第26部分（第1页）

〃Bersaglieri；〃　Aymo　smiled。　〃They　have　the　widest　backs。　They　measure　them。　How　do　you　feel；　Tenente？〃

〃Fine。　How　are　you？〃

〃Fine。　But　very　hungry。〃

〃There　ought　to　be　something　up　that　road　and　we　will　stop　and　eat。〃

〃Hows　your　leg；　Tenente？〃

〃Fine；〃　I　said。　Standing　on　the　step　and　looking　up　ahead　I　could　see　Pianis　car　pulling　out　onto　the　little　side…road　and　starting　up　it；　his　car　showing　through　the　hedge　of　bare　branches。　Bonello　turned　off　and　followed　him　and　then　Piani　worked　his　way　out　and　we　followed　the　two　ambulances　ahead　along　the　narrow　road　between　hedges。　It　led　to　a　farmhouse。　We　found　Piani　and　Bonello　stopped　in　the　farmyard。　The　house　was　low　and　long　with　a　trellis　with　a　grape…vine　over　the　door。　There　was　a　well　in　the　yard　and　Piani　was　getting　up　water　to　fill　his　radiator。　So　much　going　in　low　gear　had　boiled　it　out。　The　farmhouse　was　deserted。　I　looked　back　down　the　road；　the　farmhouse　was　on　a　slight　elevation　above　the　plain；　and　we　could　see　over　the　country；　and　saw　the　road；　the　hedges；　the　fields　and　the　line　of　trees　along　the　main　road　where　the　retreat　was　passing。　The　two　sergeants　were　looking　through　the　house。　The　girls　were　awake　and　looking　at　the　courtyard；　the　well　and　the　two　big　ambulances　in　front　of　the　farmhouse；　with　three　drivers　at　the　well。　One　of　the　sergeants　came　out　with　a　clock　in　his　hand。

〃Put　it　back；〃　I　said。　He　looked　at　me；　went　in　the　house　and　came　back　without　the　clock。

〃Wheres　your　partner？〃　I　asked。

〃Hes　gone　to　the　latrine。〃　He　got　up　on　the　seat　of　the　ambulance。　He　was　afraid　we　would　leave　him。

〃What　about　breakfast；　Tenente？〃　Bonello　asked。　〃We　could　eat　something。　It　wouldnt　take　very　long。〃

〃Do　you　think　this　road　going　down　on　the　other　side　will　lead　to　anything？〃

〃Sure。〃

〃All　right。　Lets　eat。〃　Piani　and　Bonello　went　in　the　house。

〃e　on；〃　Aymo　said　to　the　girls。　He　held　his　hand　to　help　them　down。　The　older　sister　shook　her　head。　They　were　not　going　into　any　deserted　house。　They　looked　after　us。

〃They　are　difficult；〃　Aymo　said。　We　went　into　the　farmhouse　together。　It　was　large　and　dark；　an　abandoned　feeling。　Bonello　and　Piani　were　in　the　kitchen。

〃Theres　not　much　to　eat；〃　Piani　said。　〃Theyve　cleaned　it　out。〃　Bonello　sliced　a　big　cheese　on　the　heavy　kitchen　table。

〃Where　was　the　cheese？〃

〃In　the　cellar。　Piani　found　wine　too　and　apples。〃

〃Thats　a　good　breakfast。〃

Piani　was　taking　the　wooden　cork　out　of　a　big　wicker…covered　wine　jug。　He　tipped　it　and　poured　a　copper　pan　full。

〃It　smells　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃Find　some　beakers；　Barto。〃

The　two　sergeants　came　in。

〃Have　some　cheese；　sergeants；〃　Bonello　said。

〃We　should　go；〃　one　of　the　sergeants　said；　eating　his　cheese　and　drinking　a　cup　of　wine。

〃Well　go。　Dont　worry；〃　Bonello　said。

〃An　army　travels　on　its　stomach；〃　I　said。

〃What？〃　asked　the　sergeant。

〃Its　better　to　eat。〃

〃Yes。　But　time　is　precious。〃