第11部分(第3/8 頁)

th…floor　button　pushed　by　the　porter。　The　porter　looked　worried。　The　elevator　rose　slowly。

〃Heavy？〃　I　asked　the　man　with　the　garlic。

〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　His　face　was　sweating　and　he　grunted。　The　elevator　rose　steadily　and　stopped。　The　man　holding　the　feet　opened　the　door　and　stepped　out。　We　were　on　a　balcony。　There　were　several　doors　with　brass　knobs。　The　man　carrying　the　feet　pushed　a　button　that　rang　a　bell。　We　heard　it　inside　the　doors。　No　one　came。　Then　the　porter　came　up　the　stairs。

〃Where　are　they？〃　the　stretcher…bearers　asked。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　the　porter。　〃They　sleep　down　stairs。〃

〃Get　somebody。〃

The　porter　rang　the　bell；　then　knocked　on　the　door；　then　he　opened　the　door　and　went　in。　When　he　came　back　there　was　an　elderly　woman　wearing　glasses　with　him。　Her　hair　was　loose　and　half…falling　and　she　wore　a　nurse's　dress。

〃I　can't　understand；〃　she　said。　〃I　can't　understand　Italian。〃

〃I　can　speak　English；〃　I　said。　〃They　want　to　put　me　somewhere。〃

〃None　of　the　rooms　are　ready。　There　isn't　any　patient　expected。〃　She　tucked　at　her　hair　and　looked　at　me　near…sightedly。

〃Show　them　any　room　where　they　can　put　me。〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃There's　no　patient　expected。　I　couldn't　put　you　in　just　any　room。〃

〃Any　room　will　do；〃　I　said。　Then　to　the　porter　in　Italian；　〃Find　an　empty　room。〃

〃They　are　all　empty；〃　said　the　porter。　〃You　are　the　first　patient。〃　He　held　his　cap　in　his　hand　and　lo