第1部分(第4/7 頁)

y　and　the　sky　was　covered　and　the　cloud　came　on　down　the　mountain　and　suddenly　we　were　in　it　and　it　was　snow。　The　snow　slanted　across　the　wind；　the　bare　ground　was　covered；　the　stumps　of　trees　projected；　there　was　snow　on　the　guns　and　there　were　paths　in　the　snow　going　back　to　the　latrines　behind　trenches。

Later；　below　in　the　town；　I　watched　the　snow　falling；　looking　out　of　the　window　of　the　bawdy　house；　the　house　for　officers；　where　I　sat　with　a　friend　and　two　glasses　drinking　a　bottle　of　Asti；　and；　looking　out　at　the　snow　falling　slowly　and　heavily；　we　knew　it　was　all　over　for　that　year。　Up　the　river　the　mountains　had　not　been　taken；　none　of　the　mountains　beyond　the　river　had　been　taken。　That　was　all　left　for　next　year。　My　friend　saw　the　priest　from　our　mess　going　by　in　the　street；　walking　carefully　in　the　slush；　and　pounded　on　the　window　to　attract　his　attention。　The　priest　looked　up。　He　saw　us　and　smiled。　My　friend　motioned　for　him　to　e　in。　The　priest　shook　his　head　and　went　on。　That　night　in　the　mess　after　the　spaghetti　course；　which　every　one　ate　very　quickly　and　seriously；　lifting　the　spaghetti　on　the　fork　until　the　loose　strands　hung　clear　then　lowering　it　into　the　mouth；　or　else　using　a　continuous　lift　and　sucking　into　the　mouth；　helping　ourselves　to　wine　from　the　grass…covered　gallon　flask；　it　swung　in　a　metal　cradle　and　you　pulled　the　neck　of　the　flask　down　with　the　forefinger　and　the　wine；　clear　red；　tannic　and　lovely；　poured　out　into　the　glass　held　with　the　same　hand；　after　this　course；　the　captain　menced　picking　on　the　priest。

The　priest　was　young　and　blushed　easily　and　wore　a　uniform　like　the　rest　of　us　but　with　a　cross　in　dark　red　velvet　above　the　left　breast　pocket　of　his　gray　tunic。　The　captain　spoke　pidgin　Italian　for　my　doubtful　benefit