第27部分(第3/7 頁)

watched　the　ties　and　the　rails　for　any　trip…wires　or　signs　of　explosive　but　I　saw　nothing。　Down　below　the　gaps　in　the　ties　the　river　ran　muddy　and　fast。　Ahead　across　the　wet　countryside　I　could　see　Udine　in　the　rain。　Across　the　bridge　I　looked　back。　Just　up　the　river　was　another　bridge。　As　I　watched；　a　yellow　mud…colored　motor　car　crossed　it。　The　sides　of　the　bridge　were　high　and　the　body　of　the　car；　once　on；　was　out　of　sight。　But　I　saw　the　heads　of　the　driver；　the　man　on　the　seat　with　him；　and　the　two　men　on　the　rear　seat。　They　all　wore　German　helmets。　Then　the　car　was　over　the　bridge　and　out　of　sight　behind　the　trees　and　the　abandoned　vehicles　on　the　road。　I　waved　to　Aymo　who　was　crossing　and　to　the　others　to　e　on。　I　climbed　down　and　crouched　beside　the　railway　embankment。　Aymo　came　down　with　me。

〃Did　you　see　the　car？〃　I　asked。

〃No。　We　were　watching　you。〃

〃A　German　staff　car　crossed　on　the　upper　bridge。〃

〃A　staff　car？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Holy　Mary。〃

The　others　came　and　we　all　crouched　in　the　mud　behind　the　embankment；　looking　across　the　rails　at　the　bridge；　the　line　of　trees；　the　ditch　and　the　road。

〃Do　you　think　we're　cut　off　then；　Tenente？〃

〃I　don't　know。　All　I　know　is　a　German　staff　car　went　along　that　road。〃

〃You　don't　feel　funny；　Tenente？　You　haven't　got　strange　feelings　in　the　head？〃

〃Don't　be　funny；　Bonello。〃

〃What　about　a　drink？〃　Piani　asked。　〃If　we're　cut　off　we　might　as　well　have　a　drink。〃　He　unhooked　his　canteen　and　uncorked　it。

〃Look！　Look！〃　Aymo　said　and　pointed　toward　the　road。　Along　the　top　of　the　stone　bridge　we　could　see　German　helmets　moving。　They　were　bent　forward　and　moved　smoothly；　almost　supernatu　rally；　along。　As　they　came　off　the　bridge　we　saw　them。　They　were　bicycl