第16部分(第2/7 頁)

　did　he　look？〃　asked　Simmons。

〃That　was　the　only　one　he　had；〃　Ettore　said。　〃I　don't　know　why　he　threw　it。　I　guess　he　always　wanted　to　throw　one。　He　never　saw　any　real　fighting　probably。　I　shot　the　son　of　a　bitch　all　right。〃

〃How　did　he　look　when　you　shot　him？〃　Simmons　asked。

〃Hell；　how　should　I　know？〃　said　Ettore。　〃I　shot　him　in　the　belly。　I　was　afraid　I'd　miss　him　if　I　shot　him　in　the　head。〃

〃How　long　have　you　been　an　officer；　Ettore？〃　I　asked。

〃Two　years。　I'm　going　to　be　a　captain。　How　long　have　you　been　a　lieutenant？〃

〃Going　on　three　years。〃

〃You　can't　be　a　captain　because　you　don't　know　the　Italian　language　well　enough；〃　Ettore　said。　〃You　can　talk　but　you　can't　read　and　write　well　enough。　You　got　to　have　an　education　to　be　a　captain。　Why　don't　you　go　in　the　American　army？〃

〃Maybe　I　will。〃

〃I　wish　to　God　I　could。　Oh；　boy；　how　much　does　a　captain　get；　Mac？〃

〃I　don't　know　exactly。　Around　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars；　I　think。〃

〃Jesus　Christ　what　I　could　do　with　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars。　You　better　get　in　the　American　army　quick；　Fred。　See　if　you　can't　get　me　in。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃I　can　mand　a　pany　in　Italian。　I　could　learn　it　in　English　easy。〃

〃You'd　be　a　general；〃　said　Simmons。

〃No；　I　don't　know　enough　to　be　a　general。　A　general's　got　to　know　a　hell　of　a　lot。　You　guys　think　there　ain't　anything　to　war。　You　ain't　got　brains　enough　to　be　a　second…class　corporal。〃

〃Thank　God　I　don't　have　to　be；〃　Simmons　said。

〃Maybe　you　will　if　they　round　up　all　you　slackers。　Oh；　boy；　I'd　like　to　have　you　two　in　my　platoon。　Mac　too。　I'd　make　you　my　orderly；　Mac。〃

〃You're　a　great　boy；　Ettore；〃　Mac　said。　〃But　I'm　afraid　you're　a　militarist。〃

〃I'll　be　a　col