第21部分(第2/8 頁)

nd　I　put　it　on　and　swung　on　the　two　musettes　and　walked　to　our　villa。　It　did　not　feel　like　a　homeing。

I　walked　down　the　damp　gravel　driveway　looking　at　the　villa　through　the　trees。　The　windows　were　all　shut　but　the　door　was　open。　I　went　in　and　found　the　major　sitting　at　a　table　in　the　bare　room　with　maps　and　typed　sheets　of　paper　on　the　wall。

〃Hello；〃　he　said。　〃How　are　you？〃　He　looked　older　and　drier。

〃I'm　good；〃　I　said。　〃How　is　everything？〃

〃It's　all　over；〃　he　said。　〃Take　off　your　kit　and　sit　down。〃　I　put　my　pack　and　the　two　musettes　on　the　floor　and　my　cap　on　the　pack。　I　brought　the　other　chair　over　from　the　wall　and　sat　down　by　the　desk。

〃It's　been　a　bad　summer；〃　the　major　said。　〃Are　you　strong　now？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　you　ever　get　the　decorations？〃

〃Yes。　I　got　them　fine。　Thank　you　very　much。〃

〃Let's　see　them。〃

I　opened　my　cape　so　he　could　see　the　two　ribbons。

〃Did　you　get　the　boxes　with　the　medals？〃

〃No。　Just　the　papers。〃

〃The　boxes　will　e　later。　That　takes　more　time。〃

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃

〃The　cars　are　all　away。　There　are　six　up　north　at　Caporetto。　You　know　Caporetto？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　I　remembered　it　as　a　little　white　town　with　a　campanile　in　a　valley。　It　was　a　clean　little　town　and　there　was　a　fine　fountain　in　the　square。

〃They　are　working　from　there。　There　are　many　sick　now。　The　fighting　is　over。〃

〃Where　are　the　others？〃

〃There　are　two　up