Chapter 15

           Nothinghappeneduntilafternoon.Thedoctorwasathinquietlittlemanwhoseemeddisturbedbythewar.Hetookoutanumberofsmallsteelsplintersfrommythighswithdelicateandrefineddistaste.Heusedalocalanæstheticcalledsomethingorother"snow,"whichfrozethetissueandavoidedpainuntiltheprobe,thescalpelortheforcepsgotbelowthefrozenportion.Theanæsthetizedareawasclearlydefinedbythepatientandafteratimethedoctor’sfragiledelicacywasexhaustedandhesaiditwouldbebettertohaveanX-ray.Probingwasunsatisfactory,hesaid.

           TheX-raywastakenattheOspedaleMaggioreandthedoctorwhodiditwasexcitable,efficientandcheerful.Itwasarrangedbyholdinguptheshoulders,thatthepatientshouldseepersonallysomeofthelargerforeignbodiesthroughthemachine.Theplatesweretobesentover.Thedoctorrequestedmetowriteinhispocketnotebook,myname,andregimentandsomesentiment.Hedeclaredthattheforeignbodieswereugly,nasty,brutal.TheAustriansweresonsofbitches.HowmanyhadIkilled?IhadnotkilledanybutIwasanxioustoplease—andIsaidIhadkilledplenty.MissGagewaswithmeandthedoctorputhisarmaroundherandsaidshewasmorebeautifulthanCleopatra.Didsheunderstandthat?CleopatratheformerqueenofEgypt.Yes,byGodshewas.WereturnedtothelittlehospitalintheambulanceandafterawhileandmuchliftingIwasupstairsandinbedagain.Theplatescamethatafternoon,thedoctorhadsaidbyGodhewouldhavethemthatafternoonandhedid.