第27部分(第2/8 頁)

it　a　fine　town？〃

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

〃How　did　you　get　to　be　socialists？〃

〃We're　all　socialists。　Everybody　is　a　socialist。　We've　always　been　socialists。〃

〃You　e；　Tenente。　We'll　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。

30

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。

〃We'd　better　hurry　and　get　across　before　they　blow　it　up；〃　I　said。

〃There's　nobody　to　blow　it　up；〃　Piani　said。　〃They're　all　gone。〃

〃It's　probably　mined；〃　Bonello　said。　〃You　cross　first