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again。
〃The Kingdom of Heaven and eternal peace；〃 said the soldier with
his arm in a sling。 〃He was an uncomfortable man。〃
〃What？〃 asked Gusev。 〃Who？〃
〃He is dead； they have just carried him up。〃
〃Oh； well；〃 muttered Gusev； yawning； 〃the Kingdom of Heaven be
his。〃
〃What do you think？〃 the soldier with his arm in a sling asked
Gusev。 〃Will he be in the Kingdom of Heaven or not？〃
〃Who is it you are talking about？〃
〃Pavel Ivanitch。〃
〃He will be 。 。 。 he suffered so long。 And there is another
thing； he belonged to the clergy； and the priests always have a
lot of relations。 Their prayers will save him。〃
The soldier with the sling sat down on a hammock near Gusev and
said in an undertone：
〃And you； Gusev； are not long for this world。 You will never get
to Russia。〃
〃Did the doctor or his assistant say so？〃 asked Gusev。
〃It isn't that they said so； but one can see it。 。 。 。 One can
see directly when a man's going to die。 You don't eat； you don't
drink； it's dreadful to see how thin you've got。 It's
consumption； in fact。 I say it； not to upset you； but because
maybe you would like to have the sacrament and extreme unction。
And if you have any money you had better give it to the senior
officer。〃
〃I haven't written home 。 。 。〃 Gusev sighed。 〃I shall die and
they won't know。〃
〃They'll hear of it；〃 the sick sailor brought out in a bass
voice。 〃When you die they will put it down in the _Gazette；_ at
Odessa they will send in a report to the commanding officer there
and he will send it to the parish or somewhere。 。
Gusev began to be uneasy after such a conversation and to feel a
vague yearning。 He drank water it was not that； he dragged
himself to the window and breathed the hot； moist air it was
not that； he tried to think of home； of the frost it was not
that。 。 。 。 At last it seemed to him one minute longer in the
ward and he would certainly expire。
〃It's stifling； mates 。 。 。〃 he said。 〃I'll go on deck。 Help me
up； for Christ's sake。〃
〃All right；〃 assented the soldier with the sling。 〃I'll carry
you； you can't walk； hold on to my neck。〃
Gusev put his arm round the soldier's neck； the latter put his
unhurt arm round him and carried him up。 On the deck sailors and
time…expired soldiers were lying asleep side by side； there were
so many of them it was difficult to pass。
〃Stand down；〃 the soldier with the sling said softly。 〃Follow me
quietly； hold on to my shirt。 。 。 。〃
It was dark。 There was no light on deck； nor on the masts； nor
anywhere on the sea around。 At the furthest end of the ship the
man on watch was standing perfectly still like a statue； and it
looked as though he were asleep。 It seemed as though the steamer
were abandoned to itself and were going at its own will。
〃Now they will throw Pavel Ivanitch into the sea；〃 said the
soldier with the sling。 〃In a sack and then into the water。〃
〃Yes； that's the rule。〃
〃But it's better to lie at home in the earth。 Anyway； your mother
comes to the grave and weeps。〃
〃Of course。〃
There was a smell of hay and of dung。 There were oxen standing
with drooping heads by the ship's rail。 One； two； three； eight of
them！ And there was a little horse。 Gusev put out his hand to
stroke it； but it shook its head； showed its teeth； and tried to
bite his sleeve。
〃Damned brute 。 。 。〃 said Gusev angrily。
The two of them； he and the soldier； threaded their way to the
head of the ship； then stood at the rail and looked up and down。
Overhead deep sky； bright stars； peace and stillness； exactly as
at home in the village； below darkness and disorder。 The tall
waves were resounding； no one could tell why。 Whichever wave you
looked at each one was trying to rise higher than all the rest
and to chase and crush the next one； after it a third as fierce
and hideous flew noisily； with a glint of light on its white
crest。
The sea has no sense and no pity。 If the steamer had been smaller
and not made of thick iron； the waves would have crushed it to
pieces without the slightest compunction； and would have devoured
all the people in it with no distinction of saints or sinners。
The steamer had the same cruel and meaningless expression。 This
monster with its huge beak was dashing onwards； cutting millions
of waves in its path； it had no fear of the darkness nor the
wind； nor of space； nor of solitude； caring for nothing； and if
the ocean had its people； this monster would have crushed them；
too； without distinction of saints or sinners。
〃Where are we now？〃 asked Gusev。
〃I don't know。 We must be in the ocean。〃
〃There is no sight of land。 。 。〃
〃No indeed！ They say we shan't see it for seven days。〃
The two soldiers watched the white foam with the phosphorus light
on it and were silent； thinking。 Gusev was the first to break the
silence。
〃There is nothing to be afraid of；〃 he said； 〃only one is full of
dread as though one were sitting in a dark forest； but if； for
instance； they let a boat down on to the water this minute and an
officer ordered me to go a hundred miles over the sea to catch
fish； I'd go。 Or； let's say； if a Christian were to fall into the
water this minute； I'd go in after him。 A German or a Chinaman I
wouldn't save； but I'd go in after a Christian。〃
〃And are you afraid to die？〃
〃Yes。 I am sorry for the folks at home。 My brother at home； you
know； isn't steady； he drinks； he beats his wife for nothing； he
does not honour his parents。 Everything will go to ruin without
me； and father and my old mother will be begging their bread； I
shouldn't wonder。 But my legs won't bear me； brother； and it's
hot here。 Let's go to sleep。〃
V
Gusev went back to the ward and got into his hammock。 He was
again tormented by a vague craving； and he could not make out
what he wanted。 There was an oppression on his chest； a throbbing
in his head； his mouth was so dry that it was difficult for him
to move his tongue。 He dozed； and murmured in his sleep； and；
worn out with nightmares； his cough； and the stifling heat；
towards morning he fell into a sound sleep。 He dreamed that they
were just taking the bread out of the oven in the barracks and he
climbed into the stove and had a steam bath in it； lashing
himself with a bunch of birch twigs。 He slept for two days； and
at midday on the third two sailors came down and carried him out。
He was sewn up in sailcloth and to make him heavier they put with
him two iron weights。 Sewn up in the sailcloth he looked like a
carrot or a radish： broad at the head and narrow at the feet。 。 。
。 Before sunset they brought him up to the deck and put him on a
plank； one end of the plank lay on the side of the ship； the
other on a box； placed on a stool。 Round him stood the soldiers
and the officers with their caps off。
〃Blessed be the Name of the Lord 。 。 。〃 the priest began。 〃As it
was in the beginning； is now； and ever shall be。〃
〃Amen；〃 chanted three sailors。
The soldiers and the officers crossed themselves and looked away
at the waves。 It was strange that a man should be sewn up in
sailcloth and should soon be flying into the sea。 Was it possible
that such a thing might happen to anyone？
The pries