽出鞘来。

The girl screamed again. Old Peisakh made a rush for the door leading into the room, but a violent blow in the chest sent him reeling back against the wall, gasping with pain. Like a she-wolf fighting for her young, Toiba, the old mother, always so quiet and submissive, now flung herself at Salomyga.

佩萨赫老人听到屋里又是一声惨叫,就朝房门冲过去。但是重重的一拳当胸打来,把他撞到墙上。他疼得连气都喘不上来了。这时候,一向温和安静的老妇人托伊芭却突然像母狼一样扑向萨洛梅加,紧紧抓住他。

“Mama!” the girl gave a heart-rending scream. It was this that Salomyga heard.

“妈呀!”姑娘凄厉地叫了一声。这就是萨洛梅加听到的那声惨叫。

“Let me. in! What are you doing to my girl?”

“放了孩子吧!你们干什么呀?”

She was struggling to get to the door, and try as he might Salomyga could not break her convulsive grip on his coat.

她挣扎着要进屋去,两只枯瘦的手像铁钩似的拼命抓住萨洛梅加的上衣,萨洛梅加竟挣脱不开。

Peisakh, now recovered from the shock and pain, came to Toiba’s assistance.

佩萨赫缓过气来以后,马上跑来帮助她。

Between them the old couple managed to push Salomyga away from the door. Enraged, he jerked his revolver from under his belt and brought the steel grip down hard upon the old man’s grey head. Peisakh crumpled to the floor.

他们两个把萨洛梅加从门口推开了。萨洛梅加赶紧从腰里拔出手枪,恶狠狠地用铁枪柄在佩萨赫白发苍苍的头上敲了一下。老人一声不响地倒下了。

“Let us pass! Let us pass! Oh my daughter!”

“放了她吧!放了她吧!……哎哟,我的女儿呀!”

Toiba was dragged out of the house frantic with grief, and the street echoed to her wild shrieks and entreaties for help.

匪徒们把疯了的托伊芭拖到街上。凄厉的叫喊和求救的呼声立刻在街心回荡起来。

The others followed him without a word, leaving behind bloody footprints on the floor and the stairs.

别的人没有做声,跟着他走出来。他们的脚在地板上、台阶上留下了一个个血印。

Inside the house everything was quiet.

屋里的喊声突然停止了。

Inside the room Riva was screaming.

屋里的丽娃仍在呼号。

“Bad beginning,” he muttered as he went outside.

“一开头就不顺手。”他咬牙切齿地说了一句,就朝街上走去。

Palyanytsya came out of the room. Without looking at Salomyga, whose hand was already on the door handle, he said: “No use going in — she choked when I tried to shut her up with a pillow.” As he stepped over Peisakh’s body he put his foot into a dark sticky mess.

帕利亚内查走了出来,萨洛梅加抓住门把手,正要推门进屋,帕利亚内查看也没有看他一眼,只是拦住他说:“别进去了,她已经完了。我用枕头把她捂得太严了一点。”说着,他跨过佩萨赫老人的尸体,一脚踩在一滩浓稠的血泊里。

Pillage was in full swing in the town. Brief savage clashes flared up between brigands over the division of the spoils, and here and there sabres flashed. And almost everywhere fists flailed without restraint. From the beer saloon twenty-five gallon kegs were rolled out onto the street.

这时城里一片混乱。匪徒们因为分赃不均,常常像野兽一样你争我夺,有的甚至拔刀相见。到处都可以看到他们在厮打。他们把十维德罗[一维德罗等于12.3公升。——译者]装的柞木啤酒桶从酒馆里滚到街上。

Then the looters began to break into Jewish homes.

随后又挨家去抢东西。

There was no resistance. They went through the rooms, hastily turned every corner upside down, and went away laden with booty, leaving behind disordered heaps of clothing and the fluttering contents of ripped feather beds and pillows. The first day took a toll of only two victims: Riva and her father; but the oncoming night carried with it the unavoidable menace of death.

没有人起来反抗。匪徒们翻遍每个小屋,找遍每个角落,然后满载而去,留下的只是一堆堆破烂衣物、撕破了的枕头和褥垫的绒毛。白天只有两个牺牲者——丽娃和她的父亲。但是,接踵而来的黑夜却带来了难以逃避的死亡。

Only at the very riverfront, in the house where Naum the blacksmith lived, the jackals who fell upon his young wife Sarah got a fierce rebuff. The smith, a man of powerful build in the prime of his twenty-four years and with the steel muscles of one who wielded the sledge-hammer for a living, did not yield his mate.

只是在小河旁铁匠纳乌姆的小屋里,当豺狼们扑向他的年轻妻子萨拉的时候,他们才遇到了猛烈的抵抗。这个身强力壮的二十四岁的铁匠,浑身都是抡铁锤练出来的刚健肌肉。他誓死护卫着妻子。

Few would ever forget these two terrible nights and three days. How many crushed and mangled lives they left behind, how many youthful heads turned grey in these bloody hours, how many bitter tears were shed! It is hard to tell whether those were the more fortunate who were left to live with souls desolated, in the agony of shame and humiliation, gnawed by indescribable grief for loved ones who would never return. In the narrow alleys lay the lacerated, tormented, broken bodies of young girls with arms thrown back in convulsive gestures of agony.

许多人永远都忘不了那可怕的三天两夜。多少个生命被杀戮,被摧残!多少个青年在血腥的时刻白了头发!多少眼泪渗进了大地!谁又能说,那些活下来的人比死者幸运一些呢?他们的心被掏空了,留下的只是洗刷不尽的羞辱和侮弄带来的痛苦、无法形容的忧伤和失掉亲人的悲哀。受尽折磨和蹂躏的少女们的尸体蜷缩着,痉挛地向后伸着双手,毫无知觉地躺在许多小巷里。

Darkness released them from the last restraint. It is easier to destroy a man in the pit of night; even the jackal prefers the hours of gloom.

黑夜里,他们可以放开手脚大干。在夜幕后面,他们杀起人来更方便。豺狼也是喜欢黑夜的,它们也是专门伤害那些听天由命的弱者的。

By evening the motley crew of scavengers was roaring drunk. The crazed Petlyura men were waiting for the night.

天黑以前,那帮豺狼都喝得醉醺醺的。兽性发作的匪徒早就等待黑夜的降临了。

Seryozha Bruzzhak, who together with his father had hidden half of his printshop comrades in the cellar and attic, was crossing the garden on his way home when he saw a man in a long, patched coat running up the road, violently swinging his arms.

谢廖沙和父亲一起把印刷厂的一半工人藏在自己家的地窖里和阁楼上。现在他正穿过菜园回家。忽然,他看见一个人沿着公路跑过来。

In a brief but furious clash in the tiny cottage the skulls of two Petlyura men were crushed like rotten melons. With the terrible fury of despair, the smith fought fiercely for two lives, and for a long time the dry crackle of rifle fire could be heard from the river bank where the brigands now rushed, sensing the danger. With only one round of ammunition left, the smith mercifully shot his wife, and himself rushed out to his death, bayonet in hand. He was met by a squall of lead and his powerful body crashed to the ground outside his front door.

在小屋里的一场短促、凶猛的搏斗里,两个佩特留拉匪兵的脑袋被砸成了烂西瓜。铁匠像一只可怕的困兽,不顾一切地保卫着两条生命。匪徒们知道出了事,纷纷跑到小河旁,双方长时间地对射着。纳乌姆的子弹就要打完了,他用最后一粒子弹结束了妻子的生命,自己端着刺刀冲出去同匪徒拼命。但是,他在台阶上刚一露头,密集的子弹就朝他扫过来。他那沉重的身体倒下去了。

Prosperous peasants from nearby villages drove into town in carts drawn by well-fed horses, loaded their waggon boxes with whatever met their fancy, and, escorted by sons and relatives serving in Golub’s force, hurried home so as to make another trip or two to town and back.

附近乡下的大户人家赶着肥壮的牲口来到城里,把他们看中的好东西装满大车,然后,由他们在戈卢勃队伍里当兵的儿子或亲戚护送,运回家去。他们就这样匆忙地一趟又一趟搬运着。

It was an old Jew, and behind the bareheaded, panting man whose features were paralysed with mortal terror, galloped a Petlyura man on a grey horse. The distance between them dwindled fast and the mounted man leaned forward in the saddle to cut down his victim. Hearing the hoofbeats behind him, the old man threw up his hands as if to ward off the blow. At that moment Seryozha leapt onto the road and threw himself in front of the horse. “Stop, you dog of a bandit!”

那是一个吓得面无人色的犹太老人。他穿着满是补丁的长外衣,光着头,一边跑一边挥舞着双手,累得直喘。他的后面是一个骑着灰马的佩特留拉匪兵,眼看就要追上了。那个匪兵弯着腰,作出要砍杀的姿势。老人听到马蹄声已经逼近,就举起双手,像是要保护脑袋似的。谢廖沙一个箭步跳上大路,冲到马跟前,用身子护住老人,大喝道:“住手,狗强盗!”

The rider, making no effort to stay the descending sabre, brought the flat of the blade down on the fair young head.

那个匪徒并不想收回马刀,他顺势用刀背朝这青年的金发头颅砍了下去。


yewandou

一个人要有坚强的毅力,否则他将一事无成

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