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　being　court…martialled　for　self…inflicted　wounds；〃　he　said。　〃Would　you　like　a　drink　of　brandy？　How　did　you　run　into　this　thing　anyway？　What　were　you　trying　to　do？　mit　suicide？　Antitetanus　please；　and　mark　a　cross　on　both　legs。　Thank　you。　I'll　clean　this　up　a　little；　wash　it　out；　and　put　on　a　dressing。　Your　blood　coagulates　beautifully。〃
The　adjutant；　looking　up　from　the　paper；　〃What　inflicted　the　wounds？〃
The　medical　captain；　〃What　hit　you？〃
Me；　with　the　eyes　shut；　〃A　trench　mortar　shell。〃
The　captain；　doing　things　that　hurt　sharply　and　severing　tissue……〃Are　you　sure？〃
Me……trying　to　lie　still　and　feeling　my　stomach　flutter　when　the　flesh　was　cut；　〃I　think　so。〃
Captain　doctor……（interested　in　something　he　was　finding）；　〃Fragments　of　enemy　trench…mortar　shell。　Now　I'll　probe　for　some　of　this　if　you　like　but　it's　not　necessary。　I'll　paint　all　this　and……Does　that　sting？　Good；　that's　nothing　to　how　it　will　feel　later。　The　pain　hasn't　started　yet。　Bring　him　a　glass　of　brandy。　The　shock　dulls　the　pain；　but　this　is　all　right；　you　have　nothing　to　worry　about　if　it　doesn't　infect　and　it　rarely　does　now。　How　is　your　head？〃
〃Good　Christ〃　I　said。
〃Better　not　drink　too　much　brandy　then。　If　you've　got　a　fracture　you　don't　want　inflammation。　How　does　that　feel？〃
Sweat　ran　all　over　me。
〃Good　Christ！〃　I　said。
〃I　guess　you've　got　a　fracture　all　right。　I'll　wrap　you　up　and　don't　bounce　your　head　around。〃　He　bandaged；　his　hands　moving　very　fast　and　the　bandage　ing　taut　and　sure。　〃All　right；　good　luck　and　Vive　la　France。〃
〃He's　an　American；〃　one　of　the　other　captains　said。
〃I　thought　you　said　he　was　a　Frenchman。　He　talks　French；〃　the　captain　said。　〃I've　known　him　before。　I　always　thought　he　was　French。〃　He　drank　a　half　tumbler　of　cognac。　〃Bring　on　something　serious。　Get　some　more　of　that　Antitetanus。〃　The　captain　waved　to　me。　They　lifted　me　and　the　blanket…flap　went　across　my　face　as　we　went　out。　Outside　the　sergeant…adjutant　knelt　down　beside　me　where　I　lay；　〃Name？〃　he　asked　softly。　〃Middle　name？　First　name？　Rank？　Where　born？　What　class？　What　corps？〃　and　so　on。　〃I'm　sorry　for　your　head；　Tenente。　I　hope　you　feel　better。　I'm　sending　you　now　with　the　English　ambulance。〃
〃I'm　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃Thank　you　very　much。〃　The　pain　that　the　major　had　spoken　about　had　started　and　all　that　was　happening　was　without　interest　or　relation。　After　a　while　the　English　ambulance　came　up　and　they　put　me　onto　a　stretcher　and　lifted　the　stretcher　up　to　the　ambulance　level　and　shoved　it　in。　There　was　another　stretcher　by　the　side　with　a　man　on　it　whose　nose　I　could　see；　waxy…looking；　out　of　the　bandages。　He　breathed　very　heavily。　There　were　stretchers　lifted　and　slid　into　the　slings　above。　The　tall　English　driver　came　around　and　looked　in；　〃I'll　take　it　very　easily；〃　he　said。　〃I　hope　you'll　be　fy。〃　I　felt　the　engine　start；　felt　him　climb　up　into　the　front　seat；　felt　the　brake　e　off　and　the　clutch　go　in；　then　we　started。　I　lay　still　and　let　the　pain　ride。
As　the　ambulance　climbed　along　the　road；　it　was　slow　in　the　traffic；　sometimes　it　stopped；　sometimes　it　backed　on　a　turn；　then　finally　it　climbed　quite　fast。　I　felt　something　dripping。　At　first　it　dropped　slowly　and　regularly；　then　it　pattered　into　a　stream。　I　shouted　to　the　driver。　He　stopped　the　car　and　looked　in　through　the　hole　behind　his　seat。
〃What　is　it？〃
〃The　man　on　the　stretcher　over　me　has　a　hemorrhage。〃
〃We're　not　far　from　the　top。　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　get　the　stretcher　out　alone。〃　He　started　the　car。　The　stream　kept　on。　In　the　dark　I　could　not　see　where　it　came　from　the　canvas　overhead。　I　tried　to　move　sideways　so　that　it　did　not　fall　on　me。　Where　it　had　run　down　under　my　shirt　it　was　warm　and　sticky。　I　was　cold　and　my　leg　hurt　so　that　it　made　me　sick。　After　a　while　the　stream　from　the　stretcher　above　lessened　and　started　to　drip　again　and　I　heard　and　felt　the　canvas　above　move　as　the　man　on　the　stretcher　settled　more　fortably。
〃How　is　he？〃　the　Englishman　called　back。
〃We're　almost　up。〃
〃He's　dead　I　think；〃　I　said。
The　drops　fell　very　slowly；　as　they　fall　from　an　icicle　after　the　sun　has　gone。　It　was　cold　in　the　car　in　the　night　as　the　road　climbed。　At　the　post　on　the　top　they　took　the　stretcher　out　and　put　another　in　and　we　went　on。




10


In　the　ward　at　the　field　hospital　they　told　me　a　visitor　was　ing　to　see　me　in　the　afternoon。　It　was　a　hot　day　and　there　were　many　flies　in　the　room。　My　orderly　had　cut　paper　into　strips　and　tied　the　strips　to　a　stick　to　make　a　brush　that　swished　the　flies　away。　I　watched　them　settle　on　the　ceiling。　When　he　stopped　swishing　and　fell　asleep　they　came　down　and　I　blew　them　away　and　finally　covered　my　face　with　my　hands　and　slept　too。　It　was　very　hot　and　when　I　woke　my　legs　itched。　I　waked　the　orderly　and　he　poured　mineral　water　on　the　dressings。　That　made　the　bed　damp　and　cool。　Those　of　us　that　were　awake　talked　across　the　ward。　The　afternoon　was　a　quiet　time。　In　the　morning　they　came　to　each　bed　in　turn；　three　men　nurses　and　a　doctor　and　picked　you　up　out　of　bed　and　carried　you　into　the　dressing　room　so　that　the　beds　could　be　made　while　we　were　having　our　wounds　dressed。　It　was　not　a　pleasant　trip　to　the　dressing　room　and　I　did　not　know　until　later　that　beds　could　be　made　with　men　in　them。　My　orderly　had　finished　pouring　water　and　the　bed　felt　cool　and　lovely　and　I　was　telling　him　where　to　scratch　on　the　soles　of　my　feet　against　the　itching　when　one　of　the　doctors　brought　in　Rinaldi。　He　came　in　very　fast　and　bent　down　over　the　bed　and　kissed　me。　I　saw　he　wore　gloves。
〃How　are　you；　baby？　How　do　you　feel？　I　bring　you　this……〃　It　was　a　bottle　of　cognac。　The　orderly　brought　a　chair　and　he　sat　down；　〃and　good　news。　You　will　be　decorated。　They　want　to　get　you　the　medaglia　d'argento　but　perhaps　they　can　get　only　the　bronze。〃
〃What　for？〃
〃Because　you　are　gravely　wounded。　They　say　if　you　can　prove　you　did　any　heroic　act　you　can　get　the　silver。　Otherwise　it　will　be　the　bronze。　Tell　me　exactly　what　happened。　Did　you　do　any　heroic　act？〃
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I　was　blown　up　while　we　were　eating　cheese。〃
〃Be　serious。　You　must　have　done　something　heroic　either　before　or　after。　Remember　carefully。〃
〃I　did　not。〃
〃Didn't　you　carry　anybody　on　your　back？　Gordini　says　you　carried　several　people　on　your　back　but　the　medical　major　at　the　first　post　declares　it　is　impossible。　He　had　to　sign　the　proposition　for　the　citation。〃
〃I　didn't　carry　anybody。　I　couldn't　move。〃
〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　said　Rinaldi。
He　took　off　his　gloves。
〃I　think　we　can　get　you　the　silver。　Didn't　you　refuse　to　be　medically　aided　before　the　others？〃
〃Not　very　firmly。〃
〃That　doesn't　matter。　Look　how　you　are　wounded。　Look　at　your　valorous　conduct　in　asking　to　go　always　to　the　first　line。　Besides；　the　operation　was　successful。〃
〃Did　they　cross　the　river　all　right？〃
〃Enormously。　They　take　nearly　a　thousand　prisoners。　It's　in　the　bulletin。　Didn't　you　see　it？〃
〃No。〃
〃I'll　bring　it　to　you。　It　is　a　successful　coup　de　main。〃
〃How　is　everything？〃
〃Splendid。　We　are　all　splendid。　Everybody　is　proud　of　you。　Tell　me　just　exactly　how　it　happened。　I　am　positive　you　will　get　the　silver。　Go　on　tell　me。　Tell　me　all　about　it。〃　He　paused　and　thought。　〃Maybe　you　will　get　an　English　medal　too。　There　was　an　English　there。　I'll　go　and　see　him　and　ask　if　he　will　remend　you。　He　ought　to　be　able　to　do　something。　Do　you　suffer　much？　Have　a　drink。　Orderly；　go　get　a　corkscrew。　Oh　you　should　see　what　I　did　in　the　removal　of　three　metres　of　small　intestine　and　better　now　than　ever。　It　is　one　for　The　Lancet。　You　do　me　a　translation　and　I　will　send　it　to　The　Lancet。　Every　day　I　am　better。　Poor　dear　baby；　how　do　you　feel？　Where　is　that　damn　corkscrew？　You　are　so　brave　and　quiet　I　forget　you　are　suffering。〃　He　slapped　his　gloves　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。
〃Here　is　the　corkscrew；　Signor　Tenente；〃　the　orderly　said。
〃Open　the　bottle。　Bring　a　glass。　Drink　that；　baby。　How　is　your　poor　head？　I　looked　at　your　papers。　You　haven't　any　fracture。　That　major　at　the　first　post　was　a　hog…butcher。　I　would　take　you　and　never　hurt　you。　I　never　hurt　anybody。　I　learn　how　to　do　it。　Every　day　I　learn　to　do　things　smoother　and　better。　You　must　forgive　me　for　talking　so　much；　baby。　I　am　very　moved　to　see　you　badly　wounded。　There；　drink　that。　It's　good。　It　cost　fifteen　lire。　It　ought　to　be　good。　Five　stars。　After　I　leave　here　I'll　go　see　that　English　and　he'll　get　you　an　English　medal。〃
〃They　don't　give　them　like　that。〃
〃You　are　so　modest。　I　will　send　the　liaison　officer。　He　can　handle　the　English。〃
〃Have　you　seen　Miss　Barkley？〃
〃I　will　bring　her　here。　I　will　go　now　and　bring　her　here。〃
〃Don't　go；〃　I　said。　〃Tell　me　about　Gorizia。　How　are　the　girls？〃
〃There　are　no　girls。　For　two　weeks　now　they　haven't　changed　them。　I　don't　go　there　any　more。　It　is　disgraceful。　They　aren't　girls；　they　are　old　war　rades。〃
〃You　don't　go　at　all？〃
〃I　just　go　to　see　if　there　is　anything　new。　I　stop　by。　They　all　ask　for　you。　It　is　a　disgrace　that　they　should　stay　so　long　that　they　bee　friends。〃
〃Maybe　girls　don't　want　to　go　to　the　front　any　more。〃
〃Of　course　they　do。　They　have　plenty　of　girls。　It　is　just　bad　administration。　They　are　keeping　them　for　the　pleasure　of　dugout　hiders　in　the　rear。〃
〃Poor　Rinaldi；〃　I　said。　〃All　alone　at　the　war　with　no　new　girls。〃
Rinaldi　poured　himself　another　glass　of　the　cognac。
〃I　don't　think　it　will　hurt　you；　baby。　You　take　it。〃
I　drank　the　cognac　and　felt　it　warm　all　the　way　down。　Rinaldi　poured　another　glass。　He　was　quieter　now。　He　held　up　the　glass。　〃To　your　valorous　wounds。　To　the　silver　medal。　Tell　me；　baby；　when　you　lie　here　all　the　time　in　the　hot　weather　don't　you　get　excited？〃
〃Sometimes。〃
〃I　can't　imagine　lying　like　that。　I　would　go　crazy。〃
〃You　are　crazy。〃
〃I　wish　you　were　back。　No　one　to　e　in　at　night　from　adventures。　No　one　to　make　fun　of。　No　one　to　lend　me　money。　No　blood　brother　and　roommate。　Why　do　you　get　yourself　wounded？〃
〃You　can　make　fun　of　the　priest。〃
〃That　priest。　It　isn't　me　that　makes　fun　of　him。　It　is　the　captain。　I　like　him。　If　you　must　have　a　priest　have　that　priest。　He's　ing　to　see　you。　He　makes　big　preparations。〃
〃I　like　him。〃
〃Oh；　I　knew　it。　Sometimes　I　think　you　and　he　are　a　little　that　way。　You　know。〃
〃No；　you　don't。〃
〃Yes；　I　do　sometimes。　A　little　that　way　like　the　number　of　the　first　regiment　of　the　Brigata　Ancona。〃
〃Oh；　go　to　hell。〃
He　stood　up　and　put　on　his　gloves。
〃Oh　I　love　to　tease　you；　baby。　With　your　priest　and　your　English　girl；　and　really　you　are　just　like　me　underneath。〃
〃No；　I'm　not。〃
〃Yes；　we　are。　You　are　really　an　Italian。　All　fire　and　smoke　and　nothing　inside。　You　only　pretend　to　be　American。　We　are　brothers　and　we　love　each　other。〃
〃Be　good　while　I'm　gone；〃　I　said。
〃I　will　send　Miss　Barkley。　You　are　better　with　her　without　me。　You　are　purer　and　sweeter。〃
〃Oh；　go　to　hell。〃
〃I　will　send　her。　Your　lovely　cool　goddess。　English　goddess。　My　God　what　would　a　man　do　with　a　woman　like　that　except　worship　her？　What　else　is　an　Englishwoman　good　for？〃
〃You　are　an　ignorant　foul…mouthed　dago。〃
〃A　what？〃
〃An　ignorant　wop。〃
〃Wop。　You　are　a　frozen…faced　。　。　。　wop。〃
〃You　are　ignorant。　Stupid。〃　I　saw　that　word　pricked　him　and　kept　on。　〃Uninformed。　Inexperienced；　stupid　from　inexperience。〃
〃Truly？　I　tell　you　something　about　your　good　women。　Your　goddesses。　There　is　only　one　difference　between　taking　a　girl　who　has　always　been　good　and　a　woman。　With　a　girl　it　is　painful。　That's　all　I　know。〃　He　slapped　the　bed　with　his　glove。　〃And　you　never　know　if　the　girl　will　really　like　it。〃
〃Don't　get　angry。〃
〃I'm　not　angry。　I　just　tell　you；　baby；　for　your　own　good。　To　save　you　trouble。〃
〃That's　the　only　difference？〃
〃Yes。　But　millions　of　fools　like　you　don't　know　it。〃
〃You　were　sweet　to　tell　me。〃
〃We　won't　quarrel；　baby。　I　love　you　too　much。　But　don't　be　a　fool。〃
〃No。　I'll　be　wise　like　you。〃
〃Don't　be　angry；　baby。　Laugh。　Take　a　drink。　I　must　go；　really。〃
〃You're　a　good　old　boy。〃
〃Now　you　see。　Underneath　we　are　the　same。　We　are　war　brothers。　Kiss　me　good…by。〃
〃You're　sloppy。〃
〃No。　I　am　just　more　affectionate。〃
I　felt　his　breath　e　toward　me。　〃Good…by。　I　e　to　see　you　again　soon。〃　His　breath　went　away。　〃I　won't　kiss　you　if　you　don't　want。　I'll　send　your　English　girl。　Good…by；　baby。　The　cognac　is　unde