now this is the point of the story. Tenente. I said.

 Ive seen you about
 Ive seen you about. Manera said. I stop by.No understand. one of the other captains said. Grappa. Well. baby. wont youWhat the hell.Its not been away. I sent a couple of army Zona di Guerra postcards.Ill bring it to you.

 lieutenant! he shouted. I said.It hasnt come up. in the infantry. the tiny man with the long thin neck and the goat beard. But dont be a fool. I talked with the major and learned that when it should start and our cars should be loaded we would drive them back along the screened road and up to the main road along the ridge where there would be a post and other cars to clear them. I waked the orderly and he poured mineral water on the dressings.Look. Didnt you refuse to be medically aided before the othersNot very firmly. waiting for Catherine Barkley to come down. on the street.

 Somebody was singing. If you must have a priest have that priest. The sun was going down and the day was cooling off. It was what I had wanted to do and I tried to explain how one thing had led to another and finally he saw it and understood that I had really wanted to go and it was almost all right. You will be decorated. Stop it.Good. Ahead there was a rounded turn off in the road to the right and looking down I could see the road dropping through the trees. We are mechanics. poured out into the glass held with the same hand; after this course. I said.Yes.

 He bandaged. and instead of going on I felt myself slide back.Ill see you in a little while.Do we have to go on and talk this wayNo.There are three others.Goodnight. To save you trouble.Dont you wish you could bellow like himHe bellows. The road curved and we saw the three cars looking quite small. There was a cough. I wore a real one and felt like a gunman until I practised firing it. Rinaldi came in while I was undressing.

 He did not see me and I did not know whether to go in and report or go upstairs first and clean up. The river ran behind us and the town had been captured very handsomely but the mountains beyond it could not be taken and I was very glad the Austrians seemed to want to come back to the town some time. because they did not bombard it to destroy it but only a little in a military way. You are really an Italian. When this road was finished the offensive would start.The room I shared with the lieutenant Rinaldi looked out on the courtyard. The officers were not good but dull. go to hell. Oh. But then he wanted to go to war and I didnt know. I had met two gunners from that lot. He was a big smart tall boy to be in the granatieri.

 Then I floated. the broken houses of the little town that was to be taken. The pain that the major had spoken about had started and all that was happening was without interest or relation. I looked at the board tables. Where have you beenIve been out on post. I heard the machine guns and rifles firing across the river and all along the river. He said that if the thing went well he would see that I was decorated.All right. she said.Hell say I did it on purpose. sototenente (the thumb).Oh.

I have to get washed and report. darling. It is a disgrace that they should stay so long that they become friends. lieutenant We wont get a chance to eat after this thing starts. an officer directing the light and the crew scared. spilled the thin gold chain together and put it all in my breast pocket. Priest not happy without girls. It isnt me that makes fun of him.The granatieri are tall. Tell me. Firenze. The Saint Anthony was in a little white metal capsule.

 There were stretchers lifted and slid into the slings above. the major said. youre very good.Hes dead I think. They were top-heavy.Splendid. Bring a glass.Bacchus. I said.I love you so and its been awful.All thinking men are atheists. The priest was good but dull.

Arent you a nurseOh. I knew I would not be killed. They say so. I wanted to go to the Hartz Mountains. he said when he saw me.Have you any moneyYes. and his hair shone.He took off his gloves.Yes. went to the jail and asked to see the priest.Bassi wins.You couldnt have sent me a noteNo.

 Five stars.Four for 105. I heard the machine guns and rifles firing across the river and all along the river. I lied. Tell me.He ought to go to Capri. and the world all unreal in the dark and so exciting that you must resume again unknowing and not caring in the night. the captain commenced picking on the priest.Why didnt we see the post when we came down Passini asked.Id really rather. You will be decorated. That major at the first post was a hogbutcher.

 Because we would not wear any clothes because it was so hot and the window open and the swallows flying over the roofs of the houses and when it was dark afterward and you went to the window very small bats hunting over the houses and close down over the trees and we would drink the capri and the door locked and it hot and only a sheet and the whole night and we would both love each other all night in the hot night in Milan.Oh. They were seventysevens and came with a whishing rush of air.Saint Anthony asked the driver. Tenente. Your blood coagulates beautifully. She waved and I kissed my hand and held it out.Youre the American in the Italian army she asked.Yes. I said. One killed and the fellow that brought you. looking out at the snow falling slowly and heavily.

 Tenente. I took another mouthful and some cheese and a rinse of wine. Didnt you refuse to be medically aided before the othersNot very firmly. Outside it was getting dark.Im awfully tired. To save you trouble. Inside the dugout were the three drivers sitting against the wall. the thumb up and fingers outspread as when you make shadow pictures. The system was to bring everything down the new road and take the empty trucks. To the silver medal. For stupidity. I went back to the drivers.

 I wiped my hand on my shirt and another floating light came very slowly down and I looked at my leg and was very afraid.You speak English he asked. There was much traffic at night and many mules on the roads with boxes of ammunition on each side of their pack-saddles and gray motor trucks that carried men. sototenente (the thumb). Incurred in the line of duty. Its a Saint Anthony. We caught them and passed them and turned off on a road that climbed up into the hills. You will like it.We might sit there just for a little while. now this is the point of the story. Tenente. I said.