精校书屋

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第2部分（第2页）

〃Must　attack。　Shall　attack！〃

The　priest　nodded。

〃Leave　him　alone；〃　the　major　said。　〃Hes　all　right。〃

〃He　cant　do　anything　about　it　anyway；〃　the　captain　said。　We　all　got　up　and　left　the　table。

4

The　battery　in　the　next　garden　woke　me　in　the　morning　and　I　saw　the　sun　ing　through　the　window　and　got　out　of　the　bed。　I　went　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　The　gravel　paths　were　moist　and　the　grass　was　wet　with　dew。　The　battery　fired　twice　and　the　air　came　each　time　like　a　blow　and　shook　the　window　and　made　the　front　of　my　pajamas　flap。　I　could　not　see　the　guns　but　they　were　evidently　firing　directly　over　us。　It　was　a　nuisance　to　have　them　there　but　it　was　a　fort　that　they　were　no　bigger。　As　I　looked　out　at　the　garden　I　heard　a　motor　truck　starting　on　the　road。　I　dressed；　went　downstairs；　had　some　coffee　in　the　kitchen　and　went　out　to　the　garage。

Ten　cars　were　lined　up　side　by　side　under　the　long　shed。　They　were　top…heavy；　blunt…nosed　ambulances；　painted　gray　and　built　like　moving…vans。　The　mechanics　were　working　on　one　out　in　the　yard。　Three　others　were　up　in　the　mountains　at　dressing　stations。

〃Do　they　ever　shell　that　battery？〃　Tasked　one　of　the　mechanics。

〃No；　Signor　Tenente。　It　is　protected　by　the　little　hill。〃

〃Hows　everything？〃

〃Not　so　bad。　This　machine　is　no　good　but　the　others　march。〃　He　stopped　working　and　smiled。　〃Were　you　on　permission？〃

〃Yes。〃

He　wiped　his　hands　on　his　jumper　and　grinned。　〃You　have　a　good　time？〃　The　others　all　grinned　too。

〃Fine；〃　I　said。　〃Whats　the　matter　with　this　machine？〃

〃Its　no　good。　One　thing　after　another。〃

〃Whats　the　matter　now？〃

〃New　rings。〃

I　left　them　working；　the　car　looking　disgraced　and　empty　with　the　engine　open　and　parts　spread　on　the　work　bench；　and　went　in　under　the　shed　and　looked　at　each　of　the　cars。　They　were　moderately　clean；　a　few　freshly　washed；　the　others　dusty。　I　looked　at　the　tires　carefully；　looking　for　cuts　or　stone　bruises。　Everything　seemed　in　good　condition。　It　evidently　made　no　difference　whether　I　was　there　to　look　after　things　or　not。　I　had　imagined　that　the　condition　of　the　cars；　whether　or　not　things　were　obtainable；　the　smooth　functioning　of　the　business　of　removing　wounded　and　sick　from　the　dressing　stations；　hauling　them　back　from　the　mountains　to　the　clearing　station　and　then　distributing　them　to　the　hospitals　named　on　their　papers；　depended　to　a　considerable　extent　on　myself。　Evidently　it　did　not　matter　whether　I　was　there　or　not。

〃Has　there　been　any　trouble　getting　parts？〃　I　asked　the　sergeant　mechanic。

〃No；　Signor　Tenente。〃

〃Where　is　the　gasoline　park　now？〃

〃At　the　same　place。〃

〃Good；〃　I　said　and　went　back　to　the　house　and　drank　another　bowl　of　coffee　at　the　mess　table。　The　coffee　was　a　pale　gray　and　sweet　with　condensed　milk。　Outside　the　window　it　was　a　lovely　spring　morning。　There　was　that　beginning　of　a　feeling　of　dryness　in　the　nose　that　meant　the　day　would　be　hot　later　on。　That　day　I　visited　the　posts　in　the　mountains　and　was　back　in　town　late　in　the　afternoon。

The　whole　thing　seemed　to　run　better　while　I　was　away。　The　offensive　was　going　to　start　again　I　heard。　The　division　for　which　we　worked　were　to　attack　at　a　place　up　the　river　and　the　major　told　me　that　I　would　see　about　the　posts　for　during　the　attack。　The　attack　would　cross　the　river　up　above　the　narrow　gorge　and　spread　up　the　hillside。　The　posts　for　the　cars　would　have　to　be　as　near　the　river　as　they　could　get　and　keep　covered。　They　would；　of　course；　be　selected　by　the　infantry　but　we　were　supposed　to　work　it　out。　It　was　one　of　those　things　that　gave　you　a　false　feeling　of　soldiering。

I　was　very　dusty　and　dirty　and　went　up　to　my　room　to　wash。　Rinaldi　was　sitting　on　the　bed　with　a　copy　of　Hugos　English　grammar。　He　was　dressed；　wore　his　black　boots；　and　his　hair　shone。

〃Splendid；〃　he　said　when　he　saw　me。　〃You　will　e　with　me　to　see　Miss　Barkley。〃

〃No。

〃Yes。　You　will　please　e　and　make　me　a　good　impression　on　her。〃

〃All　right。　Wait　till　I　get　cleaned　up。〃

〃Wash　up　and　e　as　you　are。〃

I　washed；　brushed　my　hair　and　we　started。

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Rinaldi　said。　〃Perhaps　we　should　have　a　drink。〃　He　opened　his　trunk　and　took　out　a　bottle。

〃Not　Strega；〃　I　said。

〃No。　Grappa。〃

〃All　right。〃

He　poured　two　glasses　and　we　to

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