Entry 45

45


"Quod forti placuit legis habet valorem."

["What pleases the prince has the force of law." 
-- Gnaeus Domitius Annius Ulpianus; c. 170 – 228, Roman jurist]

Sailor Khokhriakov -- the special envoy of the Sovnarkom -- and his band.

Here is the real danger, but only in case Colonel Kobylinsky and his
Detachment of Special Destination would consent to join the Soviets.
They all hesitate, not the Colonel, however.

The meeting of the Peoples' Commissaries from Petrograd (Khokhriakov)
and Kaganitsky (from Ural, I guess) is certainly worthy of
description. I went there, leaving for that reason my Mansion
duties -- (simply by saying to Pashinsky "tell them I am not coming
to the Mansion as I have to attend the meeting"); nowadays military
service is really a pleasure.

We all were sitting in the recreation room, about sixty or seventy
of us in all. Khokhriakov presided. His neck is like a bull's, but
rougher--and red. He started the meeting by a thunderous "Shut up,
you over there!" and "Somebody open the window; who in hell is smoking
such ... tobacco (I omit the adjective, though correct and strikingly
expressive, but profane)?"

The noise stopped under this voice, the windows were thrown open, and
our Peoples' Commissary began:

"Comrades,--before us are three questions; 1st--whether to release the
prisoners and give them to the Tobolsk people under the auspices of
Comrade Kobylinsky and his men, or 2d--whether to try the prisoners
right here by the people's tribunal, or 3d--to comply with some other
requests--which I have the authority to propose--to send the prisoners
to a Ural city. 

Let us proceed with the first question. I put this
proposition to the ballot in this way: the Tobolians, and amongst them
the popes, the monarchists, all of the counter-revolutionary trash do
not want the Peoples' rule. So they say that the Nikolai family must
be given to the Constituent Assembly. Now, what in the hell of hells,
do they mean by this? What is a Constituant Assembly? Isn't it
a crowd of the same enemies of the people? Isn't this 'Parliament'
against our will? Shall we, proletarians, consider the question of a
Constituent Assembly? Would it not be an act of counter-revolution?
Come out here, right before me, the one that will dare to propose such
a thing," and the ten pound wooly fist of the sailor was lifted and
held for moments in the filthy air of the recreation room.

This rhetorical question, in fact, was not necessary, as we all,
hearing the word "Proletariat" in the middle of Khokhriakov's speech
had already started to make a noise and to applaud, the cheers densely
hung in the room -- and even before he said, "I knew you are
good proletarians and would drown this proposition, God damn
you -- carried," -- the fate of this weak and impossible thing at that
time, the hope for a Constituent Assembly -- was told. In no way would
it do.

"Now comrades,"--Khokhriakov continued after a short confidential chat
with the curly, blond, small-faced and long-eared Kaganitsky, -- "comes
the next proposition. I warn you, however; no matter how tempting this
proposition is, do not make any harsh decision. We know your zeal in
Petrograd -- that's why we all would want you to say your word, but ...
if I see that someone is too zealous, I'd rather keep silent if I were
he. Can we try these bloodsuckers here?"

An impossible noise began after his words.

"Try?" -- "Why? Kill them all, that's all." "Kill the Czar," -- "Kill the
brat." "Let them go." "To hell with all of them." "Let's try them, of
course." "Give the women to the people." "Put their guts out," etc.,
etc....

"Shut up you all," shouted Khokhriakov, "let me count the votes. I see
you cannot decide, though you all don't want the trial here! Is
that so? All right, as you wish, the will of people must prevail.
What? Who said it is not so? Come out you counter-revolutionary,
you monarchist, you royal carrion, -- come out and say it to my face,
don't hide, you...." Nobody came out. This categorical imperative
could surpass the Kant's.... Kaganitzky's face, smiling, and with
moving flappy ears, was in accord with this understanding, and when
Khokhriakov barked his -- "Carried," he bowed his head.

The audience was then silenced.

"Now, comrades, comes the next proposition, -- to send the prisoners
away, -- to the Ural city, probably Ekaterinburg. Comrade Kaganitzky is
here. He says, they will be treated very well (Laughter) and they
will not be in danger of the Czechs, and popes, and monarchists. The
comrades of the detachment and Comrade Kobylinsky -- agreed. How do you
like this? Say, who is against it? Come out!"

Free people in a free country -- consented. After which consent a
commission under the chairmanship of Kaganitzky was appointed to
elaborate particulars. The Detachment of Special Destination was thus
dissolved and Comrade Kobylinsky was allowed to proceed to Petrograd.

With a headache from the noise and smoke I left the court-room and
went out in the City Square to breathe a little fresh air. Children
were playing with sand and toys. Children of the New Russia! Russia
of free speech, free thoughts, free ways! God, what will grow out of
you?... I wanted to pet one of them, a little thing with gray eyes,
but frightened to death of a "Red" -- the child yelled and ran; from a
distance it shook at me a little trembling fist. So -- it is not so bad.

While in the garden -- the court room probably was emptied, as few
shots were fired behind me, -- on the hill, and shortly after, a
gala-demonstration started -- with a rattling of stones on the roof
of the Mansion, whistles, songs and a general delirium of the
uncontrolled and wicked mob ...

Feeling the bridles of the High Commissaries, unable to do something
to them, understanding the guidance under a sauce of self government,
the mob was avenging itself on the inhabitants of the Mansion.