第224章

第224章everythinghadbeeneatenup,andalltheinhabitantsofthedistricthadfled;thosethatremainedwereworsethanars,andtherewasnothingtobetakenfromthem;indeed,thesoldiers,althoughlittlegiventocompassion,oftengavetheirlastrationtothem.

thepavlogradregimenthadonlylosttwomenwoundedinaction,buthadlostalmosthalfitsmenfromhungeranddisease.inthehospitalstheydiedsoinvariably,thatsoldierssickwithfeverortheswellingthatcamefrombadfood,preferredtoremainonduty,todragtheirfeeblelimbsintheranks,ratherthantogotothehospitals.asspringcameon,thesoldiersfoundaplantgrowingoutoftheground,likeasparagus,whichforsomereasontheycalledmary’ssweet-root,andtheywanderedaboutthefieldsandmeadowsseekingthismary’ssweet-root（whichwasverybitter）.theydugitupwiththeirswordsandateit,inspiteofallprohibitionofthisnoxiousrootbeingeaten.inthespringanewdiseasebrokeoutamongthesoldiers,withswellingofthehands,legs,andface,whichthedoctorsattributedtoeatingthisroot.butinspiteoftheprohibition,thesoldiersofdenisov’ssquadroninparticularateagreatdealofthemary’ssweet-root,becausetheyhadbeenforafortnightekingoutthelastbiscuits,givingoutonlyhalfapoundaman,andthepotatoesinthelastlotofstoresweresproutingandrotten.

thehorses,too,hadforthelastfortnightbeenfedonthethatchedroofsofthehouses;theywerehideouslythin,andstillcoveredwiththeiry,wintercoats,whichwerecomingoffintufts.

inspiteoftheirdestitutecondition,thesoldiersandofficerswentonlivingexactlyastheyalwaysdid.justasalways,thoughnowwithpaleandswollenfacesandtornuniforms,thehussarsweredrawnupforcallingover,wentouttocollectforage,cleaneddowntheirhorses,andrubbeduptheirarms,edinstrawfromthethatchedroofsinplaceoffodder,andassembledfordinnerroundthecauldrons,fromwhichtheyroseuphungry,makingjokesovertheirvilefoodandtheirhunger.justasever,intheirsparetimeoffdutythesoldierslightedcamp-fires,andwarmedthemselvesnakedbeforethem,smoked,pickedoutandbakedthesprouting,rottenpotatoes,andtoldandheardeitherstoriesofpotyomkin’sandsuvorov’scampaignsorpopularlegendsofcunningalyoshka,andofthepriests’workman,mikolka.

theofficerslivedasusualintwosandthreesintheroofless,broken-downhouses.theseniorofficerswerebusilyengagedintryingtogetholdofstrawandpotatoes,andthemeansofsustenanceforthesoldiersgenerally,whiletheyoungeronesspenttheirtimeastheyalwaysdid,someovercards（moneywasplentiful,thoughtherewasnothingtoeat）,othersovermoreinnocentgames,asortofquoitsandskittles.ofthegeneralcauseofthecampaignlittlewassaid,partlybecausenothingcertainwasknown,partlybecausetherewasavaguefeelingthatthewarvasnotgoingwell.

rostovlivedasbeforewithdenisov,andthebondoffriendshipbetweenthemhadbecomestillclosersincetheirfurlough.denisovneverspokeofanyofrostov’sfamily,butfromthetenderaffectiontheseniorofficershowedhisjunior,rostovfeltthattheolderhussar’slucklesspassionfornatashahadsomethingtodowiththestrengtheningoftheirfriendship.therewasnodoubtthatdenisovtriedtotakecareofrostov,andtoexposehimasrarelyaspossibletodanger,andafteractionitwaswithunmistakablejoythathesawhimreturnsafeandsound.ononeofhisforagingexpeditionsinadesertedandruinedvillagetowhichhehadcomeinsearchofprovisions,rostovfoundanoldpoleandhisdaughterwithatinybaby.theywerewithoutclothesorfood;theyhadnotthestrengthtogoawayonfoot,andhadnomeansofgettingdrivenaway.rostovbroughtthemtohiscamp,installedtheminhisownquarters,andmaintainedthemforseveralweekstilltheoldmanwasbetter.oneofrostov’scomrades,talkingofwomen,begantorallyhimonthesubject,declaringthathewastheslyestfellowofthelot,andthatheoughttobeashamednottohaveintroducedhiscomrades,too,totheprettypolishwomanhehadrescued.rostovtookthejestasaninsult,andfiringup,saidsuchunpleasantthingstotheofficer,thatdenisovhadmuchadotopreventaduel.whentheofficerhadgoneaway,anddenisov,whoknewnothinghimselfofrostov’srelationswiththepolishwoman,begantoscoldhimforhishastiness,rostovsaidtohim：“saywhatyoulike.…shewaslikeasistertome,andican’ttellyouhowsickitmademe…because…well,justbecause…”

denisovslappedhimontheshoulder,andfelltowalkingrapidlyupanddowntheroomnotlookingatrostov,whichwaswhathealwaysdidatmomentsofemotionalexcitement.“whatajollylotoffoolsallyourostovsare,”hesaid,androstovsawtearsindenisov’seyes.