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〃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。　Stop　it。　Stop　it。　Oh　Jesus　lovely　Mary　stop　it。　Oh　oh　oh　oh；〃　then　choking；　〃Mama　mama　mia。〃　Then　he　was　quiet；　biting　his　arm；　the　stump　of　his　leg　twitching。
〃Porta　feriti！〃　I　shouted　holding　my　hands　cupped。　〃Porta　feriti！〃　I　tried　to　get　closer　to　Passini　to　try　to　put　a　tourniquet　on　the　legs　but　I　could　not　move。　I　tried　again　and　my　legs　moved　a　little。　I　could　pull　backward　along　with　my　arms　and　elbows。　Passini　was　quiet　now。　I　sat　beside　him；　undid　my　tunic　and　tried　to　rip　the　tail　of　my　shirt。　It　would　not　rip　and　I　bit　the　edge　of　the　cloth　to　start　it。　Then　I　thought　of　his　puttees。　I　had　on　wool　stockings　but　Passini　wore　puttees。　All　the　drivers　wore　puttees　but　Passini　had　only　one　leg。　I　unwound　the　puttee　and　while　I　was　doing　it　I　saw　there　was　no　need　to　try　and　make　a　tourniquet　because　he　was　dead　already。　I　made　sure　he　was　dead。　There　were　three　others　to　locate。　I　sat　up　straight　and　as　I　did　so　something　inside　my　head　moved　like　the　weights　on　a　doll's　eyes　and　it　hit　me　inside　in　back　of　my　eyeballs。　My　legs　felt　warm　and　wet　and　my　shoes　were　wet　and　warm　inside。　I　knew　that　I　was　hit　and　leaned　over　and　put　my　hand　on　my　knee。　My　knee　wasn't　there。　My　hand　went　in　and　my　knee　was　down　on　my　shin。　I　wiped　my　hand　on　my　shirt　and　another　floating　light　came　very　slowly　down　and　I　looked　at　my　leg　and　was　very　afraid。　Oh；　God；　I　said；　get　me　out　of　here。　I　knew；　however；　that　there　had　been　three　others。　There　were　four　drivers。　Passini　was　dead。　That　left　three。　Some　one　took　hold　of　me　under　the　arms　and　somebody　else　lifted　my　legs。
〃There　are　three　others；〃　I　said。　〃One　is　dead。〃
〃It's　Manera。　We　went　for　a　stretcher　but　there　wasn't　any。　How　are　you；　Tenente？〃
〃Where　is　Gordini　and　Gavuzzi？〃
〃Gordini's　at　the　post　getting　bandaged。　Gavuzzi　has　your　legs。　Hold　on　to　my　neck；　Tenente。　Are　you　badly　hit？〃
〃In　the　leg。　How　is　Gordini？〃
〃He's　all　right。　It　was　a　big　trench　mortar　shell。〃
〃Passini's　dead。〃
〃Yes。　He's　dead。〃
A　shell　fell　close　and　they　both　dropped　to　the　ground　and　dropped　me。　〃I'm　sorry；　Tenente；〃　said　Manera。　〃Hang　onto　my　neck。〃
〃If　you　drop　me　again。〃
〃It　was　because　we　were　scared。〃
〃Are　you　unwounded？〃
〃We　are　both　wounded　a　little。〃
〃Can　Gordini　drive？〃
〃I　don't　think　so。〃
They　dropped　me　once　more　before　we　reached　the　post。
〃You　sons　of　bitches；〃　I　said。
〃I　am　sorry；　Tenente；〃　Manera　said。　〃We　won't　drop　you　again。〃
Outside　the　post　a　great　many　of　us　lay　on　the　ground　in　the　dark。　They　carried　wounded　in　and　brought　them　out。　I　could　see　the　light　e　out　from　the　dressing　station　when　the　curtain　opened　and　they　brought　some　one　in　or　out。　The　dead　were　off　to　one　side。　The　doctors　were　working　with　their　sleeves　up　to　their　shoulders　and　were　red　as　butchers。　There　were　not　enough　stretchers。　Some　of　the　wounded　were　noisy　but　most　were　quiet。　The　wind　blew　the　leaves　in　the　bower　over　the　door　of　the　dressing　station　and　the　night　was　getting　cold。　Stretcher…bearers　came　in　all　the　time；　put　their　stretchers　down；　unloaded　them　and　went　away。　As　soon　as　I　got　to　the　dressing　station　Manera　brought　a　medical　sergeant　out　and　he　put　bandages　on　both　my　legs。　He　said　there　was　so　much　dirt　blown　into　the　wound　that　there　had　not　been　much　hemorrhage。　They　would　take　me　as　soon　as　possible。　He　went　back　inside。　Gordini　could　not　drive；　Manera　said。　His　shoulder　was　smashed　and　his　head　was　hurt。　He　had　not　felt　bad　but　now　the　shoulder　had　stiffened。　He　was　sitting　up　beside　one　of　the　brick　walls。　Manera　and　Gavuzzi　each　went　off　with　a　load　of　wounded。　They　could　drive　all　right。　The　British　had　e　with　three　ambulances　and　they　had　two　men　on　each　ambulance。　One　of　their　drivers　came　over　to　me；　brought　by　Gordini　who　looked　very　white　and　sick。　The　Britisher　leaned　over。
〃Are　you　hit　badly？〃　he　asked。　He　was　a　tall　man　and　wore　steel…rimmed　spectacles。
〃In　the　legs。〃
〃It's　not　serious　I　hope。　Will　you　have　a　cigarette？〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃They　tell　me　you've　lost　two　drivers。〃
〃Yes。　One　killed　and　the　fellow　that　brought　you。〃
〃What　rotten　luck。　Would　you　like　us　to　take　the　cars？〃
〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　ask　you。〃
〃We'd　take　quite　good　care　of　them　and　return　them　to　the　villa。　206　aren't　you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It's　a　charming　place。　I've　seen　you　about。　They　tell　me　you're　an　American。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I'm　English。〃
〃No！〃
〃Yes；　English。　Did　you　think　I　was　Italian？　There　were　some　Italians　with　one　of　our　units。〃
〃It　would　be　fine　if　you　would　take　the　cars；〃　I　said。
〃We'll　be　most　careful　of　them；〃　he　straightened　up。　〃This　chap　of　yours　was　very　anxious　for　me　to　see　you。〃　He　patted　Gordini　on　the　shoulder。　Gordini　winced　and　smiled。　The　Englishman　broke　into　voluble　and　perfect　Italian。　〃Now　everything　is　arranged。　I've　seen　your　Tenente。　We　will　take　over　the　two　cars。　You　won't　worry　now。〃　He　broke　off；　〃I　must　do　something　about　getting　you　out　of　here。　I'll　see　the　medical　wallahs。　We'll　take　you　back　with　us。〃
He　walked　across　to　the　dressing　station；　stepping　carefully　among　the　wounded。　I　saw　the　blanket　open；　the　light　came　out　and　he　went　in。
〃He　will　look　after　you；　Tenente；〃　Gordini　said。
〃How　are　you；　Franco？〃
〃I　am　all　right。〃　He　sat　down　beside　me。　In　a　moment　the　blanket　in　front　of　the　dressing　station　opened　and　two　stretcherbearers　came　out　followed　by　the　tall　Englishman。　He　brought　them　over　to　me。
〃Here　is　the　American　Tenente；〃　he　said　in　Italian。
〃I'd　rather　wait；〃　I　said。　〃There　are　much　worse　wounded　than　me。　I'm　all　right。〃
〃e；　e；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　be　a　bloody　hero。〃　Then　in　Italian：　〃Lift　him　very　carefully　about　the　legs。　His　legs　are　very　painful。　He　is　the　legitimate　son　of　President　Wilson。〃　They　picked　me　up　and　took　me　into　the　dressing　room。　Inside　they　were　operating　on　all　the　tables。　The　little　major　looked　at　us　furious。　He　recognized　me　and　waved　a　forceps。
〃Ca　va　bien？〃
〃Ca　va。〃
〃I　have　brought　him　in；〃　the　tall　Englishman　said　in　Italian。　〃The　only　son　of　the　American　Ambassador。　He　can　be　here　until　you　are　ready　to　take　him。　Then　I　will　take　him　with　my　first　load。〃　He　bent　over　me。　〃I'll　look　up　their　adjutant　to　do　your　papers　and　it　will　all　go　much　faster。〃　He　stooped　to　go　under　the　doorway　and　went　out。　The　major　was　unhooking　the　forceps　now；　dropping　them　in　a　basin。　I　followed　his　hands　with　my　eyes。　Now　he　was　bandaging。　Then　the　stretcher…bearers　took　the　man　off　the　table。
〃I'll　take　the　American　Tenente；〃　one　of　the　captains　said。　They　lifted　me　onto　the　table。　It　was　hard　and　slippery。　There　were　many　strong　smells；　chemical　smells　and　the　sweet　smell　of　blood。　They　took　off　my　trousers　and　the　medical　captain　menced　dictating　to　the　sergeant…adjutant　while　he　worked；　〃Multiple　superficial　wounds　of　the　left　and　right　thigh　and　left　and　right　knee　and　right　foot。　Profound　wounds　of　right　knee　and　foot。　Lacerations　of　the　scalp　（he　probed……Does　that　hurt？……Christ；　yes！）　with　possible　fracture　of　the　skull。　Incurred　in　the　line　of　duty。　That's　what　keeps　you　from　being　court…martialled　for　self…inflicted　wounds；