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第9部分（第1页）

〃Were　almost　up。〃

〃Hes　dead　I　think；〃　I　said。

The　drops　fell　very　slowly；　as　they　fall　from　an　icicle　after　the　sun　has　gone。　It　was　cold　in　the　car　in　the　night　as　the　road　climbed。　At　the　post　on　the　top　they　took　the　stretcher　out　and　put　another　in　and　we　went　on。

10

In　the　ward　at　the　field　hospital　they　told　me　a　visitor　was　ing　to　see　me　in　the　afternoon。　It　was　a　hot　day　and　there　were　many　flies　in　the　room。　My　orderly　had　cut　paper　into　strips　and　tied　the　strips　to　a　stick　to　make　a　brush　that　swished　the　flies　away。　I　watched　them　settle　on　the　ceiling。　When　he　stopped　swishing　and　fell　asleep　they　came　down　and　I　blew　them　away　and　finally　covered　my　face　with　my　hands　and　slept　too。　It　was　very　hot　and　when　I　woke　my　legs　itched。　I　waked　the　orderly　and　he　poured　mineral　water　on　the　dressings。　That　made　the　bed　damp　and　cool。　Those　of　us　that　were　awake　talked　across　the　ward。　The　afternoon　was　a　quiet　time。　In　the　morning　they　came　to　each　bed　in　turn；　three　men　nurses　and　a　doctor　and　picked　you　up　out　of　bed　and　carried　you　into　the　dressing　room　so　that　the　beds　could　be　made　while　we　were　having　our　wounds　dressed。　It　was　not　a　pleasant　trip　to　the　dressing　room　and　I　did　not　know　until　later　that　beds　could　be　made　with　men　in　them。　My　orderly　had　finished　pouring　water　and　the　bed　felt　cool　and　lovely　and　I　was　telling　him　where　to　scratch　on　the　soles　of　my　feet　against　the　itching　when　one　of　the　doctors　brought　in　Rinaldi。　He　came　in　very　fast　and　bent　down　over　the　bed　and　kissed　me。　I　saw　he　wore　gloves。

〃How　are　you；　baby？　How　do　you　feel？　I　bring　you　this……〃　It　was　a　bottle　of　cognac。　The　orderly　brought　a　chair　and　he　sat　down；　〃and　good　news。　You　will　be　decorated。　They　want　to　get　you　the　medaglia　dargento　but　perhaps　they　can　get　only　the　bronze。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃Because　you　are　gravely　wounded。　They　say　if　you　can　prove　you　did　any　heroic　act　you　can　get　the　silver。　Otherwise　it　will　be　the　bronze。　Tell　me　exactly　what　happened。　Did　you　do　any　heroic　act？〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I　was　blown　up　while　we　were　eating　cheese。〃

〃Be　serious。　You　must　have　done　something　heroic　either　before　or　after。　Remember　carefully。〃

〃I　did　not。〃

〃Didnt　you　carry　anybody　on　your　back？　Gordini　says　you　carried　several　people　on　your　back　but　the　medical　major　at　the　first　post　declares　it　is　impossible。　He　had　to　sign　the　proposition　for　the　citation。〃

〃I　didnt　carry　anybody。　I　couldnt　move。〃

〃That　doesnt　matter；〃　said　Rinaldi。

He　took　off　his　gloves。

〃I　think　we　can　get　you　the　silver。　Didnt　you　refuse　to　be　medically　aided　before　the　others？〃

〃Not　very　firmly。〃

〃That　doesnt　matter。　Look　how　you　are　wounded。　Look　at　your　valorous　conduct　in　asking　to　go　always　to　the　first　line。　Besides；　the　operation　was　successful。〃

〃Did　they　cross　the　river　all　right？〃

〃Enormously。　They　take　nearly　a　thousand　prisoners。　Its　in　the　bulletin。　Didnt　you　see　it？〃

〃No。〃

〃Ill　bring　it　to　you。　It　is　a　successful　coup　de　main。〃

〃How　is　everything？〃

〃Splendid。　We　are　all　splendid。　Everybody　is　proud　of　you。　Tell　me　just　exactly　how　it　happened。　I　am　positive　you　will　get　the　silver。　Go　on　tell　me。　Tell　me　all　about　it。〃　He　paused　and　thought。　〃Maybe　you　will　get　an　English　medal　too。　There　was　an　English　there。　Ill　go　and　see　him　and　ask　if　he　will　remend　you。　He　ought　to　be　able　to　do　something。　Do　you　suffer　much？　Have　a　drink。　Orderly；　go　get　a　corkscrew。　Oh　you　should　see　what　I　did　in　the　removal　of　three　metres　of　small　intestine　and　better　now　than　ever。　It　is　one　for　The　Lancet。　You　do　me　a　translation　and　I　will　send　it　to　The　Lancet。　Every　day　I　am　better。　Poor　dear　baby；　how　do　you　feel？　Where　is　that　damn　corkscrew？　You　are　so　brave　and　quiet　I　forget　you　are　suffering。〃　He　slapped　his　gloves　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。

〃Here　is　the　corkscrew；　Signor　Tenente；〃　the　orderly　said。

〃Open　the　bottle。　Bring　a　glass。　Drink　that；　baby。　How　is　your　poor　head？　I　looked　at　your　papers。　You　havent　any　fracture。　That　major　at　the　first　post　was　a　hog…butcher。　I　would　take　you　and　never　hurt　you。　I　never　hurt　anybody。　I　learn　how　to　do　it。　Every　day　I　learn　to　do　things　smoother　and　better。　You　must　forgive　me　for　talking　so　much；　baby。　I　am　very　moved　to　see　you　badly　wounded。　There；　drink　that。　Its　good。　It　cost　fifteen　lire。　It　ought　to　be　good。　Five　stars。　After　I　leave　here　Ill　go　see　that　English　and　hell　get　you　an　English　medal。〃

〃They　dont　give　them　like　that。〃

〃You　are　so　modest。　I　will　send　the　liaison　officer。　He　can　handle　the　English。〃

〃Have　you　seen　Miss　Barkley？〃

〃I　will　bring　her　here。　I　will　go　now　and　bring　her　here。〃

〃Dont　go；〃　I　said。　〃Tell　me　about　Gorizia。　How　are　the　girls？〃

〃There　are　no　girls。　For　two　weeks　now　they　havent　changed　them。　I　dont　go　there　any　more。　It　is　disgraceful。　They　arent　girls；　they　are　old　war　rades。〃

〃You　dont　go　at　all？〃

〃I　just　go　to　see　if　there　is　anything　new。　I　stop　by。　They　all　ask　for　you。　It　is　a　disgrace　that　they　should　stay　so　long　that　they　bee　friends。〃

〃Maybe　girls　dont　want　to　go　to　the　front　any　more。〃

〃Of　course　they　do。　They　have　plenty　of　girls。　It　is　just　bad　administration。　They　are　keeping　them　for　the　pleasure　of　dugout　hiders　in　the　rear。〃

〃Poor　Rinaldi；〃　I　said。　〃All　alone　at　the　war　with　no　new　girls。〃

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