第635章

第635章thearrangement,madeatthestartfrommoscow,thattheofficersamongtheprisonersshouldmarchseparatelyfromthecommonsoldiers,hadlongsincebeengivenup.allwhocouldwalkmarchedtogether;andatthethirdstagepierrehadrejoinedkarataevandthebow-ed,purple-greydog,whohadchosenkarataevforhermaster.

onthethirddayafterleavingmoscow,karataevhadareturnofthefever,whichhadkepthiminthemoscowhospital,andaskarataev’sstrengthfailed,pierreheldmorealooffromhim.pierrecouldnothavesaidwhyitwas,butfromthetimekarataevfellsick,hehadtomakeanefforttoforcehimselftogonearhim.andwhenhedidgonearhimandheardthesubduedmoans,whichkarataevoftenuttered,ashelayatthehalting-places,andsmelttheincreasingodourfromthesickman.pierremovedfurtherawayfromhimanddidnotthinkabouthim.

incaptivityintheshedthathadbeenhisprison,pierrehadlearnednotthroughhisintellect,butthroughhiswholebeing,throughlife,thatmaniscreatedforhappiness,thathappinessliesinhimself,inthesatisfactionofhisnatural,humancravings;thatallunhappinessisdue,nottolackofwhatisneedful,buttosuperfluity.butnow,duringthelastthreeweeksofthemarch,hehadlearnedanothernewandconsolatorytruth—hehadlearnedthatthereisnothingterribletobedreadedintheworld.hehadlearnedthatjustasthereisnopositionintheworldinwhichamancanbehappyandperfectlyfree,sotoothereisnopositioninwhichheneedbeunhappyandinbondage.hehadfoundoutthatthereisalimittosufferingandalimittofreedom,andthatthatlimitisverysoonreached;thatthemanwhosufferedfromacrumpledpetalinhisbedofroses,sufferedjustasmuchashesufferednow,sleepingonthebare,dampearth,withonesidegettingchilledastheothersidegotwarm;thatwheninformerdayshehadputonhistightdancing-shoes,hehadsufferedinjustthesamewayasnow,whenhewalkedquitebarefoot（hisfoot-gearhadlongsincefallentopieces）,withhisfeetcoveredwithsores.helearnedthatwhenhehad—byhisownfree-will,ashehadfancied—marriedhiswife,hehadbeennomorefreethannowwhenhewaslockedupforthenightinastable.ofallthathedidhimselfafterwardscallsufferings,thoughatthetimehehardlyfeltthemso,thechiefwasthestateofhisbare,blistered,sorefeet.thehorse-fleshwassavouryandnourishing,thesaltpetreflavourgivenitbythegun-powdertheyusedinsteadofsaltwaspositivelyagreeable;therewasnogreatdegreeofcold,itwasalwayswarminthedaytimeonthemarch,andatnighttherewerethecamp-fires,andthelicethatdevouredhimhelpedtokeephimwarm.onethingwaspainfulintheearlierdays—thatwashisfeet.

ontheseconddayofthemarch,asheexaminedhisblistersbythecamp-fire,pierrethoughthecouldnotpossiblywalkonthem;butwhentheyallgotup,hesetofflimping,andlateron,whenhegotwarm,hewalkedwithoutpain,thoughhisfeetlookedevenmoreterriblethatevening.buthedidnotlookatthem,andthoughtofsomethingelse.

onlynowpierregraspedalltheforceofvitalityinman,andthesavingpowerinnateinman,oftransferringhisattention,likethesafety-valveinsteam-engines,thatletsoffthesuperfluoussteamsosoonasitspressureexceedsacertainpoint.

hedidnotseeanddidnothearhowtheprisonersthatedbehindwereshot,thoughmorethanahundredofthemhadperishedinthatway.hedidnotthinkaboutkarataev,whowasgettingweakereveryday,andwouldobviouslysoonfallavictimtothesamefate.stilllessdidpierrethinkabouthimself.theharderhislotbecame,themoreterriblehisfuture,themoreindependentofhispresentplightwerethegladandsoothingthoughts,memories,andimagesthatoccurredtohim.