The priest looked up.

 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
 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. We were in the foothills on the near side of the river and as the road mounted there were the high mountains off to the north with snow still on the tops.Goodnight. Stretcher bearers came in all the time. Listen.The next afternoon I went to call on Miss Barkley again. if the war should end. baby. The road climbed steeply going up and back and forth through chestnut woods to level finally along a ridge. I thought somebody was screaming.Do you want to very muchYes. put their stretchers down. Manera said.Because the captain doctor knew I had this rupture. 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.And why didnt you marryI dont know.

 It looked as though it might be a mess. It is the captain.Slit the tunic. He spoke again in pidgin Italian. then came the chuh chuhchuh chuh then there was a flash. I shouted to the driver. They would. folded it without rising from the bed and slid it in his breeches pocket.Yes. They take your home. There were trees along both sides of the road and through the right line of trees I saw the river. You see the point. stupid from inexperience. Isnt itWhat is the stick I asked.Were almost up.Ill see you in a little while.

 and really you are just like me underneath. and things went very badly. 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. He spread the hand again.I love you so and its been awful. Put it on the floor. After I leave here Ill go see that English and hell get you an English medal.How you like this goddam warRotten. it was slow in the traffic.SeeI put my Saint Anthony back in the capsule. I just tell you.A big shell came in and burst outside in the brickyard. But youre very nice. I had wanted to go to Abruzzi. Passini said still respectfully. I watched the flashes on San Gabriele.

They are big through the chest by measurement. I wore a real one and felt like a gunman until I practised firing it. sir. Tenente.No.The driver came out of the door with the papers for the wounded in the car. My orderly had cut paper into strips and tied the strips to a stick to make a brush that swished the flies away. I will get you a copy. if the war should end. It was cold in the car in the night as the road climbed. 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. We are brothers and we love each other.I dont believe a word of this. I said. There was one fine cemetery thoughthe one at Pisa. But dont bring a lot of Italians.

 looking out of the window of the bawdy house. locked in the trunk. You may come and see her after seven oclock if you wish. But even the peasants know better than to believe in a war. All right. He denied all knowledge of the five per cent bonds. baby.It was just beyond where we turned off. He was a big smart tall boy to be in the granatieri.Bersaglieri. I lowered it into the mouth. stirred by the breeze. Dont you want us never to attackNo.You were quite right.I said I knew. The others were shouting.

 Please. I asked what time the attack was to he and they said as soon as it was dark. Priest wants Austrians to win the war. I hope shes not ill. said Manera. One is dead. At this point the priest left and I told the story about the travelling salesman who arrived at five oclock in the morning at Marseilles when the mistral was blowing. I said I was sorry. When I got home it was too late and I did not see Miss Barkley until the next evening. I must write some letters. Its only the ambulance. Im not. I said. wore his black boots. But they are still fools.No.

 I said. there was a soldier sitting on a bench outside in the sun.I wish there was some place we could go. It was impossible to salute foreigners as an Italian. Did you do any heroic actNo. Listen. father. In a little while we would say insulting things. It was very edifying. This was a joke. the major said.This isnt a deep dugout. One of the medical captains said the attack had been put forward an hour. The little major looked at us furious. I said and poured the basin full of water. now this is the point of the story.

It was nearly dark when we came down and turned onto the main road that ran beside the river. he said. With a girl it is painful. His nose was skinned and there was dust on the bloody patch and dust in his hair.Yes. D. Perhaps. please. Whats the matter with this machineIts no good. The ground was torn up and in front of my head there was a splintered beam of wood. the cool nights. I kept my arm where it was.Dont go. There is only one difference between taking a girl who has always been good and a woman. and chewed. and stood up.

 she said.But Scotland is England.Very. Troops went by the house and down the road and the dust they raised powdered the leaves of the trees. the water clear. They could drive all right.Yes.Of course some of the bonds were not accounted for but the priest had all of the three per cent bonds and several local obligations. I said. lootenant. This was a strange and mysterious war zone but I supposed it was quite well run and grim compared to other wars with the Austrians. the major said. The wine was bad but not dull.I wish you were back. the major said. Well stop by the road here.

Are you hit badly he asked. it was slow in the traffic.Say. TenenteYoure damned right. The snow slanted across the wind. Tenente. then crossed the river. you have come back. If you must have a priest have that priest.Id rather wait. I had wanted to go to Abruzzi.They wont crack here.I felt his breath come toward me.The next year there were many victories. the gas mask in an oblong tin can. and the water was clear and swiftly moving and blue in the channels.

 Did you do any heroic actNo.Outside something was set down beside the entrance.I dried my hands and took out my pocketbook from the inside of my tunic hanging on the wall. The lieutenant said I slipped the truss on purpose. thats different. The pain that the major had spoken about had started and all that was happening was without interest or relation. I smiled at the priest and he smiled back across the candlelight.You are crazy.Not true asked the captain.Splendid. Walking home Rinaldi said. Genoa was the place to see the bad marbles.And you call me CatherineCatherine. I said.This is a rotten game we play. he said.

 and the whole thing going well on the Carso made the fall very different from the last fall when we had been in the country.Not reallyNever. There were stretchers lifted and slid into the slings above. when I learned it. Get well soon. I said.Thank you very much.Ill go and see now. They had come back for him. We drank rum and it was very friendly. when you knew that that was all there was. father.I think you do not know anything about being conquered and so you think it is not bad. Miss Barkley said. We were in the foothills on the near side of the river and as the road mounted there were the high mountains off to the north with snow still on the tops.They may crack.

 It was a hot day and the sky was very bright and blue and the road was white and dusty.We looked at Rinaldi talking with the other nurse. and God be with you. long 6. She was carrying a thin rattan stick like a toy riding-crop. I said.Listen to him talk about the Abruzzi. She did not seem tall walking toward me but she looked very lovely. But I do with you.Rinaldi looked at me blankly. darling.He shook his head. His legs were toward me and I saw in the dark and the light that they were both smashed above the knee. I said that was a foul lie and. Ive come back to Catherine in the night. Isnt itWhat is the stick I asked.

 when you knew that that was all there was. close behind the lines. wash it out. I said. I hope youll be comfy. he touched the little finger. with the sun on it.Its better to wear him. Firenze. said the priest. It was there that the offensive was to begin. Rinaldi took the note. sucked and snapped in the ends. looking up from the paper. She was not in the garden and I had to wait in the office of the hospital until she came down. She waved again and then I was out of the driveway and climbing up into the seat of the ambulance and we started.

 There were three others to locate. Tenente.Did they cross the river all rightEnormously. I had gotten somewhat drunk and had nearly forgotten to come but when I could not see her there I was feeling lonely and hollow. painted gray and built like moving-vans.The road was crowded and there were screens of corn stalk and straw matting on both sides and matting over the top so that it was like the entrance at a circus or a native village. We all got up and left the table. 206 arent youYes. At this point the priest left and I told the story about the travelling salesman who arrived at five oclock in the morning at Marseilles when the mistral was blowing. Its in the bulletin. Ill not learn it in two weeks. I saluted too but more moderately. He had written to his father that I was coming and they had made preparations. a few freshly washed. the lieutenant said.The Pope wants the Austrians to win the war.

I felt his breath come toward me.Its a silly front.You were sweet to tell me. I said. The officers all wore helmets; betterfitting helmets.We walked on a way and were stopped under a tree. I kept my arm where it was. Nor for the beautiful uniforms. I said. He had not felt bad but now the shoulder had stiffened. I said. We wont drop you again. You have a good time The others all grinned too. I said. We will take over the two cars. Mr.

 that the office opened on. Then the major told the story of the eleven Czechoslovaks and the Hungarian corporal. Its good. dry and white in the sun. I knew it. They sent me the little stick. She put it in my hand. Oh mama mia. He slapped his gloves on the edge of the bed.Dont bring Caruso. Well all eat. Some one took hold of me under the arms and somebody else lifted my legs.Here is the corkscrew. she said. They have their own country. There was a little shelter of green branches outside over the entrance and in the dark the night wind rustled the leaves dried by the sun.

 Dont you want us never to attackNo. They had always cracked in other wars. he pointed to the thumb. baby. He woke when he heard me in the room and sat up. Manera said. and healthy.Goodnight. I said. Then he was quiet. It would have been much simpler. I forget exactly what they were. But I thought it would be bad for him.I knocked over his candle with the pillow and got into bed in the dark.5 mm. The priest looked up.