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And in Gusev's opinion there was absolutely nothing to be vexed about。
What was there strange or wonderful； for instance； in the fish or in the
wind's breaking loose from its chain？ Suppose the fish were as big as a
mountain and its back were as hard as a sturgeon： and in the same way；
supposing that away yonder at the end of the world there stood great stone
walls and the fierce winds were chained up to the walls 。 。 。 if they had not
broken loose； why did they tear about all over the sea like maniacs； and
struggle to escape like dogs？ If they were not chained up； what did
become of them when it was calm？
Gusev pondered for a long time about fishes as big as a mountain and
stout； rusty chains； then he began to feel dull and thought of his native
place to which he was returning after five years' service in the East。 He
pictured an immense pond covered with snow。 。 。 。 On one side of the pond
the red…brick building of the potteries with a tall chimney and clouds of
black smoke； on the other side a village。 。 。 。 His brother Alexey comes
out in a sledge from the fifth yard from the end； behind him sits his little
son Vanka in big felt over…boots； and his little girl Akulka； also in big felt
boots。 Alexey has been drinking； Vanka is laughing； Akulka's face he
could not see； she had muffled herself up。
〃You never know； he'll get the children frozen 。 。 。〃 thought Gusev。
〃Lord send them sense and judgment that they may honour their father and
mother and not be wiser than their parents。〃
〃They want re…soleing；〃 a delirious sailor says in a bass voice。 〃Yes；
yes！〃
Gusev's thoughts break off； and instead of a pond there suddenly
appears apropos of nothing a huge bull's head without eyes； and the horse
and sledge are not driving along； but are whirling round and round in a
cloud of smoke。 But still he was glad he had seen his own folks。 He held
his breath from delight； shudders ran all over him； and his fingers
twitched。
〃The Lord let us meet again；〃 he muttered feverishly； but he at once
opened his eyes and sought in the darkness for water。
He drank and lay back； and again the sledge was moving； then again
the bull's head without eyes； smoke； clouds。 。 。 。 And so on till daybreak。
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II
The first outline visible in the darkness was a blue circle the little
round window； then little by little Gusev could distinguish his neighbour
in the next hammock； Pavel Ivanitch。 The man slept sitting up； as he could
not breathe lying down。 His face was grey； his nose was long and sharp；
his eyes looked huge from the terrible thinness of his face； his temples
were sunken； his beard was skimpy； his hair was long。 。 。 。 Looking at him
you could not make out of what class he was； whether he were a
gentleman； a merchant； or a peasant。 Judging from his expression and his
long hair he might have been a hermit or a lay brother in a monastery
but if one listened to what he said it seemed that he could not be a monk。
He was worn out by his cough and his illness and by the stifling heat； and
breathed with difficulty； moving his parched lips。 Noticing that Gusev was
looking at him he turned his face towards him and said：
〃I begin to guess。 。 。 。 Yes。 。 。 。 I understand it all perfectly now。〃
〃What do you understand； Pavel Ivanitch？〃
〃I'll tell you。 。 。 。 It has always seemed to me strange that terribly ill as
you are you should be here in a steamer where it is so hot and stifling and
we are always being tossed up and down； where； in fact； everything
threatens you with death； now it is all clear to me。 。 。 。 Yes。 。 。 。 Your
doctors put you on the steamer to get rid of you。 They get sick of looking
after poor brutes like you。 。 。 。 You don't pay them anything； they have a
bother with you； and you damage their records with your deaths so； of
course； you are brutes！ It's not difficult to get rid of you。 。 。 。 All that is
necessary is； in the first place； to have no conscience or humanity； and；
secondly； to deceive the steamer authorities。 The first condition need
hardly be considered； in that respect we are artists； and one can always
succeed in the second with a little practice。 In a crowd of four hundred
healthy soldiers and sailors half a dozen sick ones are not conspicuous；
well； they drove you all on to the steamer； mixed you with the healthy
ones； hurriedly counted you over； and in the confusion nothing amiss was
noticed； and when the steamer had started they saw that there were
paralytics and consumptives in the last stage lying about on the deck。 。 。 。〃
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Gusev did not understand Pavel Ivanitch； but supposing he was being
blamed； he said in self…defence：
〃I lay on the deck because I had not the strength to stand； when we
were unloaded from the barge on to the ship I caught a fearful chill。〃
〃It's revolting；〃 Pavel Ivanitch went on。 〃The worst of it is they know
perfectly well that you can't last out the long journey； and yet they put you
here。 Supposing you get as far as the Indian Ocean； what then？ It's horrible
to think of it。 。 。 。 And that's their gratitude for your faithful； irreproachable
service！〃
Pavel Ivanitch's eyes looked angry； he frowned contemptuously and
said； gasping：
〃Those are the people who ought to be plucked in the newspapers till
the feathers fly in all directions。〃
The two sick soldiers and the sailor were awake and already playing
cards。 The sailor was half reclining in his hammock； the soldiers were
sitting near him on the floor in the most uncomfortable attitudes。 One of
the soldiers had his right arm in a sling； and the hand was swathed up in a
regular bundle so that he held his cards under his right arm or in the crook
of his elbow while he played with the left。 The ship was rolling heavily。
They could not stand up； nor drink tea； nor take their medicines。
〃Were you an officer's servant？〃 Pavel Ivanitch asked Gusev。
〃Yes； an officer's servant。〃
〃My God； my God！〃 said Pavel Ivanitch； and he shook his head
mournfully。 〃To tear a man out of his home； drag him twelve thousand
miles away； then to drive him into consumption and。 。 。 and what is it all
for； one wonders？ To turn him into a servant for some Captain Kopeikin or
midshipman Dirka！ How logical！〃
〃It's not hard work； Pavel Ivanitch。 You get up in the morning and
clean the boots； get the samovar； sweep the rooms； and then you have
nothing more to do。 The lieutenant is all the day drawing plans； and if you
like you can say your prayers； if you like you can read a book or go out
into the street。 God grant everyone such a life。〃
〃Yes； very nice； the lieutenant draws plans all the day and you sit in
the kitchen and pine for home。 。 。 。 Plans indeed！ 。 。 。 It is not plans that
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matter； but a human life。 Life is not given twice； it must be treated
mercifully。〃
〃Of course； Pavel Ivanitch； a bad man gets no mercy anywhere； neither
at home nor in the army； but if you live as you ought and obey orders； who
has any need to insult you？ The officers are educated gentlemen； they
understand。 。 。 。 In five years I was never once in prison； and I was never
struck a blow； so help me God； but once。〃
〃What for？〃
〃For fighting。 I have a heavy hand； Pavel Ivanitch。 Four Chinamen
came into our yard； they were bringing firewood or something； I don't
remember。 Well； I was bored and I knocked them about a bit； one's nose
began bleeding； damn the fellow。 。 。 。 The lieutenant saw it through the
little window； he was angry an