Captain Ribnikov Page #12

"Captain Ribnikov" is a novel by Russian author Aleksandr Kuprin, published in 1913. The story revolves around the experiences of Captain Ribnikov, a dedicated and principled officer in the Russian Navy, as he confronts moral dilemmas and the harsh realities of life at sea. The narrative explores themes of duty, honor, and the complexities of human relationships, set against the backdrop of naval life. Kuprin's vivid storytelling captures the struggles of individuals grappling with their ideals and the often brutal world around them, making it a poignant reflection on the nature of loyalty and sacrifice.

• Novel

								

opened the shutters and with one sweep flung wide the window frames.
Below him the paved yard showed white with scanty grass between the
stones, and the branches of a few thin trees pointed upwards. He did
not hesitate for a second; but at the very moment that he sat sideways
on the iron frame of the window-sill, resting on it with his left hand,
with one foot already hanging down, and prepared to leap with his whole
body, the woman threw herself upon him with a piercing cry and caught
him by the left arm. Tearing himself away, he made a false movement and
suddenly, with a faint cry as though of surprise, fell in an awkward
heap straight down on the stones.

Almost at the very second the old door fell flat into the room. First
Leonka ran in, out of breath, showing his teeth; his eyes were aflame.
After him came huge policemen, stamping and holding their swords in
their left hands. When he saw the open window and the woman holding
on the frame and screaming without pause, Leonka quickly understood
what had happened. He was really a brave man, and without a thought or
a word, as though he had already planned it, he took a running leap
through the window.

He landed two steps away from Ribnikov, who lay motionless on his side.
In spite of the drumming in his head, and the intense pain in his belly
and his heels from the fall, he kept his head, and instantly threw
himself heavily with the full weight of his body on the captain.

‘A-ah. I’ve got you now,’ he uttered hoarsely, crushing his victim in
mad exasperation.

The captain did not resist. His eyes burned with an implacable hatred.
But he was pale as death, and a pink froth stood in bubbles on his lips.

‘Don’t crush me,’ he whispered. ‘My leg’s broken.’
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