（2）

God Sees the Truth， but Waits

“And it's all that villain's doing！” thought Aksionov. And his anger was so great against Makar Semyonovich that he longed for vengeance， even if he himself should perish for it. He kept repeating prayers all night， but could get no peace. During the day he did not go near Makar Semyonovich， nor even look at him.

A fortnight passed in this way. Aksionov could not sleep at night， and was so miserable that he did not know what to do.

One night as he was walking about the prison he noticed some earth that came rolling out from under one of the shelves on which the prisoners slept. He stopped to see what it was. Suddenly Makar Semyonovich crept out from under the shelf， and looked up at Aksionov with frightened face. Aksionov tried to pass without looking at him， but Makar seized his hand and told him that he had dug a hole under the wall， getting rid of the earth by putting it into his high—boots， and emptying it out every day on the road when the prisoners were driven to their work.

“Just you keep quiet， old man， and you shall get out too. If you blab， they'll flog the life out of me， but I will kill you first.”

Aksionov trembled with anger as he looked at his enemy. He drew his hand away， saying， “I have no wish to escape， and you have no need to kill me； you killed me long ago！ As to telling of you—I may do so or not， as God shall direct.”

Next day， when the convicts were led out to work， the convoy soldiers noticed that one or other of the prisoners emptied some earth out of his boots. The prison was searched and the tunnel found. The Governor came and questioned all the prisoners to find out who had dug the hole. They all denied any knowledge of it. Those who knew would not betray Makar Semyonovich， knowing he would be flogged almost to death. At last the Governor turned to Aksionov whom he knew to be a just man， and said：

“You are a truthful old man； tell me， before God， who dug the hole？”

Makar Semyonovich stood as if he were quite unconcerned， looking at the Governor and not so much as glancing at Aksionov. Aksionov's lips and hands trembled， and for a long time he could not utter a word. He thought， “Why should I screen him who ruined my life？ Let him pay for what I have suffered. But if I tell， they will probably flog the life out of him， and maybe I suspect him wrongly. And， after all， what good would it be to me？”

“Well， old man，” repeated the Governor， “tell me the truth： who has been digging under the wall？”

Aksionov glanced at Makar Semyonovich， and said， “I cannot say， your honour. It is not God's will that I should tell！ Do what you like with me； I am at your hands.”

However much the Governor tried， Aksionov would say no more， and so the matter had to be left.

That night， when Aksionov was lying on his bed and just beginning to doze， some one came quietly and sat down on his bed. He peered through the darkness and recognised Makar.

“What more do you want of me？” asked Aksionov. “Why have you come here？”

Makar Semyonovich was silent. So Aksionov sat up and said， “What do you want？ Go away， or I will call the guard！”

Makar Semyonovich bent close over Aksionov， and whispered， “Ivan Dmitrich， forgive me！”

“What for？” asked Aksionov.

“It was I who killed the merchant and hid the knife among your things. I meant to kill you too， but I heard a noise outside， so I hid the knife in your bag and escaped out of the window.”

Aksionov was silent， and did not know what to say. Makar Semyonovich slid off the bed—shelf and knelt upon the ground. “Ivan Dmitrich，” said he， “forgive me！ For the love of God， forgive me！ I will confess that it was I who killed the merchant， and you will be released and can go to your home.”

“It is easy for you to talk，” said Aksionov， “but I have suffered for you these twenty—six years. Where could I go to now？… My wife is dead， and my children have forgotten me. I have nowhere to go……”

Makar Semyonovich did not rise， but beat his head on the floor. “Ivan Dmitrich， forgive me！” he cried. “When they flogged me with the knot it was not so hard to bear as it is to see you now … yet you had pity on me， and did not tell. For Christ's sake forgive me， wretch that I am！” And he began to sob.

When Aksionov heard him sobbing he， too， began to weep. “God will forgive you！” said he. “Maybe I am a hundred times worse than you.” And at these words his heart grew light， and the longing for home left him. He no longer had any desire to leave the prison， but only hoped for his last hour to come.

In spite of what Aksionov had said， Makar Semyonovich confessed his guilt. But when the order for his release came， Aksionov was already dead.

Life is too short for a long story.

时间太少，小说太长，不如读一篇短故事。

“罪证确凿” 的杀人凶犯，熬过二十年漫漫冤狱；隐藏身份的女钢琴家，引得贵族小伙儿患得患失；四个日子宛若春夏秋冬，即带来希望，也难免悲剧；一片面包看似微不足道，即挽救生命，也荡涤灵魂。

人生起伏跌宕，世事变幻无常，莫泊桑、左拉、托尔斯泰、史蒂文森……文学大家带来8个精彩短篇，加上全新的译文诠释，邀读者一起体悟人生百味，领略两种语言的魅力。

（全书完）