"What, what!"
Guillaumin was in front of me, smiling and swinging a lantern. Half-joking, he repeated: "I think we're in for it, sir!"
I got up. Shadows were moving round us. The sharp air stung. The night was clear but moonless. I asked what time it was. Three o'clock.
I immediately had a pleasant surprise. That form on the road—"Humel!" I dashed at him. "Hulloa, my boy! So you got through!"
"By jove! It was a bit of luck," he acknowledged.
I hungrily clamoured for details.
He explained: "You see, as long as we stayed in the trench2, things went all right. We managed to hold the Bosches. They weren't particularly keen to face the bayonet. But at night we had no more ammunition3. The men got unstrung and wanted to do a bunk5. Delafosse opposed it—as you may imagine. Some of them began to slope off. The lieutenant6 made up his mind to it, and we followed them. But the Bosches got wind of it and opened fire at us. That's when we got cut up—not one out of four got away."
"The lieutenant?"
"Knocked out, disappeared."
[Pg 471]
Another name was on the tip of my tongue.
Humel understood, and lowered his voice! "Descroix? He stayed behind, too."
I, in my turn, told him of Henriot's death, and about Playoust. I saw his forehead wrinkle. He said nothing. I took his arm.
"Well, we're here!"
"Not for long," he murmured, downheartedly.
"Yes! Yes! I swear that you, you, you understand, will get through!"
What did I know of it? But I had said it with such assurance that I felt it had given him new heart.
There was a short whistle—the captain calling up the N.C. O's.
"Well, my friends," he said, "we have been complimented on our resistance the other night, and up till four o'clock yesterday in front of the Montrolle woods. Apparently8 we did not do badly!" He waited for a minute. "That is not all. We are asked, or I should say commanded, to intervene again. A great honour for the regiment9!"
We were all hanging on his lips.
"Mind you remember this date," he said, "in case we come back. This is the night, the 9th to the 10th, that the battle is to be won. We are attacking all along the line, and I think I may be allowed to tell you, in confidence, that some of our comrades alongside have just entered Silly-le-Long. At the other extremity10 the Zouaves have taken Lizy-sur-Ourcq. The enemy is apparently still in possession of a little hill near here. What we've got to do is to oust7 them from it." His voice trembled. He must have been trying to find a last word of encouragement. Not succeeding, he added: "We start in five minutes!"
[Pg 472]
I joined De Valpic in the darkness. His cough had made me aware of his presence.
Guillaumin, who ran against us, said, in a joking tone: "Well, if we aren't polished off this time!" And then, a little more gravely: "If only it's of some use."
"Do you doubt it?"
"I? What do you think? I wouldn't change places. Those who have missed this——"
"And if it's the reverse?"
"A reverse for the Bosches!"
He hunted about in the dark.
"Can't you find it?"
"It never fell. It went straight up into the sky! The best sign of all."
We did not touch upon any more serious topics. We assembled, and started off. De Valpic left us to join his platoon.
"Good-bye."
We shook hands. We were never to see him again.
We marched along a road in silence for half an hour. Then we extended into the fields, like mute armed phantoms14, the noise of our footsteps absorbed by the ground.
For the first time I had taken my place at the head of my platoon. My eyes searched the darkness. I regulated our pace by the captain's, whose tall silhouette15 stood out against the blackness. I formed only one wish which was this: that our intervention[Pg 473] might have a decisive quality. A wish which resembled a prayer. I implored16, I don't know what God, to grant me the good fortune to be a hero.
The ground was rising in a gentle slope. We were guided towards the east by a pale transparency, herald17 of the day. In that direction lay the enemy; the enemy whose sentries18 no doubt had orders to fire upon all suspicious objects. The first bullets would be for me. I did not think of them or fear them. The fifty men behind me, who would act as I acted, were a miraculous19 incentive20.
There was a hollow exclamation21 close by on our left. A sentry22! A shot rang out, followed by a second. I quickened the pace, my men remaining close at my heels.
In front of us, at a distance which was difficult to estimate, we could make out a noise and what seemed like confusion. On the left an already heavy fusillade was crackling. The absurd idea crossed my mind of giving orders for a volley. But the captain contented23 himself with raising his sword. Advance!
Our speed increased. Charging pace, fix bayonets! Some of the men were inclined to pass me. I restrained them below my breath.
There was a sudden volley of bullets, meant for us, but distinctly too high. We advanced bent24 double. There was a new rafale. This I felt was bearing to the right, where De Valpic's platoon was. A mysterious shock warned me that at that second my friend—my friend had succumbed25.... Mown down, this fine life. But this destiny held no terror for him. And what other awaited us!
The balls continued to mew fiercely in our ears like terrible cats. It felt like the blows of wooden ham[Pg 474]mers which would pound and crush everything to dust—("would bash our heads in"; the popular expression just fitted it).
I was thinking of that when I became aware of a sort of fluctuation26 behind me. Somebody shouted: "Kneel!"
It was amazing. My line had instantly given way, and thrown themselves down. There was an immediate1 clash of steel, followed by feverish27 firing. A bullet whistled past my nose. I threw myself on to the ground and turned round and cursed Henry, the clumsy lout28, who was firing and firing.
I got up, waving my rifle, and shouted: "Come along, No. 3 platoon. Show them what you're made of!"
A few of them got up and followed me. The majority hesitated. There was no time to wait. We took about twenty steps at the double. I had to stop. There were only six poilus with me!
I shouted again. I yelled. The bullets were still cracking. They passed us coming from both sides. I recoiled30. The confusion was terrible. I bumped into Humel. Guillaumin turned up bringing us a handful of men. I remember that I asked him coldly: "How far off are they?"
"A hundred yards."
"Good. We've got 'em!"
Then I don't quite know what happened after that. It hardly lasted a minute. It seemed like a hundred years! I believe I rushed back in search of my men, shouting:
[Pg 475]
"This way! Come along! Follow me!"
"Look, they can't touch us!"
They were no longer firing on our left. Hand-to-hand fighting must be going on—a cacophony32. Noises which had nothing human left about them. No doubt the enemy was giving ground. I stumbled near a long ditch, a first-line trench, which they had already abandoned.
I felt sure that I was going to be killed, but oddly enough I cared very little. To-day or to-morrow, what did it matter! A thousand thoughts thronged33 each other in my mind. The dominant34 one, simple and sublime35, was that Victory was leaning towards us. We should carry this hill, for I could see our men wriggling36 along the ground to rejoin us, and grouping themselves again.
The light and serenity37, the frenzy38 of it! I swear that at that instant France was really something other than an abstract entity39 for me: the whole in which I participated, which was me and more than me. Of my own free will I was sacrificing my paltry40 individuality. I was melting a wan4 unit into the collective consciousness of the beings of my country.
Surprise may be caused by the fact that I found time to revolve41 all these thoughts in my mind during these brief moments, among this chaos42, where I might be seen dashing about madly, expending43 myself in exhortations44 and reproaches.
Well, I did find time for them, and for a thousand others! I myself, lucid45 and multiplied, marvelled46 at it.
My resources were increased tenfold. I burst into[Pg 476] blossom. I attained47 the apogee48 of my power. The instant in which I raised myself to the conception of the immense national soul was also that in which my own spirit was expanded most largely. Nothing escaped me. I was twenty beings. I had a tender thought for the memory of my mother; one for my brother who had fallen; for those of my people who remained. And you, Jeannine, my betrothed49, I evoked51 your face and let my lips caress52 it lightly. I descried53 all that life we should have lived together, and tasted all its happiness to the full. I adored you, oh my well beloved! I was certain, that at that instant you knew that I was being killed for your sake, that you were proud of it, and sobbed54 for it.
My men were collected there, lying with their eyes fixed55 on me, already half raised, ready to dart56 forward.
As I looked at them and counted them over, a fantastic idea struck me. Fifty living men. In a minute, half of them would be dead, at a sign from me.
Gloomily determined57, I enjoyed my fatal power. Did I spare myself? No. I remained on my feet, and the bullets made a nimbus round me. Preserved by a constant miracle, I moved among these fiery58 trajectories59 like a salamander.
And then, ruminating60 on a vague hope of living, I dreamt that a fate protected me; that death was overawed by my temerity61.
The hour struck in the depths of my consciousness.
I included all my men, body and soul, in a comprehensive gesture to advance.
Their undulating line moved as one man. Bouillon was just behind me. In getting up he seemed to[Pg 477] stumble, and fell like a stone, with a bullet in his forehead.
Then I began to run quickly, straight ahead. There was no longer any need to turn round. Behind me I could hear that breathing, and the heavy trot50 regulated by mine. We formed an inseparable block, they and I. If any fell, their places were filled up. Twenty yards away I saw phantoms scattering62.
"They're bolting!"
My own voice seemed to swell63 in the deep-throated roars which it tore from my companions. Living, rolling thunder! The enemy overcome and swept away! Full of a prodigious64 reserve of breath, life, and pride I was going to—
A-a-h!
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收听单词发音
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1
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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2
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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3
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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4
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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5
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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6
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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7
oust
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| vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐 | |
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8
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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9
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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10
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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11
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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12
rummaged
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
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13
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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14
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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15
silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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16
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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18
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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19
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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20
incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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21
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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22
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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23
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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24
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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25
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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26
fluctuation
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| n.(物价的)波动，涨落；周期性变动；脉动 | |
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27
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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28
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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29
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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30
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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31
furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
cacophony
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| n.刺耳的声音 | |
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33
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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35
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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36
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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37
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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38
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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39
entity
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| n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物 | |
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40
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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41
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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42
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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43
expending
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| v.花费( expend的现在分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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44
exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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45
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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46
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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48
apogee
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| n.远地点；极点；顶点 | |
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49
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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50
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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51
evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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52
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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53
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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54
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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55
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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56
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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57
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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58
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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59
trajectories
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| n.弹道( trajectory的名词复数 )；轨道；轨线；常角轨道 | |
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60
ruminating
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| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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61
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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62
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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63
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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64
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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