波波小说

第3部分（第4页）

〃Somebody　said　you　should　be　able　to　learn　it　in　two　weeks。〃

〃Oh；　Ill　not　learn　it　in　two　weeks。　Ive　studied　it　for　months　now。　You　may　e　and　see　her　after　seven　oclock　if　you　wish。　Shell　be　off　then。　But　dont　bring　a　lot　of　Italians。〃

〃Not　even　for　the　beautiful　language？〃

〃No。　Nor　for　the　beautiful　uniforms。〃

〃Good　evening；〃　I　said。

〃A　rivederci；　Tenente。〃

〃A　rivederla。〃　I　saluted　and　went　out。　It　was　impossible　to　salute　foreigners　as　an　Italian；　without　embarrassment。　The　Italian　salute　never　seemed　made　for　export。

The　day　had　been　hot。　I　had　been　up　the　river　to　the　bridgehead　at　Plava。　It　was　there　that　the　offensive　was　to　begin。　It　had　been　impossible　to　advance　on　the　far　side　the　year　before　because　there　was　only　one　road　leading　down　from　the　pass　to　the　pontoon　bridge　and　it　was　under　machine…gun　and　shell　fire　for　nearly　a　mile。　It　was　not　wide　enough　either　to　carry　all　the　transport　for　an　offensive　and　the　Austrians　could　make　a　shambles　out　of　it。　But　the　Italians　had　crossed　and　spread　out　a　little　way　on　the　far　side　to　hold　about　a　mile　and　a　half　on　the　Austrian　side　of　the　river。　It　was　a　nasty　place　and　the　Austrians　should　not　have　let　them　hold　it。　I　suppose　it　was　mutual　tolerance　because　the　Austrians　still　kept　a　bridgehead　further　down　the　river。　The　Austrian　trenches　were　above　on　the　hillside　only　a　few　yards　from　the　Italian　lines。　There　had　been　a　little　town　but　it　was　all　rubble。　There　was　what　was　left　of　a　railway　station　and　a　smashed　permanent　bridge　that　could　not　be　repaired　and　used　because　it　was　in　plain　sight。

I　went　along　the　narrow　road　down　toward　the　river；　left　the　car　at　the　dressing　station　under　the　hill；　crossed　the　pontoon　bridge；　which　was　protected　by　a　shoulder　of　the　mountain；　and　went　through　the　trenches　in　the　smashed…down　town　and　along　the　edge　of　the　slope。　Everybody　was　in　the　dugouts。　There　were　racks　of　rockets　standing　to　be　touched　off　to　call　for　help　from　the　artillery　or　to　signal　with　if　the　telephone　wires　were　cut。　It　was　quiet；　hot　and　dirty。　I　looked　across　the　wire　at　the　Austrian　lines。　Nobody　was　in　sight。　I　had　a　drink　with　a　captain　that　I　knew　in　one　of　the　dugouts　and　went　back　across　the　bridge。

A　new　wide　road　was　being　finished　that　would　go　over　the　mountain　and　zig…zag　down　to　the　bridge。　When　this　road　was　finished　the　offensive　would　start。　It　came　down　through　the　forest　in　sharp　turns。　The　system　was　to　bring　everything　down　the　new　road　and　take　the　empty　trucks；　carts　and　loaded　ambulances　and　all　returning　traffic　up　the　old　narrow　road。　The　dressing　station　was　on　the　Austrian　side　of　the　river　under　the　edge　of　the　hill　and　stretcher…bearers　would　bring　the　wounded　back　across　the　pontoon　bridge。　It　would　be　the　same　when　the　offensive　started。　As　far　as　I　could　make　out　the　last　mile　or　so　of　the　new　road　where　it　started　to　level　out　would　be　able　to　be　shelled　steadily　by　the　Austrians。　It　looked　as　though　it　might　be　a　mess。　But　I　found　a　place　where　the　cars　would　be　sheltered　after　they　passed　that　last　badlooking　bit　and　could　wait　for　the　wounded　to　be　brought　across　the　pontoon　bridge。　I　would　have　liked　to　drive　over　the　new　road　but　it　was　not　yet　finished。　It　looked　wide　and　well　made　with　a　good　grade　and　the　turns　looked　very　impressive　where　you　could　see　them　through　openings　in　the　forest　on　the　mountain　side。　The　cars　would　be　all　right　with　their　good　metal…to…metal　brakes　and　anyway；　ing　down；　they　would　not　be　loaded。　I　drove　back　up　the　narrow　road。

Two　carabinieri　held　the　car　up。　A　shell　had　fallen　and　while　we　waited　three　others　fell　up　the　road。　They　were　seventy…sevens　and　came　with　a　whishing　rush　of　air；　a　hard　bright　burst　and　flash　and　then　gray　smoke　that　blew　across　the　road。　The　carabinieri　waved　us　to　go　on。　Passing　where　the　shells　had　landed　I　avoided　the　small　broken　places　and　smelled　the　high　explosive　and　the　smell　of　blasted　clay　and　stone　and　freshly　shattered　flint。　I　drove　back　to　Gorizia　and　our　villa　and；　as　I　said；　went　to　call　on　Miss　Barkley；　who　was　on　duty。

At　dinner　I　ate　very　quickly　and　left　for　the　villa　where　the　British　had　their　hospital。　It　was　really　very　large　and　beautiful　and　there　were　fine　trees　in　the　grounds。　Miss　Barkley　was　sitting　on　a　bench　in　the　garden。　Miss　Ferguson　was　with　her。　They　seemed　glad　to　see　me　and　in　a　little　while　Miss　Ferguson　excused　herself　and　went　away。

〃Ill　leave　you　two；〃　she　said。　〃You　get　along　very　well　without　me。〃

〃Dont　go；　Helen；〃　Miss　Barkley　said。

〃Id　really　rather。　I　must　write　some　letters。〃

〃Good…night；〃　I　said。

〃Good…night；　Mr。　Henry。〃

〃Dont　write　anything　that　will　bother　the　censor。〃

〃Dont　worry。　I　only　write　about　what　a　beautiful　place　we　live　in　and　how　brave　the　Italians　are。〃

〃That　way　youll　be　decorated。〃

〃That　will　be　nice。　Good…night；　Catherine。〃

〃Ill　see　you　in　a　little　while；〃　Miss　Barkley　said。　Miss　Ferguson　walked　away　in　the　dark。

〃Shes　nice；〃　I　said。

〃Oh；　yes；　shes　very　nice。　Shes　a　nurse。〃

〃Arent　you　a　nurse？〃

〃Oh；　no。　Im　something　called　a　V。　A。　D。　We　work　very　hard　but　no　one　trusts　us。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃They　dont　trust　us　when　theres　nothing　going　on。　When　there　is　really　work　they　trust　us。〃

〃What　is　the　difference？〃

〃A　nurse　is　like　a　doctor。　It　takes　a　long　time　to　be。　A　V。　A。　D。　is　a　short　cut。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃The　Italians　didnt　want　women　so　near　the　front。　So　were　all

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