第9部分(第2/8 頁)

aldi。　He　came　in　very　fast　and　bent　down　over　the　bed　and　kissed　me。　I　saw　he　wore　gloves。

〃How　are　you；　baby？　How　do　you　feel？　I　bring　you　this……〃　It　was　a　bottle　of　cognac。　The　orderly　brought　a　chair　and　he　sat　down；　〃and　good　news。　You　will　be　decorated。　They　want　to　get　you　the　medaglia　d'argento　but　perhaps　they　can　get　only　the　bronze。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃Because　you　are　gravely　wounded。　They　say　if　you　can　prove　you　did　any　heroic　act　you　can　get　the　silver。　Otherwise　it　will　be　the　bronze。　Tell　me　exactly　what　happened。　Did　you　do　any　heroic　act？〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I　was　blown　up　while　we　were　eating　cheese。〃

〃Be　serious。　You　must　have　done　something　heroic　either　before　or　after。　Remember　carefully。〃

〃I　did　not。〃

〃Didn't　you　carry　anybody　on　your　back？　Gordini　says　you　carried　several　people　on　your　back　but　the　medical　major　at　the　first　post　declares　it　is　impossible。　He　had　to　sign　the　proposition　for　the　citation。〃

〃I　didn't　carry　anybody。　I　couldn't　move。〃

〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　said　Rinaldi。

He　took　off　his　gloves。

〃I　think　we　can　get　you　the　silver。　Didn't　you　refuse　to　be　medically　aided　before　the　others？〃

〃Not　very　firmly。〃

〃That　doesn't　matter。　Look　how　you　are　wounded。　Look　at　your　valorous　conduct　in　asking　to　go　always　to　the　first　line。　Besides；　the　operation　was　successful。〃

〃Did　they　cross　the　river　all　right？〃

〃Enormously。　They　take　nearly　a　thousand　pri