第35部分(第6/7 頁)

　on　the　hills　and　a　church。　I　had　been　looking　at　the　road　that　skirted　the　shore　for　guards　but　did　not　see　any。　The　road　came　quite　close　to　the　lake　now　and　I　saw　a　soldier　ing　out　of　a　caf？on　the　road。　He　wore　a　gray…green　uniform　and　a　helmet　like　the　Germans。　He　had　a　healthy…looking　face　and　a　little　toothbrush　mustache。　He　looked　at　us。

〃Wave　to　him；〃　I　said　to　Catherine。　She　waved　and　the　soldier　smiled　embarrassedly　and　gave　a　wave　of　his　hand。　I　eased　up　rowing。　We　were　passing　the　waterfront　of　the　village。

〃We　must　be　well　inside　the　border；〃　I　said。

〃We　want　to　be　sure；　darling。　We　don't　want　them　to　turn　us　back　at　the　frontier。〃

〃The　frontier　is　a　long　way　back。　I　think　this　is　the　customs　town。　I'm　pretty　sure　it's　Brissago。〃

〃Won't　there　be　Italians　there？　There　are　always　both　sides　at　a　customs　town。〃

〃Not　in　war…time。　I　don't　think　they　let　the　Italians　cross　the　frontier。〃

It　was　a　nice…looking　little　town。　There　were　many　fishing　boats　along　the　quay　and　nets　were　spread　on　racks。　There　was　a　fine　November　rain　falling　but　it　looked　cheerful　and　clean　even　with　the　rain。

〃Should　we　land　then　and　have　breakfast？〃

〃All　right。〃

I　pulled　hard　on　the　left　oar　and　came　in　close；　then　straightened　out　when　we　were　close　to　the　quay　and　brought　the　boat　alongside。　I　pulled　in　the　oars；　took　hold　of　an　iron　ring；　stepped　up　on　the　wet　stone　and　was　in　Switzerland。　I　tied　the　boat　and　held　my　hand　down　to　Catherine。

〃e　on　up；　Cat。　It's　a　grand　feeling。〃

〃What　about　the　bags？〃

〃Leave　them　in　the　boat。〃

Catherine　stepped　up　and　we　were　in　Switzerland　together。

〃What　a　lovely　country；〃　she　said。

〃Isn't　it　grand？〃

〃Let's　go　and　have　breakfast！〃