第2部分(第5/7 頁)

If　there　is　a　war　I　suppose　we　must　attack。〃

〃Must　attack。　Shall　attack！〃

The　priest　nodded。

〃Leave　him　alone；〃　the　major　said。　〃He's　all　right。〃

〃He　can't　do　anything　about　it　anyway；〃　the　captain　said。　We　all　got　up　and　left　the　table。

4

The　battery　in　the　next　garden　woke　me　in　the　morning　and　I　saw　the　sun　ing　through　the　window　and　got　out　of　the　bed。　I　went　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　The　gravel　paths　were　moist　and　the　grass　was　wet　with　dew。　The　battery　fired　twice　and　the　air　came　each　time　like　a　blow　and　shook　the　window　and　made　the　front　of　my　pajamas　flap。　I　could　not　see　the　guns　but　they　were　evidently　firing　directly　over　us。　It　was　a　nuisance　to　have　them　there　but　it　was　a　fort　that　they　were　no　bigger。　As　I　looked　out　at　the　garden　I　heard　a　motor　truck　starting　on　the　road。　I　dressed；　went　downstairs；　had　some　coffee　in　the　kitchen　and　went　out　to　the　garage。

Ten　cars　were　lined　up　side　by　side　under　the　long　shed。　They　were　top…heavy；　blunt…nosed　ambulances；　painted　gray　and　built　like　moving…vans。　The　mechanics　were　working　on　one　out　in　the　yard。　Three　others　were　up　in　the　mountains　at　dressing　stations。

〃Do　they　ever　shell　that　battery？〃　Tasked　one　of　the　mechanics。

〃No；　Signor　Tenente。　It　is　protected　by　the　little　hill。〃

〃How's　everything？〃

〃Not　so　bad。　This　machine　is　no　good　but　the　others　march。〃　He　stopped　working　and　smiled。　〃Were　you　on　permission？〃

〃Yes。〃

He　wiped　his　hands　on　his　jumper　and　grinned。　〃You　have　a　good　time？〃　The　others　all　grinned　too。

〃Fine；〃　I　said。　〃What's　the　matter　with　this　machine？〃

〃It's　no　good。　One　thing　after　another。〃

〃What's　the　matter　now？〃

〃New　rings。〃

I　left　them　working；　the　ca