第8部分(第5/7 頁)

ight　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；〃　he　said。　〃Would　you　like　a　drink　of　brandy？　How　did　you　run　into　this　thing　anyway？　What　were　you　trying　to　do？　mit　suicide？　Antitetanus　please；　and　mark　a　cross　on　both　legs。　Thank　you。　I'll　clean　this　up　a　little；　wash　it　out；　and　put　on　a　dressing。　Your　blood　coagulates　beautifully。〃

The　adjutant；　looking　up　from　the　paper；　〃What　inflicted　the　wounds？〃

The　medical　captain；　〃What　hit　you？〃

Me；　with　the　eyes　shut；　〃A　trench　mortar　shell。〃

The　captain；　doing　things　that　hurt　sharply　and　severing　tissue……〃Are　you　sure？〃

Me……trying　to　lie　still　and　feeling　my　stomach　flutter　when　the　flesh　was　cut；　〃I　think　so。〃

Captain　doctor……（interested　in　something　he　was　finding）；　〃Fragments　of　enemy　trench…mortar　shell。　Now　I'll　probe　for　some　of　this　if　you　like　but　it's　not　necessary。　I'll　paint　all　this　and……Does　that　sting？　Good；　that's　nothing　to　how　it　will　feel　later。　The　pain　hasn't　started　yet。　Bring　him　a　glass　of　brandy。　The　shock　dulls　the　pain；　but　this　is　all　right；　you　have　nothing　to　worry　about　if　it　doesn't　infect　and　it　rarely　does　now。　How　is　your　head？〃

〃Good　Christ〃　I　said。

〃Better　not　drink　too　much　brandy　then。　If　you've　got　a　fracture　you　don't　want　inflammation。　How　does　that　feel？〃

Sweat　ran　all　over　me。

〃Good　Christ！〃　I　said。

〃I　guess　you've　got　a　fracture　all　right。　I'll　wrap　you　up　and　don't　bounce　your　head　around。〃　He　bandaged；　his　hands　moving　very　fast　and　the　bandage　ing　taut　and　sure。　〃All　right；　good　luck　and　Vi