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nning　in　the　gutter。
〃There　is　your　package　on　the　seat；〃　the　waiter　said。　He　stood　with　the　umbrella　until　we　were　in　and　I　had　tipped　him。
〃Many　thanks。　Pleasant　journey；〃　he　said。　The　coachman　lifted　the　reins　and　the　horse　started。　The　waiter　turned　away　under　the　umbrella　and　went　toward　the　hotel。　We　drove　down　the　street　and　turned　to　the　left；　then　came　around　to　the　right　in　front　of　the　station。　There　were　two　carabinieri　standing　under　the　light　just　out　of　the　rain。　The　light　shone　on　their　hats。　The　rain　was　clear　and　transparent　against　the　light　from　the　station。　A　porter　came　out　from　under　the　shelter　of　the　station；　his　shoulders　up　against　the　rain。
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Thanks。　I　don't　need　thee。〃
He　went　back　under　the　shelter　of　the　archway。　I　turned　to　Catherine。　Her　face　was　in　the　shadow　from　the　hood　of　the　carriage。
〃We　might　as　well　say　good…by。〃
〃I　can't　go　in？〃
〃No。〃
〃Good…by；　Cat。〃
〃Will　you　tell　him　the　hospital？〃
〃Yes。〃
I　told　the　driver　the　address　to　drive　to。　He　nodded。
〃Good…by；〃　I　said。　〃Take　good　care　of　yourself　and　young　Catherine。〃
〃Good…by；　darling。〃
〃Good…by；〃　I　said。　I　stepped　out　into　the　rain　and　the　carriage　started。　Catherine　leaned　out　and　I　saw　her　face　in　the　light。　She　smiled　and　waved。　The　carriage　went　up　the　street；　Catherine　pointed　in　toward　the　archway。　I　looked；　there　were　only　the　two　carabinieri　and　the　archway。　I　realized　she　meant　for　me　to　get　in　out　of　the　rain。　I　went　in　and　stood　and　watched　the　carriage　turn　the　corner。　Then　I　started　through　the　station　and　down　the　runway　to　the　train。
The　porter　was　on　the　platform　looking　for　me。　I　followed　him　into　the　train；　crowding　past　people　and　along　the　aisle　and　in　through　a　door　to　where　the　machine…gunner　sat　in　the　corner　of　a　full　partment。　My　rucksack　and　musettes　were　above　his　head　on　the　luggage　rack。　There　were　many　men　standing　in　the　corridor　and　the　men　in　the　partment　all　looked　at　us　when　we　came　in。　There　were　not　enough　places　in　the　train　and　every　one　was　hostile。　The　machine…gunner　stood　up　for　me　to　sit　down。　Some　one　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder。　I　looked　around。　It　was　a　very　tall　gaunt　captain　of　artillery　with　a　red　scar　along　his　jaw。　He　had　looked　through　the　glass　on　the　corridor　and　then　e　in。
〃What　do　you　say？〃　I　asked。　I　had　turned　and　faced　him。　He　was　taller　than　I　and　his　face　was　very　thin　under　the　shadow　of　his　cap…visor　and　the　scar　was　new　and　shiny。　Every　one　in　the　partment　was　looking　at　me。
〃You　can't　do　that；〃　he　said。　〃You　can't　have　a　soldier　save　you　a　place。〃
〃I　have　done　it。〃
He　swallowed　and　I　saw　his　Adam's　apple　go　up　and　then　down。　The　machine…gunner　stood　in　front　of　the　place。　Other　men　looked　in　through　the　glass。　No　one　in　the　partment　said　anything。
〃You　have　no　right　to　do　that。　I　was　here　two　hours　before　you　came。〃
〃What　do　you　want？〃
〃The　seat。〃
〃So　do　I。〃
I　watched　his　face　and　could　feel　the　whole　partment　against　me。　I　did　not　blame　them。　He　was　in　the　right。　But　I　wanted　the　seat。　Still　no　one　said　anything。
Oh；　hell；　I　thought。
〃Sit　down；　Signor　Capitano；〃　I　said。　The　machine…gunner　moved　out　of　the　way　and　the　tall　captain　sat　down。　He　looked　at　me。　His　face　seemed　hurt。　But　he　had　the　seat。　〃Get　my　things；〃　I　said　to　the　machine…gunner。　We　went　out　in　the　corridor。　The　train　was　full　and　I　knew　there　was　no　chance　of　a　place。　I　gave　the　porter　and　the　machine…gunner　ten　lire　apiece。　They　went　down　the　corridor　and　outside　on　the　platform　looking　in　the　windows　but　there　were　no　places。
〃Maybe　some　will　get　off　at　Brescia；〃　the　porter　said。
〃More　will　get　on　at　Brescia；〃　said　the　machine…gunner。　I　said　good…by　to　them　and　we　shook　hands　and　they　left。　They　both　felt　badly。　Inside　the　train　we　were　all　standing　in　the　corridor　when　the　train　started。　I　watched　the　lights　of　the　station　and　the　yards　as　we　went　out。　It　was　still　raining　and　soon　the　windows　were　wet　and　you　could　not　see　out。　Later　I　slept　on　the　floor　of　the　corridor；　first　putting　my　pocket…book　with　my　money　and　papers　in　it　inside　my　shirt　and　trousers　so　that　it　was　inside　the　leg　of　my　breeches。　I　slept　all　night；　waking　at　Brescia　and　Verona　when　more　men　got　on　the　train；　but　going　back　to　sleep　at　once。　I　had　my　head　on　one　of　the　musettes　and　my　arms　around　the　other　and　I　could　feel　the　pack　and　they　could　all　walk　over　me　if　they　wouldn't　step　on　me。　Men　were　sleeping　on　the　floor　all　down　the　corridor。　Others　stood　holding　on　to　the　window　rods　or　leaning　against　the　doors。　That　train　was　always　crowded。




BOOK　THREE




25


Now　in　the　fall　the　trees　were　all　bare　and　the　roads　were　muddy。　I　rode　to　Gorizia　from　Udine　on　a　camion。　We　passed　other　camions　on　the　road　and　I　looked　at　the　country。　The　mulberry　trees　were　bare　and　the　fields　were　brown。　There　were　wet　dead　leaves　on　the　road　from　the　rows　of　bare　trees　and　men　were　working　on　the　road；　tamping　stone　in　the　ruts　from　piles　of　crushed　stone　along　the　side　of　the　road　between　the　trees。　We　saw　the　town　with　a　mist　over　it　that　cut　off　the　mountains。　We　crossed　the　river　and　I　saw　that　it　was　running　high。　It　had　been　raining　in　the　mountains。　We　came　into　the　town　past　the　factories　and　then　the　houses　and　villas　and　I　saw　that　many　more　houses　had　been　hit。　On　a　narrow　street　we　passed　a　British　Red　Cross　ambulance。　The　driver　wore　a　cap　and　his　face　was　thin　and　very　tanned。　I　did　not　know　him。　I　got　down　from　the　camion　in　the　big　square　in　front　of　the　Town　Major's　house；　the　driver　handed　down　my　rucksack　and　I　put　it　on　and　swung　on　the　two　musettes　and　walked　to　our　villa。　It　did　not　feel　like　a　homeing。
I　walked　down　the　damp　gravel　driveway　looking　at　the　villa　through　the　trees。　The　windows　were　all　shut　but　the　door　was　open。　I　went　in　and　found　the　major　sitting　at　a　table　in　the　bare　room　with　maps　and　typed　sheets　of　paper　on　the　wall。
〃Hello；〃　he　said。　〃How　are　you？〃　He　looked　older　and　drier。
〃I'm　good；〃　I　said。　〃How　is　everything？〃
〃It's　all　over；〃　he　said。　〃Take　off　your　kit　and　sit　down。〃　I　put　my　pack　and　the　two　musettes　on　the　floor　and　my　cap　on　the　pack。　I　brought　the　other　chair　over　from　the　wall　and　sat　down　by　the　desk。
〃It's　been　a　bad　summer；〃　the　major　said。　〃Are　you　strong　now？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Did　you　ever　get　the　decorations？〃
〃Yes。　I　got　them　fine。　Thank　you　very　much。〃
〃Let's　see　them。〃
I　opened　my　cape　so　he　could　see　the　two　ribbons。
〃Did　you　get　the　boxes　with　the　medals？〃
〃No。　Just　the　papers。〃
〃The　boxes　will　e　later。　That　takes　more　time。〃
〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
〃The　cars　are　all　away。　There　are　six　up　north　at　Caporetto。　You　know　Caporetto？〃
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　I　remembered　it　as　a　little　white　town　with　a　campanile　in　a　valley。　It　was　a　clean　little　town　and　there　was　a　fine　fountain　in　the　square。
〃They　are　working　from　there。　There　are　many　sick　now。　The　fighting　is　over。〃
〃Where　are　the　others？〃
〃There　are　two　up　in　the　mountains　and　four　still　on　the　Bainsizza。　The　other　two　ambulance　sections　are　in　the　Carso　with　the　third　army。〃
〃What　do　you　wish　me　to　do？〃
〃You　can　go　and　take　over　the　four　cars　on　the　Bainsizza　if　you　like。　Gino　has　been　up　there　a　long　time。　You　haven't　seen　it　up　there；　have　you？〃
〃No。〃
〃It　was　very　bad。　We　lost　three　cars。〃
〃I　heard　about　it。〃
〃Yes；　Rinaldi　wrote　you。〃
〃Where　is　Rinaldi？〃
〃He　is　here　at　the　hospital。　He　has　had　a　summer　and　fall　of　it。〃
〃I　believe　it。〃
〃It　has　been　bad；〃　the　major　said。　〃You　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。　Outside　it　was　getting　dark。　I　lay　on　the　bed　and　thought　about　Catherine　and　waited　for　Rinaldi。　I　was　going　to　try　not　to　think　about　Catherine　except　at　night　before　I　went　to　sleep。　But　now　I　was　tired　and　there　was　nothing　to　do；　so　I　lay　and　thought　about　her。　I　was　thinking　about　her　when　Rinaldi　came　in。　He　looked　just　the　same。　Perhaps　he　was　a　little　thinner。
〃Well；　baby；〃　he　said。　I　sat　up　on　the　bed。　He　came　over；　sat　down　and　put　his　arm　around　me。　〃Good　old　baby。〃　He　whacked　me　on　the　back　and　I　held　both　his　arms。
〃Old　baby；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　see　your　knee。〃
〃I'll　have　to　take　off　my　pants。〃
〃Take　off　your　pants；　baby。　We're　all　friends　here。　I　want　to　see　what　kind　of　a　job　they　did。〃　I　stood　up；　took　off　the　breeches　and　pulled　off　the　knee…brace。　Rinaldi　sat　on　the　floor　and　bent　the　knee　gently　back　and　forth。　He　ran　his　finger　along　the　scar；　put　his　thumbs　together　over　the　kneecap　and　rocked　the　knee　gently　with　his　fingers。
〃Is　that　all　the　articulation　you　have？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It's　a　crime　to　send　you　back。　They　ought　to　get　plete　articulation。〃
〃It's　a　lot　better　than　it　was。　It　was　stiff　as　a　board。〃
Rinaldi　bent　it　more。　I　watched　his　hands。　He　had　fine　surgeon's　hands。　I　looked　at　the　top　of　his　head；　his　hair　shiny　and　parted　smoothly。　He　bent　the　knee　too　far。
〃Ouch！〃　I　said。
〃You　ought　to　have　more　treatment　on　it　with　the　machines；〃　Rinaldi　said。
〃It's　better　than　it　was。〃
〃I　see　that；　baby。　This　is　something　I　know　more　about　than　you。〃　He　stood　up　and　sat　down　on　the　bed。　〃The　knee　itself　is　a　good　job。〃　He　was　through　with　the　knee。　〃Tell　me　all　about　everything。〃
〃There's　nothing　to　tell；〃　I　said。　〃I've　led　a　quiet　life。〃
〃You　act　like　a　married　man；〃　he　said。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃
〃Nothing；〃　I　said。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃
〃This　war　is　killing　me；〃　Rinaldi　said；　〃I　am　very　depressed　by　it。〃　He　folded　his　hands　over　his　knee。
〃Oh；〃　I　said。
〃What's　the　matter？　Can't　I　even　have　human　impulses？〃
〃No。　I　can　see　you've　been　having　a　fine　time。　Tell　me。〃
〃All　summer　and　all　fall　I've　operated。　I　work　all　the　time。　I　do　everybody's　work。　All　the　hard　ones　they　leave　to　me。　By　God；　baby；　I　am　being　a　lovely　surgeon。〃
〃That　sounds　better。〃
〃I　never　think。　No；　by　God；　I　don't　think；　I　operate。〃
〃That's　right。〃
〃But　now；　baby；　it's　all　over。　I　don't　operate　now　and　I　feel　like　hell。　This　is　a　terrible　war；　baby。　You　believe　me　when　I　say　it。　Now　you　cheer　me　up。　Did　you　bring　the　phonograph　records？〃
〃Yes。〃
They　were　wrapped　in　paper　in　a　cardboard　box　in　my　rucksack。　I　was　too　tired　to　get　them　out。
〃Don't　you　feel　good　yourself；　baby？〃
〃I　feel　like　hell。〃
〃This　war　is　terrible；〃　Rinaldi　said。　〃e　on。　We'll　both　get　drunk　and　be　cheerful。　Then　we'll　go　get　the　ashes　dragged。　Then　we'll　feel　fine。〃
〃I've　had　the　jaundice；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　can't　get　drunk。〃
〃Oh；　baby；　how　you've　e　back　to　me。　You　e　back　serious　and　with　a　liver。　I　tell　you　this　war　is　a　bad　thing。　Why　did　we　make　it　anyway。〃
〃We'll　have　a　drink。　I　don't　want　to　get　drunk　but　we'l