第16部分(第2/8 頁)

。

〃Sure。〃

〃I　saw　the　son　of　a　bitch　throw　it；〃　Ettore　said。　〃It　knocked　me　down　and　I　thought　I　was　dead　all　right　but　those　damn　potato　mashers　haven't　got　anything　in　them。　I　shot　the　son　of　a　bitch　with　my　rifle。　I　always　carry　a　rifle　so　they　can't　tell　I'm　an　officer。〃

〃How　did　he　look？〃　asked　Simmons。

〃That　was　the　only　one　he　had；〃　Ettore　said。　〃I　don't　know　why　he　threw　it。　I　guess　he　always　wanted　to　throw　one。　He　never　saw　any　real　fighting　probably。　I　shot　the　son　of　a　bitch　all　right。〃

〃How　did　he　look　when　you　shot　him？〃　Simmons　asked。

〃Hell；　how　should　I　know？〃　said　Ettore。　〃I　shot　him　in　the　belly。　I　was　afraid　I'd　miss　him　if　I　shot　him　in　the　head。〃

〃How　long　have　you　been　an　officer；　Ettore？〃　I　asked。

〃Two　years。　I'm　going　to　be　a　captain。　How　long　have　you　been　a　lieutenant？〃

〃Going　on　three　years。〃

〃You　can't　be　a　captain　because　you　don't　know　the　Italian　language　well　enough；〃　Ettore　said。　〃You　can　talk　but　you　can't　read　and　write　well　enough。　You　got　to　have　an　education　to　be　a　captain。　Why　don't　you　go　in　the　American　army？〃

〃Maybe　I　will。〃

〃I　wish　to　God　I　could。　Oh；　boy；　how　much　does　a　captain　get；　Mac？〃

〃I　don't　know　exactly。　Around　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars；　I　think。〃

〃Jesus　Christ　what　I　could　do　with　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars。　You　better　get　in　the　American　army　quick；　Fred。　See　if　you　can't　get　me　in。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃I　can　ma