Прощай, оружие!

           StillIwouldprobablyhavebeenkilled.Notinthisambulancebusiness.Yes,evenintheambulancebusiness.Britishambulancedriverswerekilledsometimes.Well,IknewIwouldnotbekilled.Notinthiswar.Itdidnothaveanythingtodowithme.Itseemednomoredangeroustomemyselfthanwarinthemovies.IwishedtoGoditwasoverthough.Maybeitwouldfinishthissummer.MaybetheAustrianswouldcrack.Theyhadalwayscrackedinotherwars.Whatwasthematterwiththiswar?EverybodysaidtheFrenchwerethrough.RinaldisaidthattheFrenchhadmutiniedandtroopsmarchedonParis.Iaskedhimwhathappenedandhesaid,"Oh,theystoppedthem."IwantedtogotoAustriawithoutwar.IwantedtogototheBlackForest.IwantedtogototheHartzMountains.

           WhereweretheHartzMountainsanyway?TheywerefightingintheCarpathians.Ididnotwanttogothereanyway.Itmightbegoodthough.IcouldgotoSpainiftherewasnowar.Thesunwasgoingdownandthedaywascoolingoff.AftersupperIwouldgoandseeCatherineBarkley.Iwishshewereherenow.IwishedIwereinMilanwithher.IwouldliketoeatattheCovaandthenwalkdowntheViaManzoniinthehoteveningandcrossoverandturnoffalongthecanalandgotothehotelwithCatherineBarkley.Maybeshewould.MaybeshewouldpretendthatIwasherboythatwaskilledandwewouldgointhefrontdoorandtheporterwouldtakeoffhiscapandIwouldstopattheconcierge’sdeskandaskforthekeyandshewouldstandbytheelevatorandthenwewouldgetintheelevatoranditwouldgoupveryslowlyclickingatallthefloorsandthenourfloorandtheboywouldopenthedoorandstandthereandshewouldstepoutandIwouldstepoutandwewouldwalkdownthehallandIwouldputthekeyinthedoorandopenitandgoinandthentakedownthetelephoneandaskthemtosendabottleofcapribiancainasilverbucketfulloficeandyouwouldheartheiceagainstthepailcomingdownthecoridorandtheboywouldknockandIwouldsayleaveitoutsidethedoorplease.