The benefit was for all." The whistle blew, drowning the talk of the crowd.

The people started.
Those sitting rose to their feet.

For a moment the silence of death prevailed; all became watchful, and many faces grew pale.
"Comrades!" resounded Pavel's voice, ringing and firm.
A dry, hot haze burned the mother's eyes, and with a single movement of her body, suddenly strengthened, she stood behind her son.

All turned toward Pavel, and drew up to him, like iron filings attracted by a magnet.
"Brothers! The hour has come to give up this life of ours, this life of greed, hatred, and darkness, this life of violence and falsehood, this life where there is no place for us, where we are no human beings." He stopped, and everybody maintained silence, moving still closer to him.

The mother stared at her son.