第9部分(第1/7 頁)

〃We're　almost　up。〃

〃He's　dead　I　think；〃　I　said。

The　drops　fell　very　slowly；　as　they　fall　from　an　icicle　after　the　sun　has　gone。　It　was　cold　in　the　car　in　the　night　as　the　road　climbed。　At　the　post　on　the　top　they　took　the　stretcher　out　and　put　another　in　and　we　went　on。

10

In　the　ward　at　the　field　hospital　they　told　me　a　visitor　was　ing　to　see　me　in　the　afternoon。　It　was　a　hot　day　and　there　were　many　flies　in　the　room。　My　orderly　had　cut　paper　into　strips　and　tied　the　strips　to　a　stick　to　make　a　brush　that　swished　the　flies　away。　I　watched　them　settle　on　the　ceiling。　When　he　stopped　swishing　and　fell　asleep　they　came　down　and　I　blew　them　away　and　finally　covered　my　face　with　my　hands　and　slept　too。　It　was　very　hot　and　when　I　woke　my　legs　itched。　I　waked　the　orderly　and　he　poured　mineral　water　on　the　dressings。　That　made　the　bed　damp　and　cool。　Those　of　us　that　were　awake　talked　across　the　ward。　The　afternoon　was　a　quiet　time。　In　the　morning　they　came　to　each　bed　in　turn；　three　men　nurses　and　a　doctor　and　picked　you　up　out　of　bed　and　carried　you　into　the　dressing　room　so　that　the　beds　could　be　made　while　we　were　having　our　wounds　dressed。　It　was　not　a　pleasant　trip　to　the　dressing　room　and　I　did　not　know　until　later　that　beds　could　be　made　with　men　in　them。　My　orderly　had　finished　pouring　water　and　the　bed　felt　cool　and　lovely　and　I　was　telling　him　where　to　scratch　on　the　soles　of　my　feet　against　the　itching　when　one　of　the　doctors　brought　in　Rinaldi。　He　came　in　very　fast　and　bent　down　over　the　bed　and　kissed　me。　I　saw　he　wore　gloves。

〃How　are　you；　baby？　How　do　you　feel？　I　bring　you　this……〃　It　was　a　bottle　of　cognac。　The　orderly　brought　a　chair　and　he　sat　down；　〃and　good　news。　You　will　be　decorated。　They　want　to　get　you　the　medaglia