Chapter 39

           

           SeveraltensofthousandsoftheslainlayindiverseposturesandvariousuniformsonthefieldsandmeadowsbelongingtotheDavýdovfamilyandtothecrownserfs—thosefieldsandmeadowswhereforhundredsofyearsthepeasantsofBorodinó,Górki,Shevárdino,andSemënovskhadreapedtheirharvestsandpasturedtheircattle.Atthedressingstationsthegrassandearthweresoakedwithbloodforaspaceofsomethreeacresaround.Crowdsofmenofvariousarms,woundedandunwounded,withfrightenedfaces,draggedthemselvesbacktoMozháyskfromtheonearmyandbacktoValúevofromtheother.Othercrowds,exhaustedandhungry,wentforwardledbytheirofficers.Othersheldtheirgroundandcontinuedtofire.

           Overthewholefield,previouslysogailybeautifulwiththeglitterofbayonetsandcloudletsofsmokeinthemorningsun,therenowspreadamistofdampandsmokeandastrangeacidsmellofsaltpeterandblood.Cloudsgatheredanddropsofrainbegantofallonthedeadandwounded,onthefrightened,exhausted,andhesitatingmen,asiftosay:“Enough,men!Enough!Cease...bethinkyourselves!Whatareyoudoing?”

           Tothemenofbothsidesalike,wornoutbywantoffoodandrest,itbeganequallytoappeardoubtfulwhethertheyshouldcontinuetoslaughteroneanother;allthefacesexpressedhesitation,andthequestionaroseineverysoul:“Forwhat,forwhom,mustIkillandbekilled?...Youmaygoandkillwhomyouplease,butIdon’twanttodosoanymore!”Byeveningthisthoughthadripenedineverysoul.

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