Cain Page #3

"Cain" by Aleksandr Kuprin is a novella that delves into the profound themes of existence, morality, and the human condition through the lens of a soldier's psychological turmoil. The story follows the protagonist, driven by a deep sense of guilt and existential questioning, as he grapples with his experiences in war and the impact of violence on his psyche. Kuprin's poignant narrative explores the complexities of human nature, touching on the struggle between good and evil, and ultimately reflects on redemption and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. The novella is noted for its lyrical prose and intense emotional depth, making it a compelling exploration of the darker sides of humanity.

• Novel

								

immensely tall, so that his hair seemed to touch the ceiling. He began
to speak again, slowly, monotonously, terribly:

"I saw how the blood of man was first shed upon the earth. There were
two brothers. One was gentle, tender, industrious, compassionate; the
other, the elder, was proud, cruel, and envious. One day they both
brought offerings to the Lord according to the custom of their fathers:
the younger brought of the fruits of the earth, the elder of the flesh
of animals killed by him in the chase. But the elder cherished in
his heart a feeling of ill-will towards his brother, and the smoke
of his sacrifice spread itself out over the earth, while that of his
brother ascended as an upright column to the heavens. Then the hate and
envy which oppressed the soul of the elder overflowed, and there was
committed the first murder on the earth...."

"Go away, leave me ... for God's sake," Markof muttered to himself, and
tossed about in his crumpled sheets.

"Yes, I saw his eyes grow wide with the terror of death, and his
clenched fingers clutch convulsively at the sand, wet with his blood.
And when after his last shudder his pale cold body lay still upon the
ground, then the murderer was overwhelmed by an unbearable terror.
He hid his face in his hands and ran into the depths of the forest,
and lay trembling there, until at eventide he heard the voice of his
offended God--'Cain, where is thy brother Abel?'"

"Go away; don't torture me!" Markof's lips could scarcely move. Yet he
seemed to hear the voice continue,

"In fear and trembling I answered the Lord, 'Am I my brother's keeper?'
And then the Lord pronounced on me an eternal curse:

"'Thou shalt remain among the number of the living as long as the
earth shall endure. Thou shalt roam as a homeless wanderer through all
centuries, among all nations and in all lands, and thine eyes shall
behold nought but the blood shed by thee upon the earth, thine ears
shall hear only the moans of the dying--eternal reminders of the
brother thou hast slain.'"

There was silence for a moment, and when the old man spoke again each
word fell into Markof's soul with pain:

"O Lord, how just and inexorable is Thy judgment! Already many
centuries and tens of centuries have I wandered upon the earth, vainly
expecting to die. A mighty and merciless power ever calls me to appear
where on the battlefields the soldiers lie dead in their blood, where
mothers weep, and curses are heaped upon me, the first murderer. There
is no end to my sufferings, for every time I see the blood of man
flowing from his body I see again my brother, stretched out upon the
ground clutching handfuls of sand with his dying fingers ... And in
vain do I desire to cry out, 'Awake! Awake! Awake!'"

"Wake up, your honour, wake!" The insistent voice of the sergeant-major
sounded in Markof's ears. "A telegram!..."

The captain was awake and on his feet in a moment. His strong will
asserted itself at once, as usual. The fire had long since died out,
and the pale light of dawn gleamed through the window.

"What about ... those ..." asked Markof, in a trembling voice.

"As you ordered, your honour, just this moment."

"But the old man? The old man?"

"As well."

The captain sank down upon the bed as if his strength had suddenly left
him. The sergeant-major stood at attention beside him, awaiting orders.

"That's it, brother," said the captain in a feeble voice. "You must
take the command in my place. I will send in my papers to-day, for
I ... I ... 'm absolutely tormented by this cursed fever.... And
perhaps"--he tried to smile, but only distorted his features by the
effort--"perhaps I may soon be entirely at rest."

The sergeant-major saluted and answered calmly, as if nothing could
surprise him,

"Yes, your honour."
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