Прощай, оружие!

           Let’sgotoRometo-nightandnevercomeback.Romeisabeautifulcity,saidthemajor.Themotherandfatherofnations,Isaid.Romaisfeminine,saidRinaldi.Itcannotbethefather.Whoisthefather,then,theHolyGhost?Don’tblaspheme.Iwasn’tblaspheming,Iwasaskingforinformation.Youaredrunk,baby.Whomademedrunk?Imadeyoudrunk,saidthemajor.ImadeyoudrunkbecauseIloveyouandbecauseAmericaisinthewar.Uptothehilt,Isaid.Yougoawayinthemorning,baby,Rinaldisaid.ToRome,Isaid.No,toMilan.ToMilan,saidthemajor,totheCrystalPalace,totheCova,toCampari’s,toBiffi’s,tothegalleria.Youluckyboy.TotheGranItalia,Isaid,whereIwillborrowmoneyfromGeorge.TotheScala,saidRinaldi.YouwillgototheScala.Everynight,Isaid.Youwon’tbeabletoafforditeverynight,saidthemajor.

           Theticketsareveryexpensive.Iwilldrawasightdraftonmygrandfather,Isaid.Awhat?Asightdraft.HehastopayorIgotojail.Mr.Cunninghamatthebankdoesit.Ilivebysightdrafts.CanagrandfatherjailapatrioticgrandsonwhoisdyingthatItalymaylive?LivetheAmericanGaribaldi,saidRinaldi.Vivathesightdrafts,Isaid.Wemustbequiet,saidthemajor.Alreadywehavebeenaskedmanytimestobequiet.Doyougoto-morrowreally,Federico?HegoestotheAmericanhospitalItellyou,Rinaldisaid.Tothebeautifulnurses.Notthenurseswithbeardsofthefieldhospital.Yes,yes,saidthemajor,IknowhegoestotheAmericanhospital.Idon’tmindtheirbeards,Isaid.Ifanymanwantstoraiseabeardlethim.Whydon’tyouraiseabeard,SignorMaggiore?Itcouldnotgoinagasmask.Yesitcould.Anythingcangoinagasmask.I’vevomitedintoagasmask.Don’tbesoloud,baby,Rinaldisaid.WeallknowyouhavebeenatthefrontOh,youfinebaby,whatwillIdowhileyouaregone?Wemustgo,saidthemajor.Thisbecomessentimental.Listen,Ihaveasurpriseforyou.YourEnglish.Youknow?