Chelkash and Other Stories (8 page)

We guffawed, we howled, we snarled.... Other people joined us.... One of us pulled the sleeve of Tanya's blouse....

Suddenly her eyes blazed; she raised her hands in a slow gesture to put her hair straight, and said loudly but calmly, straight into our faces:

“Oh, you miserable jail-birds! ...”

And she bore straight down on us, just as if we had not been there, had not stood in her path. Indeed, that is why none of us proved to be in her path.

When she was clear of our circle she added just as loudly without turning round, in a tone of scorn and pride:

“Oh, you filthy swine.... You beasts....” And she departed—straight, beautiful, and proud.

We were left standing in the middle of the yard amid the mud, under the rain and a grey sky that had no sun in it....

Then we too shuffled back to our damp stony dungeon. As of old, the sun never peered through our window, and Tanya came never more! ...