波波小说

第20部分（第3页）

〃All　right。　You　go　first。〃

24

We　walked　down　the　stairs　instead　of　taking　the　elevator。　The　carpet　on　the　stairs　was　worn。　I　had　paid　for　the　dinner　when　it　came　up　and　the　waiter；　who　had　brought　it；　was　sitting　on　a　chair　near　the　door。　He　jumped　up　and　bowed　and　I　went　with　him　into　the　side　room　and　paid　the　bill　for　the　room。　The　manager　had　remembered　me　as　a　friend　and　refused　payment　in　advance　but　when　he　retired　he　had　remembered　to　have　the　waiter　stationed　at　the　door　so　that　I　should　not　get　out　without　paying。　I　suppose　that　had　happened；　even　with　his　friends。　One　had　so　many　friends　in　a　war。

I　asked　the　waiter　to　get　us　a　carriage　and　he　took　Catherines　package　that　I　was　carrying　and　went　out　with　an　umbrella。　Outside　through　the　window　we　saw　him　crossing　the　street　in　the　rain。　We　stood　in　the　side　room　and　looked　out　the　window。

〃How　do　you　feel；　Cat？〃

〃Sleepy。〃

〃I　feel　hollow　and　hungry。〃

〃Have　you　anything　to　eat？〃

〃Yes；　in　my　musette。〃

I　saw　the　carriage　ing。　It　stopped；　the　horses　head　hanging　in　the　rain；　and　the　waiter　stepped　out；　opened　his　umbrella；　and　came　toward　the　hotel。　We　met　him　at　the　door　and　walked　out　under　the　umbrella　down　the　wet　walk　to　the　carriage　at　the　curb。　Water　was　running　in　the　gutter。

〃There　is　your　package　on　the　seat；〃　the　waiter　said。　He　stood　with　the　umbrella　until　we　were　in　and　I　had　tipped　him。

〃Many　thanks。　Pleasant　journey；〃　he　said。　The　coachman　lifted　the　reins　and　the　horse　started。　The　waiter　turned　away　under　the　umbrella　and　went　toward　the　hotel。　We　drove　down　the　street　and　turned　to　the　left；　then　came　around　to　the　right　in　front　of　the　station。　There　were　two　carabinieri　standing　under　the　light　just　out　of　the　rain。　The　light　shone　on　their　hats。　The　rain　was　clear　and　transparent　against　the　light　from　the　station。　A　porter　came　out　from　under　the　shelter　of　the　station；　his　shoulders　up　against　the　rain。

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Thanks。　I　dont　need　thee。〃

He　went　back　under　the　shelter　of　the　archway。　I　turned　to　Catherine。　Her　face　was　in　the　shadow　from　the　hood　of　the　carriage。

〃We　might　as　well　say　good…by。〃

〃I　cant　go　in？〃

〃No。〃

〃Good…by；　Cat。〃

〃Will　you　tell　him　the　hospital？〃

〃Yes。〃

I　told　the　driver　the　address　to　drive　to。　He　nodded。

〃Good…by；〃　I　said。　〃Take　good　care　of　yourself　and　young　Catherine。〃

〃Good…by；　darling。〃

〃Good…by；〃　I　said。　I　stepped　out　into　the　rain　and　the　carriage　started。　Catherine　leaned　out　and　I　saw　her　face　in　the　light。　She　smiled　and　waved。　The　carriage　went　up　the　street；　Catherine　pointed　in　toward　the　archway。　I　looked；　there　were　only　the　two　carabinieri　and　the　archway。　I　realized　she　meant　for　me　to　get　in　out　of　the　rain。　I　went　in　and　stood　and　watched　the　carriage　turn　the　corner。　Then　I　started　through　the　station　and　down　the　runway　to　the　train。

The　porter　was　on　the　platform　looking　for　me。　I　followed　him　into　the　train；　crowding　past　people　and　along　the　aisle　and　in　through　a　door　to　where　the　machine…gunner　sat　in　the　corner　of　a　full　partment。　My　rucksack　and　musettes　were　above　his　head　on　the　luggage　rack。　There　were　many　men　standing　in　the　corridor　and　the　men　in　the　partment　all　looked　at　us　when　we　came　in。　There　were　not　enough　places　in　the　train　and　every　one　was　hostile。　The　machine…gunner　stood　up　for　me　to　sit　down。　Some　one　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder。　I　looked　around。　It　was　a　very　tall　gaunt　captain　of　artillery　with　a　red　scar　along　his　jaw。　He　had　looked　through　the　glass　on　the　corridor　and　then　e　in。

〃What　do　you　say？〃　I　asked。　I　had　turned　and　faced　him。　He　was　taller　than　I　and　his　face　was　very　thin　under　the　shadow　of　his　cap…visor　and　the　scar　was　new　and　shiny。　Every　one　in　the　partment　was　looking　at　me。

〃You　cant　do　that；〃　he　said。　〃You　cant　have　a　soldier　save　you　a　place。〃

〃I　have　done　it。〃

He　swallowed　and　I　saw　his　Adams　apple　go　up　and　then　down。　The　machine…gunner　stood　in　front　of　the　place。　Other　men　looked　in　through　the　glass。　No　one　in　the　partment　said　anything。

〃You　have　no　right　to　do　that。　I　was　here　two　hours　before　you　came。〃

〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃The　seat。〃

〃So　do　I。〃

I　watched　his　face　and　could　feel　the　whole　partment　against　me。　I　did　not　blame　them。　He　was　in　the　right。　But　I　wanted　the　seat。　Still　no　one　said　anything。

Oh；　hell；　I　thought。

〃Sit　down；　Signor　Capitano；〃　I　said。　The　machine…gunner　moved　out　of　the　way　and　the　tall　captain　sat　down。　He　looked　at　me。　His　face　seemed　hurt。　But　he　had　the　seat。　〃Get　my　things；〃　I　said　to　the　machine…gunner。　We　went　out　in　the　corridor。　The　train　was　full　and　I　knew　there　was　no　chance　of　a　place。　I　gave　the　porter　and　the　machine…gunner　ten　lire　apiece。　They　went　down　the　corridor　and　outside　on　the　platform　looking　in　the　windows　but　there　were　no　places。

〃Maybe　some　will　get　off　at　Brescia；〃　the　porter　said。

〃More　will　get　on　at　Brescia；〃　said　the　machine…gunner。　I　said　good…by　to　them　and　we　shook　hands　and　they　left。　They　both　felt　badly。　Inside　the　train　we　were　all　standing　in　the　corridor　when　the　train　started。　I　watched　the　lights　of　the　station　and　the　yards　as　we　went　out。　It　was　still　raining　and　soon　the　windows　were　wet　and　you　could　not　see　out。　Later　I　slept　on　the　floor　of　the　corridor；　first　putting　my　pocket…book　with　my　money　and　papers　in　it　inside　my　shirt　and

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