第2部分(第6/7 頁)

r　looking　disgraced　and　empty　with　the　engine　open　and　parts　spread　on　the　work　bench；　and　went　in　under　the　shed　and　looked　at　each　of　the　cars。　They　were　moderately　clean；　a　few　freshly　washed；　the　others　dusty。　I　looked　at　the　tires　carefully；　looking　for　cuts　or　stone　bruises。　Everything　seemed　in　good　condition。　It　evidently　made　no　difference　whether　I　was　there　to　look　after　things　or　not。　I　had　imagined　that　the　condition　of　the　cars；　whether　or　not　things　were　obtainable；　the　smooth　functioning　of　the　business　of　removing　wounded　and　sick　from　the　dressing　stations；　hauling　them　back　from　the　mountains　to　the　clearing　station　and　then　distributing　them　to　the　hospitals　named　on　their　papers；　depended　to　a　considerable　extent　on　myself。　Evidently　it　did　not　matter　whether　I　was　there　or　not。

〃Has　there　been　any　trouble　getting　parts？〃　I　asked　the　sergeant　mechanic。

〃No；　Signor　Tenente。〃

〃Where　is　the　gasoline　park　now？〃

〃At　the　same　place。〃

〃Good；〃　I　said　and　went　back　to　the　house　and　drank　another　bowl　of　coffee　at　the　mess　table。　The　coffee　was　a　pale　gray　and　sweet　with　condensed　milk。　Outside　the　window　it　was　a　lovely　spring　morning。　There　was　that　beginning　of　a　feeling　of　dryness　in　the　nose　that　meant　the　day　would　be　hot　later　on。　That　day　I　visited　the　posts　in　the　mountains　and　was　back　in　town　late　in　the　afternoon。

The　whole　thing　seemed　to　run　better　while　I　was　away。　The　offensive　was　going　to　start　again　I　heard。　The　division　for　which　we　worked　were　to　attack　at　a　place　up　the　river　and　the　major　told　me　that　I　would　see　about　the　posts　for　during　the　attack。　The　attack　would　cross　the　river　up　above　the　narrow　gorge　and　spread　up　the　hillside。　The　posts　for　the　cars　would　have　to　be　as　near　the　river　a