第8部分(第4/8 頁)

206　aren't　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃It's　a　charming　place。　I've　seen　you　about。　They　tell　me　you're　an　American。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I'm　English。〃

〃No！〃

〃Yes；　English。　Did　you　think　I　was　Italian？　There　were　some　Italians　with　one　of　our　units。〃

〃It　would　be　fine　if　you　would　take　the　cars；〃　I　said。

〃We'll　be　most　careful　of　them；〃　he　straightened　up。　〃This　chap　of　yours　was　very　anxious　for　me　to　see　you。〃　He　patted　Gordini　on　the　shoulder。　Gordini　winced　and　smiled。　The　Englishman　broke　into　voluble　and　perfect　Italian。　〃Now　everything　is　arranged。　I've　seen　your　Tenente。　We　will　take　over　the　two　cars。　You　won't　worry　now。〃　He　broke　off；　〃I　must　do　something　about　getting　you　out　of　here。　I'll　see　the　medical　wallahs。　We'll　take　you　back　with　us。〃

He　walked　across　to　the　dressing　station；　stepping　carefully　among　the　wounded。　I　saw　the　blanket　open；　the　light　came　out　and　he　went　in。

〃He　will　look　after　you；　Tenente；〃　Gordini　said。

〃How　are　you；　Franco？〃

〃I　am　all　right。〃　He　sat　down　beside　me。　In　a　moment　the　blanket　in　front　of　the　dressing　station　opened　and　two　stretcherbearers　came　out　followed　by　the　tall　Englishman。　He　brought　them　over　to　me。

〃Here　is　the　American　Tenente；〃　he　said　in　Italian。

〃I'd　rather　wait；〃　I　said。　〃There　are　much　worse　wounded　than　me。　I'm　all　right。〃

〃e；　e；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　be　a　bloody　hero。〃　Then　in　Italian：　〃Lift　him　very　carefully　about　the　legs。　His　legs　a