第25部分(第2/7 頁)

；　the　radiator　cap　of　our　car　almost　against　the　tailboard　of　a　truck　that　was　loaded　high；　the　load　covered　with　wet　canvas。　Then　the　truck　stopped。　The　whole　column　was　stopped。　It　started　again　and　we　went　a　little　farther；　then　stopped。　I　got　out　and　walked　ahead；　going　between　the　trucks　and　carts　and　under　the　wet　necks　of　the　horses。　The　block　was　farther　ahead。　I　left　the　road；　crossed　the　ditch　on　a　footboard　and　walked　along　the　field　beyond　the　ditch。　I　could　see　the　stalled　column　between　the　trees　in　the　rain　as　I　went　forward　across　from　it　in　the　field。　I　went　about　a　mile。　The　column　did　not　move；　although；　on　the　other　side　beyond　the　stalled　vehicles　I　could　see　the　troops　moving。　I　went　back　to　the　cars。　This　block　might　extend　as　far　as　Udine。　Piani　was　asleep　over　the　wheel。　I　climbed　up　beside　him　and　went　to　sleep　too。　Several　hours　later　I　heard　the　truck　ahead　of　us　grinding　into　gear。　I　woke　Piani　and　we　started；　moving　a　few　yards；　then　stopping；　then　going　on　again。　It　was　still　raining。

The　column　stalled　again　in　the　night　and　did　not　start。　I　got　down　and　went　back　to　see　Aymo　and　Bonello。　Bonello　had　two　sergeants　of　engineers　on　the　seat　of　his　car　with　him。　They　stiffened　when　I　came　up。

〃They　were　left　to　do　something　to　a　bridge；〃　Bonello　said。　〃They　can't　find　their　unit　so　I　gave　them　a　ride。〃

〃With　the　Sir　Lieutenant's　permission。〃

〃With　permission；〃　I　said。

〃The　lieutenant　is　an　American；〃　Bonello　said。　〃He'll　give　anybody　a　ride。〃

One　of　the　sergeants　smiled。　The　other　asked　Bonello　if　I　was　an　Italian　from　North　or　South　America。

〃He's　not　an　Italian。　He's　North　American　English。〃

The　sergeants　were　polite　but　did　not　believe　it。　I　left　them　and　went　back　to　Aymo。　He　had　tw