There was a prolonged halt in the forest. At one time we caught sight of two motor-buses which cut across, following a transverse roadway. Our rations3? We took it for granted and rejoined accordingly. But perhaps the conductors had not seen us. Several minutes went by. The commanding officer blew his whistle, and off we had to go again! Another march on an empty stomach!
A blast of recriminations blew from No. 1 platoon. They could put up with being knocked on the head, but at least give them something to eat. They were being cut down every day now. Yesterday there was no meat! Without rot, there was nothing more to be done but to "get down" to it. A snooze is as good as a[Pg 363] meal. It would only mean that a few would be taken.
They went on all the same. There was not a murmur5 among our men. Judsi still tried to cheer up his companions, but they weren't in the mood for it. Bouguet struck up with a song, but they joined in the refrain only once. He couldn't sing on an empty stomach either. And the rain began, heavy rain which soaked us through to the skin in a very few minutes.
"Rotten luck!" Gaudéreaux jerked out.
We went on without a halt, through the downpour, against the wind. We were on a by-road which soon got spoilt and broken. We slithered through the slush. Gusts6 of wind beat against us, water was dripping down our backs, freezing the sweat on our skins. That lasted for another two hours. A dozen miles or so without a pause. No one protested, each step must be bringing us nearer to shelter. There was only one question we asked ourselves, in an agony of mind: Should we get anything to eat?
At last they stopped us, two companies of us, in front of a farm. The rest of the battalion7 went on. The buildings already sheltered some gunners—four batteries of them. I remember their greeting which was anything but cordial. Oh, we were the last straw! As if they weren't packed like sardines8 already! Dirty foot-sloggers too! (I have already mentioned the antagonism9 between the different troops which was exasperated10 at such times.)
Our quartermasters quarrelled. But the first comers blocked up the coach-houses, their officers backed them up, the commanding officer had quite rightly reserved the only bed for himself. We stood in the yard for a long time, haggard and numb[Pg 364] with cold. We were finally penned in the stables—piggeries, in an indescribable state of filth11, and reeking12 pestilentially. Someone went to get straw—a handful per man! We could have put up with everything if only we could have got a bite. But it was getting dark, and in this weather all hopes of the ration4 train hunting us out were dwindling13. The gunners had hastened to lay hands on anything that the farm would produce in the way of eatables, bread, milk, eggs, a real raid. They finished swallowing these provisions under our very noses.
I can see us in that filthy14 stable. De Valpic had just lain down alongside the wall. He was worn out, and wanted to sleep, but the fits of coughing which shook him made him reopen his eyes. He was shivering. We all had faces mottled by exhaustion15 and starvation. Lamalou suddenly got up with an oath:
"Oh d——!"
There was a crack in the roof, from which drops were falling. A stream of water was soon trickling16 down.
Guillaumin came back. He had been to have a look at No. 1 platoon. There was schism17 in the Playoust "set." Hourcade and Descroix, it seemed, were still in possession of some "ruti" and a cheese. Descroix resigned himself to sharing it and favoured Playoust, but Hourcade turned a deaf ear. Little Humel would get nothing out of him—or the sergeant-major either. They neither of them demanded it, though they were both deadly white and worn out.
"If only we could find some way! I say, are you frightfully done up, to begin with?"
[Pg 365]
"Look here."
He confided20 in me that he had interviewed the farmer's wife. There was not a village anywhere near, the nearest was nine miles away, and had been crammed21 with troops for the last week.
"Well?"
"But there was another farm much nearer, a rich one, quite hidden in the woods. Suppose we went to see?"
I raised some objections, for form's sake, but the adventure attracted me. A word to Bouillon. He at once wanted to join us. We told no one else; permission and success were equally uncertain. So we started off. It was getting dark. What a road it was! The mud was eighteen inches thick in places. Torrents22 of rain still, and the gloom was deepening. To begin with we forced ourselves to look where we were putting our feet, but we gave it up as a bad job. Squidge, splosh! We stoically followed in Guillaumin's tracks. We sank in half-way up to our knees, and came near to losing our balance or getting stuck.
When we had walked for three quarters of an hour, Guillaumin began to get worried. Half a mile the woman had told him.
"Ow! As if my nose wasn't thick enough without that!"
We began to make out the outlines of an obstruction24. But everything seemed to be shut up. No light. We went to knock at the door. Not a sound. We knocked louder.
"Done!" I said.
"We'll soon see!"
[Pg 366]
Guillaumin raised his voice:
"Two petards of melinite to blow up your house!"
"Who's there?"
"France."
"What do you mean? France."
"France, that's quite enough."
"Wot d'you want?"
"Someone to open the door to us."
"We 'aven't got nothing."
"That's a fine story!"
"An wot abaht the Proosians?"
"Will you let us in, confound you!"
The man appeared to be frightened, and muttered: "'Arf a mo' till I gits into me breeches."
He seemed to me to regret having given in so easily. We went into a low room.
"Well now," said Guillaumin, "What can you give us to eat?"
The old peasant looked us up and down. I could read in his face the mistrust and avarice29 of bad breeds.
"'Aven't I told you there's nothin'?"
"What do you live on? Air?"
"We'll pay you all right!"
Guillaumin whispered:
"Don't know so much about that."
[Pg 367]
I had my own idea. I opened my purse to show the silver and gold in it.
The old fellow considered me. He looked from my hands to my eyes where he tried to read my intentions.
"For you three?"
"For us, to begin with."
"Hm! Would an omelette do you?"
"With some ham?"
He would see.
We sat down at the table. The man went to call at an inside door.
"Louise!"
A young country girl appeared, with a hypo-critical expression and heavy features. She lacked real grace, but was built on a generous scale, her waist well-marked, and her bosom33 firm beneath the dress which she had popped on hurriedly.
"My eye!" murmured Bouillon.
The old man said a few words in patois34 and the girl knelt down in front of the grate and began to work a bellows35. It was not long before some flames sprang from the dying embers. In a hand's turn she had laid the table for us. Five minutes later a frothy golden omelette was dished up for us.
We had never been so ravenous36. We simply guzzled37. We had taken off our great coats, which were stiff with rain. When his first pangs38 were assuaged39, Guillaumin began to cheer up.
"A pretty good idea of mine, what?"
With a glance at the girl I made some joke under my breath, about the servant girl being, perhaps, the old man's mistress.
Bouillon was eating too gluttonously40 to take a part[Pg 368] in the conversation, but he laughed continually for no reason at all, pouring down bumpers41 of some rather poor wine which the old man had brought us with many sour looks. His face was turning purple, his dog's eyes glistened42. How I loved him, taking his share of our animal contentment.
The peasant seated at the end of the room had lit a pipe and was watching us out of the corner of his eye.
"It's stupid to pay!" repeated Guillaumin. "Let's give him an I O U."
His funds must have been coming to an end.
"Don't worry! This is my show!" I said.
In order to avoid any trouble, I had made up my mind to pay whatever the old fellow claimed.
Guillaumin ventured to suggest:
"I say we ought to take something back to De Valpic."
"And to our poilus!"
"They ain't comin', are they?"
"That depends."
"Wot does it depend on?"
"Upon what you give us for them."
"When I say give," I corrected myself, "I mean sell."
"'Ow many of 'em is there?"
"About forty."
The peasant threw up his arms like a clockwork figure.
[Pg 369]
"Forty. Jokin', ain't you? Now if it 'ad a' bin five or six, p'raps we might 'a managed some'ow!"
Guillaumin rapped on the table, and assumed a threatening air, which was rendered even more grotesque46 and terrifying by his great nose.
"You'd better take care we don't bring them along! I've an idea they'd manage to find something!"
The old man's face hardened. I again intervened.
"I tell you we'll pay. Now tell me the price of a chicken."
"Ain't got none!"
"What, not in your cellar?"
"Ain't got none."
"Will you take ten francs apiece?"
"Ten francs?"
He rubbed his hands.
"That's talkin',' that is!"
Guillaumin exclaimed:
"Five francs, not a halfpenny more. It's pure robbery!"
I continued:
"I should want several!"
"How many?"
I looked at the others interrogatively.
"Eight or ten—a dozen if you've got them!"
"A dozen chickens at ten francs? That's a hundred and twenty francs?"
"Yes."
"I'll just have a look, but I won't promise nothing!" he said as he went off.
When he had gone out, without bothering about the girl who was leaning against the chimney-piece, and watching us slyly, Guillaumin slated47 me. Ten francs apiece. He never heard of such a thing. Was I[Pg 370] crazy? A hundred and twenty francs! No. It couldn't be allowed. I should want the cash some day or other. I didn't realise.... The old chap was sickening. It would serve him right if we cleared him out of everything and left him an order payable48 at the end of the war. So that was settled? What?
But I shook my head, and stuck to it. I had spent a relatively49 infinitesimal sum up till now. The chance was too tempting50!
The peasant reappeared. He brought the poultry51 back with him, tied by their legs. They were squalling hard and were certainly very fine birds. His forehead was wrinkled; he must be afraid we might give him the slip and be off with the booty. His face cleared when I laid the purse on the table. But when I pulled a hundred-franc note out of my pocket, the old fellow waved it aside, and pointed52 to the purse.
"None o' that now! You've got that amount in solid gold!"
"Take this note?" I retorted.
"Give me gold, gold!"
"Why on earth should I?"
I had not foreseen this pretext53 for cavilling54 when I had flattered myself on avoiding a scene. I refused to give in. The old chap kicked against the pricks55. Paper-money? Wot good was that to any one nowadays, you wouldn't get a hunk of bread for it!
He obviously distrusted me. I was on the point of losing my temper. Guillaumin angrily dubbed56 the old man a robber and a blooming Bosche. The latter got annoyed and made as if to take back his poultry. Bouillon kept his eyes fixed57 on me, and was[Pg 371] only waiting for a sign to hurl58 himself upon the old man.
For a fantastical instant I was tempted59 to let him have his way. I was enraged60, and disgusted. More than that, I was suddenly seized with a longing61 to loot. It would be a wonderful opportunity. What risk should we run? None at all. It would simply be one more picturesque62 scene to add to our store of memories.
At that moment, the servant girl happened to cross the bottom of the room. Her dress fell into lines which suggested the rounded form beneath. Bouillon was looking at her too, and Guillaumin also. His big red nose was quivering. The blood rushed to my head, and desire took possession of me. We all three exchanged a look of feverish63 bestiality. Plunder64 the old man, violate the girl. Nothing could be easier—some strange madness urged us on—the beast in us was raising its head.
A vision of Jeannine passed through my mind, but it held no power to restrain me, for was it not purely65 a physical impulse? It did not count in my eyes. No one would ever know anything about it, I repeated to myself. Why not indulge this whim66? It was a sinister67 moment. We had each taken a step towards the girl, whose face contracted.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
crumbling
|
|
| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
rations
|
|
| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ration
|
|
| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
gusts
|
|
| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
battalion
|
|
| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
sardines
|
|
| n. 沙丁鱼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
antagonism
|
|
| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
exasperated
|
|
| adj.恼怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
filth
|
|
| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
reeking
|
|
| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
dwindling
|
|
| adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
filthy
|
|
| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
exhaustion
|
|
| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
trickling
|
|
| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
schism
|
|
| n.分派，派系，分裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
winked
|
|
| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
fiddle
|
|
| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
confided
|
|
| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
crammed
|
|
| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
torrents
|
|
| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
retracing
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
obstruction
|
|
| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
squeaked
|
|
| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
Undid
|
|
| v. 解开, 复原 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
bin
|
|
| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
avarice
|
|
| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
reassure
|
|
| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
patois
|
|
| n.方言；混合语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
bellows
|
|
| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
ravenous
|
|
| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
guzzled
|
|
| v.狂吃暴饮，大吃大喝( guzzle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
pangs
|
|
| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
assuaged
|
|
| v.减轻( assuage的过去式和过去分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gluttonously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
bumpers
|
|
| （汽车上的）保险杠，缓冲器( bumper的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
glistened
|
|
| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
crafty
|
|
| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
pals
|
|
| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
slated
|
|
| 用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
payable
|
|
| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
relatively
|
|
| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
tempting
|
|
| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
poultry
|
|
| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
pretext
|
|
| n.借口，托词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
cavilling
|
|
| n.（矿工的）工作地点抽签法v.挑剔，吹毛求疵( cavil的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
55
pricks
|
|
| 刺痛( prick的名词复数 )； 刺孔； 刺痕； 植物的刺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
dubbed
|
|
| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
hurl
|
|
| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
plunder
|
|
| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
purely
|
|
| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
whim
|
|
| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |