第28部分(第1/7 頁)

〃We'll　find　a　place　to　lie　up　as　near　to　Udine　as　we　can　get　and　then　go　through　when　it's　dark。〃

〃Let's　go　then；〃　Bonello　said。　We　went　down　the　north　side　of　the　embankment。　I　looked　back。　Aymo　lay　in　the　mud　with　the　angle　of　the　embankment。　He　was　quite　small　and　his　arms　were　by　his　side；　his　puttee…wrapped　legs　and　muddy　boots　together；　his　cap　over　his　face。　He　looked　very　dead。　It　was　raining。　I　had　liked　him　as　well　as　any　one　I　ever　knew。　I　had　his　papers　in　my　pocket　and　would　write　to　his　family。　Ahead　across　the　fields　was　a　farmhouse。　There　were　trees　around　it　and　the　farm　buildings　were　built　against　the　house。　There　was　a　balcony　along　the　second　floor　held　up　by　columns。

〃We　better　keep　a　little　way　apart；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　go　ahead。〃　I　started　toward　the　farmhouse。　There　was　a　path　across　the　field。

Crossing　the　field；　I　did　not　know　but　that　some　one　would　fire　on　us　from　the　trees　near　the　farmhouse　or　from　the　farmhouse　itself。　I　walked　toward　it；　seeing　it　very　clearly。　The　balcony　of　the　second　floor　merged　into　the　barn　and　there　was　hay　ing　Out　between　the　columns。　The　courtyard　was　of　stone　blocks　and　all　the　trees　were　dripping　with　the　rain。　There　was　a　big　empty　twowheeled　cart；　the　shafts　tipped　high　up　in　the　rain。　I　came　to　the　courtyard；　crossed　it；　and　stood　under　the　shelter　of　the　balcony。　The　door　of　the　house　was　open　and　I　went　in。　Bonello　and　Piani　came　in　after　me。　It　was　dark　inside。　I　went　back　to　the　kitchen。　There　were　ashes　of　a　fire　on　the　big　open　hearth。　The　pots　hung　over　the　ashes；　but　they　were　empty。　I　looked　around　but　I　could　not　find　anything　to　eat。

〃We　ought　to　lie　up　in　the　barn；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　think　you　could　find　anything　to　eat；　Piani；　and　bring　it　up　there？〃

〃I'll　look；