original short stories-8-第14部分

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obtained　two　or　three　days'　work　occasionally　by　offering　himself　at　a
shamefully　low　price；　in　order　to　tempt　the　avarice　of　employers　and
peasants。

And　now　for　a　week　he　had　found　nothing；　and　had　no　money　left；　and
nothing　to　eat　but　a　piece　of　bread；　thanks　to　the　charity　of　some　women
from　whom　he　had　begged　at　house　doors　on　the　road。　　It　was　getting　dark；
and　Jacques　Randel；　jaded；　his　legs　failing　him；　his　stomach　empty；　and
with　despair　in　his　heart；　was　walking　barefoot　on　the　grass　by　the　side
of　the　road；　for　he　was　taking　care　of　his　last　pair　of　shoes；　as　the
other　pair　had　already　ceased　to　exist　for　a　long　time。　　It　was　a
Saturday；　toward　the　end　of　autumn。　　The　heavy　gray　clouds　were　being
driven　rapidly　through　the　sky　by　the　gusts　of　wind　which　whistled　among
the　trees；　and　one　felt　that　it　would　rain　soon。　　The　country　was
deserted　at　that　hour　on　the　eve　of　Sunday。　　Here　and　there　in　the　fields
there　rose　up　stacks　of　wheat　straw；　like　huge　yellow　mushrooms；　and　the
fields　looked　bare；　as　they　had　already　been　sown　for　the　next　year。

Randel　was　hungry；　with　the　hunger　of　some　wild　animal；　such　a　hunger　as
drives　wolves　to　attack　men。　　Worn　out　and　weakened　with　fatigue；　he　took
longer　strides；　so　as　not　to　take　so　many　steps；　and　with　heavy　head；　the
blood　throbbing　in　his　temples；　with　red　eyes　and　dry　mouth；　he　grasped
his　stick　tightly　in　his　hand；　with　a　longing　to　strike　the　first
passerby　who　might　be　going　home　to　supper。

He　looked　at　the　sides　of　the　road；　imagining　he　saw　potatoes　dug　up　and
lying　on　the　ground　before　his　eyes；　if　he　had　found　any　he　would　have
gathered　some　dead　wood；　made　a　fire　in　the　ditch　and　have　had　a　capital
supper　off　the　warm；　round　vegetables　with　which　he　would　first　of　all
have　warmed　his　cold　hands。　　But　it　was　too　late　in　the　year；　and　he
would　have　to　gnaw　a　raw　beetroot　which　he　might　pick　up　in　a　field　as　he
had　done　the　day　before。

For　the　last　two　days　he　had　talked　to　himself　as　he　quickened　his　steps
under　the　influence　of　his　thoughts。　　He　had　never　thought　much　hitherto；
as　he　had　given　all　his　mind；　all　his　simple　faculties　to　his　mechanical
work。　　But　now　fatigue　and　this　desperate　search　for　work　which　he　could
not　get；　refusals　and　rebuffs；　nights　spent　in　the　open　air　lying　on　the
grass；　long　fasting；　the　contempt　which　he　knew　people　with　a　settled
abode　felt　for　a　vagabond；　and　that　question　which　he　was　continually
asked；　〃Why　do　you　not　remain　at　home？〃　distress　at　not　being　able　to　use
his　strong　arms　which　he　felt　so　full　of　vigor；　the　recollection　of　the
relations　he　had　left　at　home　and　who　also　had　not　a　penny；　filled　him　by
degrees　with　rage；　which　had　been　accumulating　every　day；　every　hour；
every　minute；　and　which　now　escaped　his　lips　in　spite　of　himself　in
short；　growling　sentences。

As　he　stumbled　over　the　stones　which　tripped　his　bare　feet；　he　grumbled：
〃How　wretched！　　how　miserable！　　A　set　of　hogsto　let　a　man　die　of　hunger
a　carpentera　set　of　hogsnot　two　sousnot　two　sousand　now　it　is
raininga　set　of　hogs！〃

He　was　indignant　at　the　injustice　of　fate；　and　cast　the　blame　on　men；　on
all　men；　because　nature；　that　great；　blind　mother；　is　unjust；　cruel　and
perfidious；　and　he　repeated　through　his　clenched　teeth：

〃A　set　of　hogs〃　as　he　looked　at　the　thin　gray　smoke　which　rose　from　the
roofs；　for　it　was　the　dinner　hour。　　And；　without　considering　that　there
is　another　injustice　which　is　human；　and　which　is　called　robbery　and
violence；　he　felt　inclined　to　go　into　one　of　those　houses　to　murder　the
inhabitants　and　to　sit　down　to　table　in　their　stead。

He　said　to　himself：　〃I　have　no　right　to　live　now；　as　they　are　letting　me
die　of　hunger；　and　yet　I　only　ask　for　worka　set　of　hogs！〃　　And　the　pain
in　his　limbs；　the　gnawing　in　his　heart　rose　to　his　head　like　terrible
intoxication；　and　gave　rise　to　this　simple　thought　in　his　brain：　〃I　have
the　right　to　live　because　I　breathe　and　because　the　air　is　the　common
property　of　everybody。　　So　nobody　has　the　right　to　leave　me　without
bread！〃

A　fine；　thick；　icy　cold　rain　was　coming　down；　and　he　stopped　and
murmured：　〃Oh；　misery！　　Another　month　of　walking　before　I　get　home。〃　　He
was　indeed　returning　home　then；　for　he　saw　that　he　should　more　easily
find　work　in　his　native　town；　where　he　was　knownand　he　did　not　mind
what　he　didthan　on　the　highroads；　where　everybody　suspected　him。　　As
the　carpentering　business　was　not　prosperous；　he　would　turn　day　laborer；
be　a　mason's　hodman；　a　ditcher；　break　stones　on　the　road。　　If　he　only
earned　a　franc　a　day；　that　would　at　any　rate　buy　him　something　to　eat。

He　tied　the　remains　of　his　last　pocket　handkerchief　round　his　neck　to
prevent　the　cold　rain　from　running　down　his　back　and　chest；　but　he　soon
found　that　it　was　penetrating　the　thin　material　of　which　his　clothes　were
made；　and　he　glanced　about　him　with　the　agonized　look　of　a　man　who　does
not　know　where　to　hide　his　body　and　to　rest　his　head；　and　has　no　place　of
shelter　in　the　whole　world。

Night　came　on　and　wrapped　the　country　in　obscurity；　and　in　the　distance；
in　a　meadow；　he　saw　a　dark　spot　on　the　grass；　it　was　a　cow；　and　so　he　got
over　the　ditch　by　the　roadside　and　went　up　to　her　without　exactly　knowing
what　he　was　doing。　　When　he　got　close　to　her　she　raised　her　great　head　to
him；　and　he　thought：　〃If　I　only　had　a　jug　I　could　get　a　little　milk。〃　　He
looked　at　the　cow　and　the　cow　looked　at　him　and　then；　suddenly　giving　her
a　kick　in　the　side；　he　said：　〃Get　up！〃

The　animal　got　up　slowly；　letting　her　heavy　udders　bang　down。　　Then　the
man　lay　down　on　his　back　between　the　animal's　legs　and　drank　for　a　long
time；　squeezing　her　warm；　swollen　teats；　which　tasted　of　the　cowstall；
with　both　hands；　and　he　drank　as　long　as　she　gave　any　milk。　　But　the　icy
rain　began　to　fall　more　heavily；　and　he　saw　no　place　of　shelter　on　the
whole　of　that　bare　plain。　　He　was　cold；　and　he　looked　at　a　light　which
was　shining　among　the　trees　in　the　window　of　a　house。

The　cow　had　lain　down　again　heavily；　and　he　sat　down　by　her　side　and
stroked　her　head；　grateful　for　the　nourishment　she　had　given　him。　　The
animal's　strong；　thick　breath；　which　came　out　of　her　nostrils　like　two
jets　of　steam　in　the　evening　air；　blew　on　the　workman's　face；　and　he
said：　〃You　are　not　cold　inside　there！〃　He　put　his　hands　on　her　chest　and
under　her　stomach　to　find　some　warmth　there；　and　then　the　idea　struck　him
that　he　might　pass　the　night　beside　that　large；　warm　animal。　　So　he　found
a　comfortable　place　and　laid　his　head　on　her　side；　and　then；　as　he　was
worn　out　with　fatigue；　fell　asleep　immediately。

He　woke　up；　however；　several　times；　with　his　back　or　his　stomach　half
frozen；　according　as　he　put　one　or　the　other　against　the　animal's　flank。
Then　he　turned　over　to　warm　and　dry　that　part　of　his　body　which　had
remained　exposed　to　the　night　air；　and　soon　went　soundly　to　sleep　again。
The　crowing　of　a　cock　woke　him；　the　day　was　breaking；　it　was　no　longer
raining；　and　the　sky　was　bright。　　The　cow　was　resting　with　her　muzzle　on
the　ground；　and　he　stooped　down；　resting　on　his　hands；　to　kiss　those
wide；　moist　nostrils；　and　said：　〃Good…by；　my　beauty；　until　next　time。
You　are　a　nice　animal。　　Good…by。〃　　Then　he　put　on　his　shoes　and　went　off；
and　for　two　hours　walked　straight　before　him；　always　following　the　same
road；　and　then　he　felt　so　tired　that　he　sat　down　on　the　grass。　　It　was
broad　daylight　by　that　time；　and　the　church　bells　were　ringing；　men　in
blue　blouses；　women　in　white　caps；　some　on　foot；　some　in　carts；　began　to
pass　along　the　road；　going　to　the　neighboring　villages　to　spend　Sunday
with　friends　or　relations。

A　stout　peasant　came　in　sight；　driving　before　him　a　score　of　frightened；
bleating　sheep；　with　the　help　of　an　active　dog。　　Randel　got　up；　and
raising　his　cap；　said：　〃You　do　not　happen　to　have　any　work　for　a　man　who
is　dying　of　hunger？〃　But　the　other；　giving　an　angry　look　at　the　vagabond；
replied：　〃I　have　no　work　for　fellows　whom　I　meet　on　the　road。〃

And　the　carpenter　went　back　and　sat　down　by　the　side　of　the　ditch　again。
He　waited　there　for　a　long　time；　watching　the　country　people　pass　and
looking　for　a　kind；　compassionate　face　before　he　renewed　his　request；　and
finally　selected　a　man　in　an　overcoat；　whose　stomach　was　adorned　with　a
gold　chain。　　〃I　have　been　looking　for　work；〃　he　said；　〃for　the　last　two
months　and　cannot　find　any；　and　I　have　not　a　sou　in　my　pocket。〃　　But　the
would…be　gentleman　replied：　〃You　should　have　read　the　notice　which　is
stuck　up　at　the　entrance　to　the　village：　'Begging　is　prohibited　within
the　boundaries　of　this　parish。'　Let　me　tell　you　that　I　am　the　mayor；　and
if　you　do　not　get　out　of　here　pretty　quickly　I　shall　have　you　arrested。〃

Randel；　who　was　getting　angry；　replied：　〃Have　me　arrested　if　you　like；　I
should　prefer　it；　for；　at　any　rate；　I　should　not　die　of　hunger。〃　　And　he
went　back　and　sat　down　by　the　side　of　his　ditch　again；　and　in　about　a
quarter　of　an　hour　two　gendarmes　appeared　on　the　road。　　They　were　walking
slowly　side　by　side；　glittering　in　the　sun　with　their　shining　hats；　their
yellow　accoutrements　and　their　metal　buttons；　as　if　to　frighten
evildoers；　and　to　put　them　to　flight　at　a　distance。　　He　knew　that　they
were　coming　after　him；　but　he　did　not　move；　for　he　was　seized　with　a
sudden　desire　to　defy　them；　to　be　arrested　by　them；　and　to　have　his
revenge　later。

They　came　on　without　appearing　to　have　seen　him；　walking　heavily；　with
military　step；　and　balancing　themselves　as　if　they　were　doing　the　goose
step；　and　then；　suddenly；　as　they　passed　him；　appearing　to　have　noticed
him；　they　stopped　and　looked　at　him　angrily　and　threateningly；　and　the
brigadier　came　up　to　him　and　asked：　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　　〃I　am
resting；〃　the　man　replied　calmly。　　〃Where　do　you　come　from？〃　　〃If　I　had
to　tell　you　all　the　places　I　have　been　to　it　would　take　me　more　than　an
hour。〃　　〃Where　are　you　going　to？〃　　〃To　Ville…Avary。〃　　〃Where　is　that？〃
〃In　La　Manche。〃　　〃Is　that　where　you　belong？〃　　〃It　is。〃　　〃Why　did　you
leave　it？〃　　〃To　look　for　work。〃

The　brigadier　turned　to　his　gendarme　and　said　in　the　angry　voice　of　a　man
who　is　exasperated　at　last　by　an　oft…repeated　trick：　〃They　all　say　that；
these　scamps。　　I　know　all