第2部分(第3/8 頁)

　gone　we　have　nothing　but　frostbites；　chilblains；　jaundice；　gonorrhea；　self…inflicted　wounds；　pneumonia　and　hard　and　soft　chancres。　Every　week　some　one　gets　wounded　by　rock　fragments。　There　are　a　few　real　wounded。　Next　week　the　war　starts　again。　Perhaps　it　start　again。　They　say　so。　Do　you　think　I　would　do　right　to　marry　Miss　Barkley……after　the　war　of　course？〃

〃Absolutely；〃　I　said　and　poured　the　basin　full　of　water。

〃To…night　you　will　tell　me　everything；〃　said　Rinaldi。　〃Now　I　must　go　back　to　sleep　to　be　fresh　and　beautiful　for　Miss　Barkley。〃

I　took　off　my　tunic　and　shirt　and　washed　in　the　cold　water　in　the　basin。　While　I　rubbed　myself　with　a　towel　I　looked　around　the　room　and　out　the　window　and　at　Rinaldi　lying　with　his　eyes　closed　on　the　bed。　He　was　good…looking；　was　my　age；　and　he　came　from　Amalfi。　He　loved　being　a　surgeon　and　we　were　great　friends。　While　I　was　looking　at　him　he　opened　his　eyes。

〃Have　you　any　money？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Loan　me　fifty　lire。〃

I　dried　my　hands　and　took　out　my　pocket…book　from　the　inside　of　my　tunic　hanging　on　the　wall。　Rinaldi　took　the　note；　folded　it　without　rising　from　the　bed　and　slid　it　in　his　breeches　pocket。　He　smiled；　〃I　must　make　on　Miss　Barkley　the　impression　of　a　man　of　sufficient　wealth。　You　are　my　great　and　good　friend　and　financial　protector。〃

〃Go　to　hell；〃　I　said。

That　night　at　the　mess　I　sat　next　to　the　priest　and　he　was　disappointed　and　suddenly　hurt　that　I　had　not　gone　to　the　A