Війна і мир

Chapter 17

           

           Asheapproached,aringingshotissuedfromitdeafeninghimandhissuite,andinthesmokethatsuddenlysurroundedtheguntheycouldseethegunnerswhohadseizeditstrainingtorollitquicklybacktoitsformerposition.Ahuge,broad-shoulderedgunner,NumberOne,holdingamop,hislegsfarapart,sprangtothewheel;whileNumberTwowithatremblinghandplacedachargeinthecannon’smouth.Theshort,round-shoulderedCaptainTúshin,stumblingoverthetailoftheguncarriage,movedforwardand,notnoticingthegeneral,lookedoutshadinghiseyeswithhissmallhand.

           “Liftittwolinesmoreanditwillbejustright,”criedheinafeeblevoicetowhichhetriedtoimpartadashingnote,ill-suitedtohisweakfigure.“NumberTwo!”hesqueaked.“Fire,Medvédev!”

           Bagratióncalledtohim,andTúshin,raisingthreefingerstohiscapwithabashfulandawkwardgesturenotatalllikeamilitarysalutebutlikeapriest’sbenediction,approachedthegeneral.ThoughTúshin’sgunshadbeenintendedtocannonadethevalley,hewasfiringincendiaryballsatthevillageofSchönGrabernvisiblejustopposite,infrontofwhichlargemassesofFrenchwereadvancing.

           NoonehadgivenTúshinorderswhereandatwhattofire,butafterconsultinghissergeantmajor,Zakharchénko,forwhomhehadgreatrespect,hehaddecidedthatitwouldbeagoodthingtosetfiretothevillage.“Verygood!”saidBagratióninreplytotheofficer’sreport,andbegandeliberatelytoexaminethewholebattlefieldextendedbeforehim.TheFrenchhadadvancednearestonourright.

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