永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著-第26部分

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〃Bersaglieri；〃　Aymo　smiled。　〃They　have　the　widest　backs。　They　measure　them。　How　do　you　feel；　Tenente？〃
〃Fine。　How　are　you？〃
〃Fine。　But　very　hungry。〃
〃There　ought　to　be　something　up　that　road　and　we　will　stop　and　eat。〃
〃How's　your　leg；　Tenente？〃
〃Fine；〃　I　said。　Standing　on　the　step　and　looking　up　ahead　I　could　see　Piani's　car　pulling　out　onto　the　little　side…road　and　starting　up　it；　his　car　showing　through　the　hedge　of　bare　branches。　Bonello　turned　off　and　followed　him　and　then　Piani　worked　his　way　out　and　we　followed　the　two　ambulances　ahead　along　the　narrow　road　between　hedges。　It　led　to　a　farmhouse。　We　found　Piani　and　Bonello　stopped　in　the　farmyard。　The　house　was　low　and　long　with　a　trellis　with　a　grape…vine　over　the　door。　There　was　a　well　in　the　yard　and　Piani　was　getting　up　water　to　fill　his　radiator。　So　much　going　in　low　gear　had　boiled　it　out。　The　farmhouse　was　deserted。　I　looked　back　down　the　road；　the　farmhouse　was　on　a　slight　elevation　above　the　plain；　and　we　could　see　over　the　country；　and　saw　the　road；　the　hedges；　the　fields　and　the　line　of　trees　along　the　main　road　where　the　retreat　was　passing。　The　two　sergeants　were　looking　through　the　house。　The　girls　were　awake　and　looking　at　the　courtyard；　the　well　and　the　two　big　ambulances　in　front　of　the　farmhouse；　with　three　drivers　at　the　well。　One　of　the　sergeants　came　out　with　a　clock　in　his　hand。
〃Put　it　back；〃　I　said。　He　looked　at　me；　went　in　the　house　and　came　back　without　the　clock。
〃Where's　your　partner？〃　I　asked。
〃He's　gone　to　the　latrine。〃　He　got　up　on　the　seat　of　the　ambulance。　He　was　afraid　we　would　leave　him。
〃What　about　breakfast；　Tenente？〃　Bonello　asked。　〃We　could　eat　something。　It　wouldn't　take　very　long。〃
〃Do　you　think　this　road　going　down　on　the　other　side　will　lead　to　anything？〃
〃Sure。〃
〃All　right。　Let's　eat。〃　Piani　and　Bonello　went　in　the　house。
〃e　on；〃　Aymo　said　to　the　girls。　He　held　his　hand　to　help　them　down。　The　older　sister　shook　her　head。　They　were　not　going　into　any　deserted　house。　They　looked　after　us。
〃They　are　difficult；〃　Aymo　said。　We　went　into　the　farmhouse　together。　It　was　large　and　dark；　an　abandoned　feeling。　Bonello　and　Piani　were　in　the　kitchen。
〃There's　not　much　to　eat；〃　Piani　said。　〃They've　cleaned　it　out。〃　Bonello　sliced　a　big　cheese　on　the　heavy　kitchen　table。
〃Where　was　the　cheese？〃
〃In　the　cellar。　Piani　found　wine　too　and　apples。〃
〃That's　a　good　breakfast。〃
Piani　was　taking　the　wooden　cork　out　of　a　big　wicker…covered　wine　jug。　He　tipped　it　and　poured　a　copper　pan　full。
〃It　smells　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃Find　some　beakers；　Barto。〃
The　two　sergeants　came　in。
〃Have　some　cheese；　sergeants；〃　Bonello　said。
〃We　should　go；〃　one　of　the　sergeants　said；　eating　his　cheese　and　drinking　a　cup　of　wine。
〃We'll　go。　Don't　worry；〃　Bonello　said。
〃An　army　travels　on　its　stomach；〃　I　said。
〃What？〃　asked　the　sergeant。
〃It's　better　to　eat。〃
〃Yes。　But　time　is　precious。〃
〃I　believe　the　bastards　have　eaten　already；〃　Piani　said。　The　sergeants　looked　at　him。　They　hated　the　lot　of　us。
〃You　know　the　road？〃　one　of　them　asked　me。
〃No；〃　I　said。　They　looked　at　each　other。
〃We　would　do　best　to　start；〃　the　first　one　said。
〃We　are　starting；〃　I　said。　I　drank　another　cup　of　the　red　wine。　It　tasted　very　good　after　the　cheese　and　apple。
〃Bring　the　cheese；〃　I　said　and　went　out。　Bonello　came　out　carrying　the　great　jug　of　wine。
〃That's　too　big；〃　I　said。　He　looked　at　it　regretfully。
〃I　guess　it　is；〃　he　said。　〃Give　me　the　canteens　to　fill。〃　He　filled　the　canteens　and　some　of　the　wine　ran　out　on　the　stone　paving　of　the　courtyard。　Then　he　picked　up　the　wine　jug　and　put　it　just　inside　the　door。
〃The　Austrians　can　find　it　without　breaking　the　door　down；〃　he　said。
〃We'll　roll。〃　I　said。　〃Piani　and　I　will　go　ahead。〃　The　two　engineers　were　already　on　the　seat　beside　Bonello。　The　girls　were　eating　cheese　and　apples。　Aymo　was　smoking。　We　started　off　down　the　narrow　road。　I　looked　back　at　the　two　cars　ing　and　the　farmhouse。　It　was　a　fine；　low；　solid　stone　house　and　the　ironwork　of　the　well　was　very　good。　Ahead　of　us　the　road　was　narrow　and　muddy　and　there　was　a　high　hedge　on　either　side。　Behind；　the　cars　were　following　closely。




29


At　noon　we　were　stuck　in　a　muddy　road　about；　as　nearly　as　we　could　figure；　ten　kilometres　from　Udine。　The　rain　had　stopped　during　the　forenoon　and　three　times　we　had　heard　planes　ing；　seen　them　pass　overhead；　watched　them　go　far　to　the　left　and　heard　them　bombing　on　the　main　highroad。　We　had　worked　through　a　network　of　secondary　roads　and　had　taken　many　roads　that　were　blind；　but　had　always；　by　backing　up　and　finding　another　road；　gotten　closer　to　Udine。　Now；　Aymo's　car；　in　backing　so　that　we　might　get　out　of　a　blind　road；　had　gotten　into　the　soft　earth　at　the　side　and　the　wheels；　spinning；　had　dug　deeper　and　deeper　until　the　car　rested　on　its　differential。　The　thing　to　do　now　was　to　dig　out　in　front　of　the　wheels；　put　in　brush　so　that　the　chains　could　grip；　and　then　push　until　the　car　was　on　the　road。　We　were　all　down　on　the　road　around　the　car。　The　two　sergeants　looked　at　the　car　and　examined　the　wheels。　Then　they　started　off　down　the　road　without　a　word。　I　went　after　them。
〃e　on；〃　I　said。　〃Cut　some　brush。〃
〃We　have　to　go；〃　one　said。
〃Get　busy；〃　I　said；　〃and　cut　brush。〃
〃We　have　to　go；〃　one　said。　The　other　said　nothing。　They　were　in　a　hurry　to　start。　They　would　not　look　at　me。
〃I　order　you　to　e　back　to　the　car　and　cut　brush；〃　I　said。　The　one　sergeant　turned。　〃We　have　to　go　on。　In　a　little　while　you　will　be　cut　off。　You　can't　order　us。　You're　not　our　officer。〃
〃I　order　you　to　cut　brush；〃　I　said。　They　turned　and　started　down　the　road。
〃Halt；〃　I　said。　They　kept　on　down　the　muddy　road；　the　hedge　on　either　side。　〃I　order　you　to　halt；〃　I　called。　They　went　a　little　faster。　I　opened　up　my　holster；　took　the　pistol；　aimed　at　the　one　who　had　talked　the　most；　and　fired。　I　missed　and　they　both　started　to　run。　I　shot　three　times　and　dropped　one。　The　other　went　through　the　hedge　and　was　out　of　sight。　I　fired　at　him　through　the　hedge　as　he　ran　across　the　field。　The　pistol　clicked　empty　and　I　put　in　another　clip。　I　saw　it　was　too　far　to　shoot　at　the　second　sergeant。　He　was　far　across　the　field；　running；　his　head　held　low。　I　menced　to　reload　the　empty　clip。　Bonello　came　up。
〃Let　me　go　finish　him；〃　he　said。　I　handed　him　the　pistol　and　he　walked　down　to　where　the　sergeant　of　engineers　lay　face　down　across　the　road。　Bonello　leaned　over；　put　the　pistol　against　the　man's　head　and　pulled　the　trigger。　The　pistol　did　not　fire。
〃You　have　to　cock　it；〃　I　said。　He　cocked　it　and　fired　twice。　He　took　hold　of　the　sergeant's　legs　and　pulled　him　to　the　side　of　the　road　so　he　lay　beside　the　hedge。　He　came　back　and　handed　me　the　pistol。
〃The　son　of　a　bitch；〃　he　said。　He　looked　toward　the　sergeant。　〃You　see　me　shoot　him；　Tenente？〃
〃We've　got　to　get　the　brush　quickly；〃　I　said。　〃Did　I　hit　the　other　one　at　all？〃
〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Aymo　said。　〃He　was　too　far　away　to　hit　with　a　pistol。〃
〃The　dirty　scum；〃　Piani　said。　We　were　all　cutting　twigs　and　branches。　Everything　had　been　taken　out　of　the　car。　Bonello　was　digging　out　in　front　of　the　wheels。　When　we　were　ready　Aymo　started　the　car　and　put　it　into　gear。　The　wheels　spun　round　throwing　brush　and　mud。　Bonello　and　I　pushed　until　we　could　feel　our　joints　crack。　The　car　would　not　move。
〃Rock　her　back　and　forth；　Barto；〃　I　said。
He　drove　the　engine　in　reverse；　then　forward。　The　wheels　only　dug　in　deeper。　Then　the　car　was　resting　on　the　differential　again；　and　the　wheels　spun　freely　in　the　holes　they　had　dug。　I　straightened　up。
〃We'll　try　her　with　a　rope；〃　I　said。
〃I　don't　think　it's　any　use；　Tenente。　You　can't　get　a　straight　pull。〃
〃We　have　to　try　it；〃　I　said。　〃She　won't　e　out　any　other　way。〃
Piani's　and　Bonello's　cars　could　only　move　straight　ahead　down　the　narrow　road。　We　roped　both　cars　together　and　pulled。　The　wheels　only　pulled　sideways　against　the　ruts。
〃It's　no　good；〃　I　shouted。　〃Stop　it。〃
Piani　and　Bonello　got　down　from　their　cars　and　came　back。　Aymo　got　down。　The　girls　were　up　the　road　about　forty　yards　sitting　on　a　stone　wall。
〃What　do　you　say；　Tenente？〃　Bonello　asked。
〃We'll　dig　out　and　try　once　more　with　the　brush；〃　I　said。　I　looked　down　the　road。　It　was　my　fault。　I　had　led　them　up　here。　The　sun　was　almost　out　from　behind　the　clouds　and　the　body　of　the　sergeant　lay　beside　the　hedge。
〃We'll　put　his　coat　and　cape　under；〃　I　said。　Bonello　went　to　get　them。　I　cut　brush　and　Aymo　and　Piani　dug　out　in　front　and　between　the　wheels。　I　cut　the　cape；　then　ripped　it　in　two；　and　laid　it　under　the　wheel　in　the　mud；　then　piled　brush　for　the　wheels　to　catch。　We　were　ready　to　start　and　Aymo　got　up　on　the　seat　and　started　the　car。　The　wheels　spun　and　we　pushed　and　pushed。　But　it　wasn't　any　use。
〃It's　……ed；〃　I　said。　〃Is　there　anything　you　want　in　the　car；　Barto？〃
Aymo　climbed　up　with　Bonello；　carrying　the　cheese　and　two　bottles　of　wine　and　his　cape。　Bonello；　sitting　behind　the　wheel；　was　looking　through　the　pockets　of　the　sergeant's　coat。
〃Better　throw　the　coat　away；〃　I　said。　〃What　about　Barto's　virgins？〃
〃They　can　get　in　the　back；〃　Piani　said。　〃I　don't　think　we　are　going　far。〃
I　opened　the　back　door　of　the　ambulance。
〃e　on；〃　I　said。　〃Get　in。〃　The　two　girls　climbed　in　and　sat　in　the　corner。　They　seemed　to　have　taken　no　notice　of　the　shooting。　I　looked　back　up　the　road。　The　sergeant　lay　in　his　dirty　long…sleeved　underwear。　I　got　up　with　Piani　and　we　started。　We　were　going　to　try　to　cross　the　field。　When　the　road　entered　the　field　I　got　down　and　walked　ahead。　If　we　could　get　across；　there　was　a　road　on　the　other　side。　We　could　not　get　across。　It　was　too　soft　and　muddy　for　the　cars。　When　they　were　finally　and　pletely　stalled；　the　wheels　dug　in　to　the　hubs；　we　left　them　in　the　field　and　started　on　foot　for　Udine。
When　we　came　to　the　road　which　led　back　toward　the　main　highway　I　pointed　down　it　to　the　two　girls。
〃Go　down　there；〃　I　said。　〃You'll　meet　people。〃　They　looked　at　me。　I　took　out　my　pocket…book　and　gave　them　each　a　ten…lira　note。　〃Go　down　there；〃　I　said；　pointing。　〃Friends！　Family！〃
They　did　not　understand　but　they　held　the　money　tightly　and　started　down　the　road。　They　looked　back　as　though　they　were　afraid　I　might　take　the　money　back。　I　watched　them　go　down　the　road；　their　shawls　close　around　them；　looking　back　apprehensively　at　us。　The　three　drivers　were　laughing。
〃How　much　will　you　give　me　to　go　in　that　direction；　Tenente？〃　Bonello　asked。
〃They're　better　off　in　a　bunch　of　people　than　alone　if　they　catch　them；〃　I　said。
〃Give　me　two　hundred　lire　and　I'll　walk　straight　back　toward　Austria；〃　Bonello　said。
〃They'd　take　it　away　from　you；〃　Piani　said。
〃Maybe　the　war　will　be　over；〃　Aymo　said。　We　were　going　up　the　road　as　fast　as　we　could。　The　sun　was　trying　to　e　through。　Beside　the　road　were　mulberry　trees。　Through　the　trees　I　could　see　our　two　big　moving…vans　of　cars　stuck　in　the　field。　Piani　looked　back　too。
〃They'll　have　to　build　a　road　to　get　them　out；〃　he　said。
〃I　wish　to　Christ　we　had　bicycles；〃　Bonello　said。
〃Do　they　ride　bicycles　in　America？〃　Aymo　asked。
〃They　used　to。〃
〃Here　it　is　a　great　thing；〃　Aymo　said。　〃A　bicycle　is　a　splendid　thing。〃
〃I　wish　to　Christ　we　had　bicycles；〃　Bonello　said。　〃I'm　no　walker。