river where the fighting had been.

 unloaded them and went away
 unloaded them and went away. I looked at the board tables. TenenteWhere is Gordini and GavuzziGordinis at the post getting bandaged. No one to make fun of. to ride along the road across the plain and deliver the wounded at the two hospitals. Every one at the table laughed. Its in the bulletin. It was hard and slippery.They wont crack here. the major said. Most of the helmets were too big and came down almost over the ears of the men who wore them. He came back with a handful of roasted coffee beans. he said. waxy looking.The next year there were many victories. But dont be a fool.

 She was not in the garden and I had to wait in the office of the hospital until she came down.Certainly not. The earth of the dugout was warm and dry and I let my shoulders back against the wall. Naples. The shock dulls the pain; but this is all right. Are they going to have an offensiveYes.Has there been any trouble getting parts I asked the sergeant mechanic. and my winter boots. I didnt mean to hurt you. it seemed.I will send her. she said. Always with the carabinieri. she said. father. Also we were required to wear an automatic pistol; even doctors and sanitary officers.

 I would have married him or anything. in Milan.I didnt carry anybody.We might sit there just for a little while. They were silent until I went out. Are you coming to nightNo.Of course they dont.They want to eat.Captain doctor (interested in something he was finding). I knew I would not be killed. the thumb up and fingers outspread as when you make shadow pictures.How you like this goddam warRotten. That should handle them. The road was screened because it was in sight of the Austrians across the river. The pain that the major had spoken about had started and all that was happening was without interest or relation. It does not go so well.

 Some bersaglieri. I like him. I said. It was hot walking through the town but the sun was starting to go down and it was very pleasant. It was half of the brigata Basilicata. I said.He should have fine girls. The coffee was a pale gray and sweet with condensed milk. Hes a better man than I am. Rinaldi said that the French had mutinied and troops marched on Paris. Rinaldi saluted. There had been a little town but it was all rubble. But Im back now. Today I see priest with girls. Its beautiful language. He said that if the thing went well he would see that I was decorated.

 But youre very nice. Halfway through the wine I did not want any more. instead there is a war. I said. It would not rip and I bit the edge of the cloth to start it. The only son of the American Ambassador. she said. I said.Shall we sit here or go out in the gardenLets go out. wont you She looked up at me. Let him go to centres of culture and civilization. Up the river the mountains had not been taken; none of the mountains beyond the river had been taken. Evviva lesercito. dry and white in the sun. I knew.You are ignorant.

All right. Didnt you refuse to be medically aided before the othersNot very firmly. Inside there was a light. waxy looking. I will write you cards to my family in Amalfi. Why dont you come inHe shook his head. as the road mounted along the ridge. Tenente Gavuzzi asked. It would not rip and I bit the edge of the cloth to start it.I guess youve got a fracture all right.He does really. I said. I was angry and yet certain. I was blown up while we were eating cheese.As the ambulance climbed along the road. I said.

 hauling them back from the mountains to the clearing station and then distributing them to the hospitals named on their papers. Up the river the mountains had not been taken; none of the mountains beyond the river had been taken.Come on. put their stretchers down.Ill be right here.Of course they do. But marble busts all looked like a cemetery. Because we would not wear any clothes because it was so hot and the window open and the swallows flying over the roofs of the houses and when it was dark afterward and you went to the window very small bats hunting over the houses and close down over the trees and we would drink the capri and the door locked and it hot and only a sheet and the whole night and we would both love each other all night in the hot night in Milan. however. I put thumb and fingers into the macaroni and lifted. He had to sign the proposition for the citation.No.They talked too much at the mess and I drank wine because tonight we were not all brothers unless I drank a little and talked with the priest about Archbishop Ireland who was. You only pretend to be American.He took off his gloves. and tears came in my eyes from the reflex.

 And in the town we have beautiful English girls. There were big guns too that passed in the day drawn by tractors.They may crack.Dont go.A shell fell close and they both dropped to the ground and dropped me. What made it pretty was that it sounded like Island. I said in Italian. Walking home Rinaldi said. There was a cough. and I stood outside his cell and I said as though I were going to confession. They picked me up and took me into the dressing room. there was a soldier sitting on a bench outside in the sun.I wanted to do something for him. To the silver medal. He recognized me and waved a forceps. Here they would never have arrested him.

 They say so. the trees along the road had small leaves and a breeze came from the sea.Tonight you will tell me everything.Im English.Rinaldi poured himself another glass of the cognac. 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. As I looked out at the garden I heard a motor truck starting on the road.Jesus Christ.You couldnt have sent me a noteNo.Were you thereNo. He talks French. said the captain. It came down through the forest in sharp turns.Listen to him talk about the Abruzzi. I hurried up the driveway and inside the reception hall I asked for Miss Barkley. They were laughing.

 Miss Ferguson was with her. Ahead there was a rounded turn off in the road to the right and looking down I could see the road dropping through the trees.A rivederla.Who goes to the attack asked Gavuzzi. Were not cloistered. I am positive you will get the silver.Whats to stop itIt will crack somewhere. isnt heYes.Is there anything I can do. father. Why dont we stop fighting If they come down into Italy they will get tired and go away. Why dont you come inHe shook his head. The tall English driver came around and looked in.Sometimes in the dark we heard the troops marching under the window and guns going past pulled by motor-tractors. holding their chins close over the basin. Where have you beenIve been out on post.

Whats wrong with your legIts not my leg. the stumps of trees projected. She stood up and put out her hand. there was snow on the guns and there were paths in the snow going back to the latrines behind trenches. Over on the right they had the Duke of Aosta. They sat down and waited. It is a noble organization. Ill be wise like you. The forest had been green in the summer when we had come into the town but now there were the stumps and the broken trunks and the ground torn up.I will send her. There are a few real wounded. the shellmarked iron of the railway bridge.I have to go. Your lovely cool goddess. and pounded on the window to attract his attention. It has been put back again.

 Maybe it would finish this summer. Laugh. We work very hard but no one trusts us. I remember having a silly idea he might come to the hospital where I was. His nose was skinned and there was dust on the bloody patch and dust in his hair. Did you think I was Italian There were some Italians with one of our units. But dont bring a lot of Italians. I said.Wash up and come as you are. lieutenant. sometimes it backed on a turn. Because were going to have a strange life.Were you there.Goodnight. The stream kept on. He had been in the war in Libya and wore two woundstripes.

 They want to get you the medaglia dargento but perhaps they can get only the bronze. Stop it. and with the end of the summer.Wop. We went on and passed the regiment about a mile ahead.Thank you for the coffee beans. Stop it.How you like this goddam warRotten. I said. I love you. My friend motioned for him to come in. I said. they would. It was an Astra 7. It is just bad administration. There was much traffic at night and many mules on the roads with boxes of ammunition on each side of their pack-saddles and gray motor trucks that carried men.

 below in the town.Now you see. and he came from Amalfi. Bring on something serious. The Austrian trenches were above on the hillside only a few yards from the Italian lines. the priest said. felt the brake come off and the clutch go in. He loves Franz Joseph. Im not. I said. It tells you about those priests. Didnt you see itNo.Whats to stop itIt will crack somewhere.Bersaglieri. looking up from the paper. He offered me a glass of cognac.

 How are you. The hall too. Lots of them would have liked him to be king. You could stay with my family. one of the captains said. You do me a translation and I will send it to The Lancet. This was a joke.Goodnight. looking up from the paper. looking for cuts or stone bruises.Arent you a nurseOh. The fields were green and there were small green shoots on the vines. They were bersaglieri. His right hand left the wheel and opened a button on his tunic and pulled it out from under his shirt. He bellows. I looked back and saw Rinaldi standing watching me and waved to him.

 Manera said.Youre a good old boy. It was very hot and when I woke my legs itched.It was dark outside and the long light from the search lights was moving over the mountains. We read. helping ourselves to wine from the grasscovered gallon flask; it swung in a metal cradle and you pulled the neck of the flask down with the forefinger and the wine. I had it in the car. the major said.You should not let us talk this way.Pas encore. Shell be off then. But I thought it would be bad for him. I will get you a copy. We drank rum and it was very friendly.I wanted to do something for him. 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.

 brushed my hair and we started. Halfway through the wine I did not want any more. The war was changed too. in Milan. After a while the English ambulance came up and they put me onto a stretcher and lifted the stretcher up to the ambulance level and shoved it in. Passini was quiet now.Outside something was set down beside the entrance. I said in English. Besides. I gave them each a package of cigarettes. Thats all I know. The little major looked at us furious. It would have been much simpler.Yes. I went on home. the smashed tunnel by the river where the fighting had been.