Chapter 21

           InSeptemberthefirstcoolnightscame,thenthedayswerecoolandtheleavesonthetreesintheparkbegantoturncolorandweknewthesummerwasgone.ThefightingatthefrontwentverybadlyandtheycouldnottakeSanGabriele.ThefightingontheBainsizzaplateauwasoverandbythemiddleofthemonththefightingforSanGabrielewasaboutovertoo.Theycouldnottakeit.Ettorewasgonebacktothefront.ThehorsesweregonetoRomeandtherewasnomoreracing.CrowellhadgonetoRometoo,tobesentbacktoAmerica.TherewereriotstwiceinthetownagainstthewarandbadriotinginTurin.ABritishmajorattheclubtoldmetheItalianshadlostonehundredandfiftythousandmenontheBainsizzaplateauandonSanGabriele.HesaidtheyhadlostfortythousandontheCarsobesides.Wehadadrinkandhetalked.HesaidthefightingwasoverfortheyeardownhereandthattheItalianshadbittenoffmorethantheycouldchew.HesaidtheoffensiveinFlanderswasgoingtothebad.IftheykilledmenastheydidthisfalltheAllieswouldbecookedinanotheryear.Hesaidwewereallcookedbutwewereallrightaslongaswedidnotknowit.Wewereallcooked.Thethingwasnottorecognizeit.Thelastcountrytorealizetheywerecookedwouldwinthewar.Wehadanotherdrink.WasIonsomebody’sstaff?No.Hewas.Itwasallballs.Wewerealoneintheclubsittingbackinoneofthebigleathersofas.Hisbootsweresmoothlypolisheddullleather.Theywerebeautifulboots.Hesaiditwasallballs.