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ghtened　and　firing　on　anything　they　saw。　Last　night　on　the　retreat　we　had　heard　that　there　had　been　many　Germans　in　Italian　uniforms　mixing　with　the　retreat　in　the　north。　I　did　not　believe　it。　That　was　one　of　those　things　you　always　heard　in　the　war。　It　was　one　of　the　things　the　enemy　always　did　to　you。　You　did　not　know　any　one　who　went　over　in　German　uniform　to　confuse　them。　Maybe　they　did　but　it　sounded　difficult。　I　did　not　believe　the　Germans　did　it。
I　did　not　believe　they　had　to。　There　was　no　need　to　confuse　our　retreat。　The　size　of　the　army　and　the　fewness　of　the　roads　did　that。　Nobody　gave　any　orders；　let　alone　Germans。　Still；　they　would　shoot　us　for　Germans。　They　shot　Aymo。　The　hay　smelled　good　and　lying　in　a　barn　in　the　hay　took　away　all　the　years　in　between。　We　had　lain　in　hay　and　talked　and　shot　sparrows　with　an　air…rifle　when　they　perched　in　the　triangle　cut　high　up　in　the　wall　of　the　barn。　The　barn　was　gone　now　and　one　year　they　had　cut　the　hemlock　woods　and　there　were　only　stumps；　dried　tree…tops；　branches　and　fireweed　where　the　woods　had　been。　You　could　not　go　back。　If　you　did　not　go　forward　what　happened？　You　never　got　back　to　Milan。　And　if　you　got　back　to　Milan　what　happened？　I　listened　to　the　firing　to　the　north　toward　Udine。　I　could　hear　machine…gun　firing。　There　was　no　shelling。　That　was　something。　They　must　have　gotten　some　troops　along　the　road。　I　looked　down　in　the　half…light　of　the　hay…barn　and　saw　Piani　standing　on　the　hauling　floor。　He　had　a　long　sausage；　a　jar　of　something　and　two　bottles　of　wine　under　his　arm。
〃e　up；〃　I　said。　〃There　is　the　ladder。〃　Then　I　realized　that　I　should　help　him　with　the　things　and　went　down。　I　was　vague　in　the　head　from　lying　in　the　hay。　I　had　been　nearly　asleep。
〃Where's　Bonello？〃　I　asked。
〃I'll　tell　you；〃　Piani　said。　We　went　up　the　ladder。　Up　on　the　hay　we　set　the　things　down。　Piani　took　out　his　knife　with　the　corkscrew　and　drew　the　cork　on　a　wine　bottle。
〃They　have　sealing…wax　on　it；〃　he　said。　〃It　must　be　good。〃　He　smiled。
〃Where's　Bonello？〃　I　asked。
Piani　looked　at　me。
〃He　went　away；　Tenente；〃　he　said。　〃He　wanted　to　be　a　prisoner。〃
I　did　not　say　anything。
〃He　was　afraid　we　would　get　killed。〃
I　held　the　bottle　of　wine　and　did　not　say　anything。
〃You　see　we　don't　believe　in　the　war　anyway；　Tenente。〃
〃Why　didn't　you　go？〃　I　asked。
〃I　did　not　want　to　leave　you。〃
〃Where　did　he　go？〃
〃I　don't　know；　Tenente。　He　went　away。〃
〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃Will　you　cut　the　sausage？〃
Piani　looked　at　me　in　the　half…light。
〃I　cut　it　while　we　were　talking；〃　he　said。　We　sat　in　the　hay　and　ate　the　sausage　and　drank　the　wine。　It　must　have　been　wine　they　had　saved　for　a　wedding。　It　was　so　old　that　it　was　losing　its　color。
〃You　look　out　of　this　window；　Luigi；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　go　look　out　the　other　window。〃
We　had　each　been　drinking　out　of　one　of　the　bottles　and　I　took　my　bottle　with　me　and　went　over　and　lay　flat　on　the　hay　and　looked　out　the　narrow　window　at　the　wet　country。　I　do　not　know　what　I　expected　to　see　but　I　did　not　see　anything　except　the　fields　and　the　bare　mulberry　trees　and　the　rain　falling。　I　drank　the　wine　and　it　did　not　make　me　feel　good。　They　had　kept　it　too　long　and　it　had　gone　to　pieces　and　lost　its　quality　and　color。　I　watched　it　get　dark　outside；　the　darkness　came　very　quickly。　It　would　be　a　black　night　with　the　rain。　When　it　was　dark　there　was　no　use　watching　any　more；　so　I　went　over　to　Piani。　He　was　lying　asleep　and　I　did　not　wake　him　but　sat　down　beside　him　for　a　while。　He　was　a　big　man　and　he　slept　heavily。　After　a　while　I　woke　him　and　we　started。
That　was　a　very　strange　night。　I　do　not　know　what　I　had　expected；　death　perhaps　and　shooting　in　the　dark　and　running；　but　nothing　happened。　We　waited；　lying　flat　beyond　the　ditch　along　the　main　road　while　a　German　battalion　passed；　then　when　they　were　gone　we　crossed　the　road　and　went　on　to　the　north。　We　were　very　close　to　Germans　twice　in　the　rain　but　they　did　not　see　us。　We　got　past　the　town　to　the　north　without　seeing　any　Italians；　then　after　a　while　came　on　the　main　channels　of　the　retreat　and　walked　all　night　toward　the　Tagliamento。　I　had　not　realized　how　gigantic　the　retreat　was。　The　whole　country　was　moving；　as　well　as　the　army。　We　walked　all　night；　making　better　time　than　the　vehicles。　My　leg　ached　and　I　was　tired　but　we　made　good　time。　It　seemed　so　silly　for　Bonello　to　have　decided　to　be　taken　prisoner。　There　was　no　danger。　We　had　walked　through　two　armies　without　incident。　If　Aymo　had　not　been　killed　there　would　never　have　seemed　to　be　any　danger。　No　one　had　bothered　us　when　we　were　in　plain　sight　along　the　railway。　The　killing　came　suddenly　and　unreasonably。　I　wondered　where　Bonello　was。
〃How　do　you　feel；　Tenente？〃　Piani　asked。　We　were　going　along　the　side　of　a　road　crowded　with　vehicles　and　troops。
〃Fine。〃
〃I'm　tired　of　this　walking。〃
〃Well；　all　we　have　to　do　is　walk　now。　We　don't　have　to　worry。〃
〃Bonello　was　a　fool。〃
〃He　was　a　fool　all　right。〃
〃What　will　you　do　about　him；　Tenente？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃Can't　you　just　put　him　down　as　taken　prisoner？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃You　see　if　the　war　went　on　they　would　make　bad　trouble　for　his　family。〃
〃The　war　won't　go　on；〃　a　soldier　said。　〃We're　going　home。　The　war　is　over。〃
〃Everybody's　going　home。〃
〃We're　all　going　home。〃
〃e　on；　Tenente；〃　Piani　said。　He　wanted　to　get　past　them。
〃Tenente？　Who's　a　Tenente？　A　basso　gli　ufficiali！　Down　with　the　officers！〃
Piani　took　me　by　the　arm。　〃I　better　call　you　by　your　name；〃　he　said。　〃They　might　try　and　make　trouble。　They've　shot　some　officers。〃　We　worked　up　past　them。
〃I　won't　make　a　report　that　will　make　trouble　for　his　family。〃　I　went　on　with　our　conversation。
〃If　the　war　is　over　it　makes　no　difference；〃　Piani　said。　〃But　I　don't　believe　it's　over。　It's　too　good　that　it　should　be　over。〃
〃We'll　know　pretty　soon；〃　I　said。
〃I　don't　believe　it's　over。　They　all　think　it's　over　but　I　don't　believe　it。〃
〃Viva　la　Pace！〃　a　soldier　shouted　out。　〃We're　going　home！〃
〃It　would　be　fine　if　we　all　went　home；〃　Piani　said。　〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　go　home？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃We'll　never　go。　I　don't　think　it's　over。〃
〃Andiamo　a　casa！〃　a　soldier　shouted。
〃They　throw　away　their　rifles；〃　Piani　said。　〃They　take　them　off　and　drop　them　down　while　they're　marching。　Then　they　shout。〃
〃They　ought　to　keep　their　rifles。〃
〃They　think　if　they　throw　away　their　rifles　they　can't　make　them　fight。〃
In　the　dark　and　the　rain；　making　our　way　along　the　side　of　the　road　I　could　see　that　many　of　the　troops　still　had　their　rifles。　They　stuck　up　above　the　capes。
〃What　brigade　are　you？〃　an　officer　called　out。
〃Brigata　di　Pace；〃　some　one　shouted。　〃Peace　Brigade！〃　The　officer　said　nothing。
〃What　does　he　say？　What　does　the　officer　say？〃
〃Down　with　the　officer。　Viva　la　Pace！〃
〃e　on；〃　Piani　said。　We　passed　two　British　ambulances；　abandoned　in　the　block　of　vehicles。
〃They're　from　Gorizia；〃　Piani　said。　〃I　know　the　cars。〃
〃They　got　further　than　we　did。〃
〃They　started　earlier。〃
〃I　wonder　where　the　drivers　are？〃
〃Up　ahead　probably。〃
〃The　Germans　have　stopped　outside　Udine；〃　I　said。　〃These　people　will　all　get　across　the　river。〃
〃Yes；〃　Piani　said。　〃That's　why　I　think　the　war　will　go　on。〃
〃The　Germans　could　e　on；〃　I　said。　〃I　wonder　why　they　don't　e　on。〃
〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　know　anything　about　this　kind　of　war。〃
〃They　have　to　wait　for　their　transport　I　suppose。〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　Piani　said。　Alone　he　was　much　gentler。　When　he　was　with　the　others　he　Was　a　very　rough　talker。
〃Are　you　married；　Luigi？〃
〃You　know　I　am　married。〃
〃Is　that　why　you　did　not　want　to　be　a　prisoner？〃
〃That　is　one　reason。　Are　you　married；　Tenente？〃
〃No。〃
〃Neither　is　Bonello。〃
〃You　can't　tell　anything　by　a　man's　being　married。　But　I　should　think　a　married　man　would　want　to　get　back　to　his　wife；〃　I　said。　I　would　be　glad　to　talk　about　wives。
〃Yes。〃
〃How　are　your　feet？〃
〃They're　sore　enough。〃
Before　daylight　we　reached　the　bank　of　the　Tagliamento　and　followed　down　along　the　flooded　river　to　the　bridge　where　all　the　traffic　was　crossing。
〃They　ought　to　be　able　to　hold　at　this　river；〃　Piani　said。　In　the　dark　the　flood　looked　high。　The　water　swirled　and　it　was　wide。　The　wooden　bridge　was　nearly　three…quarters　of　a　mile　across；　and　the　river；　that　usually　ran　in　narrow　channels　in　the　wide　stony　bed　far　below　the　bridge；　was　close　under　the　wooden　planking。　We　went　along　the　bank　and　then　worked　our　way　into　the　crowd　that　were　crossing　the　bridge。　Crossing　slowly　in　the　rain　a　few　feet　above　the　flood；　pressed　tight　in　the　crowd；　the　box　of　an　artillery　caisson　just　ahead；　I　looked　over　the　side　and　watched　the　river。　Now　that　we　could　not　go　our　own　pace　I　felt　very　tired。　There　was　no　exhilaration　in　crossing　the　bridge。　I　wondered　what　it　would　be　like　if　a　plane　bombed　it　in　the　daytime。
〃Piani；〃　I　said。
〃Here　I　am；　Tenente。〃　He　was　a　little　ahead　in　the　jam。　No　one　was　talking。　They　were　all　trying　to　get　across　as　soon　as　they　could：　thinking　only　of　that。　We　were　almost　across。　At　the　far　end　of　the　bridge　there　were　officers　and　carabinieri　standing　on　both　sides　flashing　lights。　I　saw　them　silhouetted　against　the　sky…line。　As　we　came　close　to　them　I　saw　one　of　the　officers　point　to　a　man　in　the　column。　A　carabiniere　went　in　after　him　and　came　out　holding　the　man　by　the　arm。　He　took　him　away　from　the　road。　We　came　almost　opposite　them。　The　officers　were　scrutinizing　every　one　in　the　column；　sometimes　speaking　to　each　other；　going　forward　to　flash　a　light　in　some　one's　face。　They　took　some　one　else　out　just　before　we　came　opposite。　I　saw　the　man。　He　was　a　lieutenantcolonel。　I　saw　the　stars　in　the　box　on　his　sleeve　as　they　flashed　a　light　on　him。　His　hair　was　gray　and　he　was　short　and　fat。　The　carabiniere　pulled　him　in　behind　the　line　of　officers。　As　we　came　opposite　I　saw　one　or　two　of　them　look　at　me。　Then　one　pointed　at　me　and　spoke　to　a　carabiniere。　I　saw　the　carabiniere　start　for　me；　e　through　the　edge　of　the　column　toward　me；　then　felt　him　take　me　by　the　collar。
〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　I　said　and　hit　him　in　the　face。　I　saw　his　face　under　the　hat；　upturned　mustaches　and　blood　ing　down　his　cheek。　Another　one　dove　in　toward　us。
〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　I　said。　He　did　not　answer。　He　was　watching　a　chance　to　grab　me。　I　put　my　arm　behind　me　to　loosen　my　pistol。
〃Don't　you　know　you　can't　touch　an　officer？〃
The　other　one　grabbed　me　from　behind　and　pulled　my　arm　up　so　that　it　twisted　in　the　socket。　I　turned　with　him　and　the　other　one　grabbed　me　around　the　neck。　I　kicked　his　shins　and　got　my　left　knee　into　his　groin。
〃Shoot　him　if　he　resists；〃　I　heard　some　one　say。
〃What's　the　meaning　of　this？〃　Itried　to　shout　but　my　voice　was　not　very　loud。　They　had　me　at　the　side　of　the　road　now。
〃Shoot　him　if　he　resists；〃　an　officer　said。　〃Take　him　over　back。〃
〃Who　are　you？〃
〃You'll　find　out。〃
〃Who　are　you？〃
〃Battle　police；〃　another　officer　said。
〃Why　don't　you　ask　me　to　step　over　instead　of　having　one　of　these　airplanes　grab　me？〃
They　did　not　answer。　They　did　not　have　to　answer。　They　were　battle　police。
〃Take　him　back　there　with　the　others；〃　the　first　officer　said。　〃You　see。　He　speaks　Italian　with　an　accent。〃
〃So　do　you；　you　；〃　I　said。
〃Take　him　back　with　the　others；〃　the　first　officer　said。　They　took　me　down　behind　the　line　of　officers　below　the　road　toward　a　group　of　people　in　a　field　by　the　river　bank。　As　we　walked　toward　them　shots　were　fired。　I　saw　flashes　of　the　rifles　and　heard　the　reports。　We　came　up　to　the　group。　There　were　four　officers　standing　together；　with　a　man　in　front　of　them　with　a　carabiniere　on　each　side　of　him。　A　group　of　men　were　standing　guarded　by　carabinieri。　Four　other　carabinieri　stood　near　the　questioning　officers；　leaning　on　their　carbines。　They　were　wide…hatted　carabinieri。　The　two　who　had　me　shoved　me　in　with　the　group　waiting　to　be　questioned。　I　looked　at　the　man　the　officers　were　questioning。　He　was　the　fat　gray…haired　little　lieutenant…colonel　they　had　taken　out　of　the　column。　The　questioners　had　all　the　efficiency；　coldness　and　mand　of　themselves　of　Italians　who　are　firing　and　are　not　being　fired　on。
〃Your　brigade？〃
He　told　them。
〃Regiment？〃
He　told　them。
〃Why　are　you　not　with　your　regiment？〃
He　told　them。
〃Do　you　not　know　that　an　officer　sh