Part One Chapter 6

A light shone in only one window of the big old house; the curtains were drawn¹. Outside Tresor,now chained for the night, suddenly barked in his reverberating² bass³.
Through a sleepy haze⁴ Tonya heard her mother speaking in a low voice.
"No, she is not asleep yet. Come in, Liza."
The light footsteps of her friend and the warm, impulsive⁵ hug finally dispelled⁶ her drowsiness⁸.Tonya smiled wanly⁹.
"I'm so glad you've come, Liza. Papa passed the crisis yesterday and today he has been sleepingsoundly all day. Mama and I have had some rest too after so many sleepless¹⁰ nights. Tell me all the news." Tonya drew her friend down beside her on the couch.
"Oh, there's plenty of news, but some of it's for your ears only," Liza smiled with a sly look at Yekaterina Mikhailovna.
Tonya's mother smiled. She was a matronly woman of thirty-six with the vigorous movements of a young girl, clever grey eyes and a face that was pleasant if not beautiful. "I will gladly leave you alone in a few minutes, but first I want to hear the news that is fit for everybody's ears," she joked, pulling a chair up to the couch.
"Well, to begin with we've finished with school. The board has decided¹¹ to issue graduation certificates to the seventh-graders. I am glad. I'm so sick of all this algebra¹² and geometry! What good is it to anyone? The boys may possibly continue their studies, although they don't know where, with all this fighting going on. It's simply terrible. . . . As for us, we'll be married and wives don't need algebra," Liza laughed. After sitting with the girls for a little while, Yekaterina Mikhailovna went to her own room. Liza now moved closer to Tonya and with her arms about her gave her a whispered account of the encounter at the crossroads.
"You can imagine my surprise, Tonya, when I recognised the lad who was running away. Guess who it was?"
Tonya, who was listening with interest, shrugged¹³ her shoulders.
"Korchagin!" Liza blurted¹⁴ out breathlessly.
Tonya started and winced¹⁵.
"Korchagin?"
Liza, pleased with the impression she had made, went on to describe her quarrel with Victor.
Carried away by her story, Liza did not notice Tonya's face grow pale and her fingers pluck nervously¹⁶ at her blue blouse. Liza did not know how Tonya's heart constricted¹⁷ with anxiety, nor did she notice how the long lashes¹⁸ that hid her beautiful eyes trembled. Tonya paid scant¹⁹ heed²⁰ to Liza's story of the drunken Khorunzhy. One thought gave her no rest:
"Victor Leszczinski knows who attacked the soldier. Oh, why did Liza tell him?" And in spite of herself the words broke from her lips.
"What did you say?" Liza could not grasp her meaning at once.
"Why did you tell Leszczinski about Pavlusha . . . I mean Korchagin? He's sure to betray him. . . ."
"Oh, surely not!" Liza protested. "I don't think he would do such a thing. After all, why should he?"
Tonya sat up sharply and hugged her knees so hard that it hurt.
"You don't understand, Liza! He and Korchagin are enemies, and besides, there is something else. . . . You made a big mistake when you told Victor about Pavlusha."
Only now did Liza notice Tonya's agitation²¹, and her use of Korchagin's first name confirmed what she had vaguely²² suspected.
She could not help feeling guilty and lapsed²⁴ into an embarrassed silence.
"So it's true," she thought. "Fancy Tonya falling in love with a plain workman." Liza wanted to talk about it very much, but out of consideration for her friend she refrained. Anxious to atone²⁵ for her guilt²³ in some way, she seized Tonya's.
"Are you very worried, Tonya?"
"No, perhaps Victor is more honourable²⁶ than I think," Tonya replied absently.
The awkward silence that ensued was broken by the arrival of a schoolmate of theirs, a bashful,gawky lad named Demianov.
After seeing her friends off, Tonya stood for a long time leaning against the wicket gate and staring at the dark strip of road leading to town. The wind laden²⁷ with a chill dampness and the dank odour of the wet spring soil fanned her face. Dull red lights blinked in the windows of the houses over in the town. There it was, that town that lived a life apart from hers, and somewhere there, under one of those roofs, unaware²⁸ of the danger that threatened him, was her rebellious²⁹ friend Pavel. Perhaps he had forgotten her—how many days had flown by since their last meeting? He had been in the wrong that time, but all that had long been forgotten. Tomorrow she
would see him and their friendship would be restored, a moving, warming friendship. It was sure to return—of that Tonya had not the slightest doubt. If only the night did not betray him, the night that seemed to harbour evil, as if lying in wait for him. . . . A shiver ran through her, and after a last look at the road, she went in. The thought, "If only the night does not betray him", still drilled in her head as she dozed³⁰ off.
Tonya woke up early in the morning before anyone else was about, and dressed quickly. She slipped out of the house quietly so as not to wake up the family, untied³¹ the big shaggy Tresor and set out for town with the dog. She hesitated for a moment in front of the Korchagin house, then pushed the gate open and walked into the yard. Tresor dashed ahead wagging his tail. . . .
Artem had returned from the village early that same morning. The blacksmith he had worked for had given him a lift into town on his cart. On reaching home he threw the sack of flour he had earned on his shoulders and walked into the yard, followed by the blacksmith carrying the rest of his belongings³². Outside the open door Artem set the sack down on the ground and called out;"Pavka!"
There was no answer.
"What's the hitch³³ there? Why not go right in?" said the smith as he came up.
Setting his belongings down in the kitchen, Artem went into the next room. The sight that met his eyes there dumbfounded him: the place was turned upside down and old clothes littered the floor.
"What the devil is this?" Artem muttered completely at a loss. "It's a mess all right," agreed the blacksmith.
"Where's the boy got to?" Artem was getting angry. But the place was deserted³⁵ and dead.
The blacksmith said good-bye and left.
Artem went into the yard and looked around.
"I can't make head or tail of this! All the doors wide open and no Pavka."
Then he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around he saw a huge dog with ears pricked³⁶ standing³⁷ before him. A girl was walking toward the house from the gate.
"I want to see Pavel Korchagin," she said in a low voice, surveying Artem.
"So do I. But the devil knows where he's gone. When I got here the house was unlocked and no Pavka anywhere about. So you're looking for him too?" he addressed the girl.
The girl answered with a question:
"Are you Korchagin's brother Artem?"
"I am. Why?"
Instead of replying, the girl stared in alarm at the open door. "Why didn't I come last night?" she thought. "It can't be, it can't be. . . ." And her heart grew heavier still.
"You found the door open and Pavel gone?" she asked Artem, who was staring at her in surprise.
"And what would you be wanting of Pavel, may I ask?" Tonya came closer to him and casting a look around spoke³⁸ jerkily:
"I don't know for sure, but if Pavel isn't at home he must have been arrested."
Artem started nervously. "Arrested? What for?"
"Let's go inside," Tonya said.
Artem listened in silence while Tonya told him all she knew. By the time she had finished he was despairing.
"Damn it all! As if there wasn't enough trouble without this mess," he muttered gloomily. "Now I see why the place was turned upside down. What the hell did the boy have to get mixed up in this business for. . . . Where can I find him now? And who may you be, miss?"
"My father is forest warden³⁹ Tumanov. I'm a friend of Pavel's."
"I see," Artem said absently. "Here I was bringing flour to feed the boy up, and now this. . . ."
Tonya and Artem looked at each other in silence.
"I must go now," Tonya said softly as she prepared to go. "I hope you'll find him. I'll come back later."
Artem gave her a silent nod.

A lean fly just awakened⁴⁰ from its winter sleep buzzed in a corner of the window. On the edge of an old threadbare couch sat a young peasant woman, her elbows resting on her knees and her eyes fixed⁴¹ blankly on the filthy⁴² floor.
The Commandant, chewing a cigarette stuck in the corner of his mouth, finished writing on a sheet of paper with a flourish, and, obviously pleased with himself, added an ornate signature ending in a curlicue under the title "Commandant of the town of Shepetovka, Khorunzhy''. From the door came the clinking of spurs. The Commandant looked up.
Before him stood Salomyga with a bandaged arm.
"Hullo, what's blown you in?" the Commandant greeted him.
"Not a good wind, at any rate. Got my hand sliced to the bone by a Bogunets." ( Bogunets—a fighting man of the Red Army Regiment⁴⁴ named after Bogun, the hero of the national liberation struggle waged by the Ukrainian people in the 17th century.)
Ignoring the woman's presence Salomyga cursed violently.
"So what are you doing here? Convalescing⁴⁵?"
"We'll have time to convalesce⁴⁶ in the next world. They're pressing down pretty hard on us at the front."
The Commandant interrupted him, nodding toward the woman.
"We'll talk about that later."
Salomyga sat down heavily on a stool and removed his cap, which bore a cockade with an enamel⁴⁷ trident, the emblem⁴⁸ of the UNR (Ukrainian National Republic).
"Golub sent me," he began in a low tune⁴⁹. "A division of regulars is going to be transferred here soon. In general there's going to be some doings in town, and it's my job to put things straight. The 'Chief himself may come here with some foreign bigwig or other, so there's to be no talk about any 'diversions'. What're you writing?"
The Commandant shifted the cigarette to the other corner of his mouth.
"I've got a damn nuisance of a boy here. Remember that chap Zhukhrai, the one who stirred up the railway-men against us? Well, he was caught at the station."
"He was, eh? Go on," Salomyga pulled his stool closer.
"Well, that blockhead Omelchenko, the Station Commandant, sent him over escorted by a Cossack, and on the way the lad I've got in here took the prisoner away from him in broad daylight. The Cossack was disarmed⁵⁰ and got his teeth knocked out, and was left to whistle for his prisoner. Zhukhrai got away, but we managed to grab this fellow. Here you have it all down on paper," and he pushed a sheaf of sheets covered with writing toward Salomyga.
The latter scanned through the report, turning over the sheets with his left hand.
When he had finished, he looked at the Commandant.
"And so you got nothing out of him?"
The Commandant pulled nervously at the peak of his cap.
"I've been at him for five days now, but all he says is, 'I don't know anything and I didn't free him.'
The young scoundrel! You see, the escort recognised him—practically choked the life out of him as soon as he saw him. I could hardly pull the fellow off—no wonder, he'd good reason to be sore because Omelchenko at the station had given him twenty-five strokes with the cleaning rod for losing his prisoner. There's no sense in keeping him any more, so I'm sending this off to headquarters for permission to finish him off."
Salomyga spat⁵¹ in disdain⁵².
"If I had him he'd speak up sure enough. You're not much at conducting enquiries. Whoever heard of a theology student making a Commandant! Did you try the rod?"
The Commandant was furious.
"You're going a bit too far. Keep your sneers⁵³ to yourself. I'm the Commandant here and I'll ask you not to interfere⁵⁵."
Salomyga looked at the bristling⁵⁶ Commandant and roared with laughter.
"Ha-ha-ha. . . . Don't puff⁵⁷ yourself up too much, priest's son, or you'll burst. To hell with you and your problems. Better tell me where a fellow can get a couple of bottles of samogon?"
The Commandant grinned.
"That s easy. "
"As for this," Salomyga jabbed at the sheaf of papers with his finger, "if you want to fix him properly put him down as eighteen years instead of sixteen. Round the top of six off like that.
Otherwise they mightn't pass it."

There were three of them in the storeroom. A bearded old man in a threadbare coat lay on his side on the bunk⁵⁹, his spindle legs in their wide linen⁶⁰ trousers drawn up under him. He had been arrested because the horse of the Petlyura men billeted with him had been missing from the shed.
An elderly woman with small shifty eyes and a pointed⁶¹ chin was sitting on the floor. She made her living by selling samogon and had been thrown in here on a charge of stealing a watch and other valuables. Korchagin lay semiconscious in the corner under the window, his head resting on his crushed cap.
A young woman, in a peasant kerchief, her eyes wide with terror, was led into the storeroom.
She stood for a moment or two and then sat down next to the samogon woman.
"Got caught, eh, wench?" the latter spoke rapidly, inspecting the newcomer with curious eyes.
There was no answer, but the samogon woman would not give up.
"Why'd they pick you up, eh? Nothing to do with samogon by any chance?" The peasant girl got up and looked at the persistent⁶² "No, it's because of my brother," she replied quietly.

"And who's he?" the old woman persisted.
The old man spoke up.
"Why don't you leave her alone? She's got enough to worry about without your chattering⁶³."
The woman turned quickly toward the bunk.
"Who are you to tell me what to do? I'm not talking to you, am I?"
The old man spat.
"Leave her alone, I tell you."
Silence descended⁶⁴ again on the storeroom. The peasant girl spread out a big shawl and lay down,resting her head on her arm.
The samogon woman began to eat. The old man sat up, lowered his feet onto the floor, slowly rolled himself a cigarette and lit it. Clouds of acrid⁶⁵ smoke spread out.
"A person can't eat in peace with that stink," the woman grumbled⁶⁶, her jaws⁶⁸ working busily.
"You've smoked the whole place up."
The old man returned with a sneer⁵⁴:
"Afraid of losing weight, eh? You won't be able to get through the door soon. Why don't you give the boy something to eat instead of stuffing it all into yourself?"
The woman made an angry gesture.
"I tried, but he doesn't want anything. And as for that you can keep your mouth shut—it's not your food I'm eating."
The girl turned to the samogon woman and, nodding toward Korchagin, asked:
"What is he in here for?"
The woman brightened up at being addressed and readily replied:
"He's a local lad—Korchagin's younger boy. His mother's a cook."
Leaning over to the girl, she whispered in her ear:
"He freed a Bolshevik—a sailor we had hereabouts .who used to lodge⁶⁹ with my neighbour Zozulikha."
The young woman remembered the words, she had overheard: "I'm sending this off to headquarters for permission to finish him off."

One after the other troop trains pulled in at the junction⁷⁰, and battalions⁷² of regulars poured out in a disorderly mob. The armoured train Zaporozhets, four cars long, its steel sides ribbed with rivets,crawled along a side track. Guns were unloaded and horses were led out of closed box cars. The horses were saddled on the spot and mounted men jostled their way through the milling crowds of infantrymen to the station yard where the cavalry⁷⁵ unit was lining⁷⁶ up.
Officers ran up and down, calling the numbers of their units.
The station buzzed like a wasps⁷⁷' nest. Gradually the regular squares of platoons were hammered out of the shapeless mass of vociferous⁷⁸, swirling⁷⁹ humanity and soon a stream of armed men was pouring into town. Until late in the evening carts creaked and rattled⁸⁰ and the stragglers bringing up the rear of the rifle division trailed along the highway.
The procession finally ended with the headquarters company marching briskly by, bellowing⁸¹ from a hundred and twenty throats:

What's the shouting?
What's the noise?
It's Petlyura
And his boys
Come to town. .. .

Pavel Korchagin got up to look out of the window. Through the early twilight⁸² he could hear the rumbling⁸³ of wheels on the street, the tramping of many feet, and the lusty singing.
Behind him a soft voice said:
"The troops have come to town."
Korchagin turned round.
The speaker was the girl who had been brought in the day before.
He had already heard her story—the samogon woman had wormed it out of her. She came from a village seven versts from the town, where her elder brother, Gritsko, now a Red partisan⁸⁴, had headed a poor peasants' committee when the Soviets⁸⁵ were in power.
When the Reds left, Gritsko girded himself with a machine-gun belt and went with them. Now the family was being hounded incessantly⁸⁶. Their only horse had been taken away from them. The father had been imprisoned⁸⁷ for a while and had a rough time of it. The village elder— one of those on whom Gritsko had clamped down—was always billeting strangers in their house, out of sheer spite. The family was destitute⁸⁸. And when the Commandant had come to the village the day before to make a search, the elder had brought him to the girl's place. She struck his fancy and the next morning he brought her to town with him "for interrogation".
Korchagin could not fall asleep, try as he might he could not find rest, and in his brain drilled one insistent⁸⁹ thought which he could not dispel⁷: "What next?"
His bruised⁹⁰ body ached, for the guard had beaten him with bestial⁹¹ fury.
To escape the bitter thoughts crowding his mind he listened to the whispering of the two women.
In a barely audible voice the girl was telling how the Commandant had pestered⁹² her, how he had threatened and coaxed⁹³, and when she rebuffed him, turned on her in fury. "I'll lock you up in a cellar and let you rot there," he had said.
Darkness lurked⁹⁴ in the corners of the cell. There was another night ahead, a stifling⁹⁵, restless night.
It was the seventh night in captivity⁹⁶, but to Pavel it seemed that he had been there for months. The floor was hard, and pain racked his body. There were three of them now in the storeroom. The samogon woman had been released by the Khorunzhy to procure⁹⁷ some vodka. Grandpa was snoring on the bunk as if he were at home on his Russian stove; he bore his misfortune with stoic⁹⁸ calm and slept soundly through the night. Khristina and Pavel lay on the floor, almost side by side.
Yesterday Pavel had seen Sergei through the window—he had stood for a long time out in the street, looking sadly at the windows of the houses.
"He knows I'm here," Pavel had thought.
For three days running someone had brought sour black bread for him—who it was the guards would not tell. And for two days the Commandant had repeatedly questioned him.
What could it all mean?
During the questioning he had given nothing away; on the contrary he had denied everything.
Why he had kept silent, he did not know himself. He wanted to be brave and strong, like those of whom he had read in books, yet that night when he was being taken to prison and one of his captors had said, "What's the use of dragging him along, Pan Khorunzhy? A bullet in the back will fix him", he had been afraid. Yes, the thought of dying at sixteen was terrifying! Death was the end of everything. Khristina was also thinking. She knew more than the young man. Most likely he did not know yet what was in store for him . . . what she had overheard.
He tossed about restlessly at night unable to sleep. Khristina pitied him, though the prospect⁹⁹ she herself faced was hardly better—she could not forget the menace of the Commandant's words: "I'll fix you up tomorrow— if you won't have me it's the guardhouse for you. The Cossacks will be glad to get you. So take your choice." Oh, how hard it was, and no mercy to be expected anywhere! Was it her fault that Gritsko had joined the Reds? How cruel life was!
A dull pain choked her and in the agony of helpless despair and fear her body was racked by soundless sobs¹⁰⁰. A shadow moved in the corner by the wall. "Why are you crying?"
In a passionate¹⁰¹ whisper Khristina poured out her woes¹⁰² to her silent cell mate. He did not speak,but laid his hand lightly on hers.
"They'll torture me to death, curse them," she whispered in terror, gulping¹⁰³ down her tears.
"Nothing can save me." What could Pavel say to this girl? There was nothing to say. Life was crushing them both in an iron ring.
Perhaps he ought to put up a fight when they came for her tomorrow? They'd only beat him to death, or a sabre blow on the head would end it all. Wishing to comfort the distraught girl somehow, he stroked her hand tenderly. The sobbing¹⁰⁴ ceased. At intervals¹⁰⁵ the sentry¹⁰⁶ at the entrance could be heard challenging a passer-by with the usual "Who goes there?" and then everything was quiet again. Grandpa was fast asleep. The interminable minutes crawled slowly by. Then, to his utter surprise, Pavel felt the girl's arms go around him and pull him toward her.
"Listen," hot lips were whispering, "there is no escape for me: if it isn't the officer, it'll be those others. Take me, love, so that dog won't be the first to have me."
"What are you saying, Khristina!"
But the strong arms did not release him. Full, burning lips pressed down on his—they were hard to escape. The girl's words were simple, tender—and he knew why she uttered them.
For a moment everything receded—the bolted door, the red-headed Cossack, the Commandant,the brutal¹⁰⁷ beatings, the seven stifling, sleepless nights—all were forgotten, and only the burning lips and the face moist with tears existed.
Suddenly he remembered Tonya.
How could he forget her? Those dear, wonderful eyes.
He mustered¹⁰⁸ his strength and broke away from Khristina's embrace. He staggered to his feet like a drunken man and seized hold of the grill¹¹⁰. Khristina's hands found him.
"Why, what is the matter?"
All her heart was in that question. He bent¹¹¹ down to her and pressing her hands said:
"I can't, Khristina. You are so . . . good." He hardly knew what he was saying.
He stood up again in the intolerable silence and went over to the bunk. Sitting down on the edge,he woke up the old man.
"Give me a smoke, please, Granddad."
The girl, huddled¹¹² in her shawl, wept in the corner.
The next day the Commandant came with some Cossacks and took Khristina away. Her eyes sought Pavel's in farewell, and there was reproach in them. And when the door slammed behind her his soul was more desolate¹¹³ and dreary¹¹⁴ than ever.
All day long the old man could not get a word out of Pavel. The sentries¹¹⁵ and the Commandant's guard were changed. Toward evening a new prisoner was brought in. Pavel recognised him: it was Dolinnik, a joiner from the sugar refinery¹¹⁶, a short thickset man wearing a faded yellow shirt under a threadbare jacket. He surveyed the storeroom with a keen eye.
Pavel had seen him in February 1917, when the reverberation¹¹⁷ of the revolution reached their town.
He had heard only one Bolshevik speak during the noisy demonstrations¹¹⁸ held then and that Bolshevik was Dolinnik. He had climbed onto a roadside fence and addressed the troops. Pavel remembered his closing words:
"Follow the Bolsheviks, soldiers, they will not betray you!"
He had not seen the joiner since.
Granddad was glad to have a new cell mate, for he obviously found it hard to sit silent all day long. Dolinnik settled down next to him on the edge of the bunk, smoked a cigarette with him and questioned him about everything.
Then the newcomer moved over to Korchagin. "Well, young man?" he asked Pavel. "And how did you get in here?"
Pavel replied in monosyllables and Dolinnik saw that it was caution that kept the young man from speaking. When he learned of the charge laid against Pavel his intelligent eyes widened with amazement¹¹⁹ and he sat down beside the lad.
"So you say you got Zhukhrai away? That's interesting. I didn't know they'd nabbed you."
Pavel, taken by surprise, raised himself on his elbow. "I don't know any Zhukhrai. They can pin anything on you here."
Dolinnik, smiling, moved closer to him. "That's all right, my boy. You don't need to be cautious with me. I know more than you do."
Quietly, so that the old man should not overhear he continued:
"I saw Zhukhrai off myself, he's probably reached his destination by now. He told me all about what happened." After a moment's pause, Dolinnik added: "I see you're made of the right stuff,boy. Though, the fact that they caught you and know everything is bad, Very bad, I should say."
He took off his jacket and spreading it on the floor sat down on it with his back against the wall,and began to roll another cigarette.
Dolinnik's last remark made everything clear to Pavel. There was no doubt about it, Dolinnik was all right. Besides, he had seen Zhukhrai off, and that meant. . . .
That evening he learned that Dolinnik had been arrested for agitation among Petlyura's Cossacks.
Moreover, he had been caught distributing an appeal issued by the gubernia revolutionary committee calling on the troops to surrender and go over to the Reds.

Dolinnik was careful not to tell Pavel much.
"Who knows," he thought to himself, "they may use the ramrod on the boy. He's still too young."
Late at night when they were settling themselves for sleep, he voiced his apprehensions¹²⁰ in the brief remark:
"Well, Korchagin, we seem to be in a pretty bad fix. Let's see what will come of it."
The next day a new prisoner was brought in—the flop-eared, scraggy-necked barber Shlyoma Zeltser.
"Fuchs, Bluvstein and Trachtenberg are going to welcome him with bread and salt," he told Dolinnik gesturing excitedly as he spoke. "I said that if they want to do that, they can, but will the rest of the Jewish population back them up? No, they won't, you can take it from me. Of course they have their own fish to fry. Fuchs has a store and Trachtenberg's got the flour mill. But what've I got? And the rest of the hungry lot? Nothing—paupers, that's what we are. Well, I've got a long tongue, and today when I was shaving an officer—one of the new ones who came recently —I said: 'Do you think Ataman Petlyura knows about these pogroms or not? Will he see the
delegation¹²¹?' Oi, how many times I've got into trouble through this tongue of mine. So what do you think this officer did when I had shaved him and powdered his face and done all in fine style too? He gets up and instead of paying me arrests me for agitating¹²² against the authorities." Zeltser struck his chest with his fist. "Now what sort of agitation was that? What did I say? I only asked the fellow. . . . And to lock me up for that. . . ."
In his excitement Zeltser twisted a button on Dolinnik's shirt and tugged¹²³ at his arms.
Dolinnik smiled in spite of himself as he listened to the indignant Shlyoma.
"Yes, Shlyoma," he said gravely when the barber had finished, "that was a stupid thing for a clever fellow like you to do. You chose the wrong time to let your tongue run away with you. I wouldn't have advised you to get in here."
Zeltser nodded understandingly and made a gesture of despair with his hand. Just then the door opened and the samogon woman was pushed in. She staggered in, heaping foul¹²⁴ curses on the Cossack who brought her.
"You and your Commandant ought to be roasted on a slow fire! I hope he shrivels up and croaks¹²⁵ from that booze of mine!"
The guard slammed the door shut and they heard him locking it on the outside.
As the woman settled down on the edge of the bunk the old man greeted her jocularly:
"So you're back with us again, you old chatterbox? Sit down and make yourself at home."
The samogon woman darted¹²⁶ a hostile glance at him and picking up her bundle sat down on the floor next to Dolinnik.
It turned out that she had been released just long enough for her captors to get some bottles of samogon out of her.
Suddenly shouts and the sound of running feet could be heard from the guardroom next door.
Somebody was barking out orders. The prisoners stopped talking to listen.

Strange things were happening on the square in front of the ungainly church with the ancient belfry. On three sides the square was lined with rectangles of troops— units of the division of regular infantry⁷⁴ mustered in full battle kit³⁴.
In front, facing the entrance to the church, stood three regiments¹²⁷ of infantry in squares placed in checkerboard fashion, their ranks buttressed¹²⁸ against the school fence.
This grey, rather dirty mass of Petlyura soldiers standing there with rifles at rest, wearing absurd Russian helmets like pumpkins¹²⁹ cut in half, and heavily laden down with bandoliers, was the best division the "Directorate" had.
Well-uniformed and shod from the stores of the former tsarist army and consisting mainly of kulaks who were consciously fighting the Soviets, the division had been transferred here to defend this strategically important railway junction. Five different railway lines converged¹³⁰ at Shepetovka,and for Petlyura the loss of the junction would have meant the end of everything. As it was, the "Directorate" had very little territory left in its hands, and the small town of Vinnitsa was now Petlyura's capital.
The "Chief Ataman" himself had decided to inspect the troops and now everything was in readiness for his arrival.
Back in a far corner of the square where they were least likely to be seen stood a regiment of new recruits— barefoot youths in shabby civilian¹³² clothes of all descriptions. These were farm lads picked up from their beds by midnight raiding parties or seized on the streets, and none of them had the least intention of doing any fighting.
"Let them look for fools somewhere else," they said.
The most the Petlyura officers could do was to bring the recruits to town under escort, divide them into companies and battalions and issue them arms. The very next day, however, a third of the recruits thus herded¹³³ together would disappear and with each passing day their numbers dwindled¹³⁴.
It would have been more than foolhardy to issue them boots, particularly since the boot stocks were far from plentiful¹³⁵. And so everyone was ordered to report for conscription shod. The result was an astonishing collection of dilapidated footwear tied on with bits of string and wire.
They were marched out for parade barefoot.
Behind the infantry stood Golub's cavalry regiment.
Mounted men held back the dense¹³⁶ crowds of curious townsfolk who had come to see the parade.
After all, the "Chief Ataman" himself was to be present! Events like this were rare enough in town and no one wanted to miss the free entertainment it promised.
On the church steps were gathered the colonels and captains, the priest's two daughters, a handful of Ukrainian schoolteachers, a group of "free Cossacks", and the slightly hunchbacked mayor—in a word, the elite¹³⁷ representing the "public", and among them the Inspector¹³⁸-General of Infantry wearing a Caucasian cherkesska. It was he who was in command of the parade.
Inside the church Vasili, the priest, was garbing¹³⁹ himself in his Easter service vestments.
Petlyura was to be received in grand style. For one thing, the newly-mobilised recruits were to take the oath of allegiance, and for this purpose a yellow-and-blue flag had been brought out.
The Division Commander set out for the station in a rickety old Ford¹⁴⁰ car to meet Petlyura.
When he had gone, the Inspector of Infantry called over Colonel Chernyak, a tall, well-built officer with a foppishly twirled moustache.
"Take someone along with you and see that the Commandant's office and the rear services are in proper shape. If you find any prisoners there look them over and get rid of the riffraff."
Chernyak clicked his heels, took along the first Cossack captain his eye lighted on and galloped¹⁴¹ off.
The Inspector turned politely to the priest's elder daughter.
"What about the banquet, everything in order?"
"Oh, yes. The Commandant's doing his best," she replied, gazing avidly¹⁴² at the handsome Inspector.
Suddenly a stir passed through the crowd: a rider was coming down the road at a mad gallop,bending low over the neck of his horse. He waved his hand and shouted:
"They're coming!"
"Fall in!" barked the Inspector.
The officers ran to their places.
As the Ford chugged up to the church the band struck up The Ukraine Lives On.
Following the Division Commander, the "Chief Ataman" heaved himself laboriously¹⁴³ out of the car. Petlyura was a man of medium height, with a square head firmly planted on a red bull neck;he wore a blue tunic¹⁴⁴ of fine wool cloth girded tight with a yellow belt to which a small Browning in a chamois holster was attached. On his head was a peaked khaki uniform cap with a cockade bearing the enamel trident.
There was nothing especially warlike about the figure of Simon Petlyura. As a matter of fact, he did not look like a military man at all.
He heard out the Inspector's report with an expression of displeasure on his face. Then the mayor addressed him in greeting.
Petlyura listened absently, staring at the assembled regiments over the mayor's head.
"Let us begin," he nodded to the Inspector.
Mounting the small platform next to the flag, Petlyura delivered a ten-minute speech to the troops.
The speech was unconvincing. Evidently tired from the journey, the Ataman spoke without enthusiasm. He finished to the accompaniment of the regulation shouts of "Slava! Slava!" from the soldiers and climbed down from the platform dabbing¹⁴⁵ his perspiring¹⁴⁶ forehead with a handkerchief. Then, together with the Inspector and the Division Commander, he inspected the units.
As he passed the ranks of the newly-mobilised recruits his eyes narrowed in a disdainful scowl¹⁴⁷ and he bit his lips in annoyance¹⁴⁸.
Toward the end of the inspection¹⁴⁹, when the platoons of new recruits marched in uneven¹⁵⁰ ranks to the flag, where the priest Vasili was standing, Bible in hand, and kissed first the Bible and then the hem⁵⁸ of the flag, an unforeseen incident occurred.
A delegation which had contrived¹⁵¹ by some unknown means to reach the square approached Petlyura. At the head of the group came the wealthy timber merchant Bluvstein with an offering of bread and salt, followed by Fuchs the draper, and three other well-to-do businessmen.
With a servile bow Bluvstein extended the tray to Petlyura. It was taken by an officer standing alongside.
"The Jewish population wishes to express its sincere gratitude¹⁵² and respect for you, the head of the state. Please accept this address of greeting."
"Good," muttered Petlyura, quickly scanning the sheet of paper.
Fuchs stepped forward.
"We most humbly¹⁵³ beg you to allow us to open our enterprises and we ask for protection against pogroms." Fuchs stumbled over the last word.
An angry scowl darkened Petlyura's features.
"My army does not engage in pogroms. You had better remember that."
Fuchs spread out his arms in a gesture of resignation.
Petlyura's shoulder twitched¹⁵⁴ nervously. The untimely appearance of the delegation irritated him.
He turned to Golub, who was standing behind chewing his black moustache.
"Here's a complaint against your Cossacks, Pan Colonel. Investigate the matter and take measures accordingly," said Petlyura. Then, addressing the Inspector, he said dryly:
"You may begin the parade."
The ill-starred delegation had not expected to run up against Golub and they hastened to withdraw.
The attention of the spectators was now wholly absorbed by the preparations for the ceremonial march-past. Sharp commands were rapped out.
Golub, his features outwardly calm, walked over to Bluvstein and said in a loud whisper:
"Get out of here, you rotten heathens, or I'll make mincemeat out of you!"
The band struck up and the first units marched through the square. As they drew alongside Petlyura, the troops bellowed¹⁵⁵ a mechanical "Slava!" and then swung down the highway to disappear into the sidestreets. At the head of the companies, uniformed in brand-new khaki outfits,the officers marched at an easy gait as if they were simply taking a stroll, swinging their swagger sticks. The swagger stick mode, like cleaning rods for the soldiers, had just been introduced in the division.
The new recruits brought up the rear of the parade. They came in a disorderly mass, out of step and jostling one another.
There was a low rustle¹⁵⁶ of bare feet as the mobilised men shuffled¹⁵⁷ by, prodded¹⁵⁸ on by the officers who worked hard but in vain to bring about some semblance¹⁵⁹ of order. When the second company was passing a peasant lad in a linen shirt on the side nearest the reviewing stand gaped¹⁶⁰ in such wide-eyed amazement at the "Chief" that he stepped into a hole in the road and fell flat on the ground. His rifle slid over the cobblestones with a loud clatter¹⁶¹. He tried to get up but was knocked down again by the men behind him.
Some of the spectators burst out laughing. The company broke ranks and passed through the square in complete disorder⁷³. The luckless lad picked up his rifle and ran after the others.
Petlyura turned away from this sorry spectacle and walked over to the car without waiting for the end of the review. The Inspector, who followed him, asked diffidently:
"Pan the Ataman will not stay for dinner?"
"No," Petlyura flung back curtly¹⁶².
Sergei Bruzzhak, Valya and Klimka were watching the parade in the crowd of spectators pressed against the high fence surrounding the church. Sergei, gripping the bars of the grill, looked at the faces of the people below him with hatred¹⁶³ in his eyes.
"Let's go, Valya, they've shut up shop," he said in a deliberately¹⁶⁴ loud defiant¹⁶⁵ voice, and turned away from the fence. People stared at him in astonishment¹⁶⁶.
Ignoring everyone, he walked to the gate, followed by his sister and Klimka.

Colonel Chernyak and the Captain galloped up to the Commandant's office and dismounted.
Leaving the horses in the charge of a dispatch rider they strode rapidly into the guardhouse.
"Where's the Commandant?" Chernyak asked the dispatch rider sharply.
"Dunno," the man stammered¹⁶⁷. "Gone off somewhere.''
Chernyak looked around the filthy, untidy room, the unmade beds and the Cossacks of the Commandant's guard who sprawled¹⁶⁸ on them and made no attempt to rise when the officers entered.
"What sort of a pigsty¹⁶⁹ is this?" Chernyak roared. "And who gave you permission to wallow about like hogs¹⁷⁰?" he lashed¹⁷¹ at the men lying flat on their backs.
One of the Cossacks sat up, belched¹⁷² and growled¹⁷³:
"What're you squawking for? We've got our own squawker here."
"What!" Chernyak sprang toward the man. "Who do you think you're talking to, you bastard¹⁷⁴? I'm Colonel Chernyak. D'you hear, you swine! Up, all of you, or I'll have you flogged!" The enraged¹⁷⁵ Colonel dashed about the guardhouse. "I'll give you one minute to sweep out the filth⁴³, straighten out the bedding and make your filthy mugs presentable. You look like a band of brigands¹⁷⁶, not Cossacks!"
Beside himself with rage, the Colonel violently kicked at a slop pail obstructing¹⁷⁷ his path.
The Captain was no less violent, and, adding emphasis to his curses by wielding¹⁷⁸ his three-thonged whip, drove the men out of their bunks¹⁷⁹.
"The Chief Ataman's reviewing the parade. He's liable to drop in here any minute. Get a move on there!"
Seeing that things were taking a serious turn and that they really might be in for a flogging—they knew Chernyak's reputation well enough—the Cossacks sprang into feverish¹⁸⁰ activity.
In no time work was in full swing.
"We ought to have a look at the prisoners," the Captain suggested. "There's no telling whom they've got locked up here. Might be trouble if the Chief looks in."
"Who has the key?" Chernyak asked the sentry. "Open the door at once."
A Sergeant¹⁸¹ jumped up and opened the lock.
"Where's the Commandant? How long do you think I'm going to wait for him? Find him at once and send him in here," Chernyak ordered. "Muster¹⁰⁹ the guard in the yard! Why are the rifles without bayonets?"
"We only took over yesterday," the Sergeant tried to explain, and hurried off in search of the Commandant.
The Captain kicked the storeroom door open. Several of the people inside got up from the floor,the others remained motionless.
"Open the door wider," Chernyak commanded. "Not enough light here."
He scrutinised the prisoners' faces.
"What are you in for?" he snapped at the old man sitting on the edge of the bunk.
The old man half rose, hitched¹⁸² up his trousers and, frightened by the sharp order, mumbled¹⁸³:
"Dunno myself. They just locked me up and here I am. There was a horse disappeared from the yard, but I've got nothing to do with it."
"Whose horse?" the Captain interrupted him.
"An army horse, of course. My billets sold him and drank the proceeds and now they're blaming me."
Chernyak ran his eye swiftly over the old man and with an impatient jerk of his shoulder shouted:
"Pick up your things and get out of here!" Then he turned to the samogon woman.
The old man could not believe his ears. Blinking his shortsighted eyes, he turned to the Captain:
"Does that mean I can go?"
The Cossack nodded as much as to say: the faster you get out the better.
Hurriedly the old man seized his bundle which hung over the edge of the bunk and dashed through the door.
"And what are you in for?" Chernyak was questioning the samogon woman.
Swallowing the mouthful of pie she had been chewing, the woman rattled off a ready answer:
"It's an injustice¹⁸⁴ it is that I should be in here, Pan Chief. Just think of it, to drink a poor widow's samogon and then lock her up."
"You're not in the samogon business, are you?" Chernyak asked.
"Business? Nothing of the kind," said the woman with an injured air. "The Commandant came and took four bottles and didn't pay a kopek. That's how it is: they drink your booze and never pay.
You wouldn't call that business, would you?"
"Enough. Now go to the devil!"
The woman did not wait for the order to be repeated. She picked up her basket and backed to the door, bowing in gratitude.
"May God bless you with good health, your honours."
Dolinnik watched the comedy with frank amazement.
None of the prisoners could make out what it was all about. The only thing that was clear was that the arrivals were chiefs of some kind who had the power to dispose of them as they saw fit.
"And you there?" Chernyak spoke to Dolinnik.
"Stand up when Pan the Colonel speaks to you!" barked the Captain.
Slowly Dolinnik raised himself to his feet from the floor.
"What are you in for?" Chernyak repeated.
Dolinnik looked at the Colonel's neatly¹⁸⁵ twirled moustache, at his clean-shaven face, looked at the peak of his new cap with the enamel cockade, and a wild thought flashed through his mind:
Maybe it'll work!
"I was arrested for being out on the streets after eight o'clock," he said, blurting¹⁸⁶ out the first thing that came into his head.
He awaited the answer in an agony of suspense¹⁸⁷.
"What were you doing out at night?"
"It wasn't night, only about eleven o'clock."
He no longer believed that this shot in the dark would succeed.
His knees trembled when he heard the brief command:
"Get out."
Dolinnik walked hurriedly out of the door, forgetting his jacket; the Captain was already questioning the next prisoner.
Korchagin was the last to be interrogated¹⁸⁸. He sat on the floor' completely dumbfounded by the proceedings¹⁸⁹. At first he could not believe that Dolinnik had been released. Why were they letting everyone off like this? But Dolinnik . . . Dolinnik had said that he had been arrested for breaking the curfew. . . . Then it dawned upon him.
The Colonel began questioning the scraggy Zeltser with the usual "What are you in for?"
The barber, pale with nervousness, blurted out:
"They tell me I was agitating, but I don't know what they're talking about."
Chernyak pricked up his ears.
"What's that? Agitation? What were you agitating about?"
Zeltser spread out his arms in bewilderment.
"I don't know myself, I only said that they were collecting signatures to a petition to the Chief Ataman for the Jewish population."
"What sort of petition?" both Chernyak and the Captain moved menacingly toward Zeltser.
"A petition asking that pogroms be prohibited. You know, we had a terrible pogrom. The whole population's afraid.
"That's enough," Chernyak interrupted him. "We'll give you a petition you won't forget, you dirty Jew." Turning to the Captain, he snapped: "Put this one away properly. Have him taken to headquarters—I'll talk to him there personally. We'll see who's behind this petition business."
Zeltser tried to protest but the Captain struck him sharply across the back with his riding crop.
"Shut up, you bastard!"
His face twisted with pain, Zeltser staggered back into a corner. His lips trembled and he barely restrained his sobs.
While this was going on, Pavel rose to his feet. He was now the only prisoner besides Zeltser in the storeroom.
Chernyak stood in front of the boy and inspected him with his piercing black eyes.
"Well, what are you doing here?"
Pavel had his answer ready.
"I cut off a saddle skirt for soles," he said quickly.
("What saddle?" the Colonel asked.
"We've got two Cossacks billeted at our place and I cut off a bit of an old saddle to sole my boots with. So the Cossacks hauled me in here." Seized by a wild hope to regain¹⁹⁰ his freedom, he added:
"I didn't know it wasn't allowed. . . ."
The Colonel eyed Pavel with disgust.
"Of all the things this Commandant thought of, blast him! Look at the prisoners he picked up!" As he turned to the door, he shouted: "You can go home, and tell your father to give you the thrashing you deserve. Out with you!"
Still unable to believe his ears, Pavel snatched up Dolinnik's jacket from the floor and rushed for the door, his heart pounding as if it would burst. He ran through the guardroom and slipped outside behind the Colonel who was walking out into the yard. In a moment Pavel was through the wicket gate and in the street.
The unlucky Zeltser remained alone in the storeroom. He looked round with harassed¹⁹¹ eyes,instinctively took a few steps towards the exit, but just then a sentry entered the guardhouse,closed the door, inserted the padlock, and sat down on a stool next to the door.
Out on the porch Chernyak, much pleased with himself, said to the Captain:
"It's a good thing we looked in. Think of the rubbish we found there—we'll have to lock up that Commandant for a couple of weeks. Well, it's time we were going."
The Sergeant had mustered his detail in the yard. When he saw the Colonel, he ran over and reported:
"Everything's in order, Pan Colonel."
Chernyak inserted a boot into a stirrup and sprang lightly into the saddle. The Captain was having some trouble with his restive¹⁹² horse. Reining¹⁹³ in his mount, the Colonel said to the Sergeant:
"Tell the Commandant I cleared out all the rubbish he'd collected in there. And tell him I'll give him two weeks in the guardhouse for the way he ran things here. As for the fellow in there now,transfer him to headquarters at once. Let the guard be in readiness."
"Very good, Pan Colonel," said the Sergeant and saluted¹⁹⁴.
Spurring on their horses, the Colonel and the Captain galloped back to the square where the parade was already coming to an end.

Pavel swung himself over another fence and stopped exhausted¹⁹⁵. He could go no farther. Those days cooped up in the stifling storeroom without food had sapped his strength.
Where should he go? Home was out of the question, and to go to the Bruzzhaks might bring disaster upon the whole family if anyone discovered him there.
He did not know what to do, and ran on again blindly, leaving behind the vegetable patches and back gardens at the edge of the town. Colliding heavily with a fence, he came to himself with a start and looked about him in amazement: there behind the tall fence was the forest warden's garden. So this was where his weary legs had brought him! He could have sworn that he had had no thought of coming this way. How then did he happen to be here? For that he could find no answer.
Yet rest awhile he must; he had to consider the situation and decide on the next step. He remembered that there was a summerhouse at the end of the garden. No one would see him there.
Hoisting¹⁹⁶ himself to the top of the fence, he clambered over and dropped into the garden below.
With a brief glance at the house, barely visible among the trees, he made for the summerhouse. To his dismay he found that it was open on nearly all sides. The wild vine that had walled it in during the summer had withered¹⁹⁷ and now all was bare.
He turned to go back, but it was too late. There was a furious barking behind him. He wheeled round and saw a huge dog coming straight at him down the leaf-strewn path leading from the house. Its fierce growls¹⁹⁸ rent the stillness of the garden.
Pavel made ready to defend himself. The first attack he repulsed¹⁹⁹ with a heavy kick. But the animal crouched²⁰⁰ to spring a second time. There is no saying how the encounter would have ended had a familiar voice not called out: "Come here, Tresor! Come here!"

Tonya came running down the path. She dragged Tresor back by the collar and turned to address the young man standing by the fence.
"What are you doing here? You might have been badly mauled by the dog. It's lucky I. . . ."
She stopped short and her eyes widened in surprise. How extraordinarily²⁰¹ like Korchagin was this stranger who had wandered into her garden.
The figure by the fence stirred.
"Tonya!" said the young man softly. "Don't you recognise me?"
Tonya cried out and rushed impulsively²⁰² over to him.
"Pavel, you?"
Tresor, taking the cry as a signal for attack, sprang forward.
"Down, Tresor, down!" A few cuffs²⁰³ from Tonya and he slunk back with an injured air toward the house, his tail between his legs.
"So you're free?" said Tonya, clinging to Pavel's hands.
"You knew then?"
"I know everything," replied Tonya breathlessly. "Liza told me. But however did you get here?
Did they let you go?"
"Yes, but only by mistake," Pavel replied wearily. "I ran away. I suppose they're looking for me now. I really don't know how I got here. I thought I'd rest a bit in your summerhouse. I'm awfully²⁰⁴ tired," he added apologetically.
She gazed at him for a moment or two and a wave of pity and tenderness swept over her.
"Pavel, my darling Pavel," she murmured holding his hands fast in hers. "I love you. . . . Do you hear me? My stubborn boy, why did you go away that time? Now you're coming to us, to me. I shan't let you go for anything. It's nice and quiet in our house and you can stay as long as you like."
Pavel shook his head.
"What if they find me here? No, I can't stay in your place."
Her hands squeezed his fingers and her eyes flashed.
"If you refuse, I shall never speak to you again. Artem isn't here, he was marched off under escort to the locomotive. All the railwaymen are being mobilised. Where will you go?"
Pavel shared her anxiety, and only his fear of bringing trouble to this girl now grown so dear to him held him back. But at last, worn out by his harrowing experiences, hungry and exhausted, he gave in.
While he sat on the sofa in Tonya's room, the following conversation ensued between mother and daughter in the kitchen.
"Mama, Korchagin is in my room. He was my pupil, you remember? I don't want to hide anything from you. He was arrested for helping²⁰⁵ a Bolshevik sailor to escape. Now he has run away from prison, but he has nowhere to go." Her voice trembled. "Mother dear, please let him stay here for a while."
The mother looked into her daughter's pleading eyes.
"Very well, I have no objection. But where do you intend to put him?"
Tonya flushed.
"He can sleep in my room on the sofa," she said. "We needn't tell Papa anything for the time being."
Her mother looked straight into her eyes.
"Is this what you have been fretting²⁰⁶ about so much lately?" she asked.
"Yes."
"But he is scarcely more than a boy."
"I know," replied Tonya, nervously fingering the sleeve of her blouse. "But if he hadn't escaped they would have shot him just the same."
Yekaterina Mikhailovna was alarmed by Korchagin's presence in her home. His arrest and her daughter's obvious infatuation with a lad she scarcely knew disturbed her.
But Tonya, considering the matter settled, was already thinking of attending to her guest's comfort.
"He must have a bath, first thing, Mama. I'll see to it at once. He is as dirty as a chimney sweep. It must be ages since he had a wash."
And she bustled²⁰⁷ off to heat the water for the bath and find some clean linen for Pavel. When all was ready she rushed into the room, seized Pavel by the arm and hurried him off to the bathroom without more ado.
"You must have a complete change of clothes. Here is a suit for you to put on. Your things will have to be washed. You can wear that in the meantime," she said pointing to the chair where a blue sailor blouse with striped white collar and a pair of bell-bottomed trousers were neatly laid out.
Pavel looked surprised. Tonya smiled.
"I wore it at a masquerade ball once," she explained. "It will be just right for you. Now, hurry.
While you're washing, I'll get you something to eat."
She went out and shut the door, leaving Pavel with no alternative but to undress and climb into the tub.
An hour later all three, mother, daughter and Pavel, were dining in the kitchen.
Pavel, who was ravenously²⁰⁸ hungry, consumed three helpings²⁰⁹ before he was aware of it. He was rather shy of Yekaterina Mikhailovna at first but soon thawed²¹⁰ out when he saw how friendly she was.
After dinner they retired²¹¹ to Tonya's room and at Yekaterina Mikhailovna's request Pavel related his experiences.
"What do you intend doing now?" Yekaterina Mikhailovna asked when he had finished.
Pavel pondered the question a moment. "I should like to see Artem first, and then I shall have to get away from here."
"But where will you go?"
"I think I could make my way to Uman or perhaps to Kiev. I don't know myself yet, but I must get away from here as soon as possible."
Pavel could hardly believe that everything had changed so quickly. Only that morning he had been in the filthy cell and now here he was sitting beside Tonya, wearing clean clothes, and, what was most important, he was free.
What queer turns life can take, he thought: one moment the sky seems black as night, and then the sun comes shining through again. Had it not been for the danger of being arrested again he would have been the happiest lad alive at this moment.
But he knew that even in this large, silent house he was far from safe. He must go away from here,it did not matter where. And yet he did not at all welcome the idea of going away. How thrilling it had been to read about the heroic Garibaldi! How he had envied him! But now he realised that Garibaldi's must have been a hard life, hounded as he was from place to place. He, Pavel, had only lived through seven days of misery²¹² and torment²¹³, yet it had seemed like a whole year.
No, clearly he was not cut out to be a hero.
"What are you thinking about?" Tonya asked, bending over toward him. The deep blue of her eyes seemed fathomless²¹⁴.
"Tonya, shall I tell you about Khristina?"
"Yes, do," Tonya urged him.
He told her the sad story of his fellow-captive.
The clock ticked loudly in the silence as he ended his story: ".. .And that was the last we saw of her," his words came with difficulty. Tonya's head dropped and she had to bite her lips to force back the tears.
Pavel looked at her. "1 must go away tonight," he said with finality.
"No, no, 1 shan't let you go anywhere tonight."
She stroked his bristly hair tenderly with her slim warm fingers. . . .
"Tonya, you must help me. Someone must go to the station and find out what has happened to Artem and take a note to Seryozha. I have a revolver hidden in a crow's nest. I daren't go for it, but Seryozha can get it for me. Will you be able to do this for me?"
Tonya got up.
"I'll go to Liza Sukharko right away. She and I will go to the station together. Write your note and I'll take it to Seryozha. Where does he live? Shall I tell him where you are if he should want to see you?"
Pavel considered for a moment before replying. "Tell him to bring the gun to your garden this evening."
It was very late when Tonya returned. Pavel was fast asleep. The touch of her hand awoke him and he opened his eyes to find her standing over him, smiling happily.
"Artem is coming here soon. He has just come back. Liza's father has agreed to vouch²¹⁵ for him and they're letting him go for an hour. The engine is standing at the station. I couldn't tell him you are here. I just told him I had something very important to tell him. There he is now!"
Tonya ran to open the door. Artem stood in the doorway²¹⁶ dumb with amazement, unable to believe his eyes. Tonya closed the door behind him so that her father, who was lying ill with typhus in the study, might not overhear them.
Another moment and Artem was giving Pavel a bear's hug that made his bones crack, and crying:
"Pavel! My little brother!"

And so it was decided: Pavel was to leave the next day. Artem would arrange for Bruzzhak to take him on a train bound for Kazatin.
Artem, usually grave and reserved, was now almost beside himself with joy at having found his brother after so many days of anxiety and uncertainty²¹⁷.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow morning at five you'll be at the warehouse²¹⁸. While they're loading on fuel you can slip in. I wish I could stay and have a chat with you but I must be getting back. I'll see you off tomorrow. They're making up a battalion⁷¹ of railwaymen. We go about under an armed escort just like when the Germans were here."
Artem said good-bye to his brother and left.
Dusk gathered fast, Sergei would be arriving soon with the revolver. While he waited, Pavel paced nervously up and down the dark room. Tonya and her mother were with the forest warden.
He met Sergei in the darkness by the fence and the two friends shook hands warmly. Sergei had brought Valya with him. They conversed²¹⁹ in low tones.
"I haven't brought the gun," Sergei said. "That backyard of yours is thick with Petlyura men. There are carts standing all over the place and they had a bonfire going. So I couldn't climb the tree to get the gun. It's a damn shame." Sergei was much put out.
"Never mind," Pavel consoled him. "Perhaps it's just as well. It would be worse if I happened to be caught on the way with the gun. But make sure you get hold of it."
Valya moved closer to Pavel.

"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow, at daybreak."
"How did you manage to get away? Tell us."
In a rapid whisper Pavel told them his story. Then he took leave of his comrades. The jolly Sergei was unusually silent.
"Good luck, Pavel, don't forget us," Valya said in a choking voice.
And with that they left him, the darkness swallowing them up in an instant.
Inside the house all was quiet. The measured ticking of the clock was the only sound in the stillness.
For two of the house's inmates²²⁰ there was no thought of sleep that night. How could they sleep when in six hours they were to part, perhaps never to meet again. Was it possible in that brief space of time to give utterance²²¹ to the myriad²²² of unspoken thoughts that seethed²²³ within them?
Youth, sublime²²⁴ youth, when passion, as yet unknown, is only dimly felt in a quickening of the pulse; when your hand coming in chance contact with your sweetheart's breast trembles as if affrighted and falters²²⁵, and when the sacred friendship of youth guards you from the final step!
What can be sweeter than to feel her arm about your neck and her burning kiss on your lips.
It was the second kiss they had exchanged throughout their friendship. Pavel, who had experienced many a beating but never a caress²²⁶ except from his mother, was stirred to the depths of his being. Hitherto life had shown him its most brutal side, and he had not known it could be such a glorious thing; now this girl had taught him what happiness could mean.
He breathed the perfume of her hair and seemed to see her eyes in the darkness.
"I love you so, Tonya, I can't tell you how much, for I don't know how to say it."
His brain was in a whirl. How responsive her supple²²⁷ body. . . . But youth's friendship is a sacred trust.
"Tonya, when all this mess is over I'm bound to get a job as a mechanic, and if you really want me, if you're really serious and not just playing with me, I'll be a good husband to you. I'll never beat you, never do anything to hurt you, I swear it."
Fearing to fall asleep in each other's arms—lest Tonya's mother find them and think ill of them—they separated.
Day was breaking when they fell asleep after having made a solemn compact never to forget one another.
Yekaterina Mikhailovna woke Pavel early. He jumped quickly out of bed. While he was in the bathroom, putting on his own clothes and boots, with Dolinnik's jacket on top, Yekaterina Mikhailovna woke Tonya.
They hurried through the grey morning mist to the station. When they reached the timber yards by the back way they found Artem waiting impatiently for them beside the loaded tender.
A powerful engine moved up slowly, enveloped²²⁸ in clouds of hissing²²⁹ steam. Bruzzhak looked out of the cab.
Pavel bid Tonya and Artem a hasty farewell, then gripped the iron rail and climbed up into the engine. Looking back he saw two familiar figures at the crossing: the tall figure of Artem and the small graceful²³⁰ form of Tonya beside him. The wind tore angrily at the collar of her blouse and tossed her chestnut²³¹ hair. She waved to him.
Artem glanced at Tonya out of the corner of his eye and noticing that she was on the verge¹³¹ of tears, he sighed.
"I'll be damned if there isn't something up between these two," he said to himself. "And me thinking Pavel is still a little boy!"
When the train disappeared behind the bend he turned to Tonya and said: "Well, shall we be friends?" And Tonya's tiny hand was lost in his huge paw.
From the distance came the rumble⁶⁷ of the train gathering²³² speed.

古老的大房子，只有一个挂着窗帘的窗子透出灯光。院子里，用铁链拴着的狗——特列佐尔突然狺狺狂吠起来。

冬妮亚在睡意矇眬中听到母亲的低语声：“冬妮亚还没睡。进来吧，莉莎。”

女友轻轻的脚步声和她那亲切热烈的拥抱把冬妮亚的睡意完全驱散了。

冬妮亚面带倦容，微笑着。

“莉莎，你来得太好了。我们全家都很高兴，因为爸爸昨天已经脱离了危险期，今天他安安静静地睡了一整天。我和妈妈熬了好几夜，今天也休息了一下。莉莎，有什么新闻，都讲给我听听。”冬妮亚把莉莎拉到身旁，在长沙发上坐下来。

“新闻吗，倒是很多！不过有一些我只能对你一个人讲。”

莉莎一边笑，一边调皮地望着冬妮亚的母亲叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜。

冬妮亚的母亲也笑了。她是一个落落大方的妇人，虽然已经三十六岁了，举止却仍然像年轻姑娘那样轻盈。她有一双聪明的灰眼睛，容貌虽然不出众，却很有精神，惹人喜欢。

“好吧，过一会儿我就让你们俩单独谈。现在您先把能公开的新闻说一说吧。”她开着玩笑，一面把椅子挪到沙发跟前。

“第一件新闻是：我们再也不用上学了。校务会议已经决定给七年级学生发毕业证书。我高兴极了。”莉莎眉飞色舞地说。“那些代数呀，几何呀，简直烦死我了！为什么要学这些东西呢？男同学也许还能继续上学，不过到哪儿去上，他们自己也不知道。到处都是战场，各地都在打仗。真可怕！……

我们反正得出嫁，做妻子的懂代数有什么用？”莉莎说到这里，大声笑起来。

叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜陪姑娘们坐了一会儿，回到自己的房间里去了。

莉莎往冬妮亚跟前挪了挪，搂着她，低声给她讲了十字路口发生的事情。

“冬妮亚，你想想，当我认出那个逃跑的人的时候，我是多么吃惊啊！……你猜那人是谁？”

冬妮亚正听得出神，她莫名其妙地耸了耸肩膀。

莉莎脱口而出：“是柯察金！”

冬妮亚战栗了一下，痛苦地缩作一团。

“是柯察金？”

莉莎对自己的话产生的效果很得意，接着就讲开了她同维克托吵嘴的经过。

她只顾讲话，没有发现冬妮亚的脸色已经变得煞白，纤细的手指神经质地摆弄着蓝上衣的衣襟。莉莎完全不知道，冬妮亚是多么惊慌，连心都缩紧了。她也不知道，冬妮亚那美丽的浓密的睫毛为什么那样紧张地抖动。

莉莎后来又讲到那个喝醉酒的警备司令的事，冬妮亚已经完全顾不上听了，她脑子里只有一个想法：“维克托已经知道是谁袭击了押送兵。莉莎为什么要告诉他呢？”她不知不觉把这句话说了出来。

“我告诉什么啦？”莉莎没有明白她的意思，这样问。

“你为什么要把保夫鲁沙，我是说，把柯察金的事情告诉维克托呢？你要知道，维克托会出卖他的……”

莉莎反驳说：“不会的。我看他不会。这么做对他究竟有什么好处呢？”

冬妮亚猛然坐直了身子，两手使劲抓住膝盖，抓得生疼。

“你呀，莉莎，什么也不明白！维克托跟柯察金本来就是仇人，何况又加上别的原因……你把保夫鲁沙的事情告诉维克托，是做了一件大错事。”

莉莎到这时才发现冬妮亚很着急。冬妮亚脱口说出“保夫鲁沙”这样亲昵的称呼，使她终于弄明白了她一向模模糊糊猜测着的事情。

莉莎不禁也觉得自己做错了事，感到难为情，不再做声了。

她想：“看来，真有这么回事了。真怪，冬妮亚怎么会突然爱上了他？他是个什么人呢？一个普普通通的工人……”莉莎很想同她谈谈这件事，但是怕失礼，没有开口。为了设法弥补自己的过失，她拉住冬妮亚的两只手，说：“冬妮亚，你很担心吗？”

冬妮亚精神恍惚地回答：“不，也许维克托比我想象的要好一些。”

不一会儿，她们的同班同学杰米亚诺夫来了，他是个笨手笨脚的、朴实的小伙子。

杰米亚诺夫到来之前，她们俩怎么也谈不到一起了。

冬妮亚送走了两个同学，独自在门口站了很久。她倚着栅栏门，凝视着通向城里的那条灰暗的大道。到处游荡永不停息的风，夹着潮湿的寒气和春天的霉味，向冬妮亚吹来。远处，城里许多房子的窗户不怀好意地闪着暗红的灯光。那就是她所恼恨的小城。在城里的一间房屋里，住着她那个不安生的朋友，他恐怕还不知道大祸就要临头了。也许他已经把她忘了。自从上次见面以后，又过去了多少天哪！那一次是他不对，不过这件事她早就淡忘了。明天她一见到他，往日的友谊，那使人激动的美好的友谊，就会恢复。他们一定会言归于好，这一点冬妮亚深信不疑。但愿这一夜平安无事。然而这不祥的黑夜，仿佛在一旁窥伺着，随时准备……真冷啊。

冬妮亚朝大路瞥了最后一眼，回到了屋里。她躺在床上，裹着被子，临睡前还思念着：黑夜，可千万不要出卖他呀！……

清晨，家里的人还都在熟睡，冬妮亚就醒来了。她迅速穿好衣服。为了不惊醒别人，她悄悄地走到院子里，解开长毛大狗特列佐尔，领着它向城里走去。在柯察金家对面，她犹豫不决地站了片刻。随后，推开栅栏门，走进了院子。特列佐尔摇着尾巴，跑在前面。

阿尔焦姆刚好也在这天清晨从乡下回到家里。他是坐大车来的，同车的是一个一起干活的铁匠师傅。他把挣来的一袋面粉扛在肩上，走进院子。铁匠拿着其他东西跟在后面。阿尔焦姆走到敞开的屋门口，放下面粉，喊了一声：“保尔！”

没有人应声。

“呆在这儿干吗，搬到屋里去吧！”铁匠走到跟前说。

阿尔焦姆把东西放在厨房里，进了屋，一看就愣住了。屋里翻得乱七八糟，破破烂烂的东西扔得满地都是。

“真见鬼！”阿尔焦姆莫名其妙，转身对铁匠说。

“可不是吗，太乱了。”铁匠附和着。

“这小东西跑到哪儿去了？”阿尔焦姆开始生气了。

但是，屋里空空的，要打听都没人好问。

铁匠告别后，赶着大车走了。

阿尔焦姆走到院子里，仔细看了看周围的情况。

“真不明白，这是搞的什么名堂！房门大开着，保尔却不在家。”

这时，背后传来了脚步声。阿尔焦姆转过身来。一条大狗竖着耳朵站在他面前。还有一个陌生的姑娘进了栅栏门，朝屋子走来。

“我找保尔·柯察金。”她打量着阿尔焦姆，轻声地说。

“我也正找他呢。谁知道他跑到哪儿去了！我刚刚回来，房门开着，家里没人。您找他有事吗？”他问姑娘。

姑娘没有回答，反问了他一句：“您是保尔·柯察金的哥哥阿尔焦姆吧？”

“是啊，有什么事吗？”

姑娘仍然没有回答，只是忧虑地望着敞开的门。“我怎么昨天晚上不来呢？难道出事了？是真的？……”她的心情更沉重了。

“您回来的时候，门就敞着，就没见到保尔吗？”她向惊奇地注视着她的阿尔焦姆问道。

“您找保尔到底有什么事？”

冬妮亚走到阿尔焦姆跟前，向周围看了看，急促地说：“我也说不准确，不过，要是保尔没在家，那他就是被捕了。”

“因为什么？”阿尔焦姆不由得打了一个寒噤。

“咱们到屋里谈吧。”冬妮亚说。

阿尔焦姆一声不响地听她讲着。当冬妮亚把她知道的一切全都告诉了他之后，他异常沮丧。

“唉，真是糟糕！本来就够受的了，偏偏又碰上倒霉事……”他愁眉苦脸地咕哝着。“这就清楚了，为什么家里搞得这样乱糟糟的。这孩子是鬼迷心窍了，惹出这种事来……现在上哪儿去找他？请问，您是谁家的小姐？”

“我是林务官图曼诺夫的女儿。我认识保尔。”

“哦——哦……是这样……”阿尔焦姆含含糊糊地拖长声音说。“我给这孩子送面粉来了，想不到出了这种事……”

冬妮亚和阿尔焦姆你看着我，我看着你，谁也没有再做声。

“我要走了。您也许能找到他。”冬妮亚在向阿尔焦姆告别的时候轻声说。“晚上我再来听您的信。”

阿尔焦姆默默地点了点头。

冬眠醒来的一只干瘪的苍蝇在窗角嗡嗡地叫着。一个农村姑娘，胳膊支着膝盖，坐在破旧沙发的边上，呆呆地望着肮脏的地板。

警备司令嘴角上叼着一支香烟，龙飞凤舞地写完最后几行字，然后在“舍佩托夫卡警备司令哥萨克少尉”几个字下面，得意地签了名，名字写得很花哨，最后一笔还甩了一个钩。这时，门口传来了马刺的响声。警备司令抬起头来。

站在他面前的是萨洛梅加，一只胳膊缠着绷带。

“哪阵风把你给吹来了？”警备司令欢迎他说。

“风倒是好风，就是胳膊给博贡团［博贡团，１９１８年建立的乌克兰著名红军团队。——译者］打穿了。”

萨洛梅加不顾有妇女在场，粗野地破口大骂起来。

“这么说，你是到这儿养伤来了？”

“下辈子再养吧！前线吃紧，我们都快给压扁了。”

警备司令朝姑娘那边扬了扬头，示意他不要再讲下去。

“咱们以后再谈吧！”

萨洛梅加一屁股坐在凳子上，摘下了军帽。帽子上有一个三叉戟的珐琅帽徽，这是乌克兰人民共和国国徽。

“是戈卢勃派我来的。”他小声地说。“谢乔夫狙击师就要来驻防。你这儿可要大大麻烦了，我先来把秩序整顿一下。大头目也可能来，还有一位洋大人跟他一起来，所以，这儿谁也不许提起那次‘消遣’的事。你写什么呢？”

警备司令把香烟叼到另一边嘴角上，说：“我这儿关着一个小坏蛋。你知道吧，我们在车站抓住了那个朱赫来，你大概记得，就是煽动铁路工人反对咱们的那个人。”

“记得，他怎么啦？”萨洛梅加很感兴趣地往前凑了凑。

“你知道，驻站警备队长奥梅利琴科这个笨蛋，只派了一个哥萨克往我们这儿押送。就是我这儿现在关着的这个小坏蛋，公然在大白天把朱赫来劫走了。他俩抢走了哥萨克的枪，打掉了他好几颗牙，一溜烟跑掉了。朱赫来跑得无影无踪，那个小坏蛋却叫我们抓住了。材料就在这儿，你看看吧。”他把一份写好的公文推到萨洛梅加面前。

萨洛梅加用没有受伤的左手翻着材料，草草看了一遍。然后两眼盯着警备司令，问：“你从他嘴里什么也没问出来吗？”

警备司令烦躁地扯了扯帽檐。

“我整了他五天，他什么也不说。老是一句话：‘我什么也不知道，不是我放的。’简直是天生的土匪。你知道，那个押送的哥萨克认出了这个小坏蛋，差点把他掐死。我费了好大劲才把他拉开。他因为跑了犯人，在车站挨了奥梅利琴科二十五通条，所以一见这小坏蛋，就狠狠揍了他一顿。现在这个人没必要再关下去了，我给上司写个呈文，上头一批，就把他干掉。”

萨洛梅加轻蔑地吐了一口唾沫，说：“他要是落在我手里，保管早就招了。审犯人这种事，你这个小神甫根本干不了。神学院的学生，怎么能当司令呢？你没用通条抽他吗？”

警备司令发火了。

“你也太放肆了。还是嘲笑嘲笑你自己吧！我是这儿的司令，你少管闲事！”

萨洛梅加瞧了瞧怒气冲冲的警备司令，哈哈大笑起来。

“哈哈！……小神甫，别生气，当心气破了肚皮。我才不管你的事呢！闲话少说，你还是告诉我，哪儿能搞到两瓶好酒喝喝吧！”

警备司令得意地笑了笑：“这好办。”

“这小子，”萨洛梅加用手指了指公文说。“你想要他的命，就得把十六岁改成十八岁，把‘６’字上面的小钩往这边一弯，就行了，要不，上头说不定不批。”

仓库里一共关押着三个人。一个是大胡子老头，他穿着破长袍和肥大的麻布裤子，蜷着两条瘦腿，侧身躺在板床上。

他被抓来是因为住在他家的佩特留拉士兵，有一匹马拴在他家板棚里不见了。地上坐着一个上了年纪的女人，贼眉鼠眼，尖下巴，是个酿私酒的。她是因为有人告她偷了表和其他贵重物品给抓来的。在窗子下面的角落里，头枕着帽子，昏昏沉沉地躺着的是保尔·柯察金。

仓库里又带进来一个姑娘，她睁着两只惊恐不安的大眼睛，头上扎着花头巾，一副农村打扮。

她站了一会儿，就坐到了酿私酒的女人身旁。

酿私酒的老太婆把新来的姑娘仔细打量了一番，连珠似地问：“小姑娘，你也来坐牢啦？”

她没有得到回答，不肯罢休，又问：“你是为啥给抓来的？兴许也是为造私酒吧？”

农村姑娘站起来，看了看这个纠缠不休的老太婆，低声回答说：“不是的。我是为哥哥的事给抓来的。”

“你哥哥怎么啦？”老太婆非要问出个究竟来。

这时候，那个老头插嘴了：“你干吗惹她伤心呢？说不定人家够难受的了，可你问起来没个完。”

老太婆立刻转过身来，朝着板床那边说：“谁指派你来教训我的？我是跟你说话吗？”

老头啐了一口唾沫，说：“我是说，你别老缠着人家。”

仓库里安静下来。姑娘把大头巾铺在地上，枕着一只胳膊躺下了。

酿私酒的女人开始吃起东西来。老头把脚垂到地上，不慌不忙地卷了一支烟，抽起来。一股难闻的烟味立即在仓库里扩散开来。

老太婆嘴里塞得满满的，吧嗒吧嗒地嚼着，又唠叨起来：“抽起来没完没了，臭得要命。就不能让人吃顿安生饭？”

老头嘿嘿一笑，挖苦她说：“你是怕饿瘦了吗？眼看连门都挤不出去了。你就不兴给那个小伙子吃点？别总往自己嘴里塞。”

老太婆抱屈地把手一摆，说：“我紧着跟他说：你吃，吃吧，他不想吃嘛！能怨我吗？我吃多少，用不着你多嘴多舌的，又不是吃你的。”

姑娘朝老太婆转过身来，向柯察金那边扬了扬头，问：“您知道他为什么坐牢吗？”

老太婆一见有人跟她说话，心里高兴起来，乐呵呵地告诉姑娘：“他是本地人，是老妈子柯察金娜的小儿子。”

她弯下身子，凑到姑娘耳朵跟前，悄声说：“他救走了一个布尔什维克，那个人是水兵，就住在我的邻居佐祖利哈家。”

姑娘这时想起了警备司令的话：“我给上司写个呈文，上头一批，就把他干掉……”

军车一列接着一列开来，塞满了车站。谢乔夫狙击师所属各个分队（营）乱哄哄地从车上挤下来。由四节包着钢板的车厢组成的“扎波罗什哥萨克号”装甲车，缓慢地在铁路线上爬行。从平板车上卸下了大炮。从货车里牵出了马匹。骑兵们就地整鞍上马，挤开那群乱得不成队形的步兵，到车站广场上去集合整队。

军官们跑来跑去，喊着自己部队的番号。

车站上十分嘈杂，像有一窝蜂在嗡嗡地叫。纷乱的人群，逐渐按着班、排组成了队伍。随后，这股武装的人流就朝城里涌去。直到傍晚，谢乔夫师的辎重马车和后勤人员还络绎不绝地顺着公路开进城去。殿后的司令部警卫连终于也开过去了。一百二十个人一面走，一面扯着嗓子唱：

为什么喧哗？

为什么呐喊？

因为佩特留拉

来到了乌克兰……

保尔起身站到小窗跟前。街上车轮的辘辘声、杂乱的脚步声和歌声，透过苍茫的暮色，传入他的耳内。

他背后有人小声说：“看样子是军队开进城来了。”

保尔转过身来。

说话的是昨天关进来的那个姑娘。

他听过姑娘讲述自己的身世——那个酿私酒的老太婆终于达到了目的。原来姑娘就住在离城七俄里的农村。她哥哥格里茨科是个红色游击队员，当地成立苏维埃政权的时候，领导过贫农委员会。

红军撤退的时候，格里茨科也缠上机枪子弹带，跟着他们走了。现在家里简直生活不下去。仅有的一匹马，也给抢走了。父亲被抓到城里，关进监牢，受尽了折磨。村长过去挨过格里茨科的斗，现在借机报复，经常把各式各样的人派到她家去住，弄得她家更穷了。前天警备司令到村里抓人，村长把他领到了她家。警备司令看中了这个姑娘，第二天清晨就把她带回城里来“审问”。

保尔睡不着觉。他辗转反侧，一个无法摆脱的思想纠缠着他：“以后会怎么样？”这个问题总在脑子里翻腾。

遭到毒打的身体像针扎一样疼痛。那天哥萨克押送兵兽性大发，把他狠狠地打了一顿。

为了摆脱那些恼人的思想，他开始静听身旁两个妇女的低语。

姑娘的声音非常小，她讲到警备司令怎样缠住她不放，又是威逼，又是利诱，遭到拒绝之后，又怎样暴跳如雷，说：“我把你关到地牢里，你一辈子也别想出去！”

黑暗吞噬着牢房的每一个角落。令人窒息的、不安的夜降临了。思路又转到吉凶未卜的明天。这只是第七夜，但是却好像已经熬过了好几个月。睡在硬邦邦的地上，全身疼痛不止。仓库里现在只剩下三个人了。老头躺在板床上打着呼噜，就像睡在自家的热炕上一样。这老爷子对眼前的处境满不在乎，夜夜都睡得又香又甜。酿私酒的老太婆被警备司令哥萨克少尉放出去弄烧酒去了。赫里斯季娜和保尔都躺在地上，离得很近。保尔昨天从窗口看见谢廖沙在街上站了很久，忧郁地盯着这座房子的窗户。

“看样子，他知道我关在这儿。”

一连三天都有人送来发酸的黑面包。是谁送来的，没有说。这两天警备司令又连着提审他。这是怎么回事呢？

拷问的时候，保尔什么也没有说，一问三不知。连他自己也不知道为什么能不做声。他曾想做一个勇敢的人，坚强的人，像书里写的那样。可是被捕的那天夜里，他被押解着走过高大的机器磨坊时，听见一个匪兵说：“少尉大人，干吗还把他带回去？从背后给他一枪不就完了？”当时，他却又害怕起来。是啊，十六岁就死掉，这多可怕！死了，就再也活不成啦！

赫里斯季娜也在想心事。她比这个小伙子知道得多一些。

他大概还不知道……而她已经听到了。

保尔没有睡，他一连几夜都翻来覆去睡不着。赫里斯季娜很同情他，唉，他太可怜了。然而她也有自己的苦处：她忘不了警备司令威胁她的话：“我明天再找你算帐。要是你再不依我，我就把你交给卫兵。那些哥萨克是求之不得的。你看着办吧！”

唉！真难哪！谁能来救她呢？哥哥当红军去了，妹妹有什么罪过？“唉！这个世道实在没法过！”

难言的痛苦哽住了她的喉咙，无可奈何的绝望和恐惧涌上了心头，她失声啜泣起来。

年轻姑娘的身躯由于过度悲愤和绝望而不住地抽搐着。

墙角里的身影动了一下，问：“你这是怎么啦？”

赫里斯季娜激动地低声讲起来——她尽情向身旁这个沉默寡言的难友倾吐自己的痛苦。他听着，什么话也没有说，只是把一只手放在赫里斯季娜的手上。

“这些该死的畜生，他们一定会糟蹋我的。”赫里斯季娜吞咽着眼泪，怀着一种下意识的恐惧，小声地说。“我是完了：刀把子在他们手里呀。”

他保尔能对这个姑娘说些什么呢？他找不出适当的话来。

没有什么可说的。生活的铁环把人箍得紧紧的。

明天不让他们带走她，跟他们拼吗？他们会把他打个半死，甚至会用马刀劈他的头——一下子也就完了。为了多少给这个满腹苦水的姑娘一些安慰，他温柔地抚摸着她的手。她不再哭泣了。大门口的哨兵像办例行公事似的，时而向过路的人喊一声：“什么人？”然后又是一阵寂静。老头还在沉睡。

时间不知不觉地溜过去。当一双手突然紧紧搂住他，把他拉过去的时候，他一下子还不明白是怎么一回事。

“亲爱的，你听我说，”姑娘那热烈的嘴唇小声地说。“我反正是完了：不是那个当官的，就是那帮当兵的，一定会糟蹋我的。我把我这姑娘家的身子给你吧，亲爱的小伙子，我不能让那个畜生来破身。”

“赫里斯季娜，你说些什么呀？”

但是，那双有力的手臂仍然紧紧搂住他不放。两片热烈的、丰满的嘴唇，简直无法摆脱。姑娘的话是那样简单明白，那样温柔多情，他完全理解她讲这番话的心意。

眼前的一切顿时都不见了。牢门上的大锁，红头发的哥萨克，凶恶的警备司令，惨无人道的拷打，以及七个令人窒息的不眠之夜，都从记忆中消失了，这一瞬间只剩下了热烈的嘴唇和泪痕未干的脸庞。

突然，他想起了冬妮亚。

“怎么能把她忘了呢？……那双秀丽的、可爱的眼睛。”

他终于找到了自制的力量。他像喝醉了酒似的站起来，抓住了窗上的铁栏杆。赫里斯季娜的两只手摸到了他。

“你怎么不来呢？”

这问话里包含着多少情意呀！他俯下身来，紧握住她的双手，说：“我不能这样，赫里斯季娜，你太好啦。”他还说了一些他自己也不懂的话。

他直起腰来。为了打破这难堪的沉寂，他走到板床跟前，坐在床沿上，推醒老头，说：“老大爷，给我点烟抽。”

赫里斯季娜裹着头巾，在角落里痛哭起来。

第二天，警备司令领着几个哥萨克来了，带走了赫里斯季娜。她用眼睛向保尔告别，眼神里流露出对他的责备。牢门在姑娘身后砰的一声关上了。保尔的心情也就变得更加沉重，更加郁悒。

一直到天黑，老头也没能从他嘴里掏出一句话来。岗哨和司令部的值勤人员都换了班。晚上，又押进来一个人。保尔认出他是糖厂的木匠多林尼克。他长得很结实，矮墩墩的，破外套里面穿着一件退了色的黄衬衫。他用细心的目光把小仓库迅速察看了一遍。

保尔在一九一七年二月里看见过他，那时候，这个小城也受到了革命浪潮的冲击。在许多次喧闹的示威游行中，保尔只听到过一个布尔什维克演说。这个人就是多林尼克。当时他爬上路旁的一道围墙，向士兵们演讲。记得他最后这样说：“士兵们，你们支持布尔什维克吧，他们是决不会出卖你们的！”

从那以后，保尔再没见到过他。

新难友的到来使老头很高兴。显然，整天坐着不说一句话，他太难受了。多林尼克挨着老头坐在板床上，和他一道抽着烟，详细询问了各种情况。

然后，他坐到保尔身边，问他：“你有什么好消息吗？你是为什么给抓来的？”

多林尼克得到的回答只是简简单单的一两个字。他感觉出这是对方对他不信任，所以才不愿意多说话。但是，当木匠了解到这个小伙子的罪名之后，就用那对机敏的眼睛惊讶地盯着他，看了好久。他又在保尔身旁坐下。

“这么说，是你把朱赫来救走了？原来是这样。我还不知道你被捕了呢。”

保尔感到很突然，急忙用胳膊支起身子。

“哪个朱赫来？我什么也不知道。什么罪名不能往我头上安哪！”

多林尼克却笑了笑，凑到他跟前。

“得了，小朋友。你别瞒我了。我知道得比你多。”

他怕老头听到，又压低了声音，说：“是我亲自把朱赫来送走的，现在他说不定已经到了地方。他把这件事的经过全都跟我讲了。”

他沉默了一会儿，似乎在考虑什么，随后又补充了一句：“你这小伙子，看来还真不错。不过，你给他们关在这儿，情况他们又都知道，这可真他妈的不妙，简直是糟糕透了。”

他脱下外套，铺在地上，背靠墙坐了下来，又卷起一支烟。

多林尼克最后这几句话等于把一切都告诉了保尔。很显然，多林尼克是自己人。既然是他送走了朱赫来，这就是说……

到了晚上，保尔已经知道多林尼克是因为在佩特留拉的哥萨克中间进行鼓动被捕的。他正在散发省革命委员会号召他们投诚、参加红军的传单，当场给抓住了。

多林尼克很谨慎，没有向保尔讲多少东西。

“谁知道会怎么样呢？”他心里想。“他们说不定会用通条抽他。小伙子还太嫩哪！”

夜间，躺下睡觉的时候，他用简单扼要的话表示了自己的担心：“保尔，你我眼下的处境可以说是糟糕透了。咱们等着瞧吧，不知道是个什么结局。”

第二天，仓库里又关进来一个犯人。这个人大耳朵，细脖子，是全城出名的理发师什廖马·泽利采尔。他比比划划，激动地对多林尼克说：“瞧，是这么回事，福克斯、勃卢夫斯坦、特拉赫坦贝格他们准备捧着面包和盐去欢迎他。我说，你们愿意欢迎，你们就欢迎吧，但是想叫谁跟他们一道签名，代表全体犹太居民，那可对不起，没人干。他们有他们的打算。福克斯开商店，特拉赫坦贝格有磨坊，可我有什么呢？别的穷光蛋又有什么呢？这些人什么也没有。对了，我这个人倒是有一条长舌头，爱多嘴。今天我给一个哥萨克军官刮胡子，他刚到这儿不久，我对他说：‘请问，这儿的虐犹事件，大头目佩特留拉知道不？他能接见犹太人请愿团吗？’唉，我这条长舌头啊，给我惹过多少是非！等我给他刮完胡子，扑上香粉，一切都按一流水平弄妥当之后，你猜怎么着？他站起来，不但不给钱，反而把我抓起来，说我进行煽动，反对政府。”泽利采尔用拳头捶着胸脯，继续说：“怎么是煽动？我说什么啦？我不过是随便打听一下……为这个就把我关了进来……”

泽利采尔非常激动，又是扭多林尼克的衬衣扣子，又是扯他的胳膊。

多林尼克听他发牢骚，不由得笑了。等泽利采尔讲完，多林尼克严肃地对他说：“我说，什廖马，你是个聪明的小伙子，怎么干出这样的蠢事，偏偏在这种时候多嘴多舌。这个地方我看是来不得的！”

泽利采尔会意地看了他一眼，绝望地挥了挥手。门开了，保尔认得的那个酿私酒的老太婆又被推了进来。她恶狠狠地咒骂着那个押送她的哥萨克：“让火把你和你们司令都烧成灰！叫他喝了我的酒不得好死！”

卫兵随手把门砰的一声关上了，接着，听到了上锁的声音。

老太婆坐到板床上，老头逗笑地欢迎她：“怎么，你又回来了，碎嘴子老太婆？贵客临门，请坐吧！”

老太婆狠狠瞪了他一眼，一把抓起小包袱，挨着多林尼克，坐在地上。

匪徒们从她手里弄到了几瓶私酒，又把她押了回来。

突然，门外守卫室里响起了喊声和脚步声，一个人高声发着命令。仓库里所有的犯人都把头转向房门。

广场上有座难看的破教堂，教堂顶上是个古式的钟楼，现在教堂前面正发生一桩本城少见的新奇事。谢乔夫狙击师的部队，全副武装，列成一个个四方的队形，从三面把广场围起来。

在前面，从教堂门口起，三个步兵团排成棋盘格式的队形，一直站到学校的围墙跟前。

佩特留拉“政府”的这个精锐师团的士兵们站在那里。他们穿着肮脏的灰军服，戴着不伦不类的、半个南瓜似的俄国钢盔，步枪靠着大腿，身上缠满了子弹带。

这个师团衣着整齐，穿的都是前沙皇军队的储备品，师团的一大半人是顽固反对苏维埃的富农分子。这次他们调到这里来，为的是保卫这个具有重大战略意义的铁路枢纽站。

铁路的闪亮的铁轨从舍佩托夫卡朝五个不同的方向伸展出去。对佩特留拉来说，失去这个据点，就等于失去一切。他那个“政府”的地盘现在只有巴掌大了，小小的温尼察居然成了首都。

大头目佩特留拉决定亲自来这里视察部队。一切都已经准备好，就等着欢迎他了。

有一个团的新兵被安排在广场后边的角落里，那是最不显眼的地方。他们全是光着脚、穿着五颜六色衣服的年轻人。

这些农村小伙子，有的是半夜里被抓的壮丁，从炕上拖来的，有的是在大街上被抓来的。他们没有一个愿意打仗，都说：“谁也不是傻瓜。”

佩特留拉军官们最大的成绩，就是把这些人押解到城里，编成连、营，并且把武器发给了他们。

但是，第二天，三分之一的新兵就不见了，后来，人数一天比一天减少。

要是发给他们靴子，那简直是太愚蠢了，而且也没有那么多的靴子可发。于是下了一道命令：应征入伍者鞋袜自备。

这道命令产生了奇妙的效果。谁知道新兵们从哪里拣来这么多破烂不堪的鞋子，全是靠铁丝或者麻绳绑在脚上的。

于是只好叫他们光着脚参加阅兵式。

站在步兵后面的，是戈卢勃的骑兵团。

骑兵们挡住密密麻麻的看热闹的人群。大家都想看看阅兵式。

大头目本人要来！这可是百年不遇的大事，谁也不愿意错过这个免费参观的好机会。

教堂的台阶上站着一群校官和尉官，神甫的两个女儿，几个乌克兰教师，一帮“自由哥萨克”和稍微有点驼背的市长——总之，是一群经过挑选的“各界人士”的代表。身穿契尔克斯长袍的步兵总监也站在这群人中间。他是阅兵式的总指挥。

教堂里，瓦西里神甫穿起了复活节才穿的法衣。

欢迎佩特留拉的仪式准备得十分隆重。蓝黄色的旗子也升了起来，征来的新兵要向旗子举行效忠宣誓。

师长坐着一辆掉了漆的、像痨病鬼似的福特牌汽车，前往车站迎接佩特留拉。

步兵总监把蓄着两撇漂亮小胡子的仪表堂堂的切尔尼亚克上校叫到跟前。

“你带人去检查一下警备司令部和后方机关，要他们各处都打扫干净，收拾整齐。如果有犯人，你就查问一下，把那些无关紧要的废物都撵走。”

切尔尼亚克把皮靴后跟一碰，敬了个礼，拉住走到跟前的一个哥萨克大尉，一道骑马走了。

步兵总监彬彬有礼地问神甫的大女儿：“宴会你们准备得怎么样了？一切都就绪了吧？”

“是啊，警备司令正在张罗呢。”她一边回答，一边目不转睛地盯着漂亮的步兵总监。

突然，人群骚动起来。一个骑兵伏在马背上，沿公路飞驰而来，只听他挥着手高叫：“来啦！”

步兵总监大声喊起了口令：“各——就——各——位！”

军官们慌忙跑到自己的队列中去。

当福特牌汽车气喘吁吁地开到教堂门口的时候，乐队奏起了《乌克兰仍在人间》的乐曲。

大头目佩特留拉本人，跟在师长后面，笨拙地从汽车里钻了出来。他中等身材，一颗有棱有角的脑袋结结实实地长在紫红色的脖子上，身上穿着上等蓝色近卫军呢料做的乌克兰上衣，扎着黄皮带，皮带上的麂皮枪套里插着一支小巧的勃朗宁手枪，头上戴着克伦斯基军帽，上面缀着一颗三叉戟的珐琅帽徽。

西蒙·佩特留拉没有一点威武的气派，完全不像一个军人。

他听完了步兵总监的简短报告，似乎对什么不太满意。随后，市长向他致欢迎词。

佩特留拉心不在焉地听着，眼睛从市长头顶上望过去，看着那些肃立的队列。

“开始检阅吧。”他向步兵总监点了点头。

佩特留拉登上旗杆旁边一座不大的检阅台，向士兵们发表了十分钟的演说。

他讲得空泛无力，一直提不起精神来，大概是路上太累了。演说结束的时候，士兵们刻板地喊了一阵：“万岁！万岁！”

他走下检阅台，用手帕擦了擦脑门上的汗。随后，就在步兵总监和师长的陪同下，检阅各个部队。

走过新兵队列的时候，他轻蔑地眯起了眼睛，生气地咬着嘴唇。

检阅快结束了，新兵开始宣誓。他们参差不齐地列队走到旗子跟前，先吻一下瓦西里神甫手里捧着的圣经，再吻一下旗子的一角。就在这个时候，发生了一件意外的事情。

谁也不知道怎么会有一个请愿团挤进了广场，走到佩特留拉跟前。走在前面的是经营木材的富商勃卢夫斯坦，他双手捧着面包和盐，他后面是百货店老板福克斯和另外三个大商人。

勃卢夫斯坦像奴才一样弯着腰，把面包和盐捧到佩特留拉面前，站在一旁的军官接了过去。

“犹太居民向您，国家元首阁下，表示衷心的感激和敬意。

恭请阁下收下犹太人的颂词。”

“好的。”佩特留拉哼了一句，草草地看了看颂词。

这时候福克斯说话了。

“小民等斗胆恭请阁下开恩，准许犹太人开张营业，并保护犹太人免遭蹂躏。”福克斯费了很大劲才把“蹂躏”这两个字从嘴里挤出来。

佩特留拉恼怒地皱紧了眉头。

“我的军队从来不会蹂躏犹太人，这一点你们应当记住。”

福克斯无可奈何地把两手一摊。

佩特留拉烦躁地耸了耸肩膀，他对不识时务的请愿团恰好在这个时刻出场大为恼火。他转过身来，对站在身后气得直咬黑胡子的戈卢勃说：“上校先生，他们控告您的哥萨克，请您调查一下，做出处置。”说完，又转身命令步兵总监：“阅兵式开始！”

倒霉的请愿团万万没有想到会碰上戈卢勃，所以，急忙要溜走。

观众的注意力，全都被分列式的准备工作吸引住了。响起了刺耳的口号声。

戈卢勃逼近勃卢夫斯坦，一字一句地小声说：“你们这帮异教徒，赶快给我滚蛋，不然我就把你们剁成肉酱。”

军乐响起来了。第一批部队开始通过广场。士兵们经过佩特留拉检阅台的时候，机械地朝他喊着“万岁！”然后从公路转到旁边的街道上去。军官们穿着崭新的草绿色军装，像散步一样，甩着手杖，潇洒地走在连队前头。这种军官甩手杖、士兵持通条的分列式，是谢乔夫师的创举。

新兵走在最后面，他们步伐混乱，磕磕撞撞，乱七八糟地挤作一团。

一双双赤脚踏在路上，发出柔软的沙沙声。军官们竭力想维持好秩序，但是做不到。第二连走到检阅台前的时候，右翼排头的一个穿麻布衬衫的小伙子，只顾惊奇地张着嘴巴看大头目，一不小心，踩在坑里，扑通一声栽倒在地上。

他的步枪摔在石路上，哗啦啦地滑出好远。小伙子拼命想爬起来，可是后面的人立刻又把他撞倒了。

观众哈哈大笑起来。队伍更加混乱了，乱糟糟地通过了广场。那个小伙子慌忙捡起步枪，去追赶队伍。

佩特留拉把脸扭向一旁，不愿再看这个大煞风景的场面。

他不等队伍过完，就向轿车走去。步兵总监跟在他身后，小心翼翼地问：“将军阁下，不留下用膳吗？”

“不了！”佩特留拉气冲冲地说。

谢廖沙、瓦莉亚、克利姆卡也杂在教堂高大围墙后面的人群里看热闹。

谢廖沙两手紧紧抓住栏杆，眼睛里充满了仇恨，盯着下面的队伍。

“咱们走吧，瓦莉亚，人家散场收摊了。”他用挑衅的语气提高了嗓门喊，故意让所有的人都听到。说完，就跳下了栏杆，人们吃惊地转过脸来望着他。

但是，他谁也不理睬，径直向围墙门口走去。姐姐瓦莉亚和克利姆卡跟在他的后边。

切尔尼亚克上校和哥萨克大尉在警备司令部门前跳下马，把马交给勤务兵，急忙走进了警卫室。

切尔尼亚克厉声问一个勤务兵：“司令在哪儿？”

“不知道。”那个小兵慢条斯理地回答。“他出去了。”

切尔尼亚克看了看这间又脏又乱的警卫室。所有的床铺都是乱糟糟的，司令部的几个哥萨克横躺竖卧，满不在乎地倒在床铺上，就连长官进来了也没有想到要站起来。

“怎么搞的，简直是个猪圈！”切尔尼亚克吼叫起来。“你们怎么像一群猪崽子一样躺在这儿？”他朝那些仍然躺着不动的人咆哮。

有个哥萨克坐了起来，打了一个饱嗝，对他毫不客气地喊道：“你嚷嚷什么？我们有我们的长官，用不着你来大喊大叫！”

“你说什么？”切尔尼亚克一下子跳到他跟前。“畜生，你这是跟谁讲话？我是切尔尼亚克上校！狗娘养的，你没听说过？马上都给我爬起来！不然，我就用通条挨个抽你们！”怒气冲冲的上校在屋子里跑来跑去。“马上把脏东西打扫干净！

把床铺整理好！把你们的狗脸也收拾出个人样来！看看你们像什么东西！不是哥萨克，简直是一帮土匪！”

上校发起脾气来就不得了。他发疯似的一脚踢翻了路中间的脏水桶。

哥萨克大尉也不甘落后。他不住嘴地臭骂卫兵，挥舞着马鞭子，把那些懒鬼赶下了床。

“大头目正在检阅，说不定到这儿来。你们动作快点！”

那些哥萨克一见事态严重，弄不好真会挨一顿抽，而且他们全都知道切尔尼亚克的厉害。于是就都像火烧屁股似的忙碌起来。

他们干得很卖劲。

“还得去看看犯人。”大尉提议说。“谁知道他们都关了些什么人？要是大头目到这儿来，就糟糕了。”

切尔尼亚克问卫兵：“钥匙在哪儿？马上把门打开！”

警卫队长慌忙跑过来，开了锁。

“你们司令到底上哪儿去了？谁有那么多工夫等他！马上把他找来！”切尔尼亚克发着命令。“警卫队全体到院子里集合，整好队！……为什么步枪不上刺刀？”

“我们是昨天才换班的。”警卫队长解释说。

然后，他就跑出去找警备司令。

大尉一脚踢开了小仓库的门。有几个人从地上坐了起来，其余的人仍旧躺着不动。

“把门全敞开！”切尔尼亚克命令说。“屋子里太暗了。”

他仔细端详着每个犯人的脸。

“你是为什么坐牢的？”他厉声问坐在板床上的老头。

老头欠起身子，提了提裤子。他被这厉声的喊叫吓得有点结巴，含糊不清地回答说：“我自己也不知道。把我抓进来，我就坐了牢。我家院子里一匹马丢了，可那能怪我吗？”

“什么人的马？”哥萨克大尉打断他，问。

“官家的呗！住在我家的老总把马换酒喝了，反过来赖到我头上。”

切尔尼亚克把老头从头到脚迅速打量了一下，不耐烦地耸了耸肩膀。

“收拾起你的破烂，赶快给我滚蛋！”他喊完之后，转身去问那个酿私酒的老太婆。

老头一下子还不敢相信会把他放了，他眨着那双半瞎的眼睛问大尉：“那么，许可我走啦？”

大尉点了点头，意思是说：赶快滚蛋，越快越好。

老头慌忙从床上解下口袋，侧着身子跑出门去。

“你是为什么坐牢的？”切尔尼亚克已经在盘问老太婆了。

老太婆赶紧吞下嘴里的肉包子，忙不迭地说：“长官大人，我给关起来可实在是冤枉！我是个寡妇，他们喝了我造的酒，随后就把我关了起来。”

“这么说，你是做私酒买卖的？”切尔尼亚克问。

“这叫什么买卖呀？”她委屈地说。“司令他拿了我四瓶酒，一个钱也不给。他们全是这样：喝了我的酒，不给钱。这叫什么买卖呀！”

“得了，赶快见鬼去吧！”

老太婆连问都不再问一声，抓起小筐，一面鞠躬表示感激，一面退向门口，嘴里说：“长官大人，愿上帝保佑您长生不老！”

多林尼克看着这出滑稽戏，惊讶地睁大了眼睛。被关押的人谁也不明白这是怎么回事。只有一点是清楚的：来的这两个人是大官，有权处置犯人。

“你是怎么回事？”切尔尼亚克问多林尼克。

“站起来回上校大人的话！”哥萨克大尉吆喝着。

多林尼克慢腾腾地、艰难地从地上站了起来。

“我问你，你是为什么坐牢的？”切尔尼亚克又问了一遍。

多林尼克看了上校几秒钟，看着他那翘起来的胡子和刮得光溜溜的脸，看着他那缀着珐琅帽徽的新克伦斯基帽的帽檐。突然，闪出一个使人兴奋的念头：“说不定能混出去呢？”

“我是因为晚上八点钟以后在大街上走给抓来的。”他顺口编了一个理由。

说完，他全身都紧张起来，焦急地等待着反应。

“你深更半夜逛什么大街？”

“不到半夜，也就十一点钟。”

他说这话的时候，已经不相信自己也能交好运了。

“走吧！”他突然听到了这简短的命令，两条腿的膝盖不由得哆嗦了一下。

多林尼克连外套都忘了拿，一步就跨到门口，这时哥萨克大尉已经在问下一个人了。

保尔是最后一个。他坐在地上，眼前的一切，把他完全弄糊涂了。连多林尼克都放走了，他一下子竟弄不明白。简直不懂发生了什么事情。这些人都放走了。但是，多林尼克，多林尼克……他说是夜里上街被捕的……保尔终于懂了。

上校已经在审问瘦骨嶙峋的泽利采尔，还是那句话：“你是为什么坐牢的？”

面色苍白、心情激动的理发师急促地回答说：“他们说我进行煽动，可我不明白，我怎么煽动了。”

切尔尼亚克立刻警觉起来：“什么？煽动？你煽动什么了？”

泽利采尔困惑地摊开两只手，说：“我也不知道。我只不过是说，有人正在征集签名，要以犹太居民的名义向大头目上请愿书。”

“什么请愿书？”哥萨克大尉和切尔尼亚克都向他逼近了一步。

“请求禁止虐犹。你们知道，这儿就发生过一次可怕的虐犹事件。犹太人都很害怕。”

“明白了。”切尔尼亚克打断了他的话。“犹太佬，我们会给你写请愿书的！”他转身对大尉说：“这个家伙得弄个牢靠点的地方关起来！把他押到指挥部去！我要亲自审问他，到底是谁要请愿。”

泽利采尔还想分辩，但是大尉把手一扬，在他背上狠狠地抽了一马鞭。

“住口，你这畜生！”

泽利采尔疼得脸都变了形，躲到墙角去了。他嘴唇抖动着，差点失声痛哭起来。

就在这时候，保尔站了起来。仓库里的犯人只剩下他和泽利采尔两个了。

切尔尼亚克站在这个小伙子面前，用那双黑眼睛上下打量着他。

“喂，你是怎么到这儿来的？”

上校马上就听到了回答：“我从马鞍子上割了一块皮子做鞋掌。”

“什么马鞍子？”上校没有听明白。

“我家住了两个哥萨克，我从一个旧马鞍子上割了一块皮子钉鞋掌，就因为这个，他们把我送到这儿来了。”保尔怀着获得自由的强烈愿望，又补充了一句：“我要是知道他们不让……”

上校轻蔑地看着他。

“这个警备司令尽搞些什么名堂，真是活见鬼，抓来这么一帮犯人！”他转身对着门口，喊道：“你可以回家了。告诉你爸爸，叫他好好收拾你一顿。行了，快走你的吧！”

保尔简直不敢相信自己的耳朵，心都要从胸膛里跳出来了。他从地上抓起多林尼克的外套，朝门口冲去。他穿过警卫室，从刚刚走出来的切尔尼亚克身后悄悄溜到院子里，然后从栅栏门出去，跑到大街上。

仓库里只剩下倒霉的泽利采尔一个人了。他又痛苦又悲伤，回头看了一眼，下意识地向门口迈了几步。这时候，一个卫兵走进外屋，关上仓库的门，加上锁，在门外的板凳上坐了下来。

在台阶上，切尔尼亚克对哥萨克大尉得意地说：“幸亏咱们来看了看。你瞧，这儿关了这么多废物。我看得把警备司令关两个礼拜禁闭。怎么样，咱们走吧？”

警卫队长在院子里集合好了队伍。一见上校走出来，马上跑过来报告：“上校大人，一切照你的吩咐准备完毕。”

切尔尼亚克把一只脚伸进马镫，轻轻一蹿，上了马。大尉费了很大劲才跨上那匹调皮的马。切尔尼亚克勒住缰绳，对警卫队长说：“告诉你们司令，我已经把他塞在这儿的一群废物都放走了。再转告他，他在这儿搞得乌七八糟，我要关他两个礼拜禁闭。牢里关着的那个家伙，马上给我押到指挥部来。注意警卫。”

“是，上校大人。”警卫队长敬了个礼。

上校和哥萨克大尉用马刺刺着马，向广场飞驰而去。那里的阅兵式已经快要结束了。

保尔翻过第七道栅栏，停了下来。他已经没有力气再往前跑了。

在闷死人的仓库里饿了这么多天，他一点劲也没有了。回家去不行，到谢廖沙家去也不行——要是被人发现了，他们全家都得遭殃。上哪儿去呢？

他不知道怎么办才好，只得继续往前跑，越过一个又一个菜园子和庄园后院。直到撞在一道栅栏上，他才冷静下来。

看了一眼，他愣住了：高高的木栅栏里面是林务官家的花园。两条疲乏无力的腿竟把他带到这里来了！难道是他自己想跑到这里来的吗？不是。

那么，为什么他偏偏跑到这里来了呢？

这个问题他回答不出来。

应当找个地方休息一下，然后再考虑下一步怎么办；他知道花园里有个木头凉亭，那里谁也发现不了他。

保尔纵身一跳，一只手攀住栅栏，爬上去，翻身进了花园。他看了看那座隐现在一片树木后面的房子，便向凉亭走去。凉亭四面光秃秃的，夏天爬满凉亭的山葡萄不见了，现在一点遮挡都没有。

他正要转身回到栅栏那里去，但是已经晚了：他听到背后有狗在狂叫。从房子那边，有一条大狗顺着落满枯叶的小道，向他猛扑过来，可怕的汪汪声震荡着整个花园。

保尔做好了自卫的准备。

大狗第一次扑上来，被保尔一脚踢开了。狗又要往他身上扑。要不是传来了一个清脆的喊声，真不知道这场搏斗会怎样结束。保尔听到一个熟悉的声音在喊：“特列佐尔，回来！”

冬妮亚沿着小路跑来了。她抓住大狗脖子上的皮圈，对站在栅栏旁边的保尔说：“您怎么跑到这儿来了呢？狗会把您咬伤的。幸亏我……”

她突然愣住了，眼睛睁得大大的。这个闯进花园的少年多么像保尔啊！

站在栅栏旁边的少年动了一下，轻声说：“你……您还认得我吗？”

冬妮亚惊叫了一声，急速向保尔跟前迈了一步。

“保夫鲁沙，是你呀！”

特列佐尔把她的叫声当成了进攻的信号，猛地一跃，扑了过去。

“走开！”

特列佐尔被冬妮亚踢了几脚，委屈地夹起尾巴，向房子那边慢慢走去。

冬妮亚紧紧握住保尔的双手，问他：“你给放出来了？”

“难道你已经知道了？”

冬妮亚抑制不住内心的激动，急促地回答说：“我全都知道。莉莎对我说了。可你怎么会到这儿来的呢？

是他们把你放出来的吗？”

保尔有气无力地回答说：“他们错放了我，我才跑了出来。他们现在大概又在搜我了。我是无意中跑到这儿来的，想到亭子里歇一会儿。”他抱歉似的补充了一句：“我太累了。”

冬妮亚注视了他一会儿。她又惊又喜，内心交织着无限的怜悯和温暖的柔情。她用力握着保尔的双手，说：“保夫鲁沙，亲爱的，亲爱的保尔，我的亲人，好人……我爱你……你听见了吗？……你这孩子，我的倔强的小东西，你那天为什么走了？现在，你到我们家，到我这儿来吧。我说什么也不放你走了。我们家很清静，你愿意住多久就住多久。”

但是保尔摇了摇头。

“要是他们把我从你们家里搜出来，那可怎么办？我不能到你们家去。”

她把保尔的手握得更紧了，她的睫毛在颤动，眼睛里闪着泪花。

“你要是不留下，就永远别再见我。现在，阿尔焦姆也不在家，他给抓去开火车了。所有的铁路员工都被征调走了。你说你能到哪儿去呢？”

保尔理解她的心情，知道她很担心，只是他怕连累心爱的姑娘，才拿不定主意。但是，这些天的折磨已经使他难以支持，他很想休息一下，而且又饿得难受。他终于让步了。

他坐在冬妮亚房间里的沙发上，厨房里母女俩正在谈话：“妈妈，你听我说，现在保尔正坐在我的房间里，你还记得他吗？他是我的学生。我一点也不想瞒你。他是因为搭救了一个布尔什维克水兵给抓起来的。现在他逃出来了，可是没有藏身的地方。”她的声音颤抖了。“妈妈，我求你让他暂时住在咱们家里。也许只要住几天。他又饿又累。好妈妈，如果你爱我，你就不要反对。我求求你啦。”

女儿的眼睛恳求地望着母亲。母亲也试探地注视着女儿。

“好吧，我不反对。可是你把他安排在什么地方住呢？”

冬妮亚涨红了脸，非常难为情而又激动地说：“我把他安顿在我屋里的长沙发上。这事可以暂时不告诉爸爸。”

母亲直视着冬妮亚的眼睛，问她：“这就是你掉眼泪的原因吗？”

“嗯。”

“可他还完全是个孩子啊！”

冬妮亚激动地扯着衣袖，说：“是啊，可是如果他不逃出来，他们照样会把他当作成年人枪毙的。”

她们彼此没有再多说什么。叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜这一生吃足了苦头。她母亲是个刻板守旧的妇人，成天讲的是那些虚伪的“礼仪”、“修养”，并对她严加管教。叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜至今记得，那些旧礼教如何毒害了她的青春年华，所以在女儿的教育问题上，她摒弃了市侩阶层的许多偏见和陋习，而采取一种开明的态度。尽管如此，她仍然密切关注着女儿的成长，有时还为她忧心忡忡，并不动声色地帮助她摆脱各种困境。

现在，保尔要住到她们家来，她也为此而不安。

可冬妮亚却热心地张罗起来了。

“妈妈，他得洗个澡。我马上就准备好。他实在脏得像个真正的火夫，已经好多天连脸都没洗了……”

她跑来跑去，忙碌着，又是烧洗澡水，又是找衣服。接着，她跑进屋，一句话也不说，抓起保尔的手，把他拉进了洗澡间。

“你把衣服全脱下来。要换的衣服在这儿。你的衣服都得洗。你就穿这一套吧！”她指了指椅子上叠得整整齐齐的领子带白条的蓝色水兵服和肥腿裤子。

保尔惊奇地向四面望着，冬妮亚笑了：“这衣服是我的，跳舞会上女扮男装用的。你穿上一定很合适。好，你就洗吧，我走啦。趁你洗澡，我去做饭。”

她随手关上了门。保尔只好迅速地脱掉衣服，跳进澡盆。

一个小时后，母亲、女儿和保尔三个人一同在厨房里吃午饭了。

保尔饿极了，不知不觉地一连吃了三盘。开头他在叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜面前很不自然，后来看到她很热情，也就不再拘束了。

午饭后，三个人坐在冬妮亚房间里，叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜请保尔讲一讲他的遭遇，保尔把他遭受的苦难讲了一遍。

“您以后打算怎么办呢？”叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜问。

保尔沉思了一会儿，说：“我想见见我哥哥阿尔焦姆，然后就离开这儿。”

“到哪儿去呢？”

“我想到乌曼或者基辅去。我自己还说不准，不过我一定要离开这儿。”

保尔简直不敢相信，这一切会变化得这样快。早晨他还在坐牢，现在却坐到了冬妮亚身边，穿上了干干净净的衣服，而最主要的则是已经获得了自由。

生活，有时候就是这样变幻莫测：一会儿乌云满天，一会儿太阳露出笑脸。要是没有再度被捕的危险，他现在可真算得是一个幸福的小伙子了。

然而，正是现在，在这宽大而安静的房子里，他随时都可能被抓走。

应当到别处去，随便到哪里，反正不能留在这里。

但是，心里实在舍不得离开这个地方，真见鬼！以前读英雄加里波第的传记，多带劲！他是那样羡慕加里波第，看，他的一生过得多艰难！在世界各地都受迫害！而他，保尔，一共才受了七天痛苦的磨难，就好像过了整整一年似的。

看来，他保尔并不是什么了不起的英雄。

“你在想什么呢？”冬妮亚俯下身子问他。保尔觉得她那碧蓝的眼睛好像深不见底。

“冬妮亚，我给你讲讲赫里斯季娜的事，你想听吗？”

“你快讲吧！”她高兴地说。

“……打那以后，她就再也没有回来。”他吃力地讲出最后这句话。

房间里，时钟滴答滴答有节奏地响着，冬妮亚低下头，使劲咬着嘴唇，差点没哭出声来。

保尔看了她一眼。

“我今天就得离开这儿。”他坚决地说。

“不，不行，你今天哪儿也不能去！”

她把纤细温暖的手指轻轻伸到他那不驯顺的头发里，温情地抚摸着。

“冬妮亚，你该帮助我。你到机车库去找一找阿尔焦姆，再捎个纸条给谢廖沙。我的手枪藏在老鸹窝里，我自己不能去拿，让谢廖沙给拿下来。这些你能替我办到吗？”

冬妮亚站起身来。

“我现在就去找莉莎。我们俩一起到机车库去。你写条子吧，我给谢廖沙送去。他住在什么地方？要是他想见你，告诉他你在这儿吗？”

保尔想了想，说：“让他今天晚上亲自把手枪送到花园里来吧。”

冬妮亚很晚才回来。保尔睡得正香。她的手一碰到他，他就惊醒了。冬妮亚高兴地笑着说：“阿尔焦姆马上就来。他刚刚出车回来。亏得莉莎的父亲担保，才准他出来一个钟头。火车头停在机车库里。我不能告诉他你在这儿。我只说，有非常重要的事情要转告他。你瞧，他来了。”

冬妮亚跑去开门。阿尔焦姆站在门口，惊呆了，他简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。冬妮亚等他进来后，关上了门，免得患伤寒病的父亲在书房里听到。

阿尔焦姆两只手臂紧紧抱住保尔，弄得他的骨节都格格地响起来。

“好弟弟！保尔！”

大家商量定了：保尔明天走。阿尔焦姆把他安顿在勃鲁扎克的机车上，带到卡扎京去。

平素很刚强的阿尔焦姆，这些天来，一直不知道弟弟的命运怎样，心烦意乱，已经沉不住气了。现在，他说不出有多高兴。

“就这么办，明天早晨五点钟你到材料库去。火车头在那儿上完木柴，你就坐上去。我本来想跟你多谈一会儿，可是来不及了，我得马上回去。明天我去送你。我们铁路工人也给编成了一个营，就像德国人在这儿的时候一样，有卫兵看着我们干活。”

阿尔焦姆告别以后，走了。

天很快黑下来。谢廖沙该到花园里来了。保尔在黑暗的房间里踱来踱去，等着他。冬妮亚和母亲一块陪着她父亲。

保尔和谢廖沙在黑暗中见了面。他们互相紧紧地握着手。

瓦莉亚也跟来了。他们低声地交谈着。

“手枪我没拿来。你们家院子里尽是佩特留拉匪兵，停着大车，还生起了火。上树根本不行。太不凑巧了。”谢廖沙这样解释着。

“去他的吧！”保尔安慰他说。“这样说不定更好。路上查出来，脑袋就保不住了。不过，你以后一定要把枪拿走。”

瓦莉亚凑到保尔跟前，问：“你什么时候走？”

“明天，瓦莉亚，天一亮就起身。”

“你是怎么逃出来的？讲一讲吧！”

保尔低声把自己的遭遇很快讲了一遍。

他们亲切地告了别。谢廖沙没有心思开玩笑了，他心情非常激动。

“保尔，祝你一路平安！可别忘了我们！”瓦莉亚勉强讲出了这句话。

他们走了，立刻消失在黑暗里。

房间里静悄悄的。只有时钟不知疲倦地走着，发出清晰的滴答声。两个人谁也没有睡意，再过六个小时就要分别，也许从今以后永远不能再见面了。两个人思潮起伏，都有千言万语涌上心头，但是，在这短短的几小时里，难道能够说得完吗？

青春啊，无限美好的青春！这时，情欲还没有萌动，只有急促的心跳隐约显示它的存在；这时，手无意中触到女友的胸脯，便惊慌地颤抖着，急速移开；这时，青春的友谊约束着最后一步的行动。在这样的时刻，还有什么比心爱姑娘的手更可亲的呢？这双手紧紧地搂住你的脖子，接着就是电击一般炽热的吻。

从他们建立感情以来，这是第二次接吻。除了母亲以外，谁也没有抚爱过保尔，相反，他倒是经常挨打。正因为这样，冬妮亚的爱抚使他分外激动。

他在屈辱和残酷的生活中长大，不知道还会有这样的欢乐。在人生道路上结识这位姑娘，真是极大的幸福。

最后的几个小时他们是紧挨在一起度过的。

“你还记得跳崖之前我向你许的愿吗？”她的声音轻得几乎听不到。

他闻到了她的发香，似乎也看见了她的眼神。当然，她的许诺他是记得的。

“难道我能够允许自己让你还愿吗？我是多么尊重你，冬妮亚。我不知道怎么跟你说才好，说不上来。我明白，你是不经意才说了那句话的。”

他无法再说下去了。是的。熟悉的、火一般的热吻封住了他的嘴。她那柔软的身体如同弹簧，又是何等顺从……但是，青春的友谊高于一切，比火更炽烈更明亮。要抵挡住诱惑真难哪，比登天还难，可只要性格是坚强的，友谊是真诚的，那就可以做到。

“冬妮亚，等时局平定以后，我一定能当上电工，要是你不嫌弃我，要是你真心爱我，不是闹着玩，我一定做你的好丈夫。我永远也不会打你，要是我欺侮你，就叫我不得好死。”

他们不敢拥抱着睡觉，怕这样睡着了，让母亲看见引起猜疑，就分开了。

天已经渐渐透亮，他们才入睡。临睡前他们再三约定，谁也不忘记谁。

清早，叶卡捷林娜·米哈伊洛夫娜叫醒了保尔。

他急忙起来。

他在洗澡间里换上自己的衣服、靴子，穿上多林尼克的外套。这时候，母亲已经叫醒了冬妮亚。

他们穿过潮湿的晨雾，急忙向车站走去，绕道来到堆放木柴的地方。阿尔焦姆在上好木柴的火车头旁边，焦急地等待着他们。

那辆叫做“狗鱼”的大功率机车扑哧扑哧地喷着蒸汽，慢腾腾地开了过来。

勃鲁扎克正从驾驶室里朝窗外张望。

他们相互匆匆告别。保尔紧紧抓住机车扶梯的把手，爬了上去。他回过身来。岔道口上并排站着两个亲切熟悉的身影：高大的阿尔焦姆和苗条娇小的冬妮亚。

风猛烈地吹动着冬妮亚的衣领和栗色的鬈发。她挥动着手。

阿尔焦姆斜眼看了一下勉强抑制住哭泣的冬妮亚，叹了一口气，心里想：“要么我是个大傻瓜，要么这两个年轻人有点反常。保尔啊，保尔，你这个毛孩子！”

列车转弯不见了，阿尔焦姆转过身来，对冬妮亚说：“好吧，咱们俩算是朋友了吧？”于是，冬妮亚的小手就躲进了他那大手掌里。

远处传来了火车加速的轰鸣声。

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 reverberating   

回响，回荡( reverberate的现在分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射

参考例句：

• The words are still ringing [reverberating] in one's ears. 言犹在耳。
• I heard a voice reverberating: "Crawl out! I give you liberty!" 我听到一个声音在回荡：“爬出来吧，我给你自由！”

3 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

4 haze   

n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊

参考例句：

• I couldn't see her through the haze of smoke.在烟雾弥漫中，我看不见她。
• He often lives in a haze of whisky.他常常是在威士忌的懵懂醉意中度过的。

5 impulsive   

adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的

参考例句：

• She is impulsive in her actions.她的行为常出于冲动。
• He was neither an impulsive nor an emotional man,but a very honest and sincere one.他不是个一冲动就鲁莽行事的人，也不多愁善感.他为人十分正直、诚恳。

6 dispelled   

v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His speech dispelled any fears about his health. 他的发言消除了人们对他身体健康的担心。
• The sun soon dispelled the thick fog. 太阳很快驱散了浓雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

8 drowsiness   

n.睡意；嗜睡

参考例句：

• A feeling of drowsiness crept over him. 一种昏昏欲睡的感觉逐渐袭扰着他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This decision reached, he finally felt a placid drowsiness steal over him. 想到这，来了一点平安的睡意。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

9 wanly   

adv.虚弱地；苍白地，无血色地

参考例句：

• She was smiling wanly. 她苍白无力地笑着。 来自互联网

10 sleepless   

adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的

参考例句：

• The situation gave her many sleepless nights.这种情况害她一连好多天睡不好觉。
• One evening I heard a tale that rendered me sleepless for nights.一天晚上，我听说了一个传闻，把我搞得一连几夜都不能入睡。

11 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。

12 algebra   

n.代数学

参考例句：

• He was not good at algebra in middle school.他中学时不擅长代数。
• The boy can't figure out the algebra problems.这个男孩做不出这道代数题。

13 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 blurted   

v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止，她已脱口而出。
• He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相，说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 winced   

赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. 狗咬了他的脚腕子，疼得他龇牙咧嘴。
• He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg. 他左腿一阵剧痛疼得他直龇牙咧嘴。

16 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

17 constricted   

adj.抑制的，约束的

参考例句：

• Her throat constricted and she swallowed hard. 她喉咙发紧，使劲地咽了一下唾沫。
• The tight collar constricted his neck. 紧领子勒着他的脖子。

18 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：

• Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 scant   

adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略

参考例句：

• Don't scant the butter when you make a cake.做糕饼时不要吝惜奶油。
• Many mothers pay scant attention to their own needs when their children are small.孩子们小的时候，许多母亲都忽视自己的需求。

20 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

21 agitation   

n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动

参考例句：

• Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
• These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。

22 vaguely   

adv.含糊地，暖昧地

参考例句：

• He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
• He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面，对一切都视而不见。

23 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

24 lapsed   

adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失

参考例句：

• He had lapsed into unconsciousness. 他陷入了昏迷状态。
• He soon lapsed into his previous bad habits. 他很快陷入以前的恶习中去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 atone   

v.赎罪，补偿

参考例句：

• He promised to atone for his crime.他承诺要赎自己的罪。
• Blood must atone for blood.血债要用血来还。

26 honourable   

adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的

参考例句：

• I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号，我可担当不起。
• I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。

27 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

28 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

29 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

30 dozed   

v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He boozed till daylight and dozed into the afternoon. 他喝了个通霄，昏沉沉地一直睡到下午。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• I dozed off during the soporific music. 我听到这催人入睡的音乐，便不知不觉打起盹儿来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

31 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。

32 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

33 hitch   

v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉

参考例句：

• They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
• All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。

34 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

35 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

36 pricked   

刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。

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：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

38 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

39 warden   

n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人

参考例句：

• He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
• The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。

40 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

41 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

42 filthy   

adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的

参考例句：

• The whole river has been fouled up with filthy waste from factories.整条河都被工厂的污秽废物污染了。
• You really should throw out that filthy old sofa and get a new one.你真的应该扔掉那张肮脏的旧沙发，然后再去买张新的。

43 filth   

n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥

参考例句：

• I don't know how you can read such filth.我不明白你怎么会去读这种淫秽下流的东西。
• The dialogue was all filth and innuendo.这段对话全是下流的言辞和影射。

44 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

45 convalescing   

v.康复( convalesce的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She is convalescing at home after her operation. 手术后她正在家休养康复。
• The patient is convalescing nicely. 病人正在顺利地康复。 来自辞典例句

46 convalesce   

v.康复，复原

参考例句：

• She went to the seaside to convalesce after her stay in hospital.她经过住院治疗后，前往海滨养病。
• After two weeks,I was allowed home,where I convalesced for three months.两周之后，我获准回家，休养了3个月之后逐渐康复。

47 enamel   

n.珐琅，搪瓷，瓷釉；(牙齿的)珐琅质

参考例句：

• I chipped the enamel on my front tooth when I fell over.我跌倒时门牙的珐琅质碰碎了。
• He collected coloured enamel bowls from Yugoslavia.他藏有来自南斯拉夫的彩色搪瓷碗。

48 emblem   

n.象征，标志；徽章

参考例句：

• Her shirt has the company emblem on it.她的衬衫印有公司的标记。
• The eagle was an emblem of strength and courage.鹰是力量和勇气的象征。

49 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

50 disarmed   

v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
• The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械，并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

51 spat   

n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声

参考例句：

• Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
• There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

52 disdain   

n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑

参考例句：

• Some people disdain labour.有些人轻视劳动。
• A great man should disdain flatterers.伟大的人物应鄙视献媚者。

53 sneers   

讥笑的表情（言语）( sneer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You should ignore their sneers at your efforts. 他们对你的努力所作的讥笑你不要去理会。
• I felt that every woman here sneers at me. 我感到这里的每一个女人都在嘲笑我。

54 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

55 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

56 bristling   

a.竖立的

参考例句：

• "Don't you question Miz Wilkes' word,'said Archie, his beard bristling. "威尔克斯太太的话，你就不必怀疑了。 "阿尔奇说。他的胡子也翘了起来。
• You were bristling just now. 你刚才在发毛。

57 puff   

n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气

参考例句：

• He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
• They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。

58 hem   

n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制

参考例句：

• The hem on her skirt needs sewing.她裙子上的褶边需要缝一缝。
• The hem of your dress needs to be let down an inch.你衣服的折边有必要放长1英寸。

59 bunk   

n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话

参考例句：

• He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
• Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。

60 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：

• The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
• Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。

61 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

62 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

63 chattering   

n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
• I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。

64 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

65 acrid   

adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的

参考例句：

• There is an acrid tone to your remarks.你说这些话的口气带有讥刺意味。
• The room was filled with acrid smoke.房里充满刺鼻的烟。

66 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

67 rumble   

n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说

参考例句：

• I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.我听到远处雷声隆隆。
• We could tell from the rumble of the thunder that rain was coming.我们根据雷的轰隆声可断定，天要下雨了。

68 jaws   

n.口部；嘴

参考例句：

• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
• The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。

69 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

70 junction   

n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站

参考例句：

• There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
• You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。

71 battalion   

n.营；部队；大队(的人)

参考例句：

• The town was garrisoned by a battalion.该镇由一营士兵驻守。
• At the end of the drill parade,the battalion fell out.操练之后，队伍解散了。

72 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

73 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

74 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

75 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。

76 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

77 wasps   

黄蜂( wasp的名词复数 )； 胡蜂； 易动怒的人； 刻毒的人

参考例句：

• There's a wasps' nest in that old tree. 那棵老树上有一个黄蜂巢。
• We live in dread not only of unpleasant insects like spiders or wasps, but of quite harmless ones like moths. 我们不仅生活在对象蜘蛛或黄蜂这样的小虫的惧怕中，而且生活在对诸如飞蛾这样无害昆虫的惧怕中

78 vociferous   

adj.喧哗的，大叫大嚷的

参考例句：

• They are holding a vociferous debate.他们在吵吵嚷嚷地辩论。
• He was a vociferous opponent of Conservatism.他高声反对保守主义。

79 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句

80 rattled   

慌乱的，恼火的

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里，窗户都格格作响。

81 bellowing   

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

参考例句：

• We could hear he was bellowing commands to his troops. 我们听见他正向他的兵士大声发布命令。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He disguised these feelings under an enormous bellowing and hurraying. 他用大声吼叫和喝采掩饰着这些感情。 来自辞典例句

82 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

83 rumbling   

n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词

参考例句：

• The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
• The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。

84 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

85 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。

86 incessantly   

ad.不停地

参考例句：

• The machines roar incessantly during the hours of daylight. 机器在白天隆隆地响个不停。
• It rained incessantly for the whole two weeks. 雨不间断地下了整整两个星期。

87 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

88 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

89 insistent   

adj.迫切的，坚持的

参考例句：

• There was an insistent knock on my door.我听到一阵急促的敲门声。
• He is most insistent on this point.他在这点上很坚持。

90 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。

91 bestial   

adj.残忍的；野蛮的

参考例句：

• The Roman gladiatorial contests were bestial amusements.罗马角斗是残忍的娱乐。
• A statement on Amman Radio spoke of bestial aggression and a horrible massacre. 安曼广播电台播放的一则声明提到了野蛮的侵略和骇人的大屠杀。

92 pestered   

使烦恼，纠缠( pester的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Journalists pestered neighbours for information. 记者缠着邻居打听消息。
• The little girl pestered the travellers for money. 那个小女孩缠着游客要钱。

93 coaxed   

v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱

参考例句：

• She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
• I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

94 lurked   

vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The murderers lurked behind the trees. 谋杀者埋伏在树后。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Treachery lurked behind his smooth manners. 他圆滑姿态的后面潜伏着奸计。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

95 stifling   

a.令人窒息的

参考例句：

• The weather is stifling. It looks like rain. 今天太闷热，光景是要下雨。
• We were stifling in that hot room with all the windows closed. 我们在那间关着窗户的热屋子里，简直透不过气来。

96 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

97 procure   

vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条

参考例句：

• Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？
• I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

98 stoic   

n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者

参考例句：

• A stoic person responds to hardship with imperturbation.坚忍克己之人经受苦难仍能泰然自若。
• On Rajiv's death a stoic journey began for Mrs Gandhi,supported by her husband's friends.拉吉夫死后，索尼亚在丈夫友人的支持下开始了一段坚忍的历程。

99 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

100 sobs   

啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
• She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。

101 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

102 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

103 gulping   

v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住

参考例句：

• She crawled onto the river bank and lay there gulping in air. 她爬上河岸，躺在那里喘着粗气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• And you'll even feel excited gulping down a glass. 你甚至可以感觉到激动下一杯。 来自互联网

104 sobbing   

<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的

参考例句：

• I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
• Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。

105 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

106 sentry   

n.哨兵，警卫

参考例句：

• They often stood sentry on snowy nights.他们常常在雪夜放哨。
• The sentry challenged anyone approaching the tent.哨兵查问任一接近帐篷的人。

107 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

108 mustered   

v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发

参考例句：

• We mustered what support we could for the plan. 我们极尽所能为这项计划寻求支持。
• The troops mustered on the square. 部队已在广场上集合。 来自《简明英汉词典》

109 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：

• Go and muster all the men you can find.去集合所有你能找到的人。
• I had to muster my courage up to ask him that question.我必须鼓起勇气向他问那个问题。

110 grill   

n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问

参考例句：

• Put it under the grill for a minute to brown the top.放在烤架下烤一分钟把上面烤成金黄色。
• I'll grill you some mutton.我来给你烤一些羊肉吃。

111 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

112 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

113 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

114 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

115 sentries   

哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We posted sentries at the gates of the camp. 我们在军营的大门口布置哨兵。
• We were guarded by sentries against surprise attack. 我们由哨兵守卫，以免遭受突袭。

116 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

117 reverberation   

反响； 回响； 反射； 反射物

参考例句：

• It was green as an emerald, and the reverberation was stunning. 它就象翠玉一样碧绿，回响震耳欲聋。
• Just before dawn he was assisted in waking by the abnormal reverberation of familiar music. 在天将破晓的时候，他被一阵熟悉的，然而却又是反常的回声惊醒了。

118 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

119 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

120 apprehensions   

疑惧

参考例句：

• He stood in a mixture of desire and apprehensions. 他怀着渴望和恐惧交加的心情伫立着。
• But subsequent cases have removed many of these apprehensions. 然而，随后的案例又消除了许多类似的忧虑。

121 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

122 agitating   

搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论

参考例句：

• political groups agitating for social change 鼓吹社会变革的政治团体
• They are agitating to assert autonomy. 他们正在鼓吹实行自治。

123 tugged   

v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
• A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

124 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

125 croaks   

v.呱呱地叫( croak的第三人称单数 )；用粗的声音说

参考例句：

• A burst of noisy croaks came from the pond. 从池塘里传来了一阵喧噪的蛙鸣。 来自互联网
• The noise in the zoo turned out to be the croaks of bullfrogs. 动物园里喧噪得很，原来是一群牛蛙在叫。 来自互联网

126 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

127 regiments   

（军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物

参考例句：

• The three regiments are all under the command of you. 这三个团全归你节制。
• The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。

128 buttressed   

v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court buttressed its decision. 法院支持自己的判决。 来自辞典例句
• The emotional appeal was buttressed with solid and specific policy details. 情感的感召有坚实的和详细的政策细节支持。 来自互联网

129 pumpkins   

n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊

参考例句：

• I like white gourds, but not pumpkins. 我喜欢吃冬瓜，但不喜欢吃南瓜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they cut faces in the pumpkins and put lights inside. 然后在南瓜上刻出一张脸，并把瓜挖空。 来自英语晨读30分（高三）

130 converged   

v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。
• People converged on the political meeting from all parts of the city. 人们从城市的四面八方涌向这次政治集会。 来自《简明英汉词典》

131 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

132 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

133 herded   

群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动

参考例句：

• He herded up his goats. 他把山羊赶拢在一起。
• They herded into the corner. 他们往角落里聚集。

134 dwindled   

v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. 支持这个党派的人渐渐化为乌有。
• His wealth dwindled to nothingness. 他的钱财化为乌有。 来自《简明英汉词典》

135 plentiful   

adj.富裕的，丰富的

参考例句：

• Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
• Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。

136 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

137 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

138 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

139 garbing   

v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

140 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

141 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：

• Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
• The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。

142 avidly   

adv.渴望地，热心地

参考例句：

• She read avidly from an early age—books, magazines, anything. 她从小就酷爱阅读——书籍、杂志，无不涉猎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her melancholy eyes avidly scanned his smiling face. 她说话时两只忧郁的眼睛呆呆地望着他的带笑的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

143 laboriously   

adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地

参考例句：

• She is tracing laboriously now. 她正在费力地写。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She is laboriously copying out an old manuscript. 她正在费劲地抄出一份旧的手稿。 来自辞典例句

144 tunic   

n.束腰外衣

参考例句：

• The light loose mantle was thrown over his tunic.一件轻质宽大的斗蓬披在上衣外面。
• Your tunic and hose match ill with that jewel,young man.你的外套和裤子跟你那首饰可不相称呢，年轻人。

145 dabbing   

石面凿毛，灰泥抛毛

参考例句：

• She was crying and dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. 她一边哭一边用手绢轻按眼睛。
• Huei-fang was leaning against a willow, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. 四小姐蕙芳正靠在一棵杨柳树上用手帕揉眼睛。 来自子夜部分

146 perspiring   

v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活，身上大汗淋漓的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. 于是他们就“痛痛快快地比一比”了，结果比得两个人气喘吁吁、汗流浃背。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

147 scowl   

vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容

参考例句：

• I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
• The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色，清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。

148 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

149 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

150 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

151 contrived   

adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的

参考例句：

• There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。
• The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。

152 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

153 humbly   

adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地

参考例句：

• We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
• "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。

154 twitched   

vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Her lips twitched with amusement. 她忍俊不禁地颤动着嘴唇。
• The child's mouth twitched as if she were about to cry. 这小孩的嘴抽动着，像是要哭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

155 bellowed   

v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫

参考例句：

• They bellowed at her to stop. 他们吼叫着让她停下。
• He bellowed with pain when the tooth was pulled out. 当牙齿被拔掉时，他痛得大叫。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

156 rustle   

v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声

参考例句：

• She heard a rustle in the bushes.她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
• He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze.他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。

157 shuffled   

v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼

参考例句：

• He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
• Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

158 prodded   

v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳

参考例句：

• She prodded him in the ribs to wake him up. 她用手指杵他的肋部把他叫醒。
• He prodded at the plate of fish with his fork. 他拿叉子戳弄着那盘鱼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

159 semblance   

n.外貌，外表

参考例句：

• Her semblance of anger frightened the children.她生气的样子使孩子们感到害怕。
• Those clouds have the semblance of a large head.那些云的形状像一个巨大的人头。

160 gaped   

v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大

参考例句：

• A huge chasm gaped before them. 他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The front door was missing. A hole gaped in the roof. 前门不翼而飞，屋顶豁开了一个洞。 来自辞典例句

161 clatter   

v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声

参考例句：

• The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.碟子碗碰得丁丁当当的。
• Don't clatter your knives and forks.别把刀叉碰得咔哒响。

162 curtly   

adv.简短地

参考例句：

• He nodded curtly and walked away. 他匆忙点了一下头就走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The request was curtly refused. 这个请求被毫不客气地拒绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

163 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

164 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

165 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

166 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

167 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

168 sprawled   

v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
• He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

169 pigsty   

n.猪圈，脏房间

参考例句：

• How can you live in this pigsty?你怎能这住在这样肮脏的屋里呢？
• We need to build a new pigsty for the pigs.我们需修建一个新猪圈。

170 hogs   

n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人

参考例句：

• 'sounds like -- like hogs grunting. “像——像是猪发出的声音。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• I hate the way he hogs down his food. 我讨厌他那副狼吞虎咽的吃相。 来自辞典例句

171 lashed   

adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
• The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

172 belched   

v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气）

参考例句：

• He wiped his hand across his mouth, then belched loudly. 他用手抹了抹嘴，然后打了个响亮的饱嗝。
• Artillery growled and belched on the horizon. 大炮轰鸣在地平面上猛烈地爆炸。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

173 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

174 bastard   

n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子

参考例句：

• He was never concerned about being born a bastard.他从不介意自己是私生子。
• There was supposed to be no way to get at the bastard.据说没有办法买通那个混蛋。

175 enraged   

使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤

参考例句：

• I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令，我极为恼火。
• The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。

176 brigands   

n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They say there are brigands hiding along the way. 他们说沿路隐藏着土匪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The brigands demanded tribute from passing vehicles. 土匪向过往车辆勒索钱财。 来自辞典例句

177 obstructing   

阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止

参考例句：

• You can't park here, you're obstructing my driveway. 你不能在这里停车，你挡住了我家的车道。
• He was charged for obstructing the highway. 他因阻碍交通而受控告。

178 wielding   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• The rebels were wielding sticks of dynamite. 叛乱分子舞动着棒状炸药。
• He is wielding a knife. 他在挥舞着一把刀。

179 bunks   

n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话

参考例句：

• These bunks can tip up and fold back into the wall. 这些铺位可以翻起来并折叠收入墙内。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• At last they turned into their little bunks in the cart. 最后他们都钻进车内的小卧铺里。 来自辞典例句

180 feverish   

adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的

参考例句：

• He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
• They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。

181 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

182 hitched   

（免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上

参考例句：

• They hitched a ride in a truck. 他们搭乘了一辆路过的货车。
• We hitched a ride in a truck yesterday. 我们昨天顺便搭乘了一辆卡车。

183 mumbled   

含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。
• George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。

184 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

185 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

186 blurting   

v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I can change my life minute by blurting out book. 脱口而出这本书，我就能够改变我的人生。 来自互联网
• B: I just practiced blurting out useful sentences every day for one year. 我只是用了一年的时间每天练习脱口而出有用的句子。 来自互联网

187 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

188 interrogated   

v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询

参考例句：

• He was interrogated by the police for over 12 hours. 他被警察审问了12个多小时。
• Two suspects are now being interrogated in connection with the killing. 与杀人案有关的两名嫌疑犯正在接受审讯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

189 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

190 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

191 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

192 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。

193 reining   

勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理

参考例句：

• "That's a fine bevy, Ma'm,'said Gerald gallantly, reining his horse alongside the carriage. "太太！好一窝漂亮的云雀呀！" 杰拉尔德殷勤地说，一面让自己的马告近塔尔顿的马车。
• I was a temperamental genius in need of reining in by stabler personalities. 我是个需要由更稳重的人降服住的神经质的天才。

194 saluted   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
• He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

195 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。

196 hoisting   

起重，提升

参考例句：

• The hoisting capacity of that gin pole (girder pole, guy derrick) is sixty tons. 那个起重抱杆（格状抱杆、转盘抱杆）的起重能力为60吨。 来自口语例句
• We must use mechanical hoisting to load the goods. 我们必须用起重机来装载货物。

197 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：

• The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。
• The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

198 growls   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• The dog growls at me. 狗向我狂吠。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The loudest growls have echoed around emerging markets and commodities. 熊嚎之声响彻新兴的市场与商品。 来自互联网

199 repulsed   

v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝

参考例句：

• I was repulsed by the horrible smell. 这种可怕的气味让我恶心。
• At the first brush,the enemy was repulsed. 敌人在第一次交火时就被击退了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

200 crouched   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
• The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

201 extraordinarily   

adv.格外地；极端地

参考例句：

• She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
• The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨，大海出奇地宁静。

202 impulsively   

adv.冲动地

参考例句：

• She leant forward and kissed him impulsively. 她倾身向前，感情冲动地吻了他。
• Every good, true, vigorous feeling I had gathered came impulsively round him. 我的一切良好、真诚而又强烈的感情都紧紧围绕着他涌现出来。

203 cuffs   

n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• a collar and cuffs of white lace 带白色蕾丝花边的衣领和袖口
• The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. 他衬衣的袖口磨破了。

204 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

205 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

206 fretting   

n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的

参考例句：

• Fretting about it won't help. 苦恼于事无补。
• The old lady is always fretting over something unimportant. 那位老妇人总是为一些小事焦虑不安。

207 bustled   

闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促

参考例句：

• She bustled around in the kitchen. 她在厨房里忙得团团转。
• The hostress bustled about with an assumption of authority. 女主人摆出一副权威的样子忙来忙去。

208 ravenously   

adv.大嚼地，饥饿地

参考例句：

• We were all ravenously hungry after the walk. 我们散步之后都饿得要命。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The boys dug in ravenously. 男孩们开始狼吞虎咽地吃起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

209 helpings   

n.（食物）的一份( helping的名词复数 )；帮助，支持

参考例句：

• You greedy pig! You've already had two helpings! 你这个馋嘴！你已经吃了两份了！
• He had two helpings of pudding. 他吃了两客布丁。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

210 thawed   

解冻

参考例句：

• The little girl's smile thawed the angry old man. 小姑娘的微笑使发怒的老头缓和下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He thawed after sitting at a fire for a while. 在火堆旁坐了一会儿，他觉得暖和起来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

211 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

212 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

213 torment   

n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠

参考例句：

• He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
• Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。

214 fathomless   

a.深不可测的

参考例句：

• "The sand-sea deepens with fathomless ice, And darkness masses its endless clouds;" 瀚海阑干百丈冰，愁云黪淡万里凝。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Day are coloured bubbles that float upon the surface of fathomless night. 日是五彩缤纷的气泡，漂浮在无尽的夜的表面。

215 vouch   

v.担保；断定；n.被担保者

参考例句：

• They asked whether I was prepared to vouch for him.他们问我是否愿意为他作担保。
• I can vouch for the fact that he is a good worker.我保证他是好员工。

216 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

217 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

218 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

219 conversed   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 )

参考例句：

• I conversed with her on a certain problem. 我与她讨论某一问题。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She was cheerful and polite, and conversed with me pleasantly. 她十分高兴，也很客气，而且愉快地同我交谈。 来自辞典例句

220 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

221 utterance   

n.用言语表达，话语，言语

参考例句：

• This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
• My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。

222 myriad   

adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量

参考例句：

• They offered no solution for all our myriad problems.对于我们数不清的问题他们束手无策。
• I had three weeks to make a myriad of arrangements.我花了三个星期做大量准备工作。

223 seethed   

（液体）沸腾( seethe的过去式和过去分词 )； 激动，大怒； 强压怒火； 生闷气(~with sth|~ at sth)

参考例句：

• She seethed silently in the corner. 她在角落里默默地生闷气。
• He seethed with rage as the train left without him. 他误了火车，怒火中烧。

224 sublime   

adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的

参考例句：

• We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
• Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。

225 falters   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的第三人称单数 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。
• The plan never falters; the design never changes. It is all ordered. 大自然从不步履蹒跚，从不三心二意，一切都是有条不紊。

226 caress   

vt./n.爱抚，抚摸

参考例句：

• She gave the child a loving caress.她疼爱地抚摸着孩子。
• She feasted on the caress of the hot spring.她尽情享受着温泉的抚爱。

227 supple   

adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺

参考例句：

• She gets along well with people because of her supple nature.她与大家相处很好，因为她的天性柔和。
• He admired the graceful and supple movements of the dancers.他赞扬了舞蹈演员优雅灵巧的舞姿。

228 enveloped   

v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was enveloped in a huge white towel. 她裹在一条白色大毛巾里。
• Smoke from the burning house enveloped the whole street. 燃烧着的房子冒出的浓烟笼罩了整条街。 来自《简明英汉词典》

229 hissing   

n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The steam escaped with a loud hissing noise. 蒸汽大声地嘶嘶冒了出来。
• His ears were still hissing with the rustle of the leaves. 他耳朵里还听得萨萨萨的声音和屑索屑索的怪声。 来自汉英文学 - 春蚕

230 graceful   

adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的

参考例句：

• His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
• The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

231 chestnut   

n.栗树，栗子

参考例句：

• We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
• In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。

232 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。