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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　under　the　bed。　Get　well　soon。〃
He　was　gone。




11


It　was　dusk　when　the　priest　came。　They　had　brought　the　soup　and　afterward　taken　away　the　bowls　and　I　was　lying　looking　at　the　rows　of　beds　and　out　the　window　at　the　tree…top　that　moved　a　little　in　the　evening　breeze。　The　breeze　came　in　through　the　window　and　it　was　cooler　with　the　evening。　The　flies　were　on　the　ceiling　now　and　on　the　electric　light　bulbs　that　hung　on　wires。　The　lights　were　only　turned　on　when　some　one　was　brought　in　at　night　or　when　something　was　being　done。　It　made　me　feel　very　young　to　have　the　dark　e　after　the　dusk　and　then　remain。　It　was　like　being　put　to　bed　after　early　supper。　The　orderly　came　down　between　the　beds　and　stopped。　Some　one　was　with　him。　It　was　the　priest。　He　stood　there　small；　brown…faced；　and　embarrassed。
〃How　do　you　do？〃　he　asked。　He　put　some　packages　down　by　the　bed；　on　the　floor。
〃All　right；　father。〃
He　sat　down　in　the　chair　that　had　been　brought　for　Rinaldi　and　looked　out　of　the　window　embarrassedly。　I　noticed　his　face　looked　Very　tired。
〃I　can　only　stay　a　minute；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　late。〃
〃It's　not　late。　How　is　the　mess？〃
He　smiled。　〃I　am　still　a　great　joke；〃　he　sounded　tired　too。　〃Thank　God　they　are　all　well。
〃I　am　so　glad　you　are　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　hope　you　don't　suffer。〃　He　seemed　very　tired　and　I　was　not　used　to　seeing　him　tired。
〃Not　any　more。〃
〃I　miss　you　at　the　mess。〃
〃I　wish　I　were　there。　I　always　enjoyed　our　talking。〃
〃I　brought　you　a　few　little　things；〃　he　said。　He　picked　up　the　packages。　〃This　is　mosquito　netting。　This　is　a　bottle　of　vermouth。　You　like　vermouth？　These　are　English　papers。〃
〃Please　open　them。〃
He　was　pleased　and　undid　them。　I　held　the　mosquito　netting　in　my　hands。　The　vermouth　he　held　up　for　me　to　see　and　then　put　it　on　the　floor　beside　the　bed。　I　held　up　one　of　the　sheaf　of　English　papers。　I　could　read　the　headlines　by　turning　it　so　the　half…light　from　the　window　was　on　it。　It　was　_The　News　of　the　World_。
〃The　others　are　illustrated；〃　he　said。
〃It　will　be　a　great　happiness　to　read　them。　Where　did　you　get　them？〃
〃I　sent　for　them　to　Mestre。　I　will　have　more。〃
〃You　were　very　good　to　e；　father。　Will　you　drink　a　glass　of　vermouth？〃
〃Thank　you。　You　keep　it。　It's　for　you。〃
〃No；　drink　a　glass。〃
〃All　right。　I　will　bring　you　more　then。〃
The　orderly　brought　the　glasses　and　opened　the　bottle。　He　broke　off　the　cork　and　the　end　had　to　be　shoved　down　into　the　bottle。　I　could　see　the　priest　was　disappointed　but　he　said；　〃That's　all　right。　It's　no　matter。〃
〃Here's　to　your　health；　father。〃
〃To　your　better　health。〃
Afterward　he　held　the　glass　in　his　hand　and　we　looked　at　one　another。　Sometimes　we　talked　and　were　good　friends　but　to…night　it　was　difficult。
〃What's　the　matter；　father？　You　seem　very　tired。〃
〃I　am　tired　but　I　have　no　right　to　be。〃
〃It's　the　heat。〃
〃No。　This　is　only　the　spring。　I　feel　very　low。〃
〃You　have　the　war　disgust。〃
〃No。　But　I　hate　the　war。〃
〃I　don't　enjoy　it；〃　I　said。　He　shook　his　head　and　looked　out　of　the　window。
〃You　do　not　mind　it。　You　do　not　see　it。　You　must　forgive　me。　I　know　you　are　wounded。〃
〃That　is　an　accident。〃
〃Still　even　wounded　you　do　not　see　it。　I　can　tell。　I　do　not　see　it　myself　but　I　feel　it　a　little。〃
〃When　I　was　wounded　we　were　talking　about　it。　Passini　was　talking。〃
The　priest　put　down　the　glass。　He　was　thinking　about　something　else。
〃I　know　them　because　I　am　like　they　are；〃　he　said。
〃You　are　different　though。〃
〃But　really　I　am　like　they　are。〃
〃The　officers　don't　see　anything。〃
〃Some　of　them　do。　Some　are　very　delicate　and　feel　worse　than　any　of　us。〃
〃They　are　mostly　different。〃
〃It　is　not　education　or　money。　It　is　something　else。　Even　if　they　had　education　or　money　men　like　Passini　would　not　wish　to　be　officers。　I　would　not　be　an　officer。〃
〃You　rank　as　an　officer。　I　am　an　officer。〃
〃I　am　not　really。　You　are　not　even　an　Italian。　You　are　a　foreigner。　But　you　are　nearer　the　officers　than　you　are　to　the　men。〃
〃What　is　the　difference？〃
〃I　cannot　say　it　easily。　There　are　people　who　would　make　war。　In　this　country　there　are　many　like　that。　There　are　other　people　who　would　not　make　war。〃
〃But　the　first　ones　make　them　do　it。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And　I　help　them。〃
〃You　are　a　foreigner。　You　are　a　patriot。〃
〃And　the　ones　who　would　not　make　war？　Can　they　stop　it？〃　I　do　not　know。
He　looked　out　of　the　window　again。　I　watched　his　face。
〃Have　they　ever　been　able　to　stop　it？〃
〃They　are　not　organized　to　stop　things　and　when　they　get　organized　their　leaders　sell　them　out。〃
〃Then　it's　hopeless？〃
〃It　is　never　hopeless。　But　sometimes　I　cannot　hope。　I　try　always　to　hope　but　sometimes　I　cannot。〃
〃Maybe　the　war　will　be　over。〃
〃I　hope　so。〃
〃What　will　you　do　then？〃
〃If　it　is　possible　I　will　return　to　the　Abruzzi。〃
His　brown　face　was　suddenly　very　happy。
〃You　love　the　Abruzzi？〃
〃Yes；　I　love　it　very　much。〃
〃You　ought　to　go　there　then。〃
〃I　would　be　too　happy。　If　I　could　live　there　and　love　God　and　serve　Him。〃
〃And　be　respected；〃　I　said。
〃Yes　and　be　respected。　Why　not？〃
〃No　reason　not。　You　should　be　respected。〃
〃It　does　not　matter。　But　there　in　my　country　it　is　understood　that　a　man　may　love　God。　It　is　not　a　dirty　joke。〃
〃I　understand。〃
He　looked　at　me　and　smiled。
〃You　understand　but　you　do　not　love　God。〃
〃No。〃
〃You　do　not　love　Him　at　all？〃　he　asked。
〃I　am　afraid　of　Him　in　the　night　sometimes。〃
〃You　should　love　Him。〃
〃I　don't　love　much。〃
〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃You　do。　What　you　tell　me　about　in　the　nights。　That　is　not　love。　That　is　only　passion　and　lust。　When　you　love　you　wish　to　do　things　for。　You　wish　to　sacrifice　for。　You　wish　to　serve。〃
〃I　don't　love。〃
〃You　will。　I　know　you　will。　Then　you　will　be　happy。〃
〃I'm　happy。　I've　always　been　happy。〃
〃It　is　another　thing。　You　cannot　know　about　it　unless　you　have　it。〃
〃Well；〃　I　said。　〃If　I　ever　get　it　I　will　tell　you。〃
〃I　stay　too　long　and　talk　too　much。〃　He　was　worried　that　he　really　did。
〃No。　Don't　go。　How　about　loving　women？　If　I　really　loved　some　woman　would　it　be　like　that？〃
〃I　don't　know　about　that。　I　never　loved　any　woman。〃
〃What　about　your　mother？〃
〃Yes；　I　must　have　loved　my　mother。〃
〃Did　you　always　love　God？〃
〃Ever　since　I　was　a　little　boy。〃
〃Well；〃　I　said。　I　did　not　know　what　to　say。　〃You　are　a　fine　boy；〃　I　said。
〃I　am　a　boy；〃　he　said。　〃But　you　call　me　father。〃
〃That's　politeness。〃
He　smiled。
〃I　must　go；　really；〃　he　said。　〃You　do　not　want　me　for　anything？〃　he　asked　hopefully。
〃No。　Just　to　talk。〃
〃I　will　take　your　greetings　to　the　mess。〃
〃Thank　you　for　the　many　fine　presents。〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃e　and　see　me　again。〃
〃Yes。　Good…by；〃　he　patted　my　hand。
〃So　long；〃　I　said　in　dialect。
〃Ciaou；〃　he　repeated。
It　was　dark　in　the　room　and　the　orderly；　who　had　sat　by　the　foot　of　the　bed；　got　up　and　went　out　with　him。　I　liked　him　very　much　and　I　hoped　he　would　get　back　to　the　Abruzzi　some　time。　He　had　a　rotten　life　in　the　mess　and　he　was　fine　about　it　but　I　thought　how　he　would　be　in　his　own　country。　At　Capracotta；　he　had　told　me；　there　were　trout　in　the　stream　below　the　town。　It　was　forbidden　to　play　the　flute　at　night。　When　the　young　men　serenaded　only　the　flute　was　forbidden。　Why；　I　had　asked。　Because　it　was　bad　for　the　girls　to　hear　the　flute　at　night。　The　peasants　all　called　you　〃Don〃　and　when　you　met　them　they　took　off　their　hats。　His　father　hunted　every　day　and　stopped　to　eat　at　the　houses　of　peasants。　They　were　always　honored。　For　a　foreigner　to　hunt　he　must　present　a　certificate　that　he　had　never　been　arrested。　There　were　bears　on　the　Gran　Sasso　D'Italia　but　it　was　a　long　way。　Aquila　was　a　fine　town。　It　was　cool　in　the　summer　at　night　and　the　spring　in　Abruzzi　was　the　most　beautiful　in　Italy。　But　what　was　lovely　was　the　fall　to　go　hunting　through　the　chestnut　woods。　The　birds　were　all　good　because　they　fed　on　grapes　and　you　never　took　a　lunch　because　the　peasants　were　always　honored　if　you　would　eat　with　them　at　their　houses。　After　a　while　I　went　to　sleep。




12


The　room　was　long　with　windows　on　the　right…hand　side　and　a　door　at　the　far　end　that　went　into　the　dressing　room。　The　row　of　beds　that　mine　was　in　faced　the　windows　and　another　row；　under　the　windows；　faced　the　wall。　If　you　lay　on　your　left　side　you　could　see　the　dressing…room　door。　There　was　another　door　at　the　far　end　that　people　sometimes　came　in　by。　If　any　one　were　going　to　die　they　put　a　screen　around　the　bed　so　you　could　not　see　them　die；　but　only　the　shoes　and　puttees　of　doctors　and　men　nurses　showed　under　the　bottom　of　the　screen　and　sometimes　at　the　end　there　would　be　whispering。　Then　the　priest　would　e　out　from　behind　the　screen　and　afterward　the　men　nurses　would　go　back　behind　the　screen　to　e　out　again　carrying　the　one　who　was　dead　with　a　blanket　over　him　down　the　corridor　between　the　beds　and　some　one　folded　the　screen　and　took　it　away。
That　morning　the　major　in　charge　of　the　ward　asked　me　if　I　felt　that　I　could　travel　the　next　day。　I　said　I　could。　He　said　then　they　would　ship　me　out　early　in　the　morning。　He　said　I　would　be　better　off　making　the　trip　now　before　it　got　too　hot。
When　they　lifted　you　up　out　of　bed　to　carry　you　into　the　dressing　room　you　could　look　out　of　the　window　and　see　the　new　graves　in　the　garden。　A　soldier　sat　outside　the　door　that　opened　onto　the　garden　making　crosses　and　painting　on　them　the　names；　rank；　and　regiment　of　the　men　who　were　buried　in　the　garden。　He　also　ran　errands　for　the　ward　and　in　his　spare　time　made　me　a　cigarette　lighter　out　of　an　empty　Austrian　rifle　cartridge。　The　doctors　were　very　nice　and　seemed　very　capable。　They　were　anxious　to　ship　me　to　Milan　where　there　were　better　X…ray　facilities　and　where；　after　the　operation；　I　could　take　mechano…therapy。　I　wanted　to　go　to　Milan　too。　They　wanted　to　get　us　all　out　and　back　as　far　as　possible　because　all　the　beds　were　needed　for　the　offensive；　when　it　should　start。
The　night　before　I　left　the　field　hospital　Rinaldi　came　in　to　see　me　with　the　major　from　our　mess。　They　said　that　I　would　go　to　an　American　hospital　in　Milan　that　had　just　been　installed。　Some　American　ambulance　units　were　to　be　sent　down　and　this　hospital　would　look　after　them　and　any　other　Americans　on　service　in　Italy。　There　were　many　in　the　Red　Cross。　The　States　had　declared　war　on　Germany　but　not　on　Austria。
The　Italians　were　sure　America　would　declare　war　on　Austria　too　and　they　were　very　excited　about　any　Americans　ing　down；　even　the　Red　Cross。　They　asked　me　if　I　thought　President　Wilson　would　declare　war　on　Austria　and　I　said　it　was　only　a　matter　of　days。　I　did　not　know　what　we　had　against　Austria　but　it　seemed　logical　that　they　should　declare　war　on　her　if　they　did　on　Germany。　They　asked　me　if　we　would　declare　war　on　Turkey。　I　said　that　was　doubtful。　Turkey；　I　said；　was　our　national　bird　but　the　joke　translated　so　badly　and　they　were　so　puzzled　and　suspicious　that　I　said　yes；　we　would　probably　declare　war　on　Turkey。　And　on　Bulgaria？　We　had　drunk　several　glasses　of　brandy　and　I　said　yes　by　God　on　Bulgaria　too　and　on　Japan。　But；　they　said；　Japan　is　an　ally　of　England。　You　can't　trust　the　bloody　English。　The　Japanese　want　Hawaii；　I　said。　Where　is　Hawaii？　It　is　in　the　Pacific　Ocean。　Why　do　the　Japanese　want　it？　They　don't　really　want　it；　I　said。　That　is　all　talk。　The　Japanese　are　a　wonderful　little　people　fond　of　dancing　and　light　wines。　Like　the　French；　said　the　major。　We　will　get　Nice　and　Savoia　from　the　French。　We　will　get　Corsica　and　all　the　Adriatic　coast…line；　Rinaldi　said。　Italy　will　return　to　the　splendors　of　Rome；　said　the　major。　I　don't　like　Rome；　I　said。　It　is　hot　and　full　of　fleas。　You　don't　like　Rome？　Yes；　I　love　Rome。　Rome　is　the　mother　of　nations。　I　will　never　forget　Romulus　suckling　the　Tiber。　What？　Nothing。　Let's　all　go　to　Rome。
Let's　go　to　Rome　to…night　and　never　e　back。　Rome　is　a　beautiful　city；　said　the　major。　The　mother　and　father　of　nations；　I　said。　Roma　is　feminine；　said　Rinaldi。　It　cannot　be　the　father。　Who　is　the　father；　then；　the　Holy　Ghost？　Don't　blaspheme。　I　wasn't　blaspheming；　I　was　asking　for　information。　You　are　drunk；　baby。　Who　made　me　drunk