CHAPTER XXXII

　　From this point we began traveling along the ourton road. In thisregion the Mongols had very poor and exhausted¹ horses, because theywere forced continuously to supply mounts to the numerous envoys² ofDaichin Van and of Colonel Kazagrandi. We were compelled to spendthe night at the last ourton before Van Kure, where a stout³ oldMongol and his son kept the station. After our supper he took theshoulder-blade of the sheep, which had been carefully scraped cleanof all the flesh, and, looking at me, placed this bone in the coalswith some incantations and said:

"I want to tell your fortune. All my predictions come true."When the bone had been blackened he drew it out, blew off the ashesand began to scrutinize⁴ the surface very closely and to lookthrough it into the fire. He continued his examination for a longtime and then, with fear in his face, placed the bone back in thecoals.

"What did you see?" I asked, laughing.

"Be silent!" he whispered. "I made out horrible signs."He again took out the bone and began examining it all over, all thetime whispering prayers and making strange movements. In a verysolemn quiet voice he began his predictions.

"Death in the form of a tall white man with red hair will standbehind you and will watch you long and close. You will feel it andwait but Death will withdraw. . . . Another white man will becomeyour friend. . . . Before the fourth day you will lose youracquaintances. They will die by a long knife. I already see thembeing eaten by the dogs. Beware of the man with a head like asaddle. He will strive for your death."For a long time after the fortune had been told we sat smoking anddrinking tea but still the old fellow looked at me only with fear.

Through my brain flashed the thought that thus must his companionsin prison look at one who is condemned⁵ to death.

The next morning we left the fortune teller⁶ before the sun was up,and, when we had made about fifteen miles, hove in sight of VanKure. I found Colonel Kazagrandi at his headquarters. He was aman of good family, an experienced engineer and a splendid officer,who had distinguished⁷ himself in the war at the defence of theisland of Moon in the Baltic and afterwards in the fight with theBolsheviki on the Volga. Colonel Kazagrandi offered me a bath in areal tub, which had its habitat in the house of the president ofthe local Chamber⁸ of Commerce. As I was in this house, a tallyoung captain entered. He had long curly red hair and an unusuallywhite face, though heavy and stolid⁹, with large, steel-cold eyesand with beautiful, tender, almost girlish lips. But in his eyesthere was such cold cruelty that it was quite unpleasant to look athis otherwise fine face. When he left the room, our host told methat he was Captain Veseloffsky, the adjutant of General Rezukhin,who was fighting against the Bolsheviki in the north of Mongolia.

They had just that day arrived for a conference with Baron¹⁰ Ungern.

After luncheon¹¹ Colonel Kazagrandi invited me to his yurta and begandiscussing events in western Mongolia, where the situation hadbecome very tense.

"Do you know Dr. Gay?" Kazagrandi asked me. "You know he helped meto form my detachment but Urga accuses him of being the agent ofthe Soviets¹²."I made all the defences I could for Gay. He had helped me and hadbeen exonerated¹³ by Kolchak.

"Yes, yes, and I justified¹⁴ Gay in such a manner," said the Colonel,"but Rezukhin, who has just arrived today, has brought letters ofGay's to the Bolsheviki which were seized in transit¹⁵. By order ofBaron Ungern, Gay and his family have today been sent to theheadquarters of Rezukhin and I fear that they will not reach thisdestination.""Why?" I asked.

"They will be executed on the road!" answered Colonel Kazagrandi.

"What are we to do?" I responded. "Gay cannot be a Bolshevik,"because he is too well educated and too clever for it.""I don't know; I don't know!" murmured the Colonel with adespondent gesture. "Try to speak with Rezukhin."I decided¹⁶ to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then ColonelPhilipoff entered and began talking about the errors being made inthe training of the soldiers. When I had donned my coat, anotherman came in. He was a small sized officer with an old greenCossack cap with a visor, a torn grey Mongol overcoat and with hisright hand in a black sling¹⁷ tied around his neck. It was GeneralRezukhin, to whom I was at once introduced. During theconversation the General very politely and very skilfully¹⁸ inquiredabout the lives of Philipoff and myself during the last threeyears, joking and laughing with discretion¹⁹ and modesty²⁰. When hesoon took his leave, I availed myself of the chance and went outwith him.

He listened very attentively²¹ and politely to me and afterwards, inhis quiet voice, said:

"Dr. Gay is the agent of the Soviets, disguised as a White in orderthe better to see, hear and know everything. We are surrounded byour enemies. The Russian people are demoralized and will undertakeany treachery for money. Such is Gay. Anyway, what is the use ofdiscussing him further? He and his family are no longer alive.

Today my men cut them to pieces five kilometres from here."In consternation²² and fear I looked at the face of this small,dapper man with such soft voice and courteous²³ manners. In his eyesI read such hate and tenacity²⁴ that I understood at once thetrembling respect of all the officers whom I had seen in hispresence. Afterwards in Urga I learned more of this GeneralRezukhin distinguished by his absolute bravery and boundlesscruelty. He was the watchdog of Baron Ungern, ready to throwhimself into the fire and to spring at the throat of anyone hismaster might indicate.

Only four days then had elapsed before "my acquaintances" died "bya long knife," so that one part of the prediction had been thusfulfilled. And now I have to await Death's threat to me. Thedelay was not long. Only two days later the Chief of the AsiaticDivision of Cavalry²⁵ arrived--Baron Ungern von Sternberg.

1 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

2 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

4 scrutinize   

n.详细检查，细读

参考例句：

• Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
• She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.她探身向前，端详他们的面容。

5 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

6 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

7 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

8 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

9 stolid   

adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的

参考例句：

• Her face showed nothing but stolid indifference.她的脸上毫无表情，只有麻木的无动于衷。
• He conceals his feelings behind a rather stolid manner.他装作无动于衷的样子以掩盖自己的感情。

10 baron   

n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王

参考例句：

• Henry Ford was an automobile baron.亨利·福特是一位汽车业巨头。
• The baron lived in a strong castle.男爵住在一座坚固的城堡中。

11 luncheon   

n.午宴，午餐，便宴

参考例句：

• We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
• I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

12 soviets   

苏维埃（Soviet的复数形式）

参考例句：

• A public challenge could provoke the Soviets to dig in. 公开挑战会促使苏联人一意孤行。
• The Soviets proposed the withdrawal of American ballistic-missile submarines from forward bases. 苏联人建议把美国的弹道导弹潜艇从前沿基地撤走。

13 exonerated   

v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption. 警方的报告免除了对刘易斯贪污的所有指控。
• An investigation exonerated the school from any blame. 一项调查证明该学校没有任何过失。 来自辞典例句

14 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

15 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

16 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

17 sling   

vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓

参考例句：

• The boy discharged a stone from a sling.这个男孩用弹弓射石头。
• By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor.搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。

18 skilfully   

adv. (美skillfully)熟练地

参考例句：

• Hall skilfully weaves the historical research into a gripping narrative. 霍尔巧妙地把历史研究揉进了扣人心弦的故事叙述。
• Enthusiasm alone won't do. You've got to work skilfully. 不能光靠傻劲儿，得找窍门。

19 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

20 modesty   

n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素

参考例句：

• Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。

21 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 consternation   

n.大为吃惊，惊骇

参考例句：

• He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害，感到非常震惊。
• Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。

23 courteous   

adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的

参考例句：

• Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一，但她总是很谦恭有礼。
• He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善，而且彬彬有礼。

24 tenacity   

n.坚韧

参考例句：

• Tenacity is the bridge to success.坚韧是通向成功的桥。
• The athletes displayed great tenacity throughout the contest.运动员在比赛中表现出坚韧的斗志。

25 cavalry   

n.骑兵；轻装甲部队

参考例句：

• We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
• The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。