永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著-第7部分

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〃Who　goes　to　the　attack？〃　asked　Gavuzzi。
〃Bersaglieri。〃
〃All　bersaglieri？〃
〃I　think　so。〃
〃There　aren't　enough　troops　here　for　a　real　attack。〃
〃It　is　probably　to　draw　attention　from　where　the　real　attack　will　be。〃
〃Do　the　men　know　that　who　attack？〃
〃I　don't　think　so。〃
〃Of　course　they　don't；〃　Manera　said。　〃They　wouldn't　attack　if　they　did。〃
〃Yes；　they　would；〃　Passini　said。　〃Bersaglieri　are　fools。〃
〃They　are　brave　and　have　good　discipline；〃　I　said。
〃They　are　big　through　the　chest　by　measurement；　and　healthy。　But　they　are　still　fools。〃
〃The　granatieri　are　tall；〃　Manera　said。　This　was　a　joke。　They　all　laughed。
〃Were　you　there；　Tenente；　when　they　wouldn't　attack　and　they　shot　every　tenth　man？〃
〃No。〃
〃It　is　true。　They　lined　them　up　afterward　and　took　every　tenth　man。　Carabinieri　shot　them。〃
〃Carabinieri；〃　said　Passini　and　spat　on　the　floor。　〃But　those　grenadiers；　all　over　six　feet。　They　wouldn't　attack。〃
〃If　everybody　would　not　attack　the　war　would　be　over；〃　Manera　said。
〃It　wasn't　that　way　with　the　granatieri。　They　were　afraid。　The　officers　all　came　from　such　good　families。〃
〃Some　of　the　officers　went　alone。〃
〃A　sergeant　shot　two　officers　who　would　not　get　out。〃
〃Some　troops　went　out。〃
〃Those　that　went　out　were　not　lined　up　when　they　took　the　tenth　men。〃
〃One　of　those　shot　by　the　carabinieri　is　from　my　town；〃　Passini　said。　〃He　was　a　big　smart　tall　boy　to　be　in　the　granatieri。　Always　in　Rome。　Always　with　the　girls。　Always　with　the　carabinieri。〃　He　laughed。　〃Now　they　have　a　guard　outside　his　house　with　a　bayonet　and　nobody　can　e　to　see　his　mother　and　father　and　sisters　and　his　father　loses　his　civil　rights　and　cannot　even　vote。　They　are　all　without　law　to　protect　them。　Anybody　can　take　their　property。〃
〃If　it　wasn't　that　that　happens　to　their　families　nobody　would　go　to　the　attack。〃
〃Yes。　Alpini　would。　These　V。　E。　soldiers　would。　Some　bersaglieri。〃
〃Bersaglieri　have　run　too。　Now　they　try　to　forget　it。〃
〃You　should　not　let　us　talk　this　way；　Tenente。　Evviva　l'esercito；〃　Passini　said　sarcastically。
〃I　know　how　you　talk；〃　I　said。　〃But　as　long　as　you　drive　the　cars　and　behave……〃
〃……and　don't　talk　so　other　officers　can　hear；〃　Manera　finished。　〃I　believe　we　should　get　the　war　over；〃　I　said。　〃It　would　not　finish　it　if　one　side　stopped　fighting。　It　would　only　be　worse　if　we　stopped　fighting。〃
〃It　could　not　be　worse；〃　Passini　said　respectfully。　〃There　is　nothing　worse　than　war。〃
〃Defeat　is　worse。〃
〃I　do　not　believe　it；〃　Passini　said　still　respectfully。　〃What　is　defeat？　You　go　home。〃
〃They　e　after　you。　They　take　your　home。　They　take　your　sisters。〃
〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Passini　said。　〃They　can't　do　that　to　everybody。　Let　everybody　defend　his　home。　Let　them　keep　their　sisters　in　the　house。〃
〃They　hang　you。　They　e　and　make　you　be　a　soldier　again。　Not　in　the　auto…ambulance；　in　the　infantry。〃
〃They　can't　hang　every　one。〃
〃An　outside　nation　can't　make　you　be　a　soldier；〃　Manera　said。　〃At　the　first　battle　you　all　run。〃
〃Like　the　Tchecos。〃
〃I　think　you　do　not　know　anything　about　being　conquered　and　so　you　think　it　is　not　bad。〃
〃Tenente；〃　Passini　said。　〃We　understand　you　let　us　talk。　Listen。　There　is　nothing　as　bad　as　war。　We　in　the　auto…ambulance　cannot　even　realize　at　all　how　bad　it　is。　When　people　realize　how　bad　it　is　they　cannot　do　anything　to　stop　it　because　they　go　crazy。　There　are　some　people　who　never　realize。　There　are　people　who　are　afraid　of　their　officers。　It　is　with　them　the　war　is　made。〃
〃I　know　it　is　bad　but　we　must　finish　it。〃
〃It　doesn't　finish。　There　is　no　finish　to　a　war。〃
〃Yes　there　is。〃
Passini　shook　his　head。
〃War　is　not　won　by　victory。　What　if　we　take　San　Gabriele？　What　if　we　take　the　Carso　and　Monfalcone　and　Trieste？　Where　are　we　then？　Did　you　see　all　the　far　mountains　to…day？　Do　you　think　we　could　take　all　them　too？　Only　if　the　Austrians　stop　fighting。　One　side　must　stop　fighting。　Why　don't　we　stop　fighting？　If　they　e　down　into　Italy　they　will　get　tired　and　go　away。　They　have　their　own　country。　But　no；　instead　there　is　a　war。〃
〃You're　an　orator。〃
〃We　think。　We　read。　We　are　not　peasants。　We　are　mechanics。　But　even　the　peasants　know　better　than　to　believe　in　a　war。　Everybody　hates　this　war。〃
〃There　is　a　class　that　controls　a　country　that　is　stupid　and　does　not　realize　anything　and　never　can。　That　is　why　we　have　this　war。〃
〃Also　they　make　money　out　of　it。〃
〃Most　of　them　don't；〃　said　Passini。　〃They　are　too　stupid。　They　do　it　for　nothing。　For　stupidity。〃
〃We　must　shut　up；〃　said　Manera。　〃We　talk　too　much　even　for　the　Tenente。〃
〃He　likes　it；〃　said　Passini。　〃We　will　convert　him。〃
〃But　now　we　will　shut　up；〃　Manera　said。
〃Do　we　eat　yet；　Tenente？〃　Gavuzzi　asked。
〃I　will　go　and　see；〃　I　said。　Gordini　stood　up　and　went　outside　with　me。
〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do；　Tenente？　Can　I　help　in　any　way？〃　He　was　the　quietest　one　of　the　four。　〃e　with　me　if　you　want；〃　I　said；　〃and　we'll　see。〃
It　was　dark　outside　and　the　long　light　from　the　search…lights　was　moving　over　the　mountains。　There　were　big　search…lights　on　that　front　mounted　on　camions　that　you　passed　sometimes　on　the　roads　at　night；　close　behind　the　lines；　the　camion　stopped　a　little　off　the　road；　an　officer　directing　the　light　and　the　crew　scared。　We　crossed　the　brickyard；　and　stopped　at　the　main　dressing　station。　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。　Inside　there　was　a　light。　The　major　was　at　the　telephone　sitting　on　a　box。　One　of　the　medical　captains　said　the　attack　had　been　put　forward　an　hour。　He　offered　me　a　glass　of　cognac。　I　looked　at　the　board　tables；　the　instruments　shining　in　the　light；　the　basins　and　the　stoppered　bottles。　Gordini　stood　behind　me。　The　major　got　up　from　the　telephone。
〃It　starts　now；〃　he　said。　〃It　has　been　put　back　again。〃
I　looked　outside；　it　was　dark　and　the　Austrian　search…lights　were　moving　on　the　mountains　behind　us。　It　was　quiet　for　a　moment　still；　then　from　all　the　guns　behind　us　the　bombardment　started。
〃Savoia；〃　said　the　major。
〃About　the　soup；　major；〃　I　said。　He　did　not　hear　me。　I　repeated　it。
〃It　hasn't　e　up。〃
A　big　shell　came　in　and　burst　outside　in　the　brickyard。　Another　burst　and　in　the　noise　you　could　hear　the　smaller　noise　of　the　brick　and　dirt　raining　down。
〃What　is　there　to　eat？〃
〃We　have　a　little　pasta　asciutta；〃　the　major　said。
〃I'll　take　what　you　can　give　me。〃
The　major　spoke　to　an　orderly　who　went　out　of　sight　in　the　back　and　came　back　with　a　metal　basin　of　cold　cooked　macaroni。　I　handed　it　to　Gordini。
〃Have　you　any　cheese？〃
The　major　spoke　grudgingly　to　the　orderly　who　ducked　back　into　the　hole　again　and　came　out　with　a　quarter　of　a　white　cheese。
〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　I　said。
〃You'd　better　not　go　out。〃
Outside　something　was　set　down　beside　the　entrance。　One　of　the　two　men　who　had　carried　it　looked　in。
〃Bring　him　in；〃　said　the　major。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？　Do　you　want　us　to　e　outside　and　get　him？〃
The　two　stretcher…bearers　picked　up　the　man　under　the　arms　and　by　the　legs　and　brought　him　in。
〃Slit　the　tunic；〃　the　major　said。
He　held　a　forceps　with　some　gauze　in　the　end。　The　two　captains　took　off　their　coats。　〃Get　out　of　here；〃　the　major　said　to　the　two　stretcher…bearers。
〃e　on；〃　I　said　to　Gordini。
〃You　better　wait　until　the　shelling　is　over；〃　the　major　said　over　his　shoulder。
〃They　want　to　eat；〃　I　said。
〃As　you　wish。〃
Outside　we　ran　across　the　brickyard。　A　shell　burst　short　near　the　river　bank。　Then　there　was　one　that　we　did　not　hear　ing　until　the　sudden　rush。　We　both　went　flat　and　with　the　flash　and　bump　of　the　burst　and　the　smell　heard　the　singing　off　of　the　fragments　and　the　rattle　of　falling　brick。　Gordini　got　up　and　ran　for　the　dugout。　I　was　after　him；　holding　the　cheese；　its　smooth　surface　covered　with　brick　dust。　Inside　the　dugout　were　the　three　drivers　sitting　against　the　wall；　smoking。
〃Here；　you　patriots；〃　I　said。
〃How　are　the　cars？〃　Manera　asked。
〃All　right。〃
〃Did　they　scare　you；　Tenente？〃
〃You're　damned　right；〃　I　said。
I　took　out　my　knife；　opened　it；　wiped　off　the　blade　and　pared　off　the　dirty　outside　surface　of　the　cheese。　Gavuzzi　handed　me　the　basin　of　macaroni。
〃Start　in　to　eat；　Tenente。〃
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Put　it　on　the　floor。　We'll　all　eat。〃
〃There　are　no　forks。〃
〃What　the　hell；〃　I　said　in　English。
I　cut　the　cheese　into　pieces　and　laid　them　on　the　macaroni。
〃Sit　down　to　it；〃　I　said。　They　sat　down　and　waited。　I　put　thumb　and　fingers　into　the　macaroni　and　lifted。　A　mass　loosened。
〃Lift　it　high；　Tenente。〃
I　lifted　it　to　arm's　length　and　the　strands　cleared。　I　lowered　it　into　the　mouth；　sucked　and　snapped　in　the　ends；　and　chewed；　then　took　a　bite　of　cheese；　chewed；　and　then　a　drink　of　the　wine。　It　tasted　of　rusty　metal。　I　handed　the　canteen　back　to　Passini。
〃It's　rotten；〃　he　said。　〃It's　been　in　there　too　long。　I　had　it　in　the　car。〃
They　were　all　eating；　holding　their　chins　close　over　the　basin；　tipping　their　heads　back；　sucking　in　the　ends。　I　took　another　mouthful　and　some　cheese　and　a　rinse　of　wine。　Something　landed　outside　that　shook　the　earth。
〃Four　hundred　twenty　or　minnenwerfer；〃　Gavuzzi　said。
〃There　aren't　any　four　hundred　twenties　in　the　mountains；〃　I　said。
〃They　have　big　Skoda　guns。　I've　seen　the　holes。〃
〃Three　hundred　fives。〃
We　went　on　eating。　There　was　a　cough；　a　noise　like　a　railway　engine　starting　and　then　an　explosion　that　shook　the　earth　again。
〃This　isn't　a　deep　dugout；〃　Passini　said。
〃That　was　a　big　trench　mortar。〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
I　ate　the　end　of　my　piece　of　cheese　and　took　a　swallow　of　wine。　Through　the　other　noise　I　heard　a　cough；　then　came　the　chuh…chuhchuh…chuh……then　there　was　a　flash；　as　when　a　blast…furnace　door　is　swung　open；　and　a　roar　that　started　white　and　went　red　and　on　and　on　in　a　rushing　wind。　I　tried　to　breathe　but　my　breath　would　not　e　and　I　felt　myself　rush　bodily　out　of　myself　and　out　and　out　and　out　and　all　the　time　bodily　in　the　wind。　I　went　out　swiftly；　all　of　myself；　and　I　knew　I　was　dead　and　that　it　had　all　been　a　mistake　to　think　you　just　died。　Then　I　floated；　and　instead　of　going　on　I　felt　myself　slide　back。　I　breathed　and　I　was　back。　The　ground　was　torn　up　and　in　front　of　my　head　there　was　a　splintered　beam　of　wood。　In　the　jolt　of　my　head　I　heard　somebody　crying。　I　thought　somebody　was　screaming。　I　tried　to　move　but　I　could　not　move。　I　heard　the　machine…guns　and　rifles　firing　across　the　river　and　all　along　the　river。　There　was　a　great　splashing　and　I　saw　the　star…shells　go　up　and　burst　and　float　whitely　and　rockets　going　up　and　heard　the　bombs；　all　this　in　a　moment；　and　then　I　heard　close　to　me　some　one　saying　〃Mama　Mia！　Oh；　mama　Mia！〃　I　pulled　and　twisted　and　got　my　legs　loose　finally　and　turned　around　and　touched　him。　It　was　Passini　and　when　I　touched　him　he　screamed。　His　legs　were　toward　me　and　I　saw　in　the　dark　and　the　light　that　they　were　both　smashed　above　the　knee。　One　leg　was　gone　and　the　other　was　held　by　tendons　and　part　of　the　trouser　and　the　stump　twitched　and　jerked　as　though　it　were　not　connected。　He　bit　his　arm　and　moaned；　〃Oh　mama　mia；　mama　Mia；〃　then；　〃Dio　te　salve；　Maria。　Dio　te　salve；　Maria。　Oh　Jesus　shoot　me　Christ　shoot　me　mama　mia　mama　Mia　oh　purest　lovely　Mary　shoot　me。　Stop　it。　S