Chapter 23

           ThenightIwastoreturntothefrontIsenttheporterdowntoholdaseatformeonthetrainwhenitcamefromTurin.Thetrainwastoleaveatmidnight.ItwasmadeupatTurinandreachedMilanabouthalf-pasttenatnightandlayinthestationuntiltimetoleave.Youhadtobetherewhenitcamein,togetaseat.Theportertookafriendwithhim,amachine-gunneronleavewhoworkedinatailorshop,andwassurethatbetweenthemtheycouldholdaplace.Igavethemmoneyforplatformticketsandhadthemtakemybaggage.Therewasabigrucksackandtwomusettes.

           Isaidgood-byatthehospitalataboutfiveo’clockandwentout.TheporterhadmybaggageinhislodgeandItoldhimIwouldbeatthestationalittlebeforemidnight.Hiswifecalledme"Signorino"andcried.Shewipedhereyesandshookhandsandthencriedagain.Ipattedheronthebackandshecriedoncemore.Shehaddonemymendingandwasaveryshortdumpy,happy-facedwomanwithwhitehair.Whenshecriedherwholefacewenttopieces.Iwentdowntothecornerwheretherewasawineshopandwaitedinsidelookingoutthewindow.Itwasdarkoutsideandcoldandmisty.IpaidformycoffeeandgrappaandIwatchedthepeoplegoingbyinthelightfromthewindow.IsawCatherineandknockedonthewindow.Shelooked,sawmeandsmiled,andIwentouttomeether.Shewaswearingadarkbluecapeandasoftfelthat.Wewalkedalongtogether,alongthesidewalkpastthewineshops,thenacrossthemarketsquareandupthestreetandthroughthearchwaytothecathedralsquare.