永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著- 第14节

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？　I　made　you　drunk；　said　the　major。　I　made　you　drunk　because　I　love　you　and　because　America　is　in　the　war。　Up　to　the　hilt；　I　said。　You　go　away　in　the　morning；　baby；　Rinaldi　said。　To　Rome；　I　said。　No；　to　Milan。　To　Milan；　said　the　major；　to　the　Crystal　Palace；　to　the　Cova；　to　Campari's；　to　Biffi's；　to　the　galleria。　You　lucky　boy。　To　the　Gran　Italia；　I　said；　where　I　will　borrow　money　from　George。　To　the　Scala；　said　Rinaldi。　You　will　go　to　the　Scala。　Every　night；　I　said。　You　won't　be　able　to　afford　it　every　night；　said　the　major。
The　tickets　are　very　expensive。　I　will　draw　a　sight　draft　on　my　grandfather；　I　said。　A　what？　A　sight　draft。　He　has　to　pay　or　I　go　to　jail。　Mr。　Cunningham　at　the　bank　does　it。　I　live　by　sight　drafts。　Can　a　grandfather　jail　a　patriotic　grandson　who　is　dying　that　Italy　may　live？　Live　the　American　Garibaldi；　said　Rinaldi。　Viva　the　sight　drafts；　I　said。　We　must　be　quiet；　said　the　major。　Already　we　have　been　asked　many　times　to　be　quiet。　Do　you　go　to…morrow　really；　Federico？　He　goes　to　the　American　hospital　I　tell　you；　Rinaldi　said。　To　the　beautiful　nurses。　Not　the　nurses　with　beards　of　the　field　hospital。　Yes；　yes；　said　the　major；　I　know　he　goes　to　the　American　hospital。　I　don't　mind　their　beards；　I　said。　If　any　man　wants　to　raise　a　beard　let　him。　Why　don't　you　raise　a　beard；　Signor　Maggiore？　It　could　not　go　in　a　gas　mask。　Yes　it　could。　Anything　can　go　in　a　gas　mask。　I've　vomited　into　a　gas　mask。　Don't　be　so　loud；　baby；　Rinaldi　said。　We　all　know　you　have　been　at　the　front　Oh；　you　fine　baby；　what　will　I　do　while　you　are　gone？　We　must　go；　said　the　major。　This　bees　sentimental。　Listen；　I　have　a　surprise　for　you。　Your　English。　You　know？　The　English　you　go　to　see　every　night　at　their　hospital？　She　is　going　to　Milan　too。　She　goes　with　another　to　be　at　the　American　hospital。　They　had　not　got　nurses　yet　from　America。　I　talked　to…day　with　the　head　of　their　riparto。　They　have　too　many　Women　here　at　the　front。　They　send　some　back。　How　do　you　like　that；　baby？　All　right。　Yes？　You　go　to　live　in　a　big　city　and　have　your　English　there　to　cuddle　you。　Why　don't　I　get　wounded？　Maybe　you　will；　I　said。　We　must　go；　said　the　major。　We　drink　and　make　noise　and　disturb　Federico。　Don't　go。　Yes；　we　must　go。　Good…by。　Good　luck。　Many　things。　Ciaou。　Ciaou。　Ciaou。　e　back　quickly；　baby。　Rinaldi　kissed　me。　You　smell　of　lysol。　Good…by；　baby。　Good…by。　Many　things。　The　major　patted　my　shoulder。　They　tiptoed　out。　I　found　I　was　quite　drunk　but　went　to　sleep。
The　next　day　in　the　morning　we　left　for　Milan　and　arrived　forty…eight　hours　later。　It　was　a　bad　trip。　We　were　sidetracked　for　a　long　time　this　side　of　Mestre　and　children　came　and　peeked　in。　I　got　a　little　boy　to　go　for　a　bottle　of　cognac　but　he　came　back　and　said　he　could　only　get　grappa。　I　told　him　to　get　it　and　when　it　came　I　gave　him　the　change　and　the　man　beside　me　and　I　got　drunk　and　slept　until　past　Vicenza　where　I　woke　up　and　was　very　sick　on　the　floor。　It　did　not　matter　because　the　man　on　that　side　had　been　very　sick　on　the　floor　several　times　before。　Afterward　I　thought　I　could　not　stand　the　thirst　and　in　the　yards　outside　of　Verona　I　called　to　a　soldier　who　was　walking　up　and　down　beside　the　train　and　he　got　me　a　drink　of　water。　I　woke　Georgetti；　the　other　boy　who　was　drunk；　and　offered　him　some　water。　He　said　to　pour　it　on　his　shoulder　and　went　back　to　sleep。　The　soldier　would　not　take　the　penny　I　offered　him　and　brought　me　a　pulpy　orange。　I　sucked　on　that　and　spit　out　the　pith　and　watched　the　soldier　pass　up　and　down　past　a　freight…car　outside　and　after　a　while　the　train　gave　a　jerk　and　started。





BOOK　TWO





13


We　got　into　Milan　early　in　the　morning　and　they　unloaded　us　in　the　freight　yard。　An　ambulance　took　me　to　the　American　hospital。　Riding　in　the　ambulance　on　a　stretcher　I　could　not　tell　what　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　do