the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第51部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　the　advance　of　the　invasion。　　Desnoyers　thought　despairingly　of　that　handful　of　mad　fellows　and　their　stubborn　chief。　　What　was　their　fate　going　to　be？　。　。　。

Focussing　his　glasses　on　the　village；　he　saw　the　red　spots　of　kepis　waving　like　poppies　over　the　green　of　the　meadows。　　They　were　the　retreating　men；　now　convinced　of　the　uselessness　of　their　resistance。　　Perhaps　they　had　found　a　ford　or　forgotten　boat　by　which　they　might　cross　the　Maine；　and　so　were　continuing　their　retreat　toward　the　river。　　At　any　minute　now　the　Germans　were　going　to　enter　Villeblanche。

Half　an　hour　of　profound　silence　passed　by。　　The　village　lay　silhouetted　against　a　background　of　hillsa　mass　of　roofs　beneath　the　church　tower　finished　with　its　cross　and　iron　weather　cock。　Everything　seemed　as　tranquil　as　in　the　best　days　of　peace。　Suddenly　he　noticed　that　the　grove　was　vomiting　forth　something　noisy　and　penetratinga　bubble　of　vapor　accompanied　by　a　deafening　report。　　Something　was　hurtling　through　the　air　with　a　strident　curve。　　Then　a　roof　in　the　village　opened　like　a　crater；　vomiting　forth　flying　wood；　fragments　of　plaster　and　broken　furniture。　　All　the　interior　of　the　house　seemed　to　be　escaping　in　a　stream　of　smoke；　dirt　and　splinters。

The　invaders　were　bombarding　Villeblanche　before　attempting　attack；　as　though　fearing　to　encounter　persistent　resistance　in　its　streets。　More　projectiles　fell。　　Some　passed　over　the　houses；　exploding　between　the　hamlet　and　the　castle。　　The　towers　of　the　Desnoyers　property　were　beginning　to　attract　the　aim　of　the　artillerymen。　　The　owner　was　therefore　about　to　abandon　his　dangerous　observatory　when　he　saw　something　white　like　a　tablecloth　or　sheet　floating　from　the　church　tower。　　His　neighbors　had　hoisted　this　signal　of　peace　in　order　to　avoid　bombardment。　　A　few　more　missiles　fell　and　then　there　was　silence。

When　Don　Marcelo　reached　his　park　he　found　the　Warden　burying　at　the　foot　of　a　tree　the　sporting　rifles　still　remaining　in　his　castle。　Then　he　went　toward　the　great　iron　gates。　　The　enemies　were　going　to　come；　and　he　had　to　receive　them。　　While　uneasily　awaiting　their　arrival　his　compunctions　again　tormented　him。　　What　was　he　doing　there？　　Why　had　he　remained？　。　。　。　　But　his　obstinate　temperament　immediately　put　aside　the　promptings　of　fear。　　He　was　there　because　he　had　to　guard　his　own。　　Besides；　it　was　too　late　now　to　think　about　such　things。

Suddenly　the　morning　stillness　was　broken　by　a　sound　like　the　deafening　tearing　of　strong　cloth。　　〃Shots；　Master；〃　said　the　Warden。　　〃Firing！　　It　must　be　in　the　square。〃

A　few　minutes　after　they　saw　running　toward　them　a　woman　from　the　village；　an　old　soul；　dried　up　and　darkened　by　age；　who　was　panting　from　her　great　exertion；　and　looking　wildly　around　her。　　She　was　fleeing　blindly；　trying　to　escape　from　danger　and　shut　out　horrible　visions。　　Desnoyers　and　the　Keeper's　family　listened　to　her　explanations　interrupted　with　hiccoughs　of　terror。

The　Germans　were　in　Villeblanche。　　They　had　entered　first　in　an　automobile　driven　at　full　speed　from　one　end　of　the　village　to　the　other。　　Its　mitrailleuse　was　firing　at　random　against　closed　houses　and　open　doors；　knocking　down　all　the　people　in　sight。　　The　old　woman　flung　up　her　arms　with　a　gesture　of　terror。　。　。　。　　Dead　。　。　。　many　dead　。　。　。　wounded　。　。　。　blood！　　Then　other　iron…plated　vehicles　had　stopped　in　the　square；　and　behind　them　cavalrymen；　battalions　of　infantry；　many　battalions　coming　from　everywhere。　　The　helmeted　men　seemed　furious；　they　accused　the　villagers　of　having　fired　at　them。　　In　the　square　they　had　struck　the　mayor　and　villagers　who　had　come　forward　to　meet　them。　　The　priest；　bending　over　some　of　the　dying；　had　also　been　trodden　under　foot。　。　。　。　　All　prisoners！　　The　Germans　were　talking　of　shooting　them。

The　old　dame's　words　were　cut　short　by　the　rumble　of　approaching　automobiles。

〃Open　the　gates；〃　commanded　the　owner　to　the　Warden。　　The　massive　iron　grill　work　swung　open；　and　was　never　again　closed。　　All　property　rights　were　at　an　end。

An　enormous　automobile；　covered　with　dust　and　filled　with　men；　stopped　at　the　entrance。　　Behind　them　sounded　the　horns　of　other　vehicles　that　were　putting　on　the　brakes。　　Desnoyers　saw　soldiers　leaping　out；　all　wearing　the　greenish…gray　uniform　with　a　sheath　of　the　same　tone　covering　the　pointed　casque。　　The　one　who　marched　at　their　head　put　his　revolver　to　the　millionaire's　forehead。

〃Where　are　the　sharpshooters？〃　he　asked。

He　was　pale　with　the　pallor　of　wrath；　vengeance　and　fear。　　His　face　was　trembling　under　the　influence　of　his　triple　emotion。　　Don　Marcelo　explained　slowly；　contemplating　at　a　short　distance　from　his　eyes　the　black　circle　of　the　threatening　tube。　　He　had　not　seen　any　sharpshooters。　　The　only　inhabitants　of　the　castle　were　the　Warden　with　his　family　and　himself；　the　owner　of　the　castle。

The　officer　surveyed　the　edifice　and　then　examined　Desnoyers　with　evident　astonishment　as　though　he　thought　his　appearance　too　unpretentious　for　a　proprietor。　　He　had　taken　him　for　a　simple　employee；　and　his　respect　for　social　rank　made　him　lower　his　revolver。

He　did　not；　however；　alter　his　haughty　attitude。　　He　pressed　Don　Marcelo　into　the　service　as　a　guide；　making　him　search　ahead　of　him　while　forty　soldiers　grouped　themselves　at　his　back。　　They　advanced　in　two　files　to　the　shelter　of　the　trees　which　bordered　the　central　avenue；　with　their　guns　ready　to　shoot；　and　looking　uneasily　at　the　castle　windows　as　though　expecting　to　receive　from　them　hidden　shots。　　Desnoyers　marched　tranquilly　through　the　centre；　and　the　official；　who　had　been　imitating　the　precautions　of　his　men；　finally　joined　him　when　he　was　crossing　the　drawbridge。

The　armed　men　scattered　through　the　rooms　in　search　of　the　enemy。　They　ran　their　bayonets　through　beds　and　divans。　　Some；　with　automatic　destructiveness；　slit　the　draperies　and　the　rich　bed　coverings。　　The　owner　protested；　what　was　the　sense　in　such　useless　destruction？　。　。　。　　He　was　suffering　unbearable　torture　at　seeing　the　enormous　boots　spotting　the　rugs　with　mud；　on　hearing　the　clash　of　guns　and　knapsacks　against　the　most　fragile；　choicest　pieces　of　furniture。　　Poor　historic　mansion！　。　。　。

The　officer　looked　amazed　that　he　should　protest　for　such　trifling　cause；　but　he　gave　orders　in　German　and　his　men　ceased　their　rude　explorations。　　Then；　in　justification　of　this　extraordinary　respect；　he　added　in　French：

〃I　believe　that　you　are　going　to　have　the　honor　of　entertaining　here　the　general　of　our　division。〃

The　certainty　that　the　castle　did　not　hold　any　hidden　enemies　made　him　more　amiable。　　He；　nevertheless；　persisted　in　his　wrath　against　the　sharpshooters。　　A　group　of　the　villagers　had　opened　fire　upon　the　Uhlans　when　they　were　entering　unsuspiciously　after　the　retreat　of　the　French。

Desnoyers　felt　it　necessary　to　protest。　　They　were　neither　inhabitants　nor　sharpshooters；　they　were　French　soldiers。　　He　took　good　care　to　be　silent　about　their　presence　at　the　barricade；　but　he　insisted　that　he　had　distinguished　their　uniforms　from　a　tower　of　the　castle。

The　official　made　a　threatening　face。

〃You；　too？　。　。　。　　You；　who　appear　a　reasonable　man；　can　repeat　such　yarns　as　these？〃　　And　in　order　to　close　the　conversation；　he　said；　arrogantly：　〃They　were　wearing　uniforms；　then；　if　you　persist　in　saying　so；　but　they　were　sharpshooters　just　the　same。　　The　French　Government　has　distributed　arms　and　uniforms　among　the　farmers　that　they　may　assassinate　us。　。　。　。　　Belgium　did　the　same　thing。　。　。　。　But　we　know　their　tricks；　and　we　know　how　to　punish　them；　too！〃

The　village　was　going　to　be　burned。　　It　was　necessary　to　avenge　the　four　German　dead　lying　on　the　outskirts　of　Villeblanche；　near　the　barricade。　　The　mayor；　the　priest；　the　principal　inhabitants　would　all　be　shot。

By　the　time　they　reached　the　top　floor　Desnoyers　could　see　floating　above　the　boughs　of　his　park　dark　clouds　whose　outlines　were　reddened　by　the　sun。　　The　top　of　the　bell　tower　was　the　only　thing　that　he　could　distinguish　at　that　distance。　　Around　the　iron　weathercock　were　flying　long　thin　fringes　like　black　cobwebs　lifted　by　the　breeze。　　An　odor　of　burning　wood　came　toward　the　castle。

The　German　greeted　this　spectacle　with　a　cruel　smile。　　Then　on　descending　to　the　park；　he　ordered　Desnoyers　to　follow　him。　　His　liberty　and　his　dignity　had　come　to　an　end。　　Henceforth　he　was　going　to　be　an　underling　at　the　beck　and　call　of　these　men　who　would　dispose　of　him　as　their　whims　directed。　　Ay；　why　had　he　remained？　。　。　。　He　obeyed；　climbing　into　an　automobile　beside　the　officer；　who　was　still　carrying　his　revolver　in　his　right　hand。　　His　men　distributed　themselves　through　the　castle　and　outbuildings；　in　order　to　prevent　the　flight　of　an　imaginary　enemy。　　The　Warden　and　his　family　seemed　to　be　saying　good…bye　to　him　with　their　eyes。　　Perhaps　they　were　taking　him　to　his　death。　。　。　。

Beyond　the　castle　woods　a　new　world　was　coming　into　existence。　　The　short　cut　to　Villeblanche　seemed　to　Desnoyers　a　leap　of　millions　of　leagues；　a　fall　into　a　red　planet　where　men　and　things　were　covered　with　the　film　of　smoke　and　the　glare　of　fire。　　He　saw　the　village　under　a　dark　canopy　spotted　with　sparks　and　glowing　embers。　　The　bell　tower　was　burning　like　an　enormous　torch；　the　roof　of　the　church　was　breaking　into　flames　with　a　crashing　fury。　　The　glare　of　the　holocaust　seemed　to　shrivel　and　grow　pale　in　the　impassive　light　of　the　sun。

Running　across　the　fields　with　the　haste　of　desperation　were　shrieking　women　and　children。　　The　animals　had　escaped　from　the　stables；　and　driven　forth　by　the　flames　were　racing　wildly　across　the　country。　　The　cow　and　the　work　horse　were　dragging　their　halters　broken　by　their　flight。　　Their　flanks　were　smoking　and　smelt　of　burnt　hair。　　The　pigs；　the　sheep　and　the　chickens　were　all　tearing　along　mingled　with　the　cats　and　the　dogs。　　All　the　domestic　animals　were　returning　to　a　brute　existence；　fleeing　from　civilized　man。　Shots　were　heard　and　hellish　ha…ha's。　　The　soldiers　outside　of　the　village　were　making　themselves　merry　in　this　hunt　for　fugitives。　Their　guns　were　aimed　at　beasts　and　were　hitting　people。

Desnoyers　saw　men；　many　men；　men　everywhere。　　They　were　like　gray　ants；　marching　in　endless　files　towards　the　South；　coming　out