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第17部分(第2页)

〃We dont 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 didnt。 Those last four boys were awful。〃

〃We can stay out here and watch the race from the fence。〃

〃That will be lovely。 And; darling; lets back a horse weve never heard of and that Mr。 Meyers wont 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。

〃Wouldnt you like a drink? We could have one out here and see the horses。〃

〃Ill 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。

〃Dont you like it better when were alone?〃

〃Yes;〃 I said。

〃I felt very lonely when they were all there。〃

〃Its grand here;〃 I said。

〃Yes。 Its really a pretty course。〃

〃Its nice。〃

〃Dont let me spoil your fun; darling。 Ill go back whenever you want。〃

〃No;〃 I said。 〃Well stay here and have our drink。 Then well go down and stand at the water jump for the steeplechase。〃

〃Youre 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 somebodys 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。 Id 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 wouldnt do that; he said。 It was too simple。 Theyd 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。

〃Theyre 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?〃

〃Thats 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

斗罗:千仞雪的伐神之路  三年抱俩,冷硬军官别太宠  药膳空间[种田养子] 作者:辣椒拌饭  月在回廊新月如钩_(全书已完结)  爱恨交织  侍灵记  爱江山  小宫女(辣)  言咒师  郭靖,别跑(  邪妃盗情:粘人相公太妖娆  [HP]成为獾祖的人生  我只想闯荡江湖  重生之成就非凡  四合院:从杀猪佬开始  北后  一默如雷  奇怪的运动  昆仑镜之宁不臣  师兄竟是战略级房产经纪大师  

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