Волхв

Chapter 19

           Theideaofheroicsacrificehadcontaminatedher,asithadcontaminatedmyfather.Mymothersaidnothing,exceptanoldGreekproverb:Adeadmancannotbebrave.Irememberedthatlater."Wewentstraighttothefront.Oneofthecompanycommandershaddiedofpneumonia,anditwashisplaceMontaguehadtotake.Thiswasearlyin1915.Itsleetedandrainedincessantly.Wespentlonghoursinstationarytrainsinrailwaysidings,ingraytownsundergrayerskies.Oneknewthetroopswhohadbeeninaction.Theoneswhosangtheirwaytodeath,thenewrecruits,werethedupesoftheromanceofwar.Buttheothersweredupesoftherealityofwar,oftheultimateTotentanz.Likethosesadoldmenandwomenwhohaunteverycasino,theyknewthewheelmustalwayswinintheend.Buttheycouldnotforcethemselvestoleave."Wespentafewdaysonmaneuvers.AndthenonedayMontagueaddressedthecompany.Weweregoingintobattle,anewsortofbattle,oneinwhichvictorywascertain.OnethatwasgoingtobringustoBerlininamonth.Thenightofthenextdayweentrained.Thetrainstoppedsomewhereinthemiddleofaflatplainandwemarchedeastwards.Dikesandwillowsinthedarkness.Endlessdrizzle.ItcreptdownthecolumnsthattheplaceweweretoattackwasavillagecalledNeuveChapelle.AndthattheGermansweretoreceivesomethingrevolutionary.Agiantgun.Amassattackbythenewairplanes."Afterawhileweturnedintoafield,thickwithmud,andweremarcheduptosomefarmbuildings.Twohours’restbeforetakinguppositionfortheattack.

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