Chapter 13

           WegotintoMilanearlyinthemorningandtheyunloadedusinthefreightyard.AnambulancetookmetotheAmericanhospital.RidingintheambulanceonastretcherIcouldnottellwhatpartoftownwewerepassingthroughbutwhentheyunloadedthestretcherIsawamarket-placeandanopenwineshopwithagirlsweepingout.Theywerewateringthestreetanditsmelledoftheearlymorning.Theyputthestretcherdownandwentin.Theportercameoutwiththem.Hehadgraymustaches,woreadoorman’scapandwasinhisshirtsleeves.Thestretcherwouldnotgointotheelevatorandtheydiscussedwhetheritwasbettertoliftmeoffthestretcherandgoupintheelevatororcarrythestretcherupthestairs.Ilistenedtothemdiscussingit.Theydecidedontheelevator.Theyliftedmefromthestretcher."Goeasy,"Isaid."Takeitsoftly."

           Intheelevatorwewerecrowdedandasmylegsbentthepainwasverybad."Straightenoutthelegs,"Isaid.

           "Wecan’t,SignorTenente.Thereisn’troom."Themanwhosaidthishadhisarmaroundmeandmyarmwasaroundhisneck.Hisbreathcameinmyfacemetallicwithgarlicandredwine.

           "Begentle,"theothermansaid.

           "Sonofabitchwhoisn’tgentle!"

           "BegentleIsay,"themanwithmyfeetrepeated.

           Isawthedoorsoftheelevatorclosed,andthegrillshutandthefourth-floorbuttonpushedbytheporter.Theporterlookedworried.Theelevatorroseslowly.