第27部分（第1页）

〃Here　it　is　a　great　thing；〃　Aymo　said。　〃A　bicycle　is　a　splendid　thing。〃

〃I　wish　to　Christ　we　had　bicycles；〃　Bonello　said。　〃Im　no　walker。〃

〃Is　that　firing？〃　I　asked。　I　thought　I　could　hear　firing　a　long　way　away。

〃I　dont　know；〃　Aymo　said。　He　listened。

〃I　think　so；〃　I　said。

〃The　first　thing　we　will　see　will　be　the　cavalry；〃　Piani　said。

〃I　dont　think　theyve　got　any　cavalry。〃

〃I　hope　to　Christ　not；〃　Bonello　said。　〃I　dont　want　to　be　stuck　on　a　lance　by　any……cavalry。〃

〃You　certainly　shot　that　sergeant；　Tenente；〃　Piani　said。　We　were　walking　fast。

〃I　killed　him；〃　Bonello　said。　〃I　never　killed　anybody　in　this　war；　and　all　my　life　Ive　wanted　to　kill　a　sergeant。〃

〃You　killed　him　on　the　sit　all　right；〃　Piani　said。　〃He　wasnt　flying　very　fast　when　you　killed　him。〃

〃Never　mind。　Thats　one　thing　I　can　always　remember。　I　killed　that……of　a　sergeant。〃

〃What　will　you　say　in　confession？〃　Aymo　asked。

〃Ill　say；　Bless　me；　father；　I　killed　a　sergeant。〃　They　all　laughed。

〃Hes　an　anarchist；〃　Piani　said。　〃He　doesnt　go　to　church。〃

〃Pianis　an　anarchist　too；〃　Bonello　said。

〃Are　you　really　anarchists？〃　I　asked。

〃No；　Tenente。　Were　socialists。　We　e　from　Imola。〃

〃Havent　you　ever　been　there？〃

〃No。〃

〃By　Christ　its　a　fine　place；　Tenente。　You　e　there　after　the　war　and　well　show　you　something。〃

〃Are　you　all　socialists？〃

〃Everybody。〃

〃Is　it　a　fine　town？〃

〃Wonderful。　You　never　saw　a　town　like　that。〃

〃How　did　you　get　to　be　socialists？〃

〃Were　all　socialists。　Everybody　is　a　socialist。　Weve　always　been　socialists。〃

〃You　e；　Tenente。　Well　make　you　a　socialist　too。〃

Ahead　the　road　turned　off　to　the　left　and　there　was　a　little　hill　and；　beyond　a　stone　wall；　an　apple　orchard。　As　the　road　went　uphill　they　ceased　talking。　We　walked　along　together　all　going　fast　against　time。

Later　we　were　on　a　road　that　led　to　a　river。　There　was　a　long　line　of　abandoned　trucks　and　carts　on　the　road　leading　up　to　the　bridge。　No　one　was　in　sight。　The　river　was　high　and　the　bridge　had　been　blown　up　in　the　centre；　the　stone　arch　was　fallen　into　the　river　and　the　brown　water　was　going　over　it。　We　went　on　up　the　bank　looking　for　a　place　to　cross。　Up　ahead　I　knew　there　was　a　railway　bridge　and　I　thought　we　might　be　able　to　get　across　there。　The　path　was　wet　and　muddy。　We　did　not　see　any　troops；　only　abandoned　trucks　and　stores。　Along　the　river　bank　there　was　nothing　and　no　one　but　the　wet　brush　and　muddy　ground。　We　went　up　to　the　bank　and　finally　we　saw　the　railway　bridge。

〃What　a　beautiful　bridge；〃　Aymo　said。　It　was　a　long　plain　iron　bridge　across　what　was　usually　a　dry　river…bed。

〃Wed　better　hurry　and　get　across　before　they　blow　it　up；〃　I　said。