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Chapter 30

           Therewerefourofficersstandingtogether,withamaninfrontofthemwithacarabiniereoneachsideofhim.Agroupofmenwerestandingguardedbycarabinieri.Fourothercarabinieristoodnearthequestioningofficers,leaningontheircarbines.Theywerewide-hattedcarabinieri.Thetwowhohadmeshovedmeinwiththegroupwaitingtobequestioned.Ilookedatthemantheofficerswerequestioning.Hewasthefatgray-hairedlittlelieutenant-coloneltheyhadtakenoutofthecolumn.Thequestionershadalltheefficiency,coldnessandcommandofthemselvesofItalianswhoarefiringandarenotbeingfiredon.

           "Yourbrigade?"

           Hetoldthem.

           "Regiment?"

           Hetoldthem.

           "Whyareyounotwithyourregiment?"

           Hetoldthem.

           "Doyounotknowthatanofficershouldbewithhistroops?"Hedid.

           Thatwasall.Anotherofficerspoke.

           "Itisyouandsuchasyouthathaveletthebarbariansontothesacredsoilofthefatherland."

           "Ibegyourpardon,"saidthelieutenant-colonel.

           "Itisbecauseoftreacherysuchasyoursthatwehavelostthefruitsofvictory."

           "Haveyoueverbeeninaretreat?"thelieutenant-colonelasked.

           "Italyshouldneverretreat."

           Westoodthereintherainandlistenedtothis.Wewerefacingtheofficersandtheprisonerstoodinfrontandalittletoonesideofus.

           "Ifyouaregoingtoshootme,"thelieutenant-colonelsaid,"pleaseshootmeatoncewithoutfurtherquestioning.Thequestioningisstupid."Hemadethesignofthecross.Theofficersspoketogether.Onewrotesomethingonapadofpaper.

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