永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著-第17部分

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　worth　one　thousand　lire　or　more。　Catherine　was　sure　his　color　had　been　changed。　Ferguson　said　she　could　not　tell。　I　thought　he　looked　suspicious。　We　all　agreed　we　ought　to　back　him　and　pooled　one　hundred　lire。　The　odds　sheets　showed　he　would　pay　thirty…five　to　one。　Crowell　went　over　and　bought　the　tickets　while　we　watched　the　jockeys　ride　around　once　more　and　then　go　out　under　the　trees　to　the　track　and　gallop　slowly　up　to　the　turn　where　the　start　was　to　be。
We　went　up　in　the　grand…stand　to　watch　the　race。　They　had　no　elastic　barrier　at　San　Siro　then　and　the　starter　lined　up　all　the　horses；　they　looked　very　small　way　up　the　track；　and　then　sent　them　off　with　a　crack　of　his　long　whip。　They　came　past　us　with　the　black　horse　well　in　front　and　on　the　turn　he　was　running　away　from　the　others。　I　watched　them　on　the　far　side　with　the　glasses　and　saw　the　jockey　fighting　to　hold　him　in　but　he　could　not　hold　him　and　when　they　came　around　the　turn　and　into　the　stretch　the　black　horse　was　fifteen　lengths　ahead　of　the　others。　He　went　way　on　up　and　around　the　turn　after　the　finish。
〃Isn't　it　wonderful；〃　Catherine　said。　〃We'll　have　over　three　thousand　lire。　He　must　be　a　splendid　horse。〃
〃I　hope　his　color　doesn't　run；〃　Crowell　said；　〃before　they　pay　off。〃
〃He　was　really　a　lovely　horse；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　wonder　if　Mr。　Meyers　backed　him。〃
〃Did　you　have　the　winner？〃　I　called　to　Meyers。　He　nodded。
〃I　didn't；〃　Mrs。　Meyers　said。　〃Who　did　you　children　bet　on？〃
〃Japalac。〃
〃Really？　He's　thirty…five　to　one！〃
〃We　liked　his　color。〃
〃I　didn't。　I　thought　he　looked　seedy。　They　told　me　not　to　back　him。〃
〃He　won't　pay　much；〃　Meyers　said。
〃He's　marked　thirty…five　to　one　in　the　quotes；〃　I　said。
〃He　won't　pay　much。　At　the　last　minute；〃　Meyers　said；　〃they　put　a　lot　of　money　on　him。〃
〃No。〃
〃Kempton　and　the　boys。　You'll　see。　He　won't　pay　two　to　one。〃
〃Then　we　won't　get　three　thousand　lire；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　don't　like　this　crooked　racing！〃
〃We'll　get　two　hundred　lire。〃
〃That's　nothing。　That　doesn't　do　us　any　good。　I　thought　we　were　going　to　get　three　thousand。〃
〃It's　crooked　and　disgusting；〃　Ferguson　said。
〃Of　course；〃　said　Catherine；　〃if　it　hadn't　been　crooked　we'd　never　have　backed　him　at　all。　But　I　would　have　liked　the　three　thousand　lire。〃
〃Let's　go　down　and　get　a　drink　and　see　what　they　pay；〃　Crowell　said。　We　went　out　to　where　they　posted　the　numbers　and　the　bell　rang　to　pay　off　and　they　put　up　18。50　after　Japalac　to　win。　That　meant　he　paid　less　than　even　money　on　a　ten…lira　bet。
We　went　to　the　bar　under　the　grand…stand　and　had　a　whiskey　and　soda　apiece。　We　ran　into　a　couple　of　Italians　we　knew　and　McAdams；　the　vice…consul；　and　they　came　up　with　us　when　we　joined　the　girls。　The　Italians　were　full　of　manners　and　McAdams　talked　to　Catherine　while　we　went　down　to　bet　again。　Mr。　Meyers　was　standing　near　the　pari…mutuel。
〃Ask　him　what　he　played；〃　I　said　to　Crowell。
〃What　are　you　on；　Mr。　Meyers？〃　Crowell　asked。　Meyers　took　out　his　programme　and　pointed　to　the　number　five　with　his　pencil。
〃Do　you　mind　if　we　play　him　too？〃　Crowell　asked。
〃Go　ahead。　Go　ahead。　But　don't　tell　my　wife　I　gave　it　to　you。〃
〃Will　you　have　a　drink？〃　I　asked。
〃No　thanks。　I　never　drink。〃
We　put　a　hundred　lire　on　number　five　to　win　and　a　hundred　to　place　and　then　had　another　whiskey　and　soda　apiece。　I　was　feeling　very　good　and　we　picked　up　a　couple　more　Italians；　who　each　had　a　drink　with　us；　and　went　back　to　the　girls。　These　Italians　were　also　very　mannered　and　matched　manners　with　the　two　we　had　collected　before。　In　a　little　while　no　one　could　sit　down。　I　gave　the　tickets　to　Catherine。
〃What　horse　is　it？〃
〃I　don't　know。　Mr。　Meyers'　choice。〃
〃Don't　you　even　know　the　name？〃
〃No。　You　can　find　it　on　the　programme。　Number　five　I　think。〃
〃You　have　touching　faith；〃　she　said。　The　number　five　won　but　did　not　pay　anything。　Mr。　Meyers　was　angry。
〃You　have　to　put　up　two　hundred　lire　to　make　twenty；〃　he　said。　〃Twelve　lire　for　ten。　It's　not　worth　it。　My　wife　lost　twenty　lire。〃
〃I'll　go　down　with　you；〃　Catherine　said　to　me。　The　Italians　all　stood　up。　We　went　downstairs　and　out　to　the　paddock。
〃Do　you　like　this？〃　Catherine　asked。
〃Yes。　I　guess　I　do。〃
〃It's　all　right；　I　suppose；〃　she　said。　〃But；　darling；　I　can't　stand　to　see　so　many　people。〃
〃We　don't　see　many。〃
〃No。　But　those　Meyers　and　the　man　from　the　bank　with　his　wife　and　daughters……〃
〃He　cashes　my　sight　drafts；〃　I　said。
〃Yes　but　some　one　else　would　if　he　didn't。　Those　last　four　boys　were　awful。〃
〃We　can　stay　out　here　and　watch　the　race　from　the　fence。〃
〃That　will　be　lovely。　And；　darling；　let's　back　a　horse　we've　never　heard　of　and　that　Mr。　Meyers　won't　be　backing。〃
〃All　right。〃
We　backed　a　horse　named　Light　For　Me　that　finished　fourth　in　a　field　of　five。　We　leaned　on　the　fence　and　watched　the　horses　go　by；　their　hoofs　thudding　as　they　went　past；　and　saw　the　mountains　off　in　the　distance　and　Milan　beyond　the　trees　and　the　fields。
〃I　feel　so　much　cleaner；〃　Catherine　said。　The　horses　were　ing　back；　through　the　gate；　wet　and　sweating；　the　jockeys　quieting　them　and　riding　up　to　dismount　under　the　trees。
〃Wouldn't　you　like　a　drink？　We　could　have　one　out　here　and　see　the　horses。〃
〃I'll　get　them；〃　I　said。
〃The　boy　will　bring　them；〃　Catherine　said。　She　put　her　hand　up　and　the　boy　came　out　from　the　Pagoda　bar　beside　the　stables。　We　sat　down　at　a　round　iron　table。
〃Don't　you　like　it　better　when　we're　alone？〃
〃Yes；〃　I　said。
〃I　felt　very　lonely　when　they　were　all　there。〃
〃It's　grand　here；〃　I　said。
〃Yes。　It's　really　a　pretty　course。〃
〃It's　nice。〃
〃Don't　let　me　spoil　your　fun；　darling。　I'll　go　back　whenever　you　want。〃
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃We'll　stay　here　and　have　our　drink。　Then　we'll　go　down　and　stand　at　the　water　jump　for　the　steeplechase。〃
〃You're　awfully　good　to　me；〃　she　said。
After　we　had　been　alone　awhile　we　were　glad　to　see　the　others　again。　We　had　a　good　time。




21


In　September　the　first　cool　nights　came；　then　the　days　were　cool　and　the　leaves　on　the　trees　in　the　park　began　to　turn　color　and　we　knew　the　summer　was　gone。　The　fighting　at　the　front　went　very　badly　and　they　could　not　take　San　Gabriele。　The　fighting　on　the　Bainsizza　plateau　was　over　and　by　the　middle　of　the　month　the　fighting　for　San　Gabriele　was　about　over　too。　They　could　not　take　it。　Ettore　was　gone　back　to　the　front。　The　horses　were　gone　to　Rome　and　there　was　no　more　racing。　Crowell　had　gone　to　Rome　too；　to　be　sent　back　to　America。　There　were　riots　twice　in　the　town　against　the　war　and　bad　rioting　in　Turin。　A　British　major　at　the　club　told　me　the　Italians　had　lost　one　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　men　on　the　Bainsizza　plateau　and　on　San　Gabriele。　He　said　they　had　lost　forty　thousand　on　the　Carso　besides。　We　had　a　drink　and　he　talked。　He　said　the　fighting　was　over　for　the　year　down　here　and　that　the　Italians　had　bitten　off　more　than　they　could　chew。　He　said　the　offensive　in　Flanders　was　going　to　the　bad。　If　they　killed　men　as　they　did　this　fall　the　Allies　would　be　cooked　in　another　year。　He　said　we　were　all　cooked　but　we　were　all　right　as　long　as　we　did　not　know　it。　We　were　all　cooked。　The　thing　was　not　to　recognize　it。　The　last　country　to　realize　they　were　cooked　would　win　the　war。　We　had　another　drink。　Was　I　on　somebody's　staff？　No。　He　was。　It　was　all　balls。　We　were　alone　in　the　club　sitting　back　in　one　of　the　big　leather　sofas。　His　boots　were　smoothly　polished　dull　leather。　They　were　beautiful　boots。　He　said　it　was　all　balls。　They　thought　only　in　divisions　and　man…power。　They　all　squabbled　about　divisions　and　only　killed　them　when　they　got　them。　They　were　all　cooked。　The　Germans　won　the　victories。　By　God　they　were　soldiers。　The　old　Hun　was　a　soldier。　But　they　were　cooked　too。　We　were　all　cooked。　I　asked　about　Russia。　He　said　they　were　cooked　already。　I'd　soon　see　they　were　cooked。　Then　the　Austrians　were　cooked　too。　If　they　got　some　Hun　divisions　they　could　do　it。　Did　he　think　they　would　attack　this　fall？　Of　course　they　would。　The　Italians　were　cooked。　Everybody　knew　they　were　cooked。　The　old　Hun　would　e　down　through　the　Trentino　and　cut　the　railway　at　Vicenza　and　then　where　would　the　Italians　be？　They　tried　that　in　'sixteen；　I　said。　Not　with　Germans。　Yes；　I　said。　But　they　probably　wouldn't　do　that；　he　said。　It　was　too　simple。　They'd　try　something　plicated　and　get　royally　cooked。　I　had　to　go；　I　said。　I　had　to　get　back　to　the　hospital。　〃Good…by；〃　he　said。　Then　cheerily；　〃Every　sort　of　luck！〃　There　was　a　great　contrast　between　his　world　pessimism　and　personal　cheeriness。
I　stopped　at　a　barber　shop　and　was　shaved　and　went　home　to　the　hospital。　My　leg　was　as　well　as　it　would　get　for　a　long　time。　I　had　been　up　for　examination　three　days　before。　There　were　still　some　treatments　to　take　before　my　course　at　the　Ospedale。
Maggiore　was　finished　and　I　walked　along　the　side　street　practising　not　limping。　An　old　man　was　cutting　silhouettes　under　an　arcade。　I　stopped　to　watch　him。　Two　girls　were　posing　and　he　cut　their　silhouettes　together；　snipping　very　fast　and　looking　at　them；　his　head　on　one　side。　The　girls　were　giggling。　He　showed　me　the　silhouettes　before　he　pasted　them　on　white　paper　and　handed　them　to　the　girls。
〃They're　beautiful；〃　he　said。　〃How　about　you；　Tenente？〃
The　girls　went　away　looking　at　their　silhouettes　and　laughing。　They　were　nice…looking　girls。　One　of　them　worked　in　the　wine　shop　across　from　the　hospital。
〃All　right；〃　I　said。
〃Take　your　cap　off。〃
〃No。　With　it　on。〃
〃It　will　not　be　so　beautiful；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃But；〃　he　brightened；　〃it　will　be　more　military。〃
He　snipped　away　at　the　black　paper；　then　separated　the　two　thicknesses　and　pasted　the　profiles　on　a　card　and　handed　them　to　me。
〃How　much？〃
〃That's　all　right。〃　He　waved　his　hand。　〃I　just　made　them　for　you。〃
〃Please。〃　I　brought　out　some　coppers。　〃For　pleasure。〃
〃No。　I　did　them　for　a　pleasure。　Give　them　to　your　girl。〃
〃Many　thanks　until　we　meet。〃
〃Until　I　see　thee。〃
I　went　on　to　the　hospital。　There　were　some　letters；　an　official　one；　and　some　others。　I　was　to　have　three　weeks'　convalescent　leave　and　then　return　to　the　front。　I　read　it　over　carefully。　Well；　that　was　that。　The　convalescent　leave　started　October　fourth　when　my　course　was　finished。　Three　weeks　was　twenty…one　days。　That　made　October　twenty…fifth。　I　told　them　I　would　not　be　in　and　went　to　the　restaurant　a　little　way　up　the　street　from　the　hospital　for　supper　and　read　my　letters　and　the　Corriere　Della　Sera　at　the　table。　There　was　a　letter　from　my　grandfather；　containing　family　news；　patriotic　encouragement；　a　draft　for　two　hundred　dollars；　and　a　few　clippings；　a　dull　letter　from　the　priest　at　our　mess；　a　letter　from　a　man　I　knew　who　was　flying　with　the　French　and　had　gotten　in　with　a　wild　gang　and　was　telling　about　it；　and　a　note　from　Rinaldi　asking　me　how　long　I　was　going　to　skulk　in　Milano　and　what　was　all　the　news？　He　wanted　me　to　bring　him　phonograph　records　and　enclosed　a　list。　I　drank　a　small　bottle　of　chianti　with　the　meal；　had　a　coffee　afterward　with　a　glass　of　cognac；　finished　the　paper；　put　my　letters　in　my　pocket；　left　the　paper　on　the　table　with　the　tip　and　went　out。　In　my　room　at　the　hospital　I　undressed；　put　on　pajamas　and　a　dressing…gown；　pulled　down　the　curtains　on　the　door　that　opened　onto　the　balcony　and　sitting　up