第16部分(第3/7 頁)

onel　before　the　war's　over；〃　Ettore　said。

〃If　they　don't　kill　you。〃

〃They　won't　kill　me。〃　He　touched　the　stars　at　his　collar　with　his　thumb　and　forefinger。　〃See　me　do　that？　We　always　touch　our　stars　if　anybody　mentions　getting　killed。〃

〃Let's　go；　Sim；〃　said　Saunders　standing　up。

〃All　right。〃

〃So　long；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　to　go　too。〃　It　was　a　quarter　to　six　by　the　clock　inside　the　bar。　〃Ciaou；　Ettore。〃

〃Ciaou；　Fred；〃　said　Ettore。　〃That's　pretty　fine　you're　going　to　get　the　silver　medal。〃

〃I　don't　know　I'll　get　it。〃

〃You'll　get　it　all　right；　Fred。　I　heard　you　were　going　to　get　it　all　right。〃

〃Well；　so　long；〃　I　said。　〃Keep　out　of　trouble；　Ettore。〃

〃Don't　worry　about　me。　I　don't　drink　and　I　don't　run　around。　I'm　no　boozer　and　whorehound。　I　know　what's　good　for　me。〃

〃So　long；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　glad　you're　going　to　be　promoted　captain。〃

〃I　don't　have　to　wait　to　be　promoted。　I'm　going　to　be　a　captain　for　merit　of　war。　You　know。　Three　stars　with　the　crossed　swords　and　crown　above。　That's　me。〃

〃Good　luck。〃

〃Good　luck。　When　you　going　back　to　the　front？〃

〃Pretty　soon。〃

〃Well；　I'll　see　you　around。〃

〃So　long。〃

〃So　long。　Don't　take　any　bad　nickels。〃

I　walked　on　down　a　back　Street　that　led　to　a　cross…cut　to　the　hospital。　Ettore　was　twenty…three。　He　had　been　brought　up　by　an　uncle　in　San　Francisco　and　was　visiting　his　father　and　mother　in　Torino　when　war　was　declared。　He　had　a　sister；　who　had　been　sent　to　America　with　him　at　the　same　time　to　live　with　the　uncle；　who　would　graduate　from　normal　school　this　year。　He　was　a　legitimate　hero　who　bored　every　one　he　met。　Catherine　could　not　stand　him。

〃We　have　heroes　too；〃　she　said。　〃But　usually；　darling；　they're