Book 9 Chapter 14

IT was past two o'clock, no one was yet asleep, when the quartermaster appeared, bringing a command to advance upon a little place called Ostrovna. Still with the same chatter and laughter the officers began hurriedly getting ready; again the samovar was filled up with dirty water. But Rostov, without waiting for tea, went off to his squadron. It was already light; the rain had ceased, and the clouds were parting. It was chill and damp, especially in their still wet clothes. As they came out of the inn, in the twilight of the dawn, Rostov and Ilyin both glanced at the leather cover of the doctor's cart, still glistening from the rain. The doctor's feet were sticking out from under the cover, and in the middle of the cart they caught a glimpse of his wife's nightcap, and heard sleepy breathing.

“She's really very charming,” said Rostov to Ilyin.

“An exquisite woman!” responded Ilyin, with all the gravity of a boy of sixteen.

Half an hour later the squadron stood drawn up on the road. The word of command was heard, “Mount!” and the soldiers crossed themselves and got on their horses. Rostov, riding ahead of them, gave the word: “Forward!” and drawing out four abreast, the hussars started with a sound of subdued talk, splashing hoofs, and jingling sabres. They trotted along the broad high-road, with birch-trees on each side of it, following the infantry and artillery, who had gone on before.

The broken, purplish-blue clouds, flushed red by the sunrise, were scudding before the wind. It grew lighter and lighter. They could see distinctly, still glistening from the rain, the feathery grass which always grows beside by-roads. The drooping branches of the birch-trees swayed in the wind, and dripped bright drops aslant across the road. The faces of the soldiers showed more and more distinctly. Rostov, with Ilyin, who would not drop behind, rode on one side of the road between the two rows of birch-trees.

On active service Rostov allowed himself the indulgence of riding a Cossack horse instead of the regimental horse, broken in for parade. He was a connoisseur and lover of horses, and had lately obtained a big sorrel horse with white tail and mane, a fine spirited beast of the Don breed, on whom he could out-gallop every one. It was an enjoyment to Rostov to ride this horse. He rode on, thinking of the horse, of the morning, of the doctor's wife, and never once giving a thought to the danger awaiting him.

In former days Rostov had felt fear when he was going into an engagement; now he had not the slightest feeling of fear. He had not lost his fears from growing used to being under fire (one can never get accustomed to danger) but from gaining control of his feelings in face of danger. He had schooled himself when going into action to think of anything except what one would have supposed to be more interesting than anything else—the danger in store for him. Earnestly as he strove to do this, and bitterly as he reproached himself for cowardice, he could not at first succeed in this. But with years it had come of itself. He rode now beside Ilyin, between the birch-trees, stripping leaves off the twigs that met his hand, sometimes touching his horse's side with his foot, handing the pipe he had finished to an hussar behind, without turning his head, all with as calm and careless an air as though he were out for a ride. He felt sorry to see the excited face of Ilyin, who talked a great deal nervously. He knew by experience the agonising state of anticipation of terror and of death, in which the cornet was plunged, and he knew that nothing but time could help him out of it.

As soon as the sun appeared in the clear strip of sky under the storm-clouds, the wind sank, as though not daring to spoil the beauty of the summer morning after the storm; the trees still dripped, but the drops fell vertically now—and all was hushed. The sun rose completely above the horizon, and vanished in a long, narrow cloud that hung over it. A few minutes later the sun showed even more brightly on the upper side of the cloud, tearing its edge. Everything grew bright and shining. And with the bright light, as though in response to it, rang out shots in front of them.

Rostov had not time to collect his thoughts and decide how far off these shots were, when an adjutant of Count Osterman-Tolstoy galloped up from Vitebsk, bringing the order to advance at full speed along the road.

The squadron overtook and passed the infantry and the battery, who were also quickening their pace. Then the hussars raced downhill, passed through an empty and deserted village, and trotted uphill again. The horses were beginning to get in a lather and the men looked flushed.

“Halt! in line!” said the officer in command of the division. “Left about face, walking pace!” sounded the command in advance.

And the hussars passed along the lines of the other troops to the left flank of the position, and halted behind our Uhlans, who formed the front line. On the right was a dense column of our infantry—they formed the reserves; on the hill above them, in the pure, clear air, in the brilliant, slanting, morning sunshine, could be seen our cannons on the very horizon line. In front, beyond a hollow dale, could be seen the enemy's columns and cannons. In the dale could be heard our advance pickets, already keeping up a lively interchange of shots with the enemy.

Rostov felt his spirits rise at those sounds, so long unheard, as though they had been the liveliest music. Trap-ta-ta-tap! rang out several shots, first together, then in rapid succession. All sank into silence again, and again there was a sound as of popping squibs.

The hussars remained for about an hour in the same spot. The cannons began firing. Count Osterman, with his suite behind the squadron, rode up; he stopped to say a word to the colonel of the regiment, and rode off to the cannons on the hill.

After Osterman had ridden away, the command rang out among the Uhlans, “Form in column; make ready to charge!” The infantry in front parted in two to let the cavalry pass through. The Uhlans galloped off, the streamers on their lances waving, and trotted downhill towards the French cavalry, who came into sight below on the left.

As soon as the Uhlans had started downhill, the hussars received the order to ride off uphill to cover the battery. Just as the hussars were moving into the place of the Uhlans, there came flying from the out-posts some cannon-balls, hissing and whistling out of the distance, and hitting nothing.

This sound, which he had not heard for so long, had an even more inspiriting and cheering effect on Rostov than the report of the muskets. Drawing himself up, he surveyed the field of battle, as it opened out before him riding uphill, and his whole heart went with the movements of the Uhlans. They were swooping down close upon the French dragoons; there was some confusion yonder in the smoke, and five minutes later the Uhlans were dashing back, not towards the spot where they had been posted, but more to the left. Between the ranks of Uhlans on the chestnut horses, and in a great mass behind them, could be seen blue French dragoons on grey horses.

两点多钟了，谁也没有睡着，司务长此时进来传达了进驻奥斯特罗夫纳镇的命令。

军官们仍然有说有笑，急忙开始做出发的准备；他们又烧了一茶炊不干净的水。可是罗斯托夫不等茶水烧好，就去骑兵连了。天已经亮了，雨也停了，乌云正散去。既湿又冷，特别是穿着没有干透的衣服更是这样。从小酒肆出来，罗斯托夫和伊林在晨光中端详了一下被雨淋得发亮的医务车的皮篷，车帷下面露出医生的两只脚，可以看见在车中间的坐垫上医生老婆的睡帽，听得见她熟睡中的呼吸声。

“真的，她太迷人了！”罗斯托夫对与他一起出来的伊林说道。

“多么迷人的女人！”十六岁的伊林一本正经地答道。

半小时后，排好队的骑兵连站在大路上。只听见口令：“上马！”士兵们在胸前画了个十字就开始上马。在前面骑着马的罗斯托夫命令道：“开步走！”于是，骠骑兵们四人一排沿着两旁长着白桦树的大道，跟在步兵和炮兵后面开拔了，只听见马蹄踩在泥泞的路上的噗哧声，佩刀的锵锵声和轻轻的谈话声。

在泛红的东方，青紫色的浓云的碎片很快被风吹散了，天越来越亮了。乡村道路上总是生长着的卷曲的小草，由于夜雨的湿润看起来更加鲜亮了；低垂的白桦树枝条湿漉漉的，轻风吹过摇摇晃晃，斜斜地撒下晶莹的水珠。士兵的脸孔越发看得清楚了。罗斯托夫与紧紧跟着他的伊林骑着马在两行白桦树之间的路旁行进。

征途中罗斯托夫无拘无束地不骑战马，而骑一匹奇萨克马。他是这方面的行家，又是一名猎手，不久前，他为自己搞到一匹顿河草原的白鬃赤毛的高头烈马，骑上它没有谁能追得到他。骑在这匹马上对罗斯托夫是一种享受。他想着马，想这早晨、想医生的妻子，就是一次也未想到面临的危险。

以前罗斯托夫作战时，常害怕，现在却不觉得丝毫的惧怕，不是因为他闻惯了火药味而不害怕（对危险是不能习惯的），而是他学会如何在危险面前控制自己的内心。他养成一种习惯，在作战时，除了那似乎最使人关心的事——当前的危险外，什么都想。在最初服役时，无论他怎样骂自己是胆小鬼，就是达不到现在的样子；可是年复一年，现在他自然而然地做到了。现在他与伊林并马行进在白桦树中间，时而随手从树枝上扯下几片树叶，时而用脚磕磕马肚皮，时而把抽完的烟斗不转身就递给身后的骠骑兵，如此从容不迫，一幅无忧无虑的样子，好像他是出来兜风似的。他不忍心去看伊林那激动不安的脸，就是那个话兴很多、心神不平的伊林，凭经验他知道这个骑兵少尉正处于等待恐惧和死亡的痛苦状态，他也知道，除了时间，现在没有什么东西可以帮助他。

太阳在乌云下一片晴空刚一出现，风就静下来，仿佛风不敢破坏夏日早晨雨后的美景；水珠仍然洒落，却已是直直落下，——四周一片寂静。太阳完全露出在地平线上，随后又消失在它上面一片窄而长的乌云里。过了几分钟，太阳撕破乌云的边缘又出现在乌云上边。一切都明光闪亮。好像响应这亮光似的，前方立刻响起了大炮声。

罗斯托夫还没来得及考虑和判定炮声的远近，奥斯特曼·托尔斯泰伯爵的副官就从维捷希斯克驰来，命令沿大路跑步前进。

骑兵连经过同样急速前进的步兵和炮步，冲下山坡，穿过一个空无一人的村庄，又上一个山坡。马匹开始出汗，而人满脸通红。

“立定，看齐！”前面传来营长的命令。

“左转弯，开步走！”前边又传来口令。

于是骠骑兵沿着长列的军队赶到阵地的左翼，在第一线的枪骑兵后停下来。右面是我军密集的步兵纵队——这是后备队；山上更高的地方，在一尘不染的明净的空气中，在朝阳明亮的斜照下，最远处地平线上，可见我军的大炮。前面谷地可见敌人的纵队和大炮，可听见谷地里我军散兵线的枪声，他们已投入战斗，欢快的与敌人互相射击的枪声清晰可闻。

罗斯托夫仿佛听到最欢快的音乐似的内心觉得很舒适，他好久没听见过这声音了。特啦啪—嗒—嗒—嗒啪！有时噼哩啪啦。枪声齐鸣，有时却又快速地一声接一声，接连响了好几枪。四周又沉寂了，随后好像有人放爆竹似的，又接连不断响起来。

骠骑兵原地不动站了约一个钟头。炮轰也开始了。奥斯特曼伯爵带着侍从从骑兵连后边驰过来，停下与团长交谈了几句，就向山上的炮兵阵地驰去。

奥斯特曼刚离去，枪骑兵们就听到口令：

“成纵队，准备冲击！”他的前面的部兵分成两排，以便骑兵通过。枪骑兵出动了，长矛上的小旗飘动，向山下左方出现的法国骑兵冲去。

枪骑兵刚冲到山下，骠骑兵就奉命上山掩护炮兵。骠骑兵刚在枪骑兵的阵地上停下来，就从散兵线那儿远远地飞来咝咝呼啸的炮弹，没有命中。

罗斯托夫好久没有听到这种声音了，心里觉得比以前的射击声更使他高兴和兴奋。他挺直身子，察看山前开阔的战场，全心关注着枪骑兵的行动。枪骑兵向法军龙骑兵扑过去，在烟雾蒙蒙中混成一团，过了五分钟，枪骑兵退了回来，他们不是退回到他们原来呆的地方，而是退向左边。在骑枣红马的橙黄色的枪骑兵中间和后面是一大片骑灰色马、身着蓝色制服的法军龙骑兵。