The major was unhooking the forceps now. One is dead.

 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 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. Back at the villa I went upstairs to the room. My hand went in and my knee was down on my shin. At the gate of the driveway that led up to the British villa. That was how it ought to be. I said. left the car at the dressing station under the hill. and then there were mountains far off beyond all these that you could hardly tell if you really saw.He ought to go to Capri. He looked at the priest and shouted.It hasnt come up. I came back the next afternoon from our first mountain post and stopped the car at the smistimento where the wounded and sick were sorted by their papers and the papers marked for the different hospitals. One thing after another. because they did not bombard it to destroy it but only a little in a military way. Fillipo Vincenza Bassi or Bassi Fillippo Vicenza had never touched a drop all evening and what was his name anyway He said was my name Frederico Enrico or Enrico Federico I said let the best man win. I said.

Hows everythingNot so bad. She wore what seemed to me to be a nurses uniform. I said. We in the auto ambulance cannot even realize at all how bad it is. and instead of going on I felt myself slide back. He had not felt bad but now the shoulder had stiffened. I said. the stumps of trees projected. That was how it ought to be. It was all as I had left it except that now it was spring. little puppy. Where did you meet her In the Cova Where did you go How did you feel Tell me everything at once. I stop by. I said. gonorrhea. Porta feriti I tried to get closer to Passini to try to put a tourniquet on the legs but I could not move.

 It was a hot night and there was a good deal going on up in the mountains. She went on down the hall. He stopped the car and looked in through the hole behind his seat.One of those shot by the carabinieri is from my town. He opened his trunk and took out a bottle. Miss Barkley was sitting on a bench in the garden. He could have had anything he wanted if I would have known. They were sweaty. They tell me youre an American. wop. They could drive all right. I took her hands. Carabinieri shot them. sometimes now seeing his face and little long necked body and gray beard like a goats chin tuft; all these with the sudden interiors of houses that had lost a wall through shelling. It is a successful coup de main.After a while we said good-night and left.

 I said. I had not noticed her. He would loan them mess tins if they did not have them. It would not rip and I bit the edge of the cloth to start it. 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 stream kept on. the camion stopped a little off the road. it seemed. That was all left for next year. We caught them and passed them and turned off on a road that climbed up into the hills. I followed his hands with my eyes. Miss Barkley prefers you to me. Youve been away a long time.You are crazy. and the argument went on. I said.

 Did you stay all nightYes.We drove fast when we were over the bridge and soon we saw the dust of the other cars ahead down the road. This had been the villa of a very wealthy German and the busts must have cost him plenty. I said and went back to the house and drank another bowl of coffee at the mess table. I knew. You will please come and make me a good impression on her.There were small gray motor cars that passed going very fast usually there was an officer on the seat with the driver and more officers in the back seat. We walked to the door and I saw her go in and down the hall. I said. You may come and see her after seven oclock if you wish. Bacchus.I dont believe it. Rinaldi shook his head.Youre a good old boy. The road went up the valley a long way and then we turned off and commenced to climb into the hills again. I said.

 darling. I opened the capsule and spilled him out into my hand. Inside there was a light. Everybody is proud of you. Gordini stood up and went outside with me. He offered me a glass of cognac. I was riding in the first car and as we passed the entry to the British hospital I told the driver to stop.He ought to go to Capri.I know it is bad but we must finish it. Nor for the beautiful uniforms. Well take you back with us. It was the first time I had ever heard her laugh.5 mm. 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. the captain said.What the hell.

 FrancoI am all right.You dont wear himNo.Not even for the beautiful languageNo. I had gone to no place where the roads were frozen and hard as iron.I think we can get you the silver. and the argument went on. Outside it was nearly dark.I have to get washed and report. Wait till I get cleaned up.So you make progress with Miss BarkleyWe are friends.Carabinieri. and the frescoes on the wall and waited for Miss Barkley. They have their own country.And the priest was locked up. folded it without rising from the bed and slid it in his breeches pocket. Those of us that were awake talked across the ward.

 father. you met British men and sometimes women. Signor Tenente. In Pittsburgh. But it was checked and in the end only seven thousand died of it in the army. I said I hoped it would go well but that he was too kind. thats nothing to how it will feel later. It is the captain. You will be decorated. who was on duty. I do not believe in the Free Masons however. Mr. I looked across the wire at the Austrian lines. I said in Italian. Something landed outside that shook the earth. Orderly.

 One of the medical captains said the attack had been put forward an hour.Ill get some. Bersaglieri are fools.Were you in the StatesSure. My legs felt warm and wet and my shoes were wet and warm inside. He doesnt want to see peasants. Ill see the medical wallahs.Have you done nursing longSince the end of fifteen.Some of the officers went alone. went downstairs. He did not hear me.I didnt say anything.He will look after you.There were small gray motor cars that passed going very fast usually there was an officer on the seat with the driver and more officers in the back seat.Lets drop the war. You will please come and make me a good impression on her.

 They were a real mask. The cars would be all right with their good metaltometal brakes and anyway. I say he bellows!I would like you to go to Abruzzi. I got down and went over. Not Bacchus.He should go to Palermo. This chap of yours was very anxious for me to see you. And you never know if the girl will really like it. The British had come with three ambulances and they had two men on each ambulance.You dont need to say a lot of nonsense. the gas mask in an oblong tin can. I went out swiftly. This was better than going every evening to the house for officers where the girls climbed all over you and put your cap on backward as a sign of affection between their trips upstairs with brother officers. the leather shiny with oil. Passini said still respectfully. He came back with a handful of roasted coffee beans.

 Rocca said. Henry. I had met two gunners from that lot.Youd better not go out.The next year there were many victories. I am well. I could see the river far down below.Ciaou! he said.Nothing. but it was not Catherine. I heard the machine guns and rifles firing across the river and all along the river.He likes it. There. I will take you to call. Hes dead. Youre not an Italian.

 How is your poor head I looked at your papers. 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 machinegun and shell fire for nearly a mile. I smiled at the priest and he smiled back across the candlelight. But I did not know that then. My legs felt warm and wet and my shoes were wet and warm inside. 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. Then the major told the story of the eleven Czechoslovaks and the Hungarian corporal. yes. But I thought it would be bad for him. Maybe she would. in which you said things instead of playing cards. After I was wounded I never found him. Thats what its for.War is not won by victory. Baby is puzzled. they would.

 darling.Rinaldi looked at me blankly. The others were shouting.About the soup. I said. the stump of his leg twitching.I dont believe a word of this. I said. All the officers were very happy. I suppose. It was hard and slippery. for your own good. The gravel paths were moist and the grass was wet with dew.You love Italy Rinaldi asked Miss Ferguson in English. looking at my eyes all the time. It would have been much simpler.

 It was what I had wanted to do and I tried to explain how one thing had led to another and finally he saw it and understood that I had really wanted to go and it was almost all right. and I knew I was dead and that it had all been a mistake to think you just died. Nor for the beautiful uniforms. and one day at the end of the fall when I was out where the oak forest had been I saw a cloud coming over the mountain.Sometimes in the dark we heard the troops marching under the window and guns going past pulled by motor-tractors.That was because it was first. I said.He wiped his hands on his jumper and grinned. there was snow on the guns and there were paths in the snow going back to the latrines behind trenches.You ought to have let me know. This was a joke.You speak English he asked.Yes. stirred by the breeze. I come to see you again soon. It evidently made no difference whether I was there to look after things or not.

 I was blown up while we were eating cheese. I had gone to no such place but to the smoke of cafe and nights when the room whirled and you needed to look at the wall to make it stop. And you play it as well as you know how.You sons of bitches. Some one was coming down the hallway. I am an atheist. it seemed. Bacchus.I took off my tunic and shirt and washed in the cold water in the basin. went to the jail and asked to see the priest. hot and dirty. you patriots. You may come and see her after seven oclock if you wish.Its very odd though. I think so. she said.

 and stopped at the main dressing station. I said.Are you hit badly he asked.That way youll be decorated.No. You should go on leave. I thought it would be worse for him. Then there was one that we did not hear coming until the sudden rush. But its very beautiful.Go to hell. Ill take it very easily.Well be most careful of them. I looked across the wire at the Austrian lines. marched as though they were six months gone with child.I am happy.65 caliber with a short barrel and it jumped so sharply when you let it off that there was no question of hitting anything.

I think we can get you the silver.Goodnight. out of the bandages. There was a shadow from his hand on the wall. The window was open. to take a shower.Thats nothing. He had been in the war in Libya and wore two woundstripes. Perhaps. We are war brothers.They dropped me once more before we reached the post. What inflicted the woundsThe medical captain. I helped him down. Let them keep their sisters in the house.Im not.Come on.

 pneumonia and hard and soft chancres.I went along the narrow road down toward the river. He woke when he heard me in the room and sat up. I said. It was cold in the car in the night as the road climbed. I denied this.You are so modest.Its way out. It is disgraceful. NapoliThats enough.They are big through the chest by measurement. Ill go and see him and ask if he will recommend you. sometimes now seeing his face and little long necked body and gray beard like a goats chin tuft; all these with the sudden interiors of houses that had lost a wall through shelling. Somebody was singing. The major was unhooking the forceps now. One is dead.