永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著-第3部分

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〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Rinaldi　said。　〃Perhaps　we　should　have　a　drink。〃　He　opened　his　trunk　and　took　out　a　bottle。
〃Not　Strega；〃　I　said。
〃No。　Grappa。〃
〃All　right。〃
He　poured　two　glasses　and　we　touched　them；　first　fingers　extended。　The　grappa　was　very　strong。
〃Another？〃
〃All　right；〃　I　said。　We　drank　the　second　grappa；　Rinaldi　put　away　the　bottle　and　we　went　down　the　stairs。　It　was　hot　walking　through　the　town　but　the　sun　was　starting　to　go　down　and　it　was　very　pleasant。　The　British　hospital　was　a　big　villa　built　by　Germans　before　the　war。　Miss　Barkley　was　in　the　garden。　Another　nurse　was　with　her。　We　saw　their　white　uniforms　through　the　trees　and　walked　toward　them。　Rinaldi　saluted。　I　saluted　too　but　more　moderately。
〃How　do　you　do？〃　Miss　Barkley　said。　〃You're　not　an　Italian；　are　you？〃
〃Oh；　no。〃
Rinaldi　was　talking　with　the　other　nurse。　They　were　laughing。　〃What　an　odd　thing……to　be　in　the　Italian　army。〃
〃It's　not　really　the　army。　It's　only　the　ambulance。〃
〃It's　very　odd　though。　Why　did　you　do　it？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃There　isn't　always　an　explanation　for　everything。〃
〃Oh；　isn't　there？　I　was　brought　up　to　think　there　was。〃
〃That's　awfully　nice。〃
〃Do　we　have　to　go　on　and　talk　this　way？〃
〃No；〃　I　said。
〃That's　a　relief。　Isn't　it？〃
〃What　is　the　stick？〃　I　asked。　Miss　Barkley　was　quite　tall。　She　wore　what　seemed　to　me　to　be　a　nurse's　uniform；　was　blonde　and　had　a　tawny　skin　and　gray　eyes。　I　thought　she　was　very　beautiful。　She　was　carrying　a　thin　rattan　stick　like　a　toy　riding…crop；　bound　in　leather。
〃It　belonged　to　a　boy　who　was　killed　last　year。〃
〃I'm　awfully　sorry。〃
〃He　was　a　very　nice　boy。　He　was　going　to　marry　me　and　he　was　killed　in　the　Somme。〃
〃It　was　a　ghastly　show。〃
〃Were　you　there？〃
〃No。〃
〃I've　heard　about　it；〃　she　said。　〃There's　not　really　any　war　of　that　sort　down　here。　They　sent　me　the　little　stick。　His　mother　sent　it　to　me。　They　returned　it　with　his　things。〃
〃Had　you　been　engaged　long？〃
〃Eight　years。　We　grew　up　together。〃
〃And　why　didn't　you　marry？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　a　fool　not　to。　I　could　have　given　him　that　anyway。　But　I　thought　it　would　be　bad　for　him。〃
〃I　see。〃
〃Have　you　ever　loved　any　one？〃
〃No；〃　I　said。
We　sat　down　on　a　bench　and　I　looked　at　her。
〃You　have　beautiful　hair；〃　I　said。
〃Do　you　like　it？〃
〃Very　much。〃
〃I　was　going　to　cut　it　all　off　when　he　died。〃
〃No。〃
〃I　wanted　to　do　something　for　him。　You　see　I　didn't　care　about　the　other　thing　and　he　could　have　had　it　all。　He　could　have　had　anything　he　wanted　if　I　would　have　known。　I　would　have　married　him　or　anything。　I　know　all　about　it　now。　But　then　he　wanted　to　go　to　war　and　I　didn't　know。〃
I　did　not　say　anything。
〃I　didn't　know　about　anything　then。　I　thought　it　would　be　worse　for　him。　I　thought　perhaps　he　couldn't　stand　it　and　then　of　course　he　was　killed　and　that　was　the　end　of　it。〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　said。　〃That's　the　end　of　it。〃
We　looked　at　Rinaldi　talking　with　the　other　nurse。
〃What　is　her　name？〃
〃Ferguson。　Helen　Ferguson。　Your　friend　is　a　doctor；　isn't　he？〃
〃Yes。　He's　very　good。〃
〃That's　splendid。　You　rarely　find　any　one　any　good　this　close　to　the　front。　This　is　close　to　the　front；　isn't　it？〃
〃Quite。〃
〃It's　a　silly　front；〃　she　said。　〃But　it's　very　beautiful。　Are　they　going　to　have　an　offensive？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then　we'll　have　to　work。　There's　no　work　now。〃
〃Have　you　done　nursing　long？〃
〃Since　the　end　of　'fifteen。　I　started　when　he　did。　I　remember　having　a　silly　idea　he　might　e　to　the　hospital　where　I　was。　With　a　sabre　cut；　I　suppose；　and　a　bandage　around　his　head。　Or　shot　through　the　shoulder。　Something　picturesque。〃
〃This　is　the　picturesque　front；〃　I　said。
〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃People　can't　realize　what　France　is　like。　If　they　did；　it　couldn't　all　go　on。　He　didn't　have　a　sabre　cut。　They　blew　him　all　to　bits。〃
I　didn't　say　anything。
〃Do　you　suppose　it　will　always　go　on？〃
〃No。〃
〃What's　to　stop　it？〃
〃It　will　crack　somewhere。〃
〃We'll　crack。　We'll　crack　in　France。　They　can't　go　on　doing　things　like　the　Somme　and　not　crack。〃
〃They　won't　crack　here；〃　I　said。
〃You　think　not？〃
〃No。　They　did　very　well　last　summer。〃
〃They　may　crack；〃　she　said。　〃Anybody　may　crack。〃
〃The　Germans　too。〃
〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　think　not。〃
We　went　over　toward　Rinaldi　and　Miss　Ferguson。
〃You　love　Italy？〃　Rinaldi　asked　Miss　Ferguson　in　English。
〃Quite　well。〃
〃No　understand；〃　Rinaldi　shook　his　head。
〃Abbastanza　bene；〃　I　translated。
He　shook　his　head。
〃That　is　not　good。　You　love　England？〃
〃Not　too　well。　I'm　Scotch；　you　see。〃
Rinaldi　looked　at　me　blankly。
〃She's　Scotch；　so　she　loves　Scotland　better　than　England；〃　I　said　in　Italian。
〃But　Scotland　is　England。〃
I　translated　this　for　Miss　Ferguson。
〃Pas　encore；〃　said　Miss　Ferguson。
〃Not　really？〃
〃Never。　We　do　not　like　the　English。〃
〃Not　like　the　English？　Not　like　Miss　Barkley？〃
〃Oh；　that's　different。　You　mustn't　take　everything　so　literally。〃
After　a　while　we　said　good…night　and　left。　Walking　home　Rinaldi　said；　〃Miss　Barkley　prefers　you　to　me。　That　is　very　clear。　But　the　little　Scotch　one　is　very　nice。〃
〃Very；〃　I　said。　I　had　not　noticed　her。　〃You　like　her？〃
〃No；〃　said　Rinaldi。




5


The　next　afternoon　I　went　to　call　on　Miss　Barkley　again。　She　was　not　in　the　garden　and　I　went　to　the　side　door　of　the　villa　where　the　ambulances　drove　up。　Inside　I　saw　the　head　nurse；　who　said　Miss　Barkley　was　on　duty……〃there's　a　war　on；　you　know。〃
I　said　I　knew。
〃You're　the　American　in　the　Italian　army？〃　she　asked。
〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
〃How　did　you　happen　to　do　that？　Why　didn't　you　join　up　with　us？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃Could　I　join　now？〃
〃I'm　afraid　not　now。　Tell　me。　Why　did　you　join　up　with　the　Italians？〃
〃I　was　in　Italy；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　spoke　Italian。〃
〃Oh；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　learning　it。　It's　beautiful　language。〃
〃Somebody　said　you　should　be　able　to　learn　it　in　two　weeks。〃
〃Oh；　I'll　not　learn　it　in　two　weeks。　I've　studied　it　for　months　now。　You　may　e　and　see　her　after　seven　o'clock　if　you　wish。　She'll　be　off　then。　But　don't　bring　a　lot　of　Italians。〃
〃Not　even　for　the　beautiful　language？〃
〃No。　Nor　for　the　beautiful　uniforms。〃
〃Good　evening；〃　I　said。
〃A　rivederci；　Tenente。〃
〃A　rivederla。〃　I　saluted　and　went　out。　It　was　impossible　to　salute　foreigners　as　an　Italian；　without　embarrassment。　The　Italian　salute　never　seemed　made　for　export。
The　day　had　been　hot。　I　had　been　up　the　river　to　the　bridgehead　at　Plava。　It　was　there　that　the　offensive　was　to　begin。　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　machine…gun　and　shell　fire　for　nearly　a　mile。　It　was　not　wide　enough　either　to　carry　all　the　transport　for　an　offensive　and　the　Austrians　could　make　a　shambles　out　of　it。　But　the　Italians　had　crossed　and　spread　out　a　little　way　on　the　far　side　to　hold　about　a　mile　and　a　half　on　the　Austrian　side　of　the　river。　It　was　a　nasty　place　and　the　Austrians　should　not　have　let　them　hold　it。　I　suppose　it　was　mutual　tolerance　because　the　Austrians　still　kept　a　bridgehead　further　down　the　river。　The　Austrian　trenches　were　above　on　the　hillside　only　a　few　yards　from　the　Italian　lines。　There　had　been　a　little　town　but　it　was　all　rubble。　There　was　what　was　left　of　a　railway　station　and　a　smashed　permanent　bridge　that　could　not　be　repaired　and　used　because　it　was　in　plain　sight。
I　went　along　the　narrow　road　down　toward　the　river；　left　the　car　at　the　dressing　station　under　the　hill；　crossed　the　pontoon　bridge；　which　was　protected　by　a　shoulder　of　the　mountain；　and　went　through　the　trenches　in　the　smashed…down　town　and　along　the　edge　of　the　slope。　Everybody　was　in　the　dugouts。　There　were　racks　of　rockets　standing　to　be　touched　off　to　call　for　help　from　the　artillery　or　to　signal　with　if　the　telephone　wires　were　cut。　It　was　quiet；　hot　and　dirty。　I　looked　across　the　wire　at　the　Austrian　lines。　Nobody　was　in　sight。　I　had　a　drink　with　a　captain　that　I　knew　in　one　of　the　dugouts　and　went　back　across　the　bridge。
A　new　wide　road　was　being　finished　that　would　go　over　the　mountain　and　zig…zag　down　to　the　bridge。　When　this　road　was　finished　the　offensive　would　start。　It　came　down　through　the　forest　in　sharp　turns。　The　system　was　to　bring　everything　down　the　new　road　and　take　the　empty　trucks；　carts　and　loaded　ambulances　and　all　returning　traffic　up　the　old　narrow　road。　The　dressing　station　was　on　the　Austrian　side　of　the　river　under　the　edge　of　the　hill　and　stretcher…bearers　would　bring　the　wounded　back　across　the　pontoon　bridge。　It　would　be　the　same　when　the　offensive　started。　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。　It　looked　as　though　it　might　be　a　mess。　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。　I　would　have　liked　to　drive　over　the　new　road　but　it　was　not　yet　finished。　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。　The　cars　would　be　all　right　with　their　good　metal…to…metal　brakes　and　anyway；　ing　down；　they　would　not　be　loaded。　I　drove　back　up　the　narrow　road。
Two　carabinieri　held　the　car　up。　A　shell　had　fallen　and　while　we　waited　three　others　fell　up　the　road。　They　were　seventy…sevens　and　came　with　a　whishing　rush　of　air；　a　hard　bright　burst　and　flash　and　then　gray　smoke　that　blew　across　the　road。　The　carabinieri　waved　us　to　go　on。　Passing　where　the　shells　had　landed　I　avoided　the　small　broken　places　and　smelled　the　high　explosive　and　the　smell　of　blasted　clay　and　stone　and　freshly　shattered　flint。　I　drove　back　to　Gorizia　and　our　villa　and；　as　I　said；　went　to　call　on　Miss　Barkley；　who　was　on　duty。
At　dinner　I　ate　very　quickly　and　left　for　the　villa　where　the　British　had　their　hospital。　It　was　really　very　large　and　beautiful　and　there　were　fine　trees　in　the　grounds。　Miss　Barkley　was　sitting　on　a　bench　in　the　garden。　Miss　Ferguson　was　with　her。　They　seemed　glad　to　see　me　and　in　a　little　while　Miss　Ferguson　excused　herself　and　went　away。
〃I'll　leave　you　two；〃　she　said。　〃You　get　along　very　well　without　me。〃
〃Don't　go；　Helen；〃　Miss　Barkley　said。
〃I'd　really　rather。　I　must　write　some　letters。〃
〃Good…night；〃　I　said。
〃Good…night；　Mr。　Henry。〃
〃Don't　write　anything　that　will　bother　the　censor。〃
〃Don't　worry。　I　only　write　about　what　a　beautiful　place　we　live　in　and　how　brave　the　Italians　are。〃
〃That　way　you'll　be　decorated。〃
〃That　will　be　nice。　Good…night；　Catherine。〃
〃I'll　see　you　in　a　little　while；〃　Miss　Barkley　said。　Miss　Ferguson　walked　away　in　the　dark。
〃She's　nice；〃　I　said。
〃Oh；　yes；　she's　very　nice。　She's　a　nurse。〃
〃Aren't　you　a　nurse？〃
〃Oh；　no。　I'm　something　called　a　V。　A。　D。　We　work　very　hard　but　no　one　trusts　us。〃
〃Why　not？〃
〃They　don't　trust　us　when　there's　nothing　going　on。　When　there　is　really　work　they　trust　us。〃
〃What　is　the　difference？〃
〃A　nurse　is　like　a　doctor。　It　takes　a　long　time　to　be。　A　V。　A。　D。　is　a　short　cut。〃
〃I　see。〃
〃The　Italians　didn't　want　women　so　near　the　front。　So　we're　all