A passenger train is standing exactly opposite the door, and behind it a red building with a roofed-in platform -- a big station with a refreshment bar.The roofs and bridges of the trains, the earth, the sleepers, all are covered with a thin coating of fluffy, freshly fallen snow.In the spaces between the carriages of the passenger train the passengers can be seen moving to and fro, and a red-haired, red-faced gendarme walking up and down; a waiter in a frock-coat and a snow-white shirt-front, looking cold and sleepy, and probably very much dissatisfied with his fate, is running along the platform carrying a glass of tea and two rusks on a tray.
The old man gets up and begins saying his prayers towards the east.Yasha, having finished with the bullock and put down the spade in the corner, stands beside him and says his prayers also.
He merely moves his lips and crosses himself; the father prays in a loud whisper and pronounces the end of each prayer aloud and distinctly.
"...And the life of the world to come.Amen," the old man says aloud, draws in a breath, and at once whispers another prayer, rapping out clearly and firmly at the end: "...and lay calves upon Thy altar!"After saying his prayers, Yasha hurriedly crosses himself and says: "Five kopecks, please."And on being given the five-kopeck piece, he takes a red copper teapot and runs to the station for boiling water.Taking long jumps over the rails and sleepers, leaving huge tracks in the feathery snow, and pouring away yesterday's tea out of the teapot he runs to the refreshment room and jingles his five-kopeck piece against his teapot.From the van the bar-keeper can be seen pushing away the big teapot and refusing to give half of his samovar for five kopecks, but Yasha turns the tap himself and, spreading wide his elbows so as not to be interfered with fills his teapot with boiling water.
"Damned blackguard!" the bar-keeper shouts after him as he runs back to the railway van.
The scowling face of Malahin grows a little brighter over the tea.
"We know how to eat and drink, but we don't remember our work.
Yesterday we could do nothing all day but eat and drink, and I'll be bound we forgot to put down what we spent.What a memory! Lord have mercy on us!"The old man recalls aloud the expenditure of the day before, and writes down in a tattered notebook where and how much he had given to guards, engine-drivers, oilers....
Meanwhile the passenger train has long ago gone off, and an engine runs backwards and forwards on the empty line, apparently without any definite object, but simply enjoying its freedom.The sun has risen and is playing on the snow; bright drops are falling from the station roof and the tops of the vans.
Having finished his tea, the old man lazily saunters from the van to the station.Here in the middle of the first-class waiting-room he sees the familiar figure of the guard standing beside the station-master, a young man with a handsome beard and in a magnificent rough woollen overcoat.The young man, probably new to his position, stands in the same place, gracefully shifting from one foot to the other like a good racehorse, looks from side to side, salutes everyone that passes by, smiles and screws up his eyes....He is red-cheeked, sturdy, and good-humored; his face is full of eagerness, and is as fresh as though he had just fallen from the sky with the feathery snow.
Seeing Malahin, the guard sighs guiltily and throws up his hands.
"We can't go number fourteen," he says."We are very much behind time.Another train has gone with that number."The station-master rapidly looks through some forms, then turns his beaming blue eyes upon Malahin, and, his face radiant with smiles and freshness, showers questions on him:
"You are Mr.Malahin? You have the cattle? Eight vanloads? What is to be done now? You are late and I let number fourteen go in the night.What are we to do now?"The young man discreetly takes hold of the fur of Malahin's coat with two pink fingers and, shifting from one foot to the other, explains affably and convincingly that such and such numbers have gone already, and that such and such are going, and that he is ready to do for Malahin everything in his power.And from his face it is evident that he is ready to do anything to please not only Malahin, but the whole world -- he is so happy, so pleased, and so delighted! The old man listens, and though he can make absolutely nothing of the intricate system of numbering the trains, he nods his head approvingly, and he, too, puts two fingers on the soft wool of the rough coat.He enjoys seeing and hearing the polite and genial young man.To show goodwill on his side also, he takes out a ten-rouble note and, after a moment's thought, adds a couple of rouble notes to it, and gives them to the station-master.The latter takes them, puts his finger to his cap, and gracefully thrusts them into his pocket.
"Well, gentlemen, can't we arrange it like this?" he says, kindled by a new idea that has flashed on him."The troop train is late,...as you see, it is not here,...so why shouldn't you go as the troop train?** And I will let the troop train go as twenty-eight.Eh?""If you like," agrees the guard.
"Excellent!" the station-master says, delighted."In that case there is no need for you to wait here; you can set off at once.
I'll dispatch you immediately.Excellent!"He salutes Malahin and runs off to his room, reading forms as he goes.The old man is very much pleased by the conversation that has just taken place; he smiles and looks about the room as though looking for something else agreeable.
"We'll have a drink, though," he says, taking the guard's arm.
"It seems a little early for drinking."
"No, you must let me treat you to a glass in a friendly way."They both go to the refreshment bar.After having a drink the guard spends a long time selecting something to eat.
