第30部分(第3/7 頁)

e　with　cord。　I　took　out　my　knife；　cut　the　cord　and　put　my　arm　under。　There　were　hard　bulges　under　the　canvas　that　tightened　in　the　rain。　I　looked　up　and　ahead。　There　was　a　guard　on　the　freight…car　ahead　but　he　was　looking　forward。　I　let　go　of　the　hand…rails　and　ducked　under　the　canvas。　My　forehead　hit　something　that　gave　me　a　violent　bump　and　I　felt　blood　on　my　face　but　I　crawled　on　in　and　lay　flat。　Then　I　turned　around　and　fastened　down　the　canvas。

I　was　in　under　the　canvas　with　guns。　They　smelled　cleanly　of　oil　and　grease。　I　lay　and　listened　to　the　rain　on　the　canvas　and　the　clicking　of　the　car　over　the　rails。　There　was　a　little　light　came　through　and　I　lay　and　looked　at　the　guns。　They　had　their　canvas　jackets　on。　I　thought　they　must　have　been　sent　ahead　from　the　third　army。　The　bump　on　my　forehead　was　swollen　and　I　stopped　the　bleeding　by　lying　still　and　letting　it　coagulate；　then　picked　away　the　dried　blood　except　over　the　cut。　It　was　nothing。　I　had　no　handkerchief；　but　feeling　with　my　fingers　I　washed　away　where　the　dried　blood　had　been；　with　rainwater　that　dripped　from　the　canvas；　and　wiped　it　clean　with　the　sleeve　of　my　coat。　I　did　not　want　to　look　conspicuous。　I　knew　I　would　have　to　get　out　before　they　got　to　Mestre　because　they　would　be　taking　care　of　these　guns。　They　had　no　guns　to　lose　or　forget　about。　I　was　terrifically　hungry。

32

Lying　on　the　floor　of　the　flat…car　with　the　guns　beside　me　under　the　canvas　I　was　wet；　cold　and　very　hungry。　Finally　I　rolled　over　and　lay　flat　on　my　stomach　with　my　head　on　my　arms。　My　knee　was　stiff；　but　it　had　been　very　satisfactory。　Valentini　had　done　a　fine　job。　I　had　done　half　the　retreat　on　foot　and　swum　part　of　the　Tagliamento　with　his　knee。　It　was　his　knee　all　right。　The　other　knee　was　mine。　Doctors　di