Война и мир

Chapter 15

           InAprilthePávlogradswerestationedimmovablyforsomeweeksnearatotallyruinedanddesertedGermanvillage.

           Athawhadsetin,itwasmuddyandcold,theiceontheriverbroke,andtheroadsbecameimpassable.Fordaysneitherprovisionsforthemennorfodderforthehorseshadbeenissued.Asnotransportscouldarrive,themendispersedabouttheabandonedanddesertedvillages,searchingforpotatoes,butfoundfewevenofthese.

           Everythinghadbeeneatenupandtheinhabitantshadallfled—ifanyremained,theywereworsethanbeggarsandnothingmorecouldbetakenfromthem;eventhesoldiers,usuallypitilessenough,insteadoftakinganythingfromthem,oftengavethemthelastoftheirrations.

           ThePávlogradregimenthadhadonlytwomenwoundedinaction,buthadlostnearlyhalfitsmenfromhungerandsickness.Inthehospitals,deathwassocertainthatsoldierssufferingfromfever,ortheswellingthatcamefrombadfood,preferredtoremainonduty,andhardlyabletodragtheirlegswenttothefrontratherthantothehospitals.Whenspringcameon,thesoldiersfoundaplantjustshowingoutofthegroundthatlookedlikeasparagus,which,forsomereason,theycalled“Máshka’ssweetroot.”Itwasverybitter,buttheywanderedaboutthefieldsseekingitanddugitoutwiththeirsabersandateit,thoughtheywereorderednottodoso,asitwasanoxiousplant.Thatspringanewdiseasebrokeoutamongthesoldiers,aswellingofthearms,legs,andface,whichthedoctorsattributedtoeatingthisroot.

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