第11部分(第2/7 頁)

hat　part　of　town　we　were　passing　through　but　when　they　unloaded　the　stretcher　I　saw　a　market…place　and　an　open　wine　shop　with　a　girl　sweeping　out。　They　were　watering　the　street　and　it　smelled　of　the　early　morning。　They　put　the　stretcher　down　and　went　in。　The　porter　came　out　with　them。　He　had　gray　mustaches；　wore　a　doorman's　cap　and　was　in　his　shirt　sleeves。　The　stretcher　would　not　go　into　the　elevator　and　they　discussed　whether　it　was　better　to　lift　me　off　the　stretcher　and　go　up　in　the　elevator　or　carry　the　stretcher　up　the　stairs。　I　listened　to　them　discussing　it。　They　decided　on　the　elevator。　They　lifted　me　from　the　stretcher。　〃Go　easy；〃　I　said。　〃Take　it　softly。〃

In　the　elevator　we　were　crowded　and　as　my　legs　bent　the　pain　was　very　bad。　〃Straighten　out　the　legs；〃　I　said。

〃We　can't；　Signor　Tenente。　There　isn't　room。〃　The　man　who　said　this　had　his　arm　around　me　and　my　arm　was　around　his　neck。　His　breath　came　in　my　face　metallic　with　garlic　and　red　wine。

〃Be　gentle；〃　the　other　man　said。

〃Son　of　a　bitch　who　isn't　gentle！〃

〃Be　gentle　I　say；〃　the　man　with　my　feet　repeated。

I　saw　the　doors　of　the　elevator　closed；　and　the　grill　shut　and　the　fourth…floor　button　pushed　by　the　porter。　The　porter　looked　worried。　The　elevator　rose　slowly。

〃Heavy？〃　I　asked　the　man　with　the　garlic。

〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　His　face　was　sweating　and　he　grunted。　The　elevator　rose　steadily　and　stopped。　The　man　holding　the　feet　opened　the　door　and　stepped　out。　We　were　on　a　balcony。　There　were　several　doors　with　brass　knobs。　The　man　carrying　the　feet　pushed　a　button　that　rang　a　bell。　We　heard　it　inside　the　doors。　No　one　came。　Then　the　porter　came　up　the　stairs。

〃Where　are　they？〃　the　stretcher…bearers　asked。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　the　porter。