第7部分(第5/7 頁)

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