Page 518 of 3800

Another, a younger voice, interrupted him: "Afraid or not, you

can't escape it anyhow."

"All the same, one is afraid! Oh, you clever people," said a

third manly voice interrupting them both. "Of course you

artillery men are very wise, because you can take everything

along with you-vodka and snacks."

And the owner of the manly voice, evidently an infantry officer,

laughed.

"Yes, one is afraid," continued the first speaker, he of the

familiar voice. "One is afraid of the unknown, that's what it is.

Whatever we may say about the soul going to the sky... we know

there is no sky but only an atmosphere."

The manly voice again interrupted the artillery officer.

"Well, stand us some of your herb vodka, Tushin," it said.

"Why," thought Prince Andrew, "that's the captain who stood up in

the sutler's hut without his boots." He recognized the agreeable,

philosophizing voice with pleasure.

"Some herb vodka? Certainly!" said Tushin. "But still, to

conceive a future life..."