a button on his tunic and pulled it out from under his shirt.

 wash it out
 wash it out.Ill take what you can give me. If you must have a priest have that priest. Goodby. now this is the point of the story. Its a Saint Anthony. He came in very fast and bent down over the bed and kissed me. He ought to be able to do something. Thats where the money comes from.Youd better chew some coffee.No. The fields were green and there were small green shoots on the vines.

 What an odd thing--to be in the Italian army. I followed his hands with my eyes. Priest not happy without girls. thats different. He was a big smart tall boy to be in the granatieri. I knew it. The Italian salute never seemed made for export.I was very dusty and dirty and went up to my room to wash. God. Gavuzzi has your legs. yes.Not true asked the captain.

Like the Tchecos. The coffee was a pale gray and sweet with condensed milk. said the lieutenant. You were liable to arrest if you did not have one worn in plain sight. Then I made out my report in my room. Not Bacchus.Theyll shell the   out of us. I said. He can handle the English. I said. The earth of the dugout was warm and dry and I let my shoulders back against the wall. chewed.

 The road was screened because it was in sight of the Austrians across the river.Dont you wish you could bellow like himHe bellows. You will be decorated. to ride along the road across the plain and deliver the wounded at the two hospitals. I say he bellows!I would like you to go to Abruzzi. Didnt you see itNo. Then I will take him with my first load.No. That should handle them.Bacchus. isnt itWhat gameDont be dull. I had been driving and I sat in the car and the driver took the papers in.

Were almost up. Now Ill probe for some of this if you like but its not necessary.We walked on a way and were stopped under a tree. They poured me more wine and I told the story about the English private soldier who was placed under the shower bath.You dont wear himNo. Rinaldi said. I said. One side must stop fighting.That was because it was first. He hoped the road would not jam. A mass loosened. The ground was torn up and in front of my head there was a splintered beam of wood.

 yes. I knew you was an American. the operation was successful.Youre a nice boy. Tenente. he said.Oh. But I found a place where the cars would be sheltered after they passed that last badlooking bit and could wait for the wounded to be brought across the pontoon bridge. You get along very well without me. whether or not things were obtainable. You cant. I looked in the door of the big room and saw the major sitting at his desk.

 Bring him a glass of brandy.Wonderful. They were going to put over another bridge when the bombardment started and some troops were to cross at the shallows up above at the bend of the river. Then the major told the story of the eleven Czechoslovaks and the Hungarian corporal.I sat on a chair and held my cap. He denied all knowledge of the five per cent bonds.Passini shook his head. That was how it ought to be. the major said. This had been the villa of a very wealthy German and the busts must have cost him plenty. its smooth surface covered with brick dust.The drops fell very slowly.

 said Passini. I put thumb and fingers into the macaroni and lifted.Look at the bump. In a moment the blanket in front of the dressing station opened and two stretcherbearers came out followed by the tall Englishman. He had not felt bad but now the shoulder had stiffened. Profound wounds of right knee and foot.Slit the tunic. Are they going to have an offensiveYes. father. He saw us and smiled.No. There was that beginning of a feeling of dryness in the nose that meant the day would be hot later on.

 although I learned it later. went on the captain.Its not been away.Most of them dont. She had slapped my face hard. I think not. tannic and lovely.Oh. sototenente (the thumb). I said.Ill leave you two. walking under the trees.

I have brought him in.She looked at me.I was away for two days at the posts. darling. To the north we could look across a valley and see a forest of chestnut trees and behind it another mountain on this side of the river.Theyll shell the   out of us. Florence.We kissed and she broke away suddenly. the captain commenced picking on the priest.They come after you. Helen Ferguson.Here.

 I said. He talks French. Gavuzzi has your legs. first fingers extended. I think so. in Milan. I threw away the goddam truss so it would get bad and I wouldnt have to go to the line again. There were stretchers lifted and slid into the slings above. I was always able to forget.All right. I would go crazy. there was the smell of marble floors and hospital.

 The priest shook his head and went on. He came back with a handful of roasted coffee beans. It takes a long time to be. darling. Suddenly to care very much and to sleep to wake with it sometimes morning and all that had been there gone and everything sharp and hard and clear and sometimes a dispute about the cost. As far as I could make out the last mile or so of the new road where it started to level out would be able to be shelled steadily by the Austrians. His mother sent it to me. .At the start of the winter came the permanent rain and with the rain came the cholera. I had met two gunners from that lot. Here they would never have arrested him. My father is a famous hunter.

 when they wouldnt attack and they shot every tenth manNo.He took off his gloves.You must go on leave at once.Priest not happy. Im not.Shes on duty. It was Miss Ferguson. It would have been much simpler.Go to hell. Jesus Christ.In the legs. His right hand left the wheel and opened a button on his tunic and pulled it out from under his shirt.