第625章

第625章onleavingmoscow,petyahadpartedfromhisparentstojoinhisregiment,andshortlyafterwardshadbeenappointedanorderlyinattendanceonageneralwhowasincommandofalargedetachment.fromthetimeofsecuringhiscommission,andevenmoresincejoiningaregimentinactiveservice,andtakingpartinthebattleofvyazma,petyahadbeeninacontinualstateofhappyexcitementatbeinggrown-up,andofintenseanxietynottomissanyopportunityofrealheroism.hewashighlydelightedwithallhehadseenandexperiencedinthearmy,but,atthesametime,hewasalwaysfancyingthatwhereverhewasnot,therethemostrealandheroicexploitswereatthatverymomentbeingperformed.andhewasinconstanthastetobewherehewasnot.

onthe21stofoctober,whenhisgeneralexpressedadesiretosendsomeonetodenisov’scompany,petyahadsopiteouslybesoughthimtosendhim,thatthegeneralcouldnotrefuse.but,ashewassendinghimoff,thegeneralrecollectedpetya’sfoolhardybehaviouratthebattleofvyazma,when,insteadofridingbywayoftheroadtotakeamessage,petyahadgallopedacrossthelinesunderthefireofthefrench,andhadtherefiredacoupleofpistol-shots.recallingthatprank,thegeneralexplicitlyforbadepetya’stakingpartinanyenterprisewhateverthatdenisovmightbeplanning.thiswaswhypetyahadblushedandbeendisconcertedwhendenisovaskedhimifhemightstay.fromthemomenthesetofftillhereachedtheedgeofthewood,petyahadfullyintendedtodohisdutysteadily,andtoreturnatonce.butwhenhesawthefrench,andsawtihon,andlearnedthattheattackwouldcertainlytakeplacethatnight,withtherapidtransitionfromoneviewtoanother,characteristicofyoungpeople,hemadeuphismindthathisgeneral,forwhomhehadtillthatmomenthadthegreatestrespect,wasapoorstick,andonlyagerman,thatdenisovwasahero,andtheesaulahero,andtihonahero,andthatitwouldbeshamefultoleavethematamomentofdifficulty.

itwasgettingdarkwhendenisov,withpetyaandtheesaul,reachedtheforester’shut.inthehalf-darktheycouldseesaddledhorses,cossacksandhussars,ingupshantiesintheclearing,andbuildingupaglowingfireinahollownear,wherethesmokewouldnotbeseenbythefrench.intheporchofthelittlehuttherewasacossackwithhissleevestuckedup,cuttingupasheep.inthehut,threeofficersofdenisov’sbandweresettingupatablemadeupofdoors.petyatookoffhiswetclothes,gavethemtobedried,andatoncesettoworktohelptheofficersinfixingupadining-table.

intenminutesthetablewasreadyandcoveredwithanapkin.onthetablewassetvodka,aflaskofrum,whitebread,androastmutton,andsalt.

sittingatthetablewiththeofficers,tearingthefat,savourymuttonwithgreasyfingers,petyawasinachildishlyenthusiasticconditionoftenderloveforallmenandaconsequentbeliefinthesamefeelingforhimselfinothers.

“sowhatdoyouthink,vassilyfyodorovitch,”hesaidtodenisov,“itwon’tmattermystayingadaywithyou,willit？”andwithoutwaitingforananswer,heansweredhimself：“why,iwastoldtofindout,andhereiamfindingout…onlyyoumustletmegointothemiddle…intothereal…idon’tcareaboutrewards…butidowant…”petyaclenchedhisteethandlookedabouthim,tossinghisheadandwavinghisarm.

“intothereal,realthing…”denisovsaid,smiling.

“only,please,dogivemeacommandofsomethingaltogether,sothatireallymightcommand,”petyawenton.“why,whatwoulditbetoyou？ah,youwantaknife？”hesaidtoanofficer,whowastryingtotearoffapieceofmutton.andhegavehimhispocket-knife.

theofficerpraisedtheknife.