第26部分(第5/7 頁)

　hit　the　other　one　at　all？〃

〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Aymo　said。　〃He　was　too　far　away　to　hit　with　a　pistol。〃

〃The　dirty　scum；〃　Piani　said。　We　were　all　cutting　twigs　and　branches。　Everything　had　been　taken　out　of　the　car。　Bonello　was　digging　out　in　front　of　the　wheels。　When　we　were　ready　Aymo　started　the　car　and　put　it　into　gear。　The　wheels　spun　round　throwing　brush　and　mud。　Bonello　and　I　pushed　until　we　could　feel　our　joints　crack。　The　car　would　not　move。

〃Rock　her　back　and　forth；　Barto；〃　I　said。

He　drove　the　engine　in　reverse；　then　forward。　The　wheels　only　dug　in　deeper。　Then　the　car　was　resting　on　the　differential　again；　and　the　wheels　spun　freely　in　the　holes　they　had　dug。　I　straightened　up。

〃We'll　try　her　with　a　rope；〃　I　said。

〃I　don't　think　it's　any　use；　Tenente。　You　can't　get　a　straight　pull。〃

〃We　have　to　try　it；〃　I　said。　〃She　won't　e　out　any　other　way。〃

Piani's　and　Bonello's　cars　could　only　move　straight　ahead　down　the　narrow　road。　We　roped　both　cars　together　and　pulled。　The　wheels　only　pulled　sideways　against　the　ruts。

〃It's　no　good；〃　I　shouted。　〃Stop　it。〃

Piani　and　Bonello　got　down　from　their　cars　and　came　back。　Aymo　got　down。　The　girls　were　up　the　road　about　forty　yards　sitting　on　a　stone　wall。

〃What　do　you　say；　Tenente？〃　Bonello　asked。

〃We'll　dig　out　and　try　once　more　with　the　brush；〃　I　said。　I　looked　down　the　road。　It　was　my　fault。　I　had　led　them　up　here。　The　sun　was　almost　out　from　behind　the　clouds　and　the　body　of　the　sergeant　lay　beside　the　hedge。

〃We'll　put　his　coat　and　cape　under；〃　I　said。　Bonello　went　to　get　them。　I　cut　brush　and　Aymo　and　Piani　dug　out　in　front　and　between　the　wheels。　I　cut　the　cape；　then　ripped　it　in　two；　and　laid　it　under　the　wheel　in　the　mud；　then　p