第29部分（第1页）

〃They　ought　to　be　able　to　hold　at　this　river；〃　Piani　said。　In　the　dark　the　flood　looked　high。　The　water　swirled　and　it　was　wide。　The　wooden　bridge　was　nearly　three…quarters　of　a　mile　across；　and　the　river；　that　usually　ran　in　narrow　channels　in　the　wide　stony　bed　far　below　the　bridge；　was　close　under　the　wooden　planking。　We　went　along　the　bank　and　then　worked　our　way　into　the　crowd　that　were　crossing　the　bridge。　Crossing　slowly　in　the　rain　a　few　feet　above　the　flood；　pressed　tight　in　the　crowd；　the　box　of　an　artillery　caisson　just　ahead；　I　looked　over　the　side　and　watched　the　river。　Now　that　we　could　not　go　our　own　pace　I　felt　very　tired。　There　was　no　exhilaration　in　crossing　the　bridge。　I　wondered　what　it　would　be　like　if　a　plane　bombed　it　in　the　daytime。

〃Piani；〃　I　said。

〃Here　I　am；　Tenente。〃　He　was　a　little　ahead　in　the　jam。　No　one　was　talking。　They　were　all　trying　to　get　across　as　soon　as　they　could：　thinking　only　of　that。　We　were　almost　across。　At　the　far　end　of　the　bridge　there　were　officers　and　carabinieri　standing　on　both　sides　flashing　lights。　I　saw　them　silhouetted　against　the　sky…line。　As　we　came　close　to　them　I　saw　one　of　the　officers　point　to　a　man　in　the　column。　A　carabiniere　went　in　after　him　and　came　out　holding　the　man　by　the　arm。　He　took　him　away　from　the　road。　We　came　almost　opposite　them。　The　officers　were　scrutinizing　every　one　in　the　column；　sometimes　speaking　to　each　other；　going　forward　to　flash　a　light　in　some　ones　face。　They　took　some　one　else　out　just　before　we　came　opposite。　I　saw　the　man。　He　was　a　lieutenantcolonel。　I　saw　the　stars　in　the　box　on　his　sleeve　as　they　flashed　a　light　on　him。　His　hair　was　gray　and　he　was　short　and　fat。　The　carabiniere　pulled　him　in　behind　the　line　of　officers。　As　we　came　opposite　I　saw　one　or　two　of　them　look　at　me。　Then　one　pointed　at　me　and　spoke　to　a　carabiniere。　I　saw　the　carabiniere　start　for　me；　e　through　the　edge　of　the　column　toward　me；　then　felt　him　take　me　by　the　collar。

〃Whats　the　matter　with　you？〃　I　said　and　hit　him　in　the　face。　I　saw　his　face　under　the　hat；　upturned　mustaches　and　blood　ing　down　his　cheek。　Another　one　dove　in　toward　us。

〃Whats　the　matter　with　you？〃　I　said。　He　did　not　answer。　He　was　watching　a　chance　to　grab　me。　I　put　my　arm　behind　me　to　loosen　my　pistol。

〃Dont　you　know　you　cant　touch　an　officer？〃

The　other　one　grabbed　me　from　behind　and　pulled　my　arm　up　so　that　it　twisted　in　the　socket。　I　turned　with　him　and　the　other　one　grabbed　me　around　the　neck。　I　kicked　his　shins　and　got　my　left　knee　into　his　groin。

〃Shoot　him　if　he　resists；〃　I　heard　some　one　say。

〃Whats　the　meaning　of　this？〃　Itried　to　shout　but　my　voice　was　not　very　loud。　They　had　me　at　the　side　of　the　road　now。

〃Shoot　him　if　he　resists；〃　an　officer　said。　〃Take　him　over　back。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃

〃Youll　find　out。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃

〃Battle　police；〃　another　officer　said。

〃Why　dont　you　ask　me　to　step　over　instead　of　having　one　of　these　airplanes　grab　me？〃

They　did　not　answer。　They　did　not　have　to　answer。　They　were　battle　police。

〃Take　him　back　there　with　the　others；〃　the　first　officer　said。　〃You　see。　He　speaks　Italian　with　an　accent。〃

〃So　do　you；　you　；〃　I　said。

〃Take　him　back　with　the　others；〃　the　first　officer　said。　They　took　me　down　behind　the　line　of　officers　below　the　road　toward　a　group　of　people　in　a　field　by　the　river　bank。　As　we　walked　toward　them　shots　were　fired。　I　saw　flashes　of　the　rifles　and　heard　the　reports。　We　came　up　to　the　group。　There　were　four　officers　standing　together；　with　a　man　in　front　of　them　with　a　carabiniere　on　each　side　of　him。　A　group　of　men　were　standing　guarded　by　carabinieri。　Four　other　carabinieri　stood　near　the　questioning　officers；　leaning　on　their　carbines。　They　were　wide…hatted　carabinieri。　The　two　who　had　me　shoved　me　in　with　the　group　waiting　to　be　questioned。　I　looked　at　the　man　the　officers　were　questioning。　He　was　the　fat　gray…haired　little　lieutenant…colonel　they　had　taken　out　of　the　column。　The　questioners　had　all　the　efficiency；　coldness　and　mand　of　themselves　of　Italians　who　are　firing　and　are　not　being　fired　on。

〃Your　brigade？〃

He　told　them。

〃Regiment？〃