第8部分(第3/7 頁)

oulder　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