Platonov: kuzov

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

Here is a paragraph from the second half of KOTLOVAN.  I’ll give the whole
thing in Cyrillic, and I’ll also transliterate the phrase that concerns me:

Около кузницы стоял автомобиль и жег бензин на одном месте. С него только
что сошел прибывший вместе с супругой Пашкин, чтобы с активной жадностью
обнаружить здесь остаточно го батрака и, снабдив его лучшей долей жизни,
распустить затем райком союза за халатность обслуживания членской массы. Но
еще Чиклин и Елисей не дошли до кузни, как товарищ Пашкин уже вышел из
помещения и отбыл на машине обратно, опустив только голову в кузов, будто не
зная – как ему теперь быть. Супруга товарища Пашкина из машины не выходила
вовсе: она лишь берегла своего любимого человека от встречных женщин,
обожающих власть ее мужа и принимавших твердость его руководства за силу
любви, которую он может им дать.

No eshche Chiklin I Elisey ne dshli do kuzni, kak tovarishch Pashkin uzhe
vyshel is pomeshcheniya i otbyl na mashine obratno, opustiv tol’ko golovu v
kuzov, budto ne znaya – kak emu byt’.

Here is the last half in English:
 But Chiklin and Yelisey were still on their way towards the smithy when
comrade Pashkin left the premises and departed back in his car, (??only)
hanging his head forward into the cabin (??) as if he did no know what to do
with himself.  Comrade Pashkin’s spouse had altogether remained in the car;
she was merely protecting her beloved man from oncoming women, who adored
her husband’s power and mistook the firmness of his administrative
leadership for the potency of the love he could offer them.

But as you can see, I really don’t know what to do with ‘golovu v kuzov’; I
don’t even know how to translate ‘kuzov’ on its own.

We don’t know this for sure, but it seems likely that Pashkin has a
chauffeur.  He is an important buraucrat, and the engine is clearly still
running while he visits the forge.  So it is likely, but not certain, that
he and his spouse are sitting in the back together.  We are about to learn
the reason for his sudden departure from the forge: he found a bear there,
working as the blacksmith’s assistant.

I am wondering as I write if this saying is of any relevance:
 назвался груздём, полезай в кузов (in for a penny, in for a pound).  It
seems possible: Pashkin has, after all, failed to honour his original
intention of doing what he can to help the district’s last, unknown
proletarian (i.e. the bear!).

Best Wishes,

Robert

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