Chapter 29

           Atnoonwewerestuckinamuddyroadabout,asnearlyaswecouldfigure,tenkilometresfromUdine.Therainhadstoppedduringtheforenoonandthreetimeswehadheardplanescoming,seenthempassoverhead,watchedthemgofartotheleftandheardthembombingonthemainhighroad.Wehadworkedthroughanetworkofsecondaryroadsandhadtakenmanyroadsthatwereblind,buthadalways,bybackingupandfindinganotherroad,gottenclosertoUdine.Now,Aymo’scar,inbackingsothatwemightgetoutofablindroad,hadgottenintothesoftearthatthesideandthewheels,spinning,haddugdeeperanddeeperuntilthecarrestedonitsdifferential.Thethingtodonowwastodigoutinfrontofthewheels,putinbrushsothatthechainscouldgrip,andthenpushuntilthecarwasontheroad.Wewerealldownontheroadaroundthecar.Thetwosergeantslookedatthecarandexaminedthewheels.Thentheystartedoffdowntheroadwithoutaword.Iwentafterthem.

           "Comeon,"Isaid."Cutsomebrush."

           "Wehavetogo,"onesaid.

           "Getbusy,"Isaid,"andcutbrush."

           "Wehavetogo,"onesaid.Theothersaidnothing.Theywereinahurrytostart.Theywouldnotlookatme.

           "Iorderyoutocomebacktothecarandcutbrush,"Isaid.Theonesergeantturned."Wehavetogoon.Inalittlewhileyouwillbecutoff.Youcan’torderus.You’renotourofficer."

           "Iorderyoutocutbrush,"Isaid.Theyturnedandstarteddowntheroad.

           "Halt,"Isaid.Theykeptondownthemuddyroad,thehedgeoneitherside.