Chapter 9

           Theroadwascrowdedandtherewerescreensofcorn-stalkandstrawmattingonbothsidesandmattingoverthetopsothatitwasliketheentranceatacircusoranativevillage.Wedroveslowlyinthismatting-coveredtunnelandcameoutontoabareclearedspacewheretherailwaystationhadbeen.Theroadherewasbelowtheleveloftheriverbankandallalongthesideofthesunkenroadtherewereholesduginthebankwithinfantryinthem.ThesunwasgoingdownandlookingupalongthebankaswedroveIsawtheAustrianobservationballoonsabovethehillsontheothersidedarkagainstthesunset.Weparkedthecarsbeyondabrickyard.Theovensandsomedeepholeshadbeenequippedasdressingstations.TherewerethreedoctorsthatIknew.Italkedwiththemajorandlearnedthatwhenitshouldstartandourcarsshouldbeloadedwewoulddrivethembackalongthescreenedroadanduptothemainroadalongtheridgewheretherewouldbeapostandothercarstoclearthem.Hehopedtheroadwouldnotjam.Itwasaone-roadshow.TheroadwasscreenedbecauseitwasinsightoftheAustriansacrosstheriver.Hereatthebrickyardwewereshelteredfromrifleormachine-gunfirebytheriverbank.Therewasonesmashedbridgeacrosstheriver.Theyweregoingtoputoveranotherbridgewhenthebombardmentstartedandsometroopsweretocrossattheshallowsupaboveatthebendoftheriver.Themajorwasalittlemanwithupturnedmustaches.HehadbeeninthewarinLibyaandworetwowound-stripes.HesaidthatifthethingwentwellhewouldseethatIwasdecorated.IsaidIhopeditwouldgowellbutthathewastookind.Iaskedhimiftherewasabigdugoutwherethedriverscouldstayandhesentasoldiertoshowme.Iwentwithhimandfoundthedugout,whichwasverygood.ThedriverswerepleasedwithitandIleftthemthere.Themajoraskedmetohaveadrinkwithhimandtwootherofficers.Wedrankrumanditwasveryfriendly.