第21部分(第3/7 页)

u　couldn't　believe　how　bad　it's　been。　I've　often　thought　you　were　lucky　to　be　hit　when　you　were。〃

〃I　know　I　was。〃

〃Next　year　will　be　worse；〃　the　major　said。　〃Perhaps　they　will　attack　now。　They　say　they　are　to　attack　but　I　can't　believe　it。　It　is　too　late。　You　saw　the　river？〃

〃Yes。　It's　high　already。〃

〃I　don't　believe　they　will　attack　now　that　the　rains　have　started。　We　will　have　the　snow　soon。　What　about　your　countrymen？　Will　there　be　other　Americans　besides　yourself？〃

〃They　are　training　an　army　of　ten　million。〃

〃I　hope　we　get　some　of　them。　But　the　French　will　hog　them　all。　We'll　never　get　any　down　here。　All　right。　You　stay　here　to…night　and　go　out　to…morrow　with　the　little　car　and　send　Gino　back。　I'll　send　somebody　with　you　that　knows　the　road。　Gino　will　tell　you　everything。　They　are　shelling　quite　a　little　still　but　it　is　all　over。　You　will　want　to　see　the　Bainsizza。〃

〃I'm　glad　to　see　it。　I　am　glad　to　be　back　with　you　again；　Signor　Maggiore。〃

He　smiled。　〃You　are　very　good　to　say　so。　I　am　very　tired　of　this　war。　If　I　was　away　I　do　not　believe　I　would　e　back。〃

〃Is　it　so　bad？〃

〃Yes。　It　is　so　bad　and　worse。　Go　get　cleaned　up　and　find　your　friend　Rinaldi。〃

I　went　out　and　carried　my　bags　up　the　stairs。　Rinaldi　was　not　in　the　room　but　his　things　were　there　and　I　sat　down　on　the　bed　and　unwrapped　my　puttees　and　took　the　shoe　off　my　right　foot。　Then　I　lay　back　on　the　bed。　I　was　tired　and　my　right　foot　hurt。　It　seemed　silly　to　lie　on　the　bed　with　one　shoe　off；　so　I　sat　up　and　unlaced　the　other　shoe　and　dropped　it　on　the　floor；　then　lay　back　on　the　blanket　again。　The　room　was　stuffy　with　the　window　closed　but　I　was　too　tired　to　get　up　and　open　it。　I　saw　my　things　were　all　in　one　corner　of　the　room。　Outs