A fierce and merciless class struggle gripped the Ukraine. More and more people took to arms and each clash brought forth1 new fighters.
Gone were the days of peace and tranquillity2 for the respectable citizen.
The little tumbledown houses shook in the storm blasts of gun salvos, and the respectable citizen huddled3 against the walls of his cellar or took cover in his backyard trench4.
An avalanche5 of Petlyura bands of all shades and hues6 overran the gubernia, led by little chieftains and big ones, all manner of Golubs, Archangels, Angels and Gordiuses and a host of other bandits.
Ex-officers of the tsarist army, Right and Left Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionaries—any desperado who could muster7 a band of cutthroats, declared himself Ataman, and some raised the yellow-and-blue Petlyura flag and established their authority over whatever area was within the scope of their strength and opportunities.
Out of these heterogeneous8 bands reinforced by kulaks and the Galician regiments10 of Ataman Konovalets' siege corps11, "Chief Ataman" Petlyura formed his regiments and divisions. And when Red partisan12 detachments struck at this Socialist-Revolutionary and kulak rabble13 the very earth trembled under the pounding of hundreds and thousands of hoofs14 and the rumble16 of the wheels of machine-gun carts and gun carriages.
In April of that turbulent 1919, the respectable citizen, dazed and terrified, would open his shutters17 of a morning and, peering out with sleep-heavy eyes, greet his next-door neighbour with the anxious question:
"Avtonom Petrovich, do you happen to know who's in power today?"
And Avtonom Petrovich would hitch18 up his trousers and cast a frightened look around.
"Can't say, Afanas Kirillovich. Somebody did enter the town during the night. Who it was we'll find out soon enough; if they start robbing the Jews, we'll know they're Petlyura men, and if they're some of the 'comrades', we'll be able to tell at once by the way they talk. I'm keeping an eye open myself so's to know what portrait to hang up. Wouldn't care to get into trouble like Gerasim Leontievich next door. You see, he didn't look out properly and had just gone and hung up a picture of Lenin when three men rushed in—Petlyura men as it turned out. They took one look at the picture and jumped on him—a good twenty strokes they gave him. 'We'll skin you alive, you Communist sonofabitch,' they shouted. And no matter how hard he tried to explain and
how loud he yelled, nothing helped."
Noting groups of armed men coming down the street the respectable citizen closed his windows and went into hiding. Better to be on the safe side. . . .
As for the workers, they regarded the yellow-and-blue flags of the Petlyura thugs with suppressed hatred19. They were powerless in the face of this wave of Ukrainian bourgeois20 chauvinism, and their spirits rose only when passing Red units, fighting fiercely against the yellow-and-blues that were bearing down on them from all sides, wedged their way into the town. For a day or two the flag so dear to the worker's heart would fly over the town hall, but then the unit would move on again and the engulfing21 gloom return.
Now the town was in the hands of Colonel Golub, the "hope and pride" of the Transdnieper Division.
His band of two thousand cutthroats had made a triumphal entry into the town the day before. Pan the Colonel had ridden at the head of the column on a splendid black stallion. In spite of the warm April sun he wore a Caucasian burka, a lambskin Zaporozhye Cossack cap with a raspberry-red crown, a cherkesska, and the weapons that went with the outfit22: dagger23 and sabre with chased-silver hilts. Between his teeth he held a pipe with a curved stem.
A handsome fellow, Pan the Colonel Golub, with his black eyebrows24 and pallid25 complexion26 tinged27 slightly green from incessant28 carousals!
Before the revolution Pan the Colonel had been an agronomist29 at the beet30 plantations31 of a sugar refinery32, but that was a dull life not to be compared with the position of an Ataman, and so on the crest33 of the murky34 waves that swept the land the agronomist emerged as Pan the Colonel Golub.
In the only theatre in town a gala affair was got up in honour of the new arrivals. The "flower" of the Petlyura intelligentsia was there in full force: Ukrainian teachers, the priest's two daughters, the beautiful Anya and her younger sister Dina, some ladies of lesser36 standing37, former members of
the household of Count Potocki, a few members of the middle class, remnants of the Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionaries, who called themselves "free Cossacks". The theatre was packed. Spur-clicking officers who might have been copied from old paintings of Zaporozhye Cossacks pranced38 around the teachers, the priest's daughters and the burghers' ladies who were decked out in Ukrainian national costumes ornamented39 with bright-coloured
embroidered40 flowers and multihued beads41 and ribbons.
The regimental band blared. On the stage feverish42 preparations were under way for the performance of Nazar Stodolya scheduled for the evening.
There was no electricity, however, and the fact was reported in due course to Pan the Colonel at headquarters by his adjutant, Sublieutenant Polyantsev, who had now Ukrainianised his name and rank and styled himself Khorunzhy Palyanytsya. The Colonel, who intended to grace the evening with his presence, heard out Palyanytsya and said casually43 but imperiously:
"See that there is light. Find an electrician and start the electric power plant if you have to break your neck doing it."
"Very good, Pan Colonel."
Khorunzhy Palyanytsya found electricians without breaking his neck. Within two hours Pavel and two other workers were brought to the power plant by armed guards.
"If you don't have the lights on by seven I'll have all three of you strung up," Palyanytsya told them curtly44, pointing to an iron beam overhead.
This blunt exposition of the situation had its effect and the lights came on at the appointed time.
The evening was in full swing when Pan the Colonel arrived with his lady, the buxom45 yellow-haired daughter of the barkeeper in whose house he was staying. Her father being a man of means,she had been educated at the Gymnasium in the gubernia town.
When the two had taken the seats reserved for them as guests of honour in the front row, Pan the Colonel gave the signal and the curtain rose so suddenly that the audience had a glimpse of the stage director's back as he hurried off the stage.
During the play the officers and their ladies whiled away the time at the refreshment46 counter,filling up on raw homebrew supplied by the ubiquitous Palyanytsya and delicacies47 acquired by requisitioning. By the end of the performance they were all well under the weather.
After the final curtain Palyanytsya leaped on the stage "Ladies and gentlemen, the dancing is about to begin," he announced with a theatrical49 sweep of
his arm.
There was general applause and the audience emptied out into the yard to give the Petlyura soldiers posted to guard the guests a chance to carry out the chairs and clear the dance floor.
A half an hour later the theatre was the scene of wild revelry.
The Petlyura officers, flinging all restraint to the winds, furiously danced the hopak with local belles50 flushed from the heat, and the pounding of heavy boots rocked the walls of the ramshackle theatre building.
In the meantime a troop of armed horsemen was approaching the town from the direction of the flour mill. A Petlyura sentry-post stationed at the town limits sprang in alarm to their machine guns and there was a clicking of breech-blocks in the night. Through the darkness came the sharp challenge:
"Halt! Who goes there?"
Two dark figures loomed51 out of the darkness. One of them stepped forward and roared out in a hoarse53 bass54:
"Ataman Pavlyuk with his detachment. Who are you? Golub's men?"
"That's right," replied an officer who had also stepped forward.
"Where can I billet my men?" Pavlyuk asked.
"I'll phone headquarters at once," replied the officer and disappeared into a tiny hut on the roadside.
A minute later he came out and began issuing orders:
"Clear the machine gun off the road, men! Let the Pan Ataman pass."
Pavlyuk reined55 in his horse in front of the brightly illuminated56 theatre where a great many people were strolling out in the open air.
"Some fun going on here by the look of it," he said, turning to the captain riding beside him. "Let's dismount, Gukmach, and join the merrymaking. We'll pick ourselves a couple of women—I see the place is thick with them. Hey, Stalezhko," he shouted. "You billet the lads with the townsfolk.
We'll stop here. Escort, follow me." And he heaved himself heavily from his staggering mount.
At the entrance to the theatre Pavlyuk was stopped by two armed Petlyura men.
"Tickets?"
Pavlyuk gave them a derisive57 look and pushed one of them aside with his shoulder. The dozen men with him followed suit. Their horses were outside, tethered to the fence.
The newcomers were noticed at once. Particularly conspicuous58 was the huge frame of Pavlyuk; he was wearing an officer's coat of good cloth, blue breeches of the kind worn in the guards, and a shaggy fur cap. A Mauser hung from a strap59 slung60 over his shoulder and a hand grenade stuck out
of his pocket.
"Who's that?" the whisper passed through the crowd around the dance floor where Golub's second in command was executing a wild dance.
His partner was the priest's elder daughter, ^ who was whirling round with such abandon that her skirts flared61 out high enough to give the delighted men a good view of her silk petticoats.
Forcing his way through the crowd, Pavlyuk went right out onto the dance floor.
Pavlyuk stared with glazed62 eyes at the priest's daughter's legs, passed his tongue over his dry lips,then strode across the dance floor to the orchestra platform, stopped, and flicked63 his plaited ridingwhip.
"Come on, give us the hopak!"
The conductor paid no attention to the order.
A sharp movement of Pavlyuk's hand and the whip cut down the conductor's back. The latter jumped as if stung and the music broke off, plunging64 the hall into silence.
"What insolence65!" The barkeeper's daughter was furious. "You can't let him do that," she cried,clutching at the elbow of Golub seated at her side.
Golub heaved himself to his feet, kicked aside a chair, took three paces forward and stopped faceto face with Pavlyuk. He had recognised the newcomer at once, and he had scores to settle with this rival claimant for local power. Only a week ago Pavlyuk had played the most scurvy66 trick on Pan the Colonel. At the height of a battle with a Red regiment9 which had mauled Golub's detachment on more than one occasion, Pavlyuk, instead of striking at the Bolsheviks from the rear, had broken into a town, overcome the resistance of the small pickets67 the Reds had left there,and, leaving a screening force to protect himself, sacked the place in the most thorough fashion.
Of course, being a true Petlyura man, he saw to it that the Jewish population were the chief victims. In the meantime the Reds had smashed up Golub's right flank and moved on.
And now this arrogant68 cavalry69 Captain had burst in here and had the audacity70 to strike Pan the Colonel's own bandmaster under his very eyes. No, this was too much. Golub knew that if he did not put the conceited71 upstart in his place his prestige in the regiment would be gone.
For several seconds the two men stood there in silence glaring at each other.
Gripping the hilt of his sabre with one hand and feeling for the revolver in his pocket with the other, Golub rapped out:
"How dare you lay your hands on my men, you scoundrel!"
Pavlyuk's hand crept toward the grip of the Mauser.
"Easy there, Pan Golub, easy, or you may trip yourself up. Don't step on my pet corn. I'm liable to lose my temper."
This was more than Golub could stand.
"Throw them out and give them twenty-five lashes72 each!" he shouted.
The officers fell upon Pavlyuk and his men like a pack of hounds.
A shot crashed out with a report that sounded as if an electric bulb had been smashed against the floor, and the struggling men swirled73 and spun74 down the hall like two packs of fighting dogs. In the wild melee75 men slashed76 at each other with sabres and dug their fingers into hair and throats,while the women, squealing77 with terror like stuck pigs, scattered78 away from the contestants79.
In a few minutes Pavlyuk and his followers80, disarmed81 and beaten, were dragged out of the hall,and thrown out into the street.
Pavlyuk lost his fur hat in the scrimmage, his face was bruised82 and his weapons were gone and now he was beside himself with rage. He and his men leapt into the saddle and galloped83 down the street.
The evening was broken up. No one felt inclined to make merry after what had happened. The women refused to dance and insisted on being taken home, but Golub would not hear of it.
"Post sentries84," he ordered. "Nobody is to leave the hall."
Palyanytsya hastened to carry out the orders.
"The dancing will continue until morning, ladies and gentlemen," Golub replied stubbornly to the protests that showered upon him. "I shall dance the first waltz myself."
The orchestra struck up again but there was to be no more frolicking that night nevertheless.
The Colonel had not circled the dance floor once with the priest's daughter when the sentries ran into the hall shouting:
"Pavlyuk's surrounding the theatre!"
At that moment a window facing the street crashed in and the snub-nosed muzzle85 of a machine gun was pushed in through the shattered window frame. It moved stupidly this way and that, as if picking out the figures scattering86 wildly away from it toward the centre of the hall as from the devil himself.
Palyanytsya fired at the thousand-candle-power lamp in the ceiling which exploded like a bomb,sending a shower of splintered glass down on everyone in the hall.
The hall was plunged87 in darkness. Someone shouted in the yard:
"Everybody get outside!" A stream of violent abuse followed.
The wild, hysterical88 screams of the women, the furious commands issued by Golub as he dashed about the hall trying to rally his officers who had completely lost their heads, the firing and shouting out in the yard all merged35 into an indescribable pandemonium89. In the panic nobody noticed Palyanytsya slip through the back door into a deserted90 side street and run for all he was worth to Golub's headquarters.
A half an hour later a full-dress battle was raging in the town. The silence of the night wasshattered by the incessant cracking of rifle fire interspersed91 with the rattle92 of machine guns.
Completely stupefied, the townsfolk leapt up from warm beds and pressed against window panes93.
At last the firing abated94, and only one machine gun somewhere in the outskirts95 kept up a desultory96 shooting like the barking of a dog.
The fighting died down as the glimmer97 of dawn appeared on the horizon. . . .
Rumours98 that a pogrom was brewing99 crept through the town, finally reaching the tiny, low-roofedewish cottages with crooked100 windows that somehow managed to cling to the top of the filthy101 ravine leading down to the river. In these incredibly overcrowded hovels called houses lived the Jewish poor.
The compositors and other workers at the printshop where Sergei Bruzzhak had been working for more than a year were Jews. Strong bonds of friendship had sprung up between them and Sergei.
Like a closely knit family, they stood solid against their employer, the smug, well-fed Mr.Blumstein. An incessant struggle went on between the proprietor102 and the printers. Blumstein did his best to grab more and pay his workers less. The printers had gone on strike several times and the printshop had stood idle for two or three weeks running. There were fourteen of them. Sergei,the youngest, spent twelve hours a day turning the wheel of a hand press.
Today Sergei noticed an ominous103 uneasiness among the workers. For the past several troubledmonths the shop had had little to do apart from printing occasional proclamations issued by the "Chief Ataman".
A consumptive compositor named Mendel called Sergei into a corner.
"Do you know there's a pogrom coming?" he said, looking at the boy with his sad eyes.
Sergei looked up in surprise.
"No, I hadn't the slightest idea."
Mendel laid a withered104, yellow hand on Sergei's shoulder and spoke105 in a confiding106, paternal107 tone.
"There's going to be a pogrom—that's a fact. The Jews are going to be beaten up. What I want to know is this—will you help your comrades in their misfortune or not?"
"Of course I will, if I only can. What can I do, Mendel?"
The compositors were now listening to the conversation.
"You're a good boy, Seryozha, and we trust you. After all, your father's a worker like us. Now you run home and ask him whether he would agree to hide some old men and women at his place, and then we'll decide who they will be. Ask your people if there's anyone else they know willing to do
the same. The Russians will be safe from these bandits for the time being. Run along, Seryozha,there's no time to waste."
"You can count on me, Mendel. I'll see Pavka and Klimka right away—their folks are sure to take in somebody."
"Just a minute," Mendel anxiously halted Sergei who was about to leave. "Who are Pavka and Klimka? Do you know them well?"
Sergei nodded confidently.
"Of course. They're my pals108. Pavka Korchagin's brother is a mechanic."
"Ah, Korchagin," Mendel was reassured109. "I know him —used to live in the same house. Yes, you can see the Korchagins. Go, Seryozha, and bring back an answer as soon as you can."
Sergei shot out into the street.
The pogrom began on the third day after the pitched battle between the Pavlyuk detachment and Golub's men.
Pavlyuk, routed and driven out of Shepetovka, had cleared out of the neighbourhood and seized a small town nearby. The night encounter in Shepetovka had cost him a score of men. Golub had lost as many.
The dead were hastily carted off to the cemetery110 and buried the same day without much ceremony,for there was nothing to boast about in the whole affair. The two Atamans had flown at each other's throats like two stray curs, and to make a fuss over the funeral would have been unseemly.
True, Palyanytsya had wanted to make a big thing of it and declare Pavlyuk a Red bandit, but the Socialist-Revolutionaries headed by the priest Vasili objected.
The skirmish evoked111 some grumbling112 in Golub's regiment, especially among his bodyguard113 which had sustained the heaviest losses, and to put an end to the dissatisfaction and bolster114 up spirits, Palyanytsya proposed staging a pogrom—to provide "a little diversion" for the men, was the cynical115 way he broached116 the subject to Golub. He argued that this was essential in view of the grumbling in the unit. And although the Colonel was loth to disturb the peace in the town on the eve of his marriage to the barkeeper's daughter, he finally gave in.
Pan the Colonel had another reason for objecting to the operation: his recent admission into the S.R. Party. His enemies might stir up trouble again by branding him a pogrom-monger, and without doubt would slander117 him to the "Chief Ataman". So far, however, Golub was not greatly dependent on the "Chief", since he foraged118 for himself. Besides, the "Chief" knew very well what riffraff he had serving under him, and himself had time and again demanded money for the Directory's needs from the so-called requisitions; as for the reputation of a pogrom-monger, Golub already had quite a record in that respect. There was very little that he could add to it now.
The pogrom began early in the morning.
The town was still wrapped in the grey mist of dawn. The narrow streets which wound themselves like strips of wet linen119 around the haphazardly120 built blocks of the Jewish quarter were deserted and dead. The windows were heavily curtained and shuttered.
Outwardly the quarter appeared to be immersed in sound early-morning slumber121, but inside the houses there was no sleep. Entire families, fully122 dressed, huddled together in one room, preparing themselves for the impending123 disaster. Only children, too young to realise what was happening, slept peacefully in their mothers' arms.
Salomyga, the chief of Golub's bodyguard, a dark fellow with the swarthy complexion of a Gypsy and a livid sabre scar across his cheek, worked hard that morning to wake up Golub's aide. It was a painful awakening124 for Palyanytsya—he could not shake himself loose from the nightmare that had beset126 him all night; the grimacing127, hunchbacked devil was still clawing at his throat. At last he raised his splitting head and saw Salomyga bending over him.
"Get up, you souse," Salomyga was shaking him by the shoulder. "It's high time to get down to business!"
Palyanytsya, now wide awake, sat up and, his face grimacing with pain, spat128 out the bitter saliva129 that filled his mouth.
"What business?" he stared blankly at Salomyga.
"To rip up the sheenies, of course! You haven't forgotten, I hope."
It all came back to Palyanytsya. True enough, he had forgotten about it. The drinking bout48 at the farm where Pan the Colonel had retired130 with his fiancée and a handful of boon131 companions had been a heavy one.
Golub had found it convenient to leave town for the duration of the pogrom, for afterwards he could put it down to a misunderstanding in his absence, and in the meantime Palyanytsya would have ample opportunity to make a thorough job of it. Yes, Palyanytsya was an expert when it came to providing "diversion"! Palyanytsya poured a pail of water over his head and, thus sobered, was soon striding about headquarters issuing orders.
The bodyguard hundred was already in the saddle. To avoid possible complications, the farsighted Palyanytsya ordered pickets posted between the town proper and the workers' quarters and the
station. A machine gun was mounted in the Leszczinski garden facing the road in order to meet the workers with a squall of lead if they took it into their heads to interfere132.
When all the preparations were complete, the aide and Salomyga leapt into the saddle.
"Wait, I nearly forgot," Palyanytsya said when they had already set out. "Get two carts to bring back Golub's wedding present. Ha-ha-ha! The first spoils as always to the commander, and the first girl for his aide—and that's me. Got it, you blockhead?"
The last remark was addressed to Salomyga, who glared back at him with jaundiced eyes.
"There'll be enough for everybody."
They spurred their horses down the highway, the aide and Salomyga leading the disorderly mob of mounted men.
The mist had lifted when Palyanytsya reined in his horse in front of a two-storey house with a rusty133 sign reading "Fuchs, Draper".
His thin-shanked grey mare125 nervously134 stamped her hoof15 against the cobblestones.
"Well, with God's help we'll begin here," Palyanytsya said as he jumped to the ground.
"All right, men, dismount," he turned to the men crowding around him. "The show's beginning.
Now I don't want any heads bashed, there'll be a time for that. As for the girls, if you can manage it, hold out until evening."
One of the men bared his strong teeth and protested:
"Now then, Pan Khorunzhy, what if it's by mutual135 consent?"
There was loud guffawing136 all around. Palyanytsya eyed the man who had spoken with admiring approbation137.
"Well, that's another story—if they're willing, go right ahead, nobody can prohibit that."
Palyanytsya went up to the closed door of the store and kicked at it hard, but the sturdy oaken planks138 did not so much as tremble.
This was clearly the wrong place to begin. Palyanytsya rounded the corner of the house and headed for the door leading to Fuchs' place, supporting his sabre with his hand as he went.
Salomyga followed.
The people inside the house had heard the clatter139 of hoofs on the pavement outside and when the sound ceased in front of the shop and the men's voices carried through the walls their hearts
seemed to stop beating and their bodies stiffened140 with fright.
The wealthy Fuchs had left town the day before with his wife and daughters, leaving his servant Riva, a gentle timid girl of nineteen, to look after his property. Since she was afraid to remain alone in the house, he had suggested that she bring her old father and mother to stay with her until his return.
When Riva had tried meekly141 to protest, the cunning merchant had assured her that in all probability there would be no pogrom at all, for what could they expect to get from beggars? And he promised to give her a piece of stuff for a dress when he returned.
Now the three waited in fear and trembling, hoping against hope that the men would ride past;perhaps they had been mistaken, perhaps it had only seemed that the horses had stopped in front of their house. But their hopes were dashed by the dull reverberation142 of a blow at the shop door.
Old, silvery-haired Peisakh stood in the doorway143, his blue eyes wide open like a frightened child's,and he whispered a prayer to Almighty144 Jehovah with all the passion of the fanatical believer. He prayed to God to protect this house from misfortune and for a while the old woman standing beside him could not hear the approaching footsteps for the mumble145 of his prayer.
Riva had fled to the farthest room where she hid behind the big oaken sideboard.
A shattering blow at the door sent a convulsive tremor146 through the two old people.
"Open the door!" Another blow, still more violent than the first, descended147 on the door, followed by furious curses.
But those within, numb148 with fright, could not lift a hand to unfasten the door.
Outside the rifle butts150 pounded until the bolts gave way and the splintering door crashed open.
Armed men poured into the house; they searched every corner. A blow from a rifle butt149 smashed in the door leading into the shop and the front door bolts were drawn151 from within.
The looting began.
When the carts had been piled high with cloth, shoes and other loot, Salomyga set out with the booty to Golub's quarters. When he returned he heard a shriek152 of terror issuing from the house.
Palyanytsya, leaving his men to sack the shop, had walked into the proprietor's apartment and found the old folks and the girl standing there. Casting his green lynx-like eyes over them he snapped at the old couple: "Get out of here!" Neither mother nor father stirred.
Palyanytsya took a step forward and slowly drew his sabre.
"Mama!" the girl gave a heart-rending scream. It was this that Salomyga heard.
Palyanytsya turned to his men who had run in at the cry.
"Throw them out!" he barked, pointing at the two old people. When this had been done, he told Salomyga who had now appeared. "You watch here at the door while I have a chat with the wench."
The girl screamed again. Old Peisakh made a rush for the door leading into the room, but a violent blow in the chest sent him reeling back against the wall, gasping153 with pain. Like a she-wolf fighting for her young, Toiba, the old mother, always so quiet and submissive, now flung herself at Salomyga.
"Let me .in! What are you doing to my girl?" She was struggling to get to the door, and try as he might Salomyga could not break her convulsive grip on his coat.
Peisakh, now recovered from the shock and pain, came to Toiba's assistance.
"Let us pass! Let us pass! Oh my daughter!"
Between them the old couple managed to push Salomyga away from the door. Enraged154, he jerked his revolver from under his belt and brought the steel grip down hard upon the old man's grey head. Peisakh crumpled155 to the floor.
Inside the room Riva was screaming.
Toiba was dragged out of the house frantic156 with grief, and the street echoed to her wild shrieks157 and entreaties158 for help.
Inside the house everything was quiet.
Palyanytsya came out of the room. Without looking at Salomyga, whose hand was already on the door handle, he said:
"No use going in—she choked when I tried to shut her up with a pillow." As he stepped over Peisakh's body he put his foot into a dark sticky mess.
"Bad beginning," he muttered as he went outside.
The others followed him without a word, leaving behind bloody159 footprints on the floor and the stairs.
Pillage160 was in full swing in the town. Brief savage161 clashes flared up between brigands162 over the division of the spoils, and here and there sabres flashed. And almost everywhere fists flailed163 without restraint. From the beer saloon twenty-five gallon kegs were rolled out onto the street.
Then the looters began to break into Jewish homes.
There was no resistance. They went through the rooms, hastily turned every corner upside down, and went away laden164 with booty, leaving behind disordered heaps of clothing and the fluttering contents of ripped feather beds and pillows. The first day took a toll165 of only two victims: Riva and
her father; but the oncoming night carried with it the unavoidable menace of death.
By evening the motley crew of scavengers was roaring drunk. The crazed Petlyura men were waiting for the night.
Darkness released them from the last restraint. It is easier to destroy a man in the pit of night; even the jackal prefers the hours of gloom.
Few would ever forget these two terrible nights and three days. How many crushed and mangled166 lives they left behind, how many youthful heads turned grey in these bloody hours, how many bitter tears were shed! It is hard to tell whether those were the more fortunate who were left to live with souls desolated167, in the agony of shame and humiliation168, gnawed169 by indescribable grief for loved ones who would never return. In the narrow alleys170 lay the lacerated, tormented171, broken bodies of young girls with arms thrown back in convulsive gestures of agony.
Only at the very riverfront, in the house where Naum the blacksmith lived, the jackals who fell upon his young wife Sarah got a fierce rebuff. The smith, a man of powerful build in the prime of his twenty-four years and with the steel muscles of one who wielded172 the sledge-hammer for a living, did not yield his mate.
In a brief but furious clash in the tiny cottage the skulls173 of two Petlyura men were crushed like rotten melons. With the terrible fury of despair, the smith fought fiercely for two lives, and for a long time the dry crackle of rifle fire could be heard from the river bank where the brigands now rushed, sensing the danger. With only one round of ammunition174 left, the smith mercifully shot his wife, and himself rushed out to his death, bayonet in hand. He was met by a squall of lead and his powerful body crashed to the ground outside his front door.
Prosperous peasants from nearby villages drove into town in carts drawn by well-fed horses, loaded their waggon175 boxes with whatever met their fancy, and, escorted by sons and relatives serving in Golub's force, hurried home so as to make another trip or two to town and back.
Seryozha Bruzzhak, who together with his father had hidden half of his printshop comrades in the cellar and attic176, was crossing the garden on his way home when he saw a man in a long, patched coat running up the road, violently swinging his arms.
It was an old Jew, and behind the bareheaded, panting man whose features were paralysed with mortal terror, galloped a Petlyura man on a grey horse. The distance between them dwindled177 fast and the mounted man leaned forward in the saddle to cut down his victim. Hearing the hoofbeats behind him, the old man threw up his hands as if to ward52 off the blow. At that moment Seryozha leapt onto the road and threw himself in front of the horse.
"Stop, you dog of a bandit!"
The rider, making no effort to stay the descending178 sabre, brought the flat of the blade down on the fair young head.
雨点劈劈啪啪地敲打着窗户。屋顶上的雨水刷刷地往下流。劲风阵阵，吹得花园里的樱桃树惊慌地东摇西晃，树枝不时撞在窗玻璃上。冬妮亚已多次抬起头来，谛听着是不是有人敲门。她终于明白，这不过是风在捣乱，于是皱起了眉头。风雨声搅得她再也写不下去了，惆怅袭上了心头。她面前的桌子上摊着几张写得满满的信纸。她写完最后一页，裹紧了披巾，拿起刚写好的信，重读了一遍。
亲爱的塔妮亚：我父亲的助手偶然路过基辅，我请他捎这封信给你。
好久没有给你写信了，请别见怪。
眼下这种兵荒马乱的日子，全都乱糟糟的，思绪也理不出来。即便有心思写信，邮路又不通，也没有人捎。
你已经知道，父亲不同意我再去基辅。七年级我只好在本地的中学念了。
我很想念朋友们，尤其是你。我在这里一个同学也没有。
跟前大多是些庸俗乏味的男孩和土里土气、却又高傲自大的蠢女孩。
前几封信里，我跟你谈到过保夫鲁沙。我原先以为，我对这个小锅炉工的感情不过是年轻人的逢场作戏，昙花一现的恋情在生活中是随处可见的。可我想错了，塔妮亚，实际情况并非如此。是的，我们两个都还很稚嫩，年龄加起来才三十三岁。但是，这里面却有着某种更为严肃的东西。我不知道该叫什么，反正不是逢场作戏。
如今，在这淫雨连绵、泥泞遍地的深秋季节，在这寂寞无聊的小城里，我对这个邋里邋遢的小火夫的突发之情竟充满了我的全部身心，装点着周围灰蒙蒙一片的生活。
我本是个不安分的小女孩，有时还爱异想天开，一心要在生活中寻找某种不同寻常的夺目光彩。我从这样一个小女孩成长起来，从一大堆读过的小说中成长起来。这些小说常常触发你对生活的奇想，促使你去追求一种更为绚丽、更为充实的生活，而不满足于那种叫人厌恶和腻烦的、千篇一律的灰暗生活，这后一种生活却正是跟我类似的绝大多数女性所习惯了的。在对不同寻常的夺目光彩的追求中，我产生了对保尔的感情。我熟悉的那些年轻人中，没有一个有他那样坚强的意志，那样明确无误而又别具一格的生活见解，没有一个。而我和他的友谊本身也是非同一般的。正是因为追求夺目的光彩，也因为我异想天开地要“考验考验”他，有一次我差点没要了他的小命。这件事眼下回想起来，我都觉得十分惭愧。
这是夏末的事。我跟保尔来到湖边的一座悬崖上，这是我喜爱的地方。真是鬼迷心窍，我竟会生出来一个再考验他一次的念头。那座陡峭的悬崖你是知道的，去年夏天我领你去过，足足有五俄丈［一俄丈等于２．１３４米。——译者］高。我简直疯了，对他说：“你不敢跳下去，你害怕。”
他朝下面的湖水看了看，摇摇头说：“活见鬼！干吗，我的命不值钱哪？谁活得不耐烦，他跳就是了。”
我这样挑逗他，他以为是开玩笑。别看我多次亲眼看到他表现得很勇敢，有时甚至天不怕地不怕，此时此刻我却认为，他敢做的，也就是打个架啦，冒个险啦，偷支手枪啦，以及诸如此类的小事，真正要冒生命危险的大无畏精神，他还谈不上。
接下来发生的事实在糟糕，叫我一辈子再也不敢去干那种想入非非的蠢事。我告诉他，我不大相信他那么勇敢，只是检验他一下，是否真有胆量跳悬崖，不过我并不强迫他这样做。当时我简直着了迷，觉得太有意思了，为了进一步激他，又提出了这样的条件：如果他真是男子汉，想博得我的爱情，那就跳下去，跳过之后，他就可以得到我。
塔妮亚，我现在深深意识到，这太过分了。他对我的建议惊讶不已，凝视了我片刻。我还没有来得及站起来，他已经甩掉脚上的鞋子，纵身从悬崖上跳了下去。
我吓得尖叫起来，可一切都晚了——他那挺直的身躯飞速向水面落下去。短短的三秒钟，在我却是长得没有尽头。当水面激起的巨大浪花把他的身子掩盖起来的瞬间，我害怕极了，顾不得滑下悬崖的危险，忧心如焚地张望着水面一圈圈漾开去的波纹。似乎是无尽的等待之后，水面上终于露出了我心爱的那颗黑色的头。我号啕大哭，迅速向通湖边的小路飞奔过去。
我知道，他跳崖并不是为了得到我，我许下的愿至今没有偿还，而是为了永远结束这种考验。
树枝敲击着窗户，不让我写下去。今天我的心情一点也不好，塔妮亚。周围的一切是那么黯淡，这对我的情绪也有影响。
车站上列车不间断。德国人在撤退。他们从四面八方汇合到这里，然后分批登车离去。据说，离这里二十俄里的地方，起义者和撤退的德军在交战。你是知道的，德国也发生了革命，他们急着回国去。火车站的工人快跑光了。像要出什么事，我说不上来，可心里惶惶然不可终日。等你的回信。
爱你的 冬妮亚
１９１８年１１月２９日
激烈而残酷的阶级斗争席卷着乌克兰。愈来愈多的人拿起了武器，每一次战斗都有新的人参加进来。
小市民过惯了的那种安宁平静的日子，已经成为遥远的往事了。
战争的风暴袭来，隆隆炮声震撼着破旧的小屋。小市民蜷缩在地窖的墙根底下，或者躲在自家挖的避弹壕里。
佩特留拉手下那些五花八门的匪帮在全省横冲直撞，什么戈卢勃、阿尔汉格尔、安格尔、戈尔季以及诸如此类的大小头目，这些数不清的各式各样匪徒，到处为非作歹。
过去的军官、右翼和“左翼”乌克兰社会革命党党徒，一句话，任何一个不要命的冒险家，只要能纠集一批亡命徒，就都自封为首领，不时还打起佩特留拉的蓝黄旗，用尽一切力量和手段夺取政权。
“大头目佩特留拉”的团和师，就是由这些乌七八糟的匪帮，加上富农，还有小头目科诺瓦利茨指挥的加里西亚地方的攻城部队拼凑起来的。红色游击队不断向这帮社会革命党和富农组成的乌合之众冲杀，于是大地就在这无数马蹄和炮车车轮下面颤抖。
在那动乱的一九一九年的四月，吓得昏头昏脑的小市民，早上起来，揉着惺忪的睡眼，推开窗户，提心吊胆地询问比他起得早的邻居：“阿夫托诺姆·彼得罗维奇，今天城里是哪一派掌权？”
那个阿夫托诺姆·彼得罗维奇一边系裤带，一边左右张望，惶恐地回答：“不知道啊，阿法纳斯·基里洛维奇。夜里开进来一些队伍。等着瞧吧。要是抢劫犹太人，那就准是佩特留拉的人，要是‘同志们’，那一听说话，也就知道了。我这不是在看吗，看到底该挂谁的像，可别弄错了，招惹是非。您知道吗，隔壁的格拉西姆·列昂季耶维奇就是因为没看准，糊里糊涂地把列宁的像挂了出去。刚好有三个人冲他走过来，没想到就是佩特留拉手下的人。他们一看见列宁像，就把格拉西姆抓住了。好家伙，一口气抽了他二十马鞭，一边打一边骂：‘狗杂种，共产党，我们扒你的皮，抽你的筋！’不管格拉西姆怎么分辩，怎么哭喊，都不顶事。”
正说着，有一群武装人员沿着公路走来。他们俩看见，赶紧关上窗户，藏了起来。日子不太平啊！……
至于工人们，却是怀着满腔的仇恨瞧着佩特留拉匪帮的蓝黄旗。他们还没有力量对抗“乌克兰独立运动”这股沙文主义的逆流。只有当浴血奋战的红军部队击退佩特留拉匪帮的围攻，从这一带路过，像楔子一样插进城里的时候，工人们才活跃起来。亲爱的红旗只在市参议会房顶上飘扬一两天，部队一撤，黑暗又重新降临了。
现在这座小城的主人是外第聂伯师的“荣耀和骄傲”戈卢勃上校。昨天他那支两千个亡命徒的队伍趾高气扬地开进了城。
上校老爷骑着黑色的高头大马走在队伍的前面。尽管四月的太阳已经暖烘烘的了，他还是披着高加索毡斗篷，戴着扎波罗什哥萨克的红顶羔皮帽子，里边穿的是切尔克斯长袍，佩着全副武装：有短剑，有镶银马刀。
戈卢勃上校老爷是个美男子：黑黑的眉毛，白白的脸，只是由于狂饮无度，脸色白里透着微黄，而且嘴里总是叼着烟斗。革命前，上校老爷在一家糖厂的种植园里当农艺师，但是那种生活寂寞无聊，根本不能同哥萨克头目的赫赫声势相比。于是，这位农艺师就乘着浊流在全国泛滥的机会，浮游上来，成了戈卢勃上校老爷。
为了欢迎新来的队伍，城里唯一的剧院正在举行盛大的晚会。佩特留拉派士绅界的全部“精华”都出席了：一些乌克兰教师，神甫的大女儿、美人阿妮亚，小女儿季娜，一些小地主，波托茨基伯爵过去的管事，自称“自由哥萨克”的一帮小市民，以及乌克兰社会革命党的党徒。
剧场里挤得满满的。女教师、神甫的女儿和小市民太太们穿着鲜艳的乌克兰绣花民族服装，戴着珠光宝气的项链，饰着五彩缤纷的飘带。她们周围是一群响着马刺的军官。这些军官活像古画上的扎波罗什哥萨克。
军乐队奏着乐曲。舞台上正在忙乱地准备演出《纳扎尔·斯托多利亚》。
但是没有电。事情报告到司令部上校老爷那里。上校老爷正打算光临今天的晚会，为晚会锦上添花。他听了副官（此人原是沙皇陆军少尉，姓波良采夫，现在摇身一变，成了哥萨克少尉帕利亚内查）的报告以后，漫不经心但又威风凛凛地下命令说：“电灯一定要亮。你就是掉了脑袋，也要给我找到电工，立即发电。”
“是，上校大人。”
帕利亚内查少尉并没有掉脑袋，他找到了电工。
一个小时之后，他的两个士兵押着保尔来到发电厂。电工和机务员也是用同样的办法找来的。
帕利亚内查指着一根铁梁，直截了当地对他们说：“要是到七点钟电灯还不亮，我就把你们三个统统吊死在这里！”
这个简短的命令奏了效。到了指定的时间，电灯果然亮了。
当上校老爷带着他的情人到达剧场的时候，晚会进入了高潮。上校的情人是一个胸部丰满、长着浅褐色头发的姑娘，是上校的房东、酒店老板的女儿。
酒店老板很有钱，他曾把女儿送到省城中学念过书。
他们在前排荣誉席就坐之后，上校老爷表示节目可以开演了。于是帷幕立刻拉开，观众看到了匆忙跑进后台的导演的背影。
演剧的时候，军官们带着女伴在酒吧间里大吃大喝。那里有神通广大的帕利亚内查搜罗来的上等私酒和强征来的各种美味。到剧终的时候，他们已经酩酊大醉了。
帕利亚内查跳上舞台，装腔作势地把手一扬，用乌克兰话宣布：“诸位先生，现在开始跳舞！”
台下的人一齐鼓掌，接着就都走到院子里，好让那些担任晚会警卫的士兵搬出椅子，清理舞场。
半小时以后，剧场里又热闹起来。
舞兴大发的佩特留拉军官们同那些热得满脸通红的当地美人疯狂地跳着果拍克舞。他们用力跺着脚，震得这座旧剧场的墙壁直发颤。
正在这个时候，一队骑兵从磨坊那边朝城里跑来。
城边有戈卢勃部队的机枪岗哨。哨兵发现了正在走近的骑兵，警觉起来，急忙扑到机枪跟前，哗啦一声推上枪机。夜空里响起了厉声的呼喊：“站住！干什么的？”
黑暗中有两个模糊的人影走上前来。其中一个走到岗哨跟前，用醉鬼的破锣嗓子吼道：“我是头目帕夫柳克，后边是我的部队，你们是戈卢勃的人吗？”
“是的。”一个军官迎上前去说。
“把我的队伍安顿在哪儿？”帕夫柳克问。
“我马上打电话问司令部。”军官说完，走进了路边的小屋。
一分钟以后，他从小屋里跑出来，命令说：“弟兄们，机枪从大路上撤开，给帕夫柳克大人让路。”
帕夫柳克勒住缰绳，在灯火辉煌的剧院门口停住了。剧场外面十分热闹。
“嗬，挺快活呢，”他转身对身边的哥萨克大尉说。“古克马奇，下马吧，咱们也来乐一乐。这儿有的是娘们，挑几个可心的玩玩。”接着他喊了一声：“喂，斯塔列日科！你安排弟兄们住到各家去。我们就留在这儿了。卫兵跟我来。”他一翻身，沉甸甸地跳到地上，把马带得摇晃了一下。
两名武装卫兵在剧院门口拦住了帕夫柳克。
“票？”
帕夫柳克轻蔑地瞧了他们一眼，肩膀一拱，把一个卫兵推到了一边。他身后的十二个人也这样跟着闯进了剧院。他们的马匹留在外面，拴在栅栏上。
进来的人立刻引起了场内人们的注意。特别显眼的是帕夫柳克。他身材高大，穿着上等呢料的军官制服和蓝色近卫军制裤，戴着毛茸茸的高加索皮帽，肩上斜挎着一支毛瑟枪，衣袋里露出一颗手榴弹。
“这个人是谁？”人们交头接耳地问。他们正在看疯狂的“风雪舞”，戈卢勃的助手领着一帮人，围成一圈，跳得正起劲。
他的舞伴是神甫的大女儿。她兴奋到了极点，飞速地旋转着，裙子就像扇子一样展开，露出她那丝织的三角裤衩。这使周围的军官们看得非常开心。
帕夫柳克用肩膀挤开人群，走进圈子里。
他用混浊的目光盯着神甫女儿的大腿，舔了舔干燥的嘴唇，然后挤出圈子，径直朝乐队走去。他走到舞台脚灯前站住，挥舞了一下马鞭，喊道：“奏果拍克舞曲，卖点力气！”
乐队指挥没有理睬他。
帕夫柳克扬起马鞭，朝着指挥的后背使劲抽了一鞭。指挥像给蝎子蜇了似的，跳了起来。
音乐立刻停止了，全场顿时寂静下来。
“太霸道了！”酒店老板的女儿气愤地说。“你可不能轻饶了他。”她神经质地抓住坐在身旁的戈卢勃的胳膊。
戈卢勃慢腾腾地站起来，一脚踢开面前的椅子，三大步就走到帕夫柳克跟前，面对面站住了。他立刻认出这个人就是同他在本县争地盘的对手帕夫柳克。他正有一笔帐要找这家伙算呢。
这个帕夫柳克曾用最卑鄙的手段暗算过他戈卢勃上校老爷。
事情是这样的：一周以前，当戈卢勃的队伍正同多次叫他吃苦头的红军酣战的时候，帕夫柳克本来应该从背后袭击布尔什维克，但是他没有这样做，反而把部队拉到一个小镇，消灭了红军几个岗哨，轻而易举地占领了小镇。接着就把周围警戒起来，在镇里撒开手大肆抢劫。作为佩特留拉的“嫡系”部队，他们蹂躏的对象是犹太人。
就在那个时候，红军把戈卢勃的右翼打得落花流水，然后撤走了。
现在，这个恬不知耻的骑兵大尉又闯到这里，竟敢当着他上校老爷的面，动手打他的乐队指挥。不行，他决不能善罢甘休。戈卢勃心里明白，要是他现在不给这个妄自尊大的小头目一点厉害瞧瞧，往后他在部下的心目中就会威信扫地。
他们俩虎视眈眈地对峙了几秒钟。
戈卢勃一只手紧紧握住马刀柄，另一只手去摸衣袋里的手枪。他大声喝道：“混蛋！你竟敢打我的部下！”
帕夫柳克的一只手也慢慢地移向毛瑟枪枪套。
“冷静点，冷静点，戈卢勃大人，小心栽个大跟头。别专踩别人的鸡眼嘛，我也会发火的。”
这实在太过分了。
“把他们抓起来，拉出去，每人二十五鞭子，给我狠狠抽！”
戈卢勃大叫。
他部下的军官立刻像一群猎狗似的，从四面八方扑向帕夫柳克那一伙。
啪的一声，有人放了一枪，如同灯泡摔在地上一样。接着，这两群野狗扭到一起，厮打起来。混战中，他们用马刀胡乱对砍，你揪我的头发，我掐你的脖子。吓掉了魂的女人们，像猪崽一样尖叫着，四散逃开。
几分钟以后，帕夫柳克一伙人被解除了武装。戈卢勃的人一边打，一边拖，把他们弄到院子里，然后扔到了大街上。
帕夫柳克被打得鼻青脸肿，羊皮高帽丢了，武器也没有了。他气得暴跳如雷，带着手下的人跳上马，顺着大街飞奔而去。
晚会没法进行下去了。在这场厮打之后，谁也没有心思再寻欢作乐了。女人们都坚决拒绝跳舞，要求送她们回家。可是戈卢勃的牛脾气上来了。他下命令说：“谁都不许离开剧场，派人把住门！”
帕利亚内查赶忙执行了命令。
剧场里喧声四起，但是戈卢勃置之不理，仍然固执地宣布：“诸位先生和女士，我们今天要跳个通宵。现在我来领头跳一个华尔兹舞。”
乐队又奏起乐曲，但是舞还是没有跳成。
上校和神甫女儿还没有跳完第一圈，哨兵就闯了进来，大声报告：“帕夫柳克的人把剧院包围了！”
舞台旁边的一个临街窗户哗啦一声被打得粉碎。一挺机枪的枪筒像猪嘴似的，从破窗里探进来。它蠢笨地左右转动着，似乎在搜索剧场里慌忙逃跑的人群。人们一齐挤向剧场的中央，躲避这个可怕的魔鬼。
帕利亚内查瞄准天棚上那只一千瓦的大灯泡放了一枪，灯泡炸开来，雨点般的碎玻璃撒落在人们身上。
场内立时一片漆黑。街上传来了吼声：“都滚出来！”跟着是一连串下流的咒骂。
女人们歇斯底里地尖叫着，戈卢勃在场内来回奔跑，厉声吆喝，想把惊慌失措的军官们集合起来。这些声音跟外面的喊声、枪声汇成一片，混乱到了极点。谁都没有注意到帕利亚内查像一条泥鳅一样，从后门溜到了空荡荡的后街上，向戈卢勃的司令部跑去。
半小时后，城里展开了正式的战斗。爆豆般的枪声夹杂着机枪的哒哒声，打破了夜的寂静。吓得昏头昏脑的小市民们从热乎乎的被窝里跳出来，脸贴着窗户向外张望。
阿夫托诺姆·彼得罗维奇在床上抬起头，竖起耳朵听着。
不，他没有听错——是在开枪，他急忙跳下床。鼻子在窗玻璃上压得扁扁的，他就这样站了一会儿。无可怀疑：城里在开火。
得赶紧把谢甫琴科［谢甫琴科（１８１４—１８６１），乌克兰诗人，画家。——译者］肖像下面的小旗撤下来。贴佩特留拉的小旗，红军来了就要遭殃。谢甫琴科的肖像倒不妨，红军白军都尊重他。塔拉斯·谢甫琴科真是个好人，挂他的肖像不用提心吊胆，不管谁来，都不会有什么说道。旗子可就是另一回事了。他阿夫托诺姆可不是傻瓜，不是格拉西姆·列昂季耶维奇那样的糊涂虫。既然有两全其美的办法，干吗非冒这个险挂列宁的像？
他逐一把小旗撕下来，可钉子钉得太紧了。他一使劲，身子失去了平衡，咕咚一声重重地摔倒在地上。妻子被响声惊醒，一骨碌爬了起来……
“你怎么，疯啦，老不死的？”
阿夫托诺姆·彼得罗维奇骶骨摔得生疼，正好没有地方出气，冲着妻子叫喊：“你就知道睡、睡。上天国也会让你睡过了头。城里出了天大的事，可你还是睡个没完。挂旗是我的事，摘旗也是我的事，跟你就不相干？”
他的唾沫星子飞到妻子的脸上。她用被子蒙住头，阿夫托诺姆·彼得罗维奇只听到她愤愤地嘟囔：“白痴！”
枪声逐渐稀疏，回音仍然像榔头敲击着窗框，城边上的蒸汽机磨坊附近，一挺机枪像狗叫似的，断断续续地响着。
东方透出了鱼肚白。
城里有个传闻不胫而走，说烧杀掳掠犹太人的事不久就要发生。消息也传到了肮脏的犹太居民区。那里是一些歪歪扭扭、又矮又窄的破房子，对对付付地修建在高高的河岸上。
犹太贫民拥挤不堪地住在这些勉强可以称做房屋的盒子里。
谢廖沙在印刷厂做工已经一年多了。厂里的排字工人和其他工人全是犹太人。谢廖沙同他们处得很好，亲如一家。他们同心协力，团结在一起，共同对付那个傲慢的大肚子老板勃柳姆斯坦。印刷工人同老板不断地进行斗争。老板总是拼命想多榨取一些利润，少支付一些工资。就因为这个，工人们多次罢工，印刷厂一停工就是两三个星期。厂里有十四名工人，谢廖沙最年轻，但是摇起印刷机来，一气也要干十二个小时。
今天，谢廖沙发现工人们情绪不安。在最近这几个动乱的月份里，印刷厂没有经常的订货，只是印些哥萨克大头目的告示。
患肺病的排字工人门德利把谢廖沙叫到一个角落里，用忧郁的目光注视着他，问：“城里又要虐杀犹太人了，你知道吗？”
谢廖沙吃惊地看了他一眼，说：“没听说，不知道。”
门德利把又瘦又黄的手放在谢廖沙肩上，用长辈的口气信赖地对他说：“虐犹的事十有八九要发生。犹太人又要遭殃了。我想问问你，你愿不愿意帮助自己的伙伴躲过这场大灾大难？”
“只要我办得到，当然愿意。你说吧，门德利，要我干什么？”
其他排字工人都注意地听着他俩的谈话。
“谢廖沙，你是个好小伙子，我们信得过你。再说，你爸爸也是个工人。你现在赶快回家，问问你爸爸，能不能让几个老人和妇女藏到你们家去。谁到你们家，咱们再商量。你再同家里人合计合计，看谁家还能帮忙藏几个。这帮土匪暂时还不会碰俄罗斯人。快去吧，谢廖沙，晚了就来不及了。”
“行，门德利，你放心，我马上到保尔和克利姆卡家去一趟，他们两家也一定会收留你们的。”
“等一等。”门德利有点担心，慌忙叫住要走的谢廖沙。
“保尔和克利姆卡是什么人？靠得住吗？”
谢廖沙很有把握地点点头，说：“看你说的，当然靠得住。他们都是我的好朋友。保尔的哥哥是个钳工。”
“啊，原来是阿尔焦姆，”门德利这才放了心。“我认得他，我们在一个房子里住过。他很可靠。去吧，谢廖沙。快去快回，给我个信。”
谢廖沙立刻朝门外跑去。
戈卢勃和帕夫柳克双方发生冲突后的第三天，虐杀犹太人的暴行开始了。
那天帕夫柳克打败了，被赶出了城。他夹起尾巴溜到邻近的一个小镇，占领了那个地方。在夜战中，他损失了二十几个人，戈卢勃的损失也差不多。
死者的尸体匆忙运到公墓，草草掩埋了。没有举行仪式，因为这种事没什么可炫耀的。两个头目一见面就像野狗一样对咬起来，再大办丧事，可不是什么体面的事。帕利亚内查本来想在下葬的时候铺张一番，并且宣布柏夫柳克是赤匪，但是以瓦西里神甫为首的社会革命党委员会反对这样做。
那天夜间的冲突在戈卢勃的部队里引起了不满，特别是在警卫连，因为这个连的损失最大。为了平息不满情绪，提高士气，帕利亚内查建议戈卢勃让部下“消遣”一下。这个无耻的家伙所说的“消遣”，就是虐杀犹太人。他说这样做是非常必要的，不然就没有办法消除部队中的不满情绪。上校本来不打算在他和酒店老板的女儿举行婚礼之前破坏城里的平静，但是听帕利亚内查讲得那么严重，也就同意了。
不错，上校老爷已经加入了社会革命党，再搞这种名堂，多少有些顾虑。他的敌手又会乘机制造反对他的舆论，说他戈卢勃上校是个虐犹狂，而且一定会在大头目面前说他许多坏话。好在他戈卢勃目前并不靠大头目过日子。他的给养全是自己筹措的。其实，大头目自己也完全清楚，他手下的弟兄是些什么货色。他本人就曾不止一次要他们奉献所谓征来的财物，以解决他那个“政府”的财政困难。至于说戈卢勃是虐犹狂，那么在这一点上他早就名声在外了，再干一次，他的名声也不见得再坏到哪里去。
烧杀抢劫从大清早就开始了。
小城笼罩在破晓前的灰雾里。犹太居民区的街道空荡荡的，毫无生气。这些街道像浸过水的麻布条，把那些歪歪斜斜的犹太人住屋胡乱捆在一起。小屋的窗户上都挂着窗帘，上着窗板，不透一丝光亮。
表面上看来，小屋里的人都沉浸在黎明前的甜梦里。其实，他们并没有睡，而是穿着衣服，一家人挤在一个小房间里，准备应付即将来临的灾难。只有不懂事的婴孩才无忧无虑地、香甜地睡在妈妈的怀抱里。
这天早上，戈卢勃的卫队长萨洛梅加，一个脸长得像吉卜赛人、腮上有一条绛紫色刀痕的黝黑的家伙，很长时间都没能摇醒戈卢勃的副官帕利亚内查。
帕利亚内查睡得死死的，他正做着噩梦，怎么也醒不过来。他梦见一个龇牙咧嘴的驼背妖怪，伸着爪子搔他的喉咙，这个妖怪折磨了他一整夜。最后，他终于抬起那疼得要裂开来的脑袋，明白过来，原来是萨洛梅加在叫他。
“醒醒吧，你这个瘟神！”萨洛梅加一面抓住他的肩膀摇晃，一面喊。“已经不早了，该动手啦！让酒把你灌死才好呢！”
帕利亚内查总算完全清醒了，坐了起来。胃疼得他歪扭着嘴，他吐了一口苦水。
“什么该动手了？”他用无神的眼睛瞪着萨洛梅加。
“怎么？干犹太人去呀，你糊涂了？”
这回帕利亚内查想起来了：可不是，他把这事给忘了。昨天上校带着未婚妻和一群酒鬼溜到郊外田庄里，他们灌了个酩酊大醉。
戈卢勃认为，在抢劫和屠杀犹太人期间，他最好回避一下，别留在城里。往后他可以推脱责任，说这是他不在时发生的一场误会。他离开的这段时间，足够帕利亚内查漂漂亮亮地大干一场了。嘿，这个帕利亚内查，搞这种“消遣”可是个大行家！
帕利亚内查往头上浇了一桶冷水，思考的能力完全恢复了。他在司令部里东跑西颠，下达了一连串的命令。
警卫连已经上了马。办事精明的帕利亚内查为了避免引起麻烦，又命令设置岗哨，把工人住宅区和车站通城区的道路切断。在列辛斯基家的花园里架了一挺机枪，监视大路。如果工人出来干涉，就用铅弹对付他们。
一切安排就绪之后，副官和萨洛梅加才跨上马。
已经出发了，帕利亚内查忽然想起一件事，立即下令：“站住。差点忘了大事。带上两辆大车，咱们给戈卢勃弄点礼物，好办喜事。哈，哈，哈！……第一批到手的东西照例归司令。第一个娘们，哈，哈，哈，可得归我这个副官。明白吗，蠢货？”
最后这句话他是问萨洛梅加的。
萨洛梅加朝他翻翻黄眼珠，说：“有的是，够大伙受用的。”
队伍顺着大路出发了。副官和萨洛梅加走在前面，警卫连乱哄哄地跟在后面。
晨雾消散了。眼前是一座两层楼房，生锈的招牌上写着：“福克斯百货店”。帕利亚内查勒住了马缰。
他那匹细腿灰骒马不耐烦地踢了一下脚下的石路。
“好啦，上帝保佑，就打这儿开始吧。”帕利亚内查说着，下了马。
“喂，弟兄们，下马吧！”他转身对围上来的卫兵们说。
“好戏开场了。弟兄们，小心，可别敲碎那些猪猡的脑壳，收拾他们的机会多得很。说到娘们呢，要是还能熬得住，那就等到晚上再说。”
一个卫兵龇着大牙抗议说：“少尉大人，这话怎么说？要是两厢情愿呢？”
周围的人一阵哄笑。帕利亚内查赞赏地看了看那个卫兵。
“当然喽，要是两厢情愿，那就尽管干好了。谁也没有权利禁止这种事。”
帕利亚内查走到紧闭着的店门前，使劲踢了一脚。但是结实的柞木大门纹丝不动。
是的，不该从这里开始。副官握着军刀，绕过墙角，朝福克斯的住宅门口走去。萨洛梅加跟在后面。
房子里的人早就听到了路上的马蹄声。当马走到店铺前面停下，墙外传来说话声的时候，他们的心都要蹦出来了，吓得气都不敢出。这时屋里一共有三个人。
财主福克斯昨天就带着妻子和女儿逃出了城，只留下女仆丽娃看守房产。丽娃是一个温顺胆小的女孩子，才十九岁。
福克斯怕她一个人不敢住这么大的空房子，就叫她把父母接来同住，直到福克斯回来。
起初丽娃不怎么同意留下，这个狡猾的商人就骗她说，虐犹的事不一定发生。再说，他们从你们穷人手里能抢到什么东西呢？等他回来以后，一定赏给她钱买衣服。
现在，三个人都在侧耳倾听外面的动静，他们忧心如焚，又心怀侥幸：也许外边的人只是路过？也许自己听错了，那些人是停在别人家的门口？也许门外根本就没有什么人，只是错觉？但是，商店门口传来了沉重的砸门声，一下子把他们的希望打得粉碎。
白发苍苍的老人佩萨赫，像孩子那样瞪着恐惧的蓝眼睛，站在通往店铺的门旁，喃喃地祷告着。这个虔诚的教徒用他全部的热忱祈求全能的耶和华帮助他们逃脱不幸。因为他在低声祷告，站在他身旁的老太婆一开头竟没有注意到，店铺墙外的脚步声正向他们逼近。
丽娃跑到最里面的一个房间，藏在一只柞木橱子的后面。
猛烈而粗暴的砸门声吓得两位老人身上起了一阵痉挛。
“开门！”跟着就是一阵更加猛烈的砸门声，夹杂着狂暴的咒骂声。
两位老人连抬手摘门钩的力气都没有了。
外面，枪托雨点般地打在门上，闩着的门跳动起来，终于哗啦一声裂开了。
屋子里立刻挤满了武装的匪兵。他们奔向各个角落。由住宅通到店铺的门也给枪托砸开了。匪兵们涌了进去，拔掉大门的门闩。
抢劫开始了。
两辆大车已经装满布料、鞋子和其他物品，萨洛梅加马上把这些东西押送到戈卢勃的住宅。他回来的时候，听到屋子里传出一声惨叫。
原来，帕利亚内查放手让部下去抢劫店铺，自己却走进了内室。他用野猫般的绿眼睛打量了一下屋里的三个人，然后对两个老人吼道：“滚出去！”
但是两个老人一个也没有动。
帕利亚内查朝前逼近一步，慢慢地把军刀抽出鞘来。
“妈呀！”姑娘凄厉地叫了一声。
这就是萨洛梅加听到的那声惨叫。
帕利亚内查转过身，对那些听到喊声跑进来的士兵下令说：“把他们给我弄出去！”他指着两个老人。两个老人被推出了门。帕利亚内查对走进屋来的萨洛梅加说：“你先在门外站一会儿，我跟这个女孩子说几句话。”
佩萨赫老人听到屋里又是一声惨叫，就朝房门冲过去。但是重重的一拳当胸打来，把他撞到墙上。他疼得连气都喘不上来了。这时候，一向温和安静的老妇人托伊芭却突然像母狼一样扑向萨洛梅加，紧紧抓住他。
“放了孩子吧！你们干什么呀？”
她挣扎着要进屋去，两只枯瘦的手像铁钩似的拼命抓住萨洛梅加的上衣，萨洛梅加竟挣脱不开。
佩萨赫缓过气来以后，马上跑来帮助她。
“放了她吧！放了她吧！……哎哟，我的女儿呀！”
他们两个把萨洛梅加从门口推开了。萨洛梅加赶紧从腰里拔出手枪，恶狠狠地用铁枪柄在佩萨赫白发苍苍的头上敲了一下。老人一声不响地倒下了。
屋里的丽娃仍在呼号。
匪徒们把疯了的托伊芭拖到街上。凄厉的叫喊和求救的呼声立刻在街心回荡起来。
屋里的喊声突然停止了。
帕利亚内查走了出来，萨洛梅加抓住门把手，正要推门进屋，帕利亚内查看也没有看他一眼，只是拦住他说：“别进去了，她已经完了。我用枕头把她捂得太严了一点。”说着，他跨过佩萨赫老人的尸体，一脚踩在一滩浓稠的血泊里。
“一开头就不顺手。”他咬牙切齿地说了一句，就朝街上走去。
别的人没有做声，跟着他走出来。他们的脚在地板上、台阶上留下了一个个血印。
这时城里一片混乱。匪徒们因为分赃不均，常常像野兽一样你争我夺，有的甚至拔刀相见。到处都可以看到他们在厮打。
他们把十维德罗［一维德罗等于１２．３公升。——译者］装的柞木啤酒桶从酒馆里滚到街上。
随后又挨家去抢东西。
没有人起来反抗。匪徒们翻遍每个小屋，找遍每个角落，然后满载而去，留下的只是一堆堆破烂衣物、撕破了的枕头和褥垫的绒毛。白天只有两个牺牲者——丽娃和她的父亲。但是，接踵而来的黑夜却带来了难以逃避的死亡。
天黑以前，那帮豺狼都喝得醉醺醺的。兽性发作的匪徒早就等待黑夜的降临了。
黑夜里，他们可以放开手脚大干。在夜幕后面，他们杀起人来更方便。豺狼也是喜欢黑夜的，它们也是专门伤害那些听天由命的弱者的。
许多人永远都忘不了那可怕的三天两夜。多少个生命被杀戮，被摧残！多少个青年在血腥的时刻白了头发！多少眼泪渗进了大地！谁又能说，那些活下来的人比死者幸运一些呢？他们的心被掏空了，留下的只是洗刷不尽的羞辱和侮弄带来的痛苦、无法形容的忧伤和失掉亲人的悲哀。受尽折磨和蹂躏的少女们的尸体蜷缩着，痉挛地向后伸着双手，毫无知觉地躺在许多小巷里。
只是在小河旁铁匠纳乌姆的小屋里，当豺狼们扑向他的年轻妻子萨拉的时候，他们才遇到了猛烈的抵抗。这个身强力壮的二十四岁的铁匠，浑身都是抡铁锤练出来的刚健肌肉。
他誓死护卫着妻子。
在小屋里的一场短促、凶猛的搏斗里，两个佩特留拉匪兵的脑袋被砸成了烂西瓜。铁匠像一只可怕的困兽，不顾一切地保卫着两条生命。匪徒们知道出了事，纷纷跑到小河旁，双方长时间地对射着。纳乌姆的子弹就要打完了，他用最后一粒子弹结束了妻子的生命，自己端着刺刀冲出去同匪徒拼命。但是，他在台阶上刚一露头，密集的子弹就朝他扫过来。
他那沉重的身体倒下去了。
附近乡下的大户人家赶着肥壮的牲口来到城里，把他们看中的好东西装满大车，然后，由他们在戈卢勃队伍里当兵的儿子或亲戚护送，运回家去。他们就这样匆忙地一趟又一趟搬运着。
谢廖沙和父亲一起把印刷厂的一半工人藏在自己家的地窖里和阁楼上。现在他正穿过菜园回家。忽然，他看见一个人沿着公路跑过来。
那是一个吓得面无人色的犹太老人。他穿着满是补丁的长外衣，光着头，一边跑一边挥舞着双手，累得直喘。他的后面是一个骑着灰马的佩特留拉匪兵，眼看就要追上了。那个匪兵弯着腰，作出要砍杀的姿势。老人听到马蹄声已经逼近，就举起双手，像是要保护脑袋似的。谢廖沙一个箭步跳上大路，冲到马跟前，用身子护住老人，大喝道：“住手，狗强盗！”
那个匪徒并不想收回马刀，他顺势用刀背朝这青年的金发头颅砍了下去。
收听单词发音 |
1
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
tranquillity
|
|
| n. 平静, 安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
trench
|
|
| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
avalanche
|
|
| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
hues
|
|
| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
muster
|
|
| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
heterogeneous
|
|
| adj.庞杂的；异类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
regiments
|
|
| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
corps
|
|
| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
partisan
|
|
| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
rabble
|
|
| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hoofs
|
|
| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
hoof
|
|
| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
rumble
|
|
| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
shutters
|
|
| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
bourgeois
|
|
| adj./n.追求物质享受的(人)；中产阶级分子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
engulfing
|
|
| adj.吞噬的v.吞没，包住( engulf的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
outfit
|
|
| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
pallid
|
|
| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
tinged
|
|
| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
incessant
|
|
| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
agronomist
|
|
| n.农学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
beet
|
|
| n.甜菜；甜菜根 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
plantations
|
|
| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
refinery
|
|
| n.精炼厂，提炼厂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
murky
|
|
| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
merged
|
|
| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
lesser
|
|
| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
pranced
|
|
| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
ornamented
|
|
| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
casually
|
|
| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
curtly
|
|
| adv.简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
buxom
|
|
| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
refreshment
|
|
| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
delicacies
|
|
| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
bout
|
|
| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
theatrical
|
|
| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
belles
|
|
| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
loomed
|
|
| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
bass
|
|
| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
reined
|
|
| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
derisive
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
strap
|
|
| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
Flared
|
|
| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
glazed
|
|
| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
flicked
|
|
| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
insolence
|
|
| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
scurvy
|
|
| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
pickets
|
|
| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
cavalry
|
|
| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
audacity
|
|
| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
conceited
|
|
| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
lashes
|
|
| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
swirled
|
|
| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
melee
|
|
| n.混战；混战的人群 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
slashed
|
|
| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
squealing
|
|
| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
contestants
|
|
| n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
disarmed
|
|
| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
bruised
|
|
| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
sentries
|
|
| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
muzzle
|
|
| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
scattering
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
hysterical
|
|
| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
pandemonium
|
|
| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
interspersed
|
|
| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
rattle
|
|
| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
panes
|
|
| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
abated
|
|
| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
outskirts
|
|
| n.郊外，郊区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
desultory
|
|
| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
glimmer
|
|
| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
rumours
|
|
| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
brewing
|
|
| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
crooked
|
|
| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
filthy
|
|
| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
proprietor
|
|
| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
confiding
|
|
| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
paternal
|
|
| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
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： |
|
|
|
|
109
reassured
|
|
| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
cemetery
|
|
| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
evoked
|
|
| [医]诱发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
grumbling
|
|
| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
bodyguard
|
|
| n.护卫，保镖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
bolster
|
|
| n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
cynical
|
|
| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
broached
|
|
| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
slander
|
|
| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
foraged
|
|
| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
haphazardly
|
|
| adv.偶然地，随意地，杂乱地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
slumber
|
|
| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
awakening
|
|
| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
mare
|
|
| n.母马，母驴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
beset
|
|
| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
grimacing
|
|
| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
saliva
|
|
| n.唾液，口水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
boon
|
|
| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
rusty
|
|
| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
guffawing
|
|
| v.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
approbation
|
|
| n.称赞；认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
planks
|
|
| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
stiffened
|
|
| 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
reverberation
|
|
| 反响； 回响； 反射； 反射物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
mumble
|
|
| n./v.喃喃而语，咕哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
numb
|
|
| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
butts
|
|
| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
crumpled
|
|
| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
shrieks
|
|
| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
entreaties
|
|
| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
159
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
160
pillage
|
|
| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
161
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
162
brigands
|
|
| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
163
flailed
|
|
| v.鞭打( flail的过去式和过去分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
164
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
165
toll
|
|
| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
166
mangled
|
|
| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
167
desolated
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒废的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
168
humiliation
|
|
| n.羞辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
169
gnawed
|
|
| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
170
alleys
|
|
| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
171
tormented
|
|
| 饱受折磨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
172
wielded
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
173
skulls
|
|
| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
174
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
175
waggon
|
|
| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
176
attic
|
|
| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
177
dwindled
|
|
| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
178
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |