第7部分(第4/7 頁)

ed　on　camions　that　you　passed　sometimes　on　the　roads　at　night；　close　behind　the　lines；　the　camion　stopped　a　little　off　the　road；　an　officer　directing　the　light　and　the　crew　scared。　We　crossed　the　brickyard；　and　stopped　at　the　main　dressing　station。　There　was　a　little　shelter　of　green　branches　outside　over　the　entrance　and　in　the　dark　the　night　wind　rustled　the　leaves　dried　by　the　sun。　Inside　there　was　a　light。　The　major　was　at　the　telephone　sitting　on　a　box。　One　of　the　medical　captains　said　the　attack　had　been　put　forward　an　hour。　He　offered　me　a　glass　of　cognac。　I　looked　at　the　board　tables；　the　instruments　shining　in　the　light；　the　basins　and　the　stoppered　bottles。　Gordini　stood　behind　me。　The　major　got　up　from　the　telephone。

〃It　starts　now；〃　he　said。　〃It　has　been　put　back　again。〃

I　looked　outside；　it　was　dark　and　the　Austrian　search…lights　were　moving　on　the　mountains　behind　us。　It　was　quiet　for　a　moment　still；　then　from　all　the　guns　behind　us　the　bombardment　started。

〃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