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Updated: May 25, 2025
But he put this thought aside, and went out slowly into the yard. In his snuff-coloured sukmana and black cap he looked like the stem of a pine, burnt at the top. The barn door was open, and by sheer perversity some bundles of straw were peeping out, luring Slimak to a doze. But he turned away his head and looked at one of the hills where he had sown oats that morning.
For this the gospodyni milked the cows at daybreak, baked bread, and moved her saucepans on and off the fire. For this Maciek, perspiring, dragged his lame leg after the plough and harrow, and Slimak, murmuring his morning-prayers, went at dawn to the manor-barn or drove into the town to deliver the corn which he had sold to the Jews.
Magda busied herself washing up the dinner things, singing 'Oh, da, da', louder and louder in proportion as the mistress went farther away. Jendrek began pushing Magda about, pulling the dog's tail and whistling penetratingly; finally he ran out with a spade into the orchard. Slimak sat by the stove. He was a man of medium height with a broad chest and powerful shoulders.
Seeing that help was approaching, Slimak dashed behind the barn and called out: 'Hey there! who are you? Something heavy fell to the ground. 'You wait! policeman for the Swabians, you shall soon know who we are! answered a voice in the darkness. 'Catch him! cried Slimak and Maciek simultaneously, but the thief had escaped to the ravines.
But these were interrupted the next afternoon by a visit from the Hamers; their cousin, Hermann, had his head so tightly bandaged that hardly anything was visible of his face. They stood outside the gate and shouted to Maciek to call his master. Slimak hastily fastened his belt and stepped out. 'What do you want? he said.
You see, the Germans have their Kaiser, but he's nothing like as great as our Czar; I have it from a soldier who was in the hospital, and he used to say: "Bah, he's nothing compared to ours!" This greatly reassured Slimak, and he went to church with his wife and son the next Sunday to find out what others, familiar with the ways of the law, thought of the matter.
'What's the use of making many words? said the Jew, holding up his hands, 'Maciek and the child have been frozen to death. Slimak sprang to his feet and looked for something to throw at the Jew, but staggered and held on to the wall. A hot wave rushed over him, his legs shook. Then he wondered why he should have been seized with fear like this. 'Where...when?
Amen! that's my last word. 'I won't! shouted Slimak. 'Am I a Jew that I should be paid for hospitality? 'Josef! his wife said warningly. 'Go away, woman! he cried, getting up with difficulty; 'I'll teach you to mix yourself up in my affairs. He suddenly fell into the embrace of the weeping Grochowski. 'Thirty-five.... 'Thirty-three... sobbed the Soltys; 'may I not burn in hell!
'What a gossip you are, father! Wilhelm will never do anything; you may find him ever so many hills. 'What do they want, daddy? Stasiek asked suddenly. 'Ah, yes! true! Slimak was roused: 'Heh, sir! The older man looked round. 'What are you asking me all those questions for? 'Because it pleases us to do so, the younger man answered, pushing his father into the carriage.
'What's the use of talking like that, when nothing is wrong? said Slimak, holding his aching head. 'Nothing wrong? You insisted on paying thirty-five paper roubles and a silver rouble when Grochowski was letting the cow go for thirty-three roubles. Nothing wrong, indeed! do three roubles mean nothing to you? Slimak crept to the bench where Stasiek lay and touched his feet.
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