Прощай, оружие!

           ItriedtobreathebutmybreathwouldnotcomeandIfeltmyselfrushbodilyoutofmyselfandoutandoutandoutandallthetimebodilyinthewind.Iwentoutswiftly,allofmyself,andIknewIwasdeadandthatithadallbeenamistaketothinkyoujustdied.ThenIfloated,andinsteadofgoingonIfeltmyselfslideback.IbreathedandIwasback.Thegroundwastornupandinfrontofmyheadtherewasasplinteredbeamofwood.InthejoltofmyheadIheardsomebodycrying.Ithoughtsomebodywasscreaming.ItriedtomovebutIcouldnotmove.Iheardthemachine-gunsandriflesfiringacrosstheriverandallalongtheriver.TherewasagreatsplashingandIsawthestar-shellsgoupandburstandfloatwhitelyandrocketsgoingupandheardthebombs,allthisinamoment,andthenIheardclosetomesomeonesaying"MamaMia!Oh,mamaMia!"Ipulledandtwistedandgotmylegsloosefinallyandturnedaroundandtouchedhim.ItwasPassiniandwhenItouchedhimhescreamed.HislegsweretowardmeandIsawinthedarkandthelightthattheywerebothsmashedabovetheknee.Onelegwasgoneandtheotherwasheldbytendonsandpartofthetrouserandthestumptwitchedandjerkedasthoughitwerenotconnected.Hebithisarmandmoaned,"Ohmamamia,mamaMia,"then,"Diotesalve,Maria.Diotesalve,Maria.OhJesusshootmeChristshootmemamamiamamaMiaohpurestlovelyMaryshootme.Stopit.Stopit.Stopit.OhJesuslovelyMarystopit.Ohohohoh,"thenchoking,"Mamamamamia."Thenhewasquiet,bitinghisarm,thestumpofhislegtwitching.

           "Portaferiti!"Ishoutedholdingmyhandscupped."Portaferiti!"ItriedtogetclosertoPassinitotrytoputatourniquetonthelegsbutIcouldnotmove.Itriedagainandmylegsmovedalittle.Icouldpullbackwardalongwithmyarmsandelbows.Passiniwasquietnow.Isatbesidehim,undidmytunicandtriedtoripthetailofmyshirt.ItwouldnotripandIbittheedgeoftheclothtostartit.ThenIthoughtofhisputtees.