Прощай, оружие!

           TheEnglishyougotoseeeverynightattheirhospital?SheisgoingtoMilantoo.ShegoeswithanothertobeattheAmericanhospital.TheyhadnotgotnursesyetfromAmerica.Italkedto-daywiththeheadoftheirriparto.Theyhavetoomanywomenhereatthefront.Theysendsomeback.Howdoyoulikethat,baby?Allright.Yes?YougotoliveinabigcityandhaveyourEnglishtheretocuddleyou.Whydon’tIgetwounded?Maybeyouwill,Isaid.Wemustgo,saidthemajor.WedrinkandmakenoiseanddisturbFederico.Don’tgo.Yes,wemustgo.Good-by.Goodluck.Manythings.Ciaou.Ciaou.Ciaou.Comebackquickly,baby.Rinaldikissedme.Yousmelloflysol.Good-by,baby.Good-by.Manythings.Themajorpattedmyshoulder.Theytiptoedout.IfoundIwasquitedrunkbutwenttosleep.

           ThenextdayinthemorningweleftforMilanandarrivedforty-eighthourslater.Itwasabadtrip.WeweresidetrackedforalongtimethissideofMestreandchildrencameandpeekedin.Igotalittleboytogoforabottleofcognacbuthecamebackandsaidhecouldonlygetgrappa.ItoldhimtogetitandwhenitcameIgavehimthechangeandthemanbesidemeandIgotdrunkandsleptuntilpastVicenzawhereIwokeupandwasverysickonthefloor.Itdidnotmatterbecausethemanonthatsidehadbeenverysickonthefloorseveraltimesbefore.AfterwardIthoughtIcouldnotstandthethirstandintheyardsoutsideofVeronaIcalledtoasoldierwhowaswalkingupanddownbesidethetrainandhegotmeadrinkofwater.IwokeGeorgetti,theotherboywhowasdrunk,andofferedhimsomewater.Hesaidtopouritonhisshoulderandwentbacktosleep.ThesoldierwouldnottakethepennyIofferedhimandbroughtmeapulpyorange.Isuckedonthatandspitoutthepithandwatchedthesoldierpassupanddownpastafreight-caroutsideandafterawhilethetraingaveajerkandstarted.