Soon after this I bad another encounter with Migun. He came to the office for lime-bast,[1] when I happened to be alone. I asked him:
"Why do you always make fun of me, Savel?"
He showed his teeth and stared at me with his piercing eyes.
"I haven't much business here," he said. "I only came for lime-bast."
My legs trembled beneath me and my hands clenched of themselves. I clutched his throat and shook him lightly.
"What have I done?"
He was not frightened, nor was he angry. He simply took my hand and pushed it from his throat as if it were he, not I, who was the stronger. "When you are choking some one, he cannot speak well," he said. "Let me alone," he continued; "I have received beatings enough, and I don't need yours. Besides, you mustn't strike any one. It is against the commandments."
He spoke quietly and mockingly, in a light tone. I shouted:
"What do you want here?"
"Some lime-bast."