永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著-第31部分

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〃I　am　sure。〃
〃You　are　sure？〃
〃Yes。〃
He　was　serious。　〃Then　let　me　tell　you　one　thing。　Do　not　go　about　with　that　coat。〃
〃Why？〃
〃On　the　sleeves　it　shows　very　plainly　where　the　stars　have　been　cut　away。　The　cloth　is　a　different　color。〃
I　did　not　say　anything。
〃If　you　have　no　papers　I　can　give　you　papers。〃
〃What　papers？〃
〃Leave…papers。〃
〃I　have　no　need　for　papers。　I　have　papers。〃
〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃But　if　you　need　papers　I　can　get　what　you　wish。〃
〃How　much　are　such　papers？〃
〃It　depends　on　what　they　are。　The　price　is　reasonable。〃
〃I　don't　need　any　now。〃
He　shrugged　his　shoulders。
〃I'm　all　right；〃　I　said。
When　I　went　out　he　said；　〃Don't　forget　that　I　am　your　friend。〃
〃No。〃
〃I　will　see　you　again；〃　he　said。
〃Good；〃　I　said。
Outside　I　kept　away　from　the　station；　where　there　were　military　police；　and　picked　up　a　cab　at　the　edge　of　the　little　park。　I　gave　the　driver　the　address　of　the　hospital。　At　the　hospital　I　went　to　the　porter's　lodge。　His　wife　embraced　me。　He　shook　my　hand。
〃You　are　back。　You　are　safe。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Have　you　had　breakfast？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How　are　you；　Tenente？　How　are　you？〃　the　wife　asked。
〃Fine。〃
〃Won't　you　have　breakfast　with　us？〃
〃No；　thank　you。　Tell　me　is　Miss　Barkley　here　at　the　hospital　now？〃
〃Miss　Barkley？〃
〃The　English　lady　nurse。〃
〃His　girl；〃　the　wife　said。　She　patted　my　arm　and　smiled。
〃No；〃　the　porter　said。　〃She　is　away。〃
My　heart　went　down。　〃You　are　sure？　I　mean　the　tall　blonde　English　young　lady。〃
〃I　am　sure。　She　is　gone　to　Stresa。〃
〃When　did　she　go？〃
〃She　went　two　days　ago　with　the　other　lady　English。〃
〃Good；〃　I　said。　〃I　wish　you　to　do　something　for　me。　Do　not　tell　any　one　you　have　seen　me。　It　is　very　important。〃
〃I　won't　tell　any　one；〃　the　porter　said。　I　gave　him　a　ten…lira　note。　He　pushed　it　away。
〃I　promise　you　I　will　tell　no　one；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　want　any　money。〃
〃What　can　we　do　for　you；　Signor　Tenente？〃　his　wife　asked。
〃Only　that；〃　I　said。
〃We　are　dumb；〃　the　porter　said。　〃You　will　let　me　know　anything　I　can　do？〃
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Good…by。　I　will　see　you　again。〃
They　stood　in　the　door；　looking　after　me。
I　got　into　the　cab　and　gave　the　driver　the　address　of　Simmons；　one　of　the　men　I　knew　who　was　studying　singing。
Simmons　lived　a　long　way　out　in　the　town　toward　the　Porta　Magenta。　He　was　still　in　bed　and　sleepy　when　I　went　to　see　him。
〃You　get　up　awfully　early；　Henry；〃　he　said。
〃I　came　in　on　the　early　train。〃
〃What's　all　this　retreat？　Were　you　at　the　front？　Will　you　have　a　cigarette？　They're　in　that　box　on　the　table。〃　It　was　a　big　room　with　a　bed　beside　the　wall；　a　piano　over　on　the　far　side　and　a　dresser　and　table。　I　sat　on　a　chair　by　the　bed。　Simmons　sat　propped　up　by　the　pillows　and　smoked。
〃I'm　in　a　jam；　Sim；〃　I　said。
〃So　am　I；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　always　in　a　jam。　Won't　you　smoke？〃
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃What's　the　procedure　in　going　to　Switzerland？〃
〃For　you？　The　Italians　wouldn't　let　you　out　of　the　country。〃
〃Yes。　I　know　that。　But　the　Swiss。　What　will　they　do？〃
〃They　intern　you。〃
〃I　know。　But　what's　the　mechanics　of　it？〃
〃Nothing。　It's　very　simple。　You　can　go　anywhere。　I　think　you　just　have　to　report　or　something。　Why？　Are　you　fleeing　the　police？〃
〃Nothing　definite　yet。〃
〃Don't　tell　me　if　you　don't　want。　But　it　would　be　interesting　to　hear。　Nothing　happens　here。　I　was　a　great　flop　at　Piacenza。〃
〃I'm　awfully　sorry。〃
〃Oh　yes……I　went　very　badly。　I　sung　well　too。　I'm　going　to　try　it　again　at　the　Lyrico　here。〃
〃I'd　like　to　be　there。〃
〃You're　awfully　polite。　You　aren't　in　a　bad　mess；　are　you？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃Don't　tell　me　if　you　don't　want。　How　do　you　happen　to　be　away　from　the　bloody　front？〃
〃I　think　I'm　through　with　it。〃
〃Good　boy。　I　always　knew　you　had　sense。　Can　I　help　you　any　way？〃
〃You're　awfully　busy。〃
〃Not　a　bit　of　it；　my　dear　Henry。　Not　a　bit　of　it。　I'd　be　happy　to　do　anything。〃
〃You're　about　my　size。　Would　you　go　out　and　buy　me　an　outfit　of　civilian　clothes？　I've　clothes　but　they're　all　at　Rome。〃
〃You　did　live　there；　didn't　you？　It's　a　filthy　place。　How　did　you　ever　live　there？〃
〃I　wanted　to　be　an　architect。〃
〃That's　no　place　for　that。　Don't　buy　clothes。　I'll　give　you　all　the　clothes　you　want。　I'll　fit　you　out　so　you'll　be　a　great　success。　Go　in　that　dressing　room。　There's　a　closet。　Take　anything　you　want。　My　dear　fellow；　you　don't　want　to　buy　clothes。〃
〃I'd　rather　buy　them；　Sim。〃
〃My　dear　fellow；　it's　easier　for　me　to　let　you　have　them　than　go　out　and　buy　them。　Have　you　got　a　passport？　You　won't　get　far　without　a　passport。〃
〃Yes。　I've　still　got　my　passport。〃
〃Then　get　dressed；　my　dear　fellow；　and　off　to　old　Helvetia。〃
〃It's　not　that　simple。　I　have　to　go　up　to　Stresa　first。〃
〃Ideal；　my　dear　fellow。　You　just　row　a　boat　across。　If　I　wasn't　trying　to　sing；　I'd　go　with　you。　I'll　go　yet。〃
〃You　could　take　up　yodelling。〃
〃My　dear　fellow；　I'll　take　up　yodelling　yet。　I　really　can　sing　though。　That's　the　strange　part。〃
〃I'll　bet　you　can　sing。〃
He　lay　back　in　bed　smoking　a　cigarette。
〃Don't　bet　too　much。　But　I　can　sing　though。　It's　damned　funny；　but　I　can。　I　like　to　sing。　Listen。〃　He　roared　into　〃Africana；〃　his　neck　swelling；　the　veins　standing　out。　〃I　can　sing；〃　he　said。　〃Whether　they　like　it　or　not。〃　I　looked　out　of　the　window。　〃I'll　go　down　and　let　my　cab　go。〃
〃e　back　up；　my　dear　fellow；　and　we'll　have　breakfast。〃　He　stepped　out　of　bed；　stood　straight；　took　a　deep　breath　and　menced　doing　bending　exercises。　I　went　downstairs　and　paid　off　the　cab。




34


In　civilian　clothes　I　felt　a　masquerader。　I　had　been　in　uniform　a　long　time　and　I　missed　the　feeling　of　being　held　by　your　clothes。　The　trousers　felt　very　floppy。　I　had　bought　a　ticket　at　Milan　for　Stresa。　I　had　also　bought　a　new　hat。　I　could　not　wear　Sim's　hat　but　his　clothes　were　fine。　They　smelled　of　tobacco　and　as　I　sat　in　the　partment　and　looked　out　the　window　the　new　hat　felt　very　new　and　the　clothes　very　old。　I　myself　felt　as　sad　as　the　wet　Lombard　country　that　was　outside　through　the　window。　There　were　some　aviators　in　the　partment　who　did　not　think　much　of　me。　They　avoided　looking　at　me　and　were　very　scornful　of　a　civilian　my　age。　I　did　not　feel　insulted。　In　the　old　days　I　would　have　insulted　them　and　picked　a　fight。　They　got　off　at　Gallarate　and　I　was　glad　to　be　alone。　I　had　the　paper　but　I　did　not　read　it　because　I　did　not　want　to　read　about　the　war。　I　was　going　to　forget　the　war。　I　had　made　a　separate　peace。　I　felt　damned　lonely　and　was　glad　when　the　train　got　to　Stresa。
At　the　station　I　had　expected　to　see　the　porters　from　the　hotels　but　there　was　no　one。　The　season　had　been　over　a　long　time　and　no　one　met　the　train。　I　got　down　from　the　train　with　my　bag；　it　was　Sim's　bag；　and　very　light　to　carry；　being　empty　except　for　two　shirts；　and　stood　under　the　roof　of　the　station　in　the　rain　while　the　train　went　on。　I　found　a　man　in　the　station　and　asked　him　if　he　knew　what　hotels　were　open。　The　Grand…Hotel　&　des　Isles　Borrom閑s　was　open　and　several　small　hotels　that　stayed　open　all　the　year。　I　started　in　the　rain　for　the　Isles　Borrom閑s　carrying　my　bag。　I　saw　a　carriage　ing　down　the　street　and　signalled　to　the　driver。　It　was　better　to　arrive　in　a　carriage。　We　drove　up　to　the　carriage　entrance　of　the　big　hotel　and　the　concierge　came　out　with　an　umbrella　and　was　very　polite。
I　took　a　good　room。　It　was　very　big　and　light　and　looked　out　on　the　lake。　The　clouds　were　down　over　the　lake　but　it　would　be　beautiful　with　the　sunlight。　I　was　expecting　my　wife；　I　said。　There　was　a　big　double　bed；　a　_letto　matrimoniale_　with　a　satin　coverlet。　The　hotel　was　very　luxurious。　I　went　down　the　long　halls；　down　the　wide　stairs；　through　the　rooms　to　the　bar。　I　knew　the　barman　and　sat　on　a　high　stool　and　ate　salted　almonds　and　potato　chips。　The　martini　felt　cool　and　clean。
〃What　are　you　doing　here　in　_borghese？_〃　the　barman　asked　after　he　had　mixed　a　second　martini。
〃I　am　on　leave。　Convalescing…leave。〃
〃There　is　no　one　here。　I　don't　know　why　they　keep　the　hotel　open。〃
〃Have　you　been　fishing？〃
〃I've　caught　some　beautiful　pieces。　Trolling　this　time　of　year　you　catch　some　beautiful　pieces。〃
〃Did　you　ever　get　the　tobacco　I　sent？〃
〃Yes。　Didn't　you　get　my　card？〃
I　laughed。　I　had　not　been　able　to　get　the　tobacco。　It　was　American　pipe…tobacco　that　he　wanted；　but　my　relatives　had　stopped　sending　it　or　it　was　being　held　up。　Anyway　it　never　came。
〃I'll　get　some　somewhere；〃　I　said。　〃Tell　me　have　you　seen　two　English　girls　in　the　town？　They　came　here　day　before　yesterday。〃
〃They　are　not　at　the　hotel。〃
〃They　are　nurses。〃
〃I　have　seen　two　nurses。　Wait　a　minute；　I　will　find　out　where　they　are。〃
〃One　of　them　is　my　wife；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　e　here　to　meet　her。〃
〃The　other　is　my　wife。〃
〃I　am　not　joking。〃
〃Pardon　my　stupid　joke；〃　he　said。　〃I　did　not　understand。〃　He　went　away　and　was　gone　quite　a　little　while。　I　ate　olives；　salted　almonds　and　potato　chips　and　looked　at　myself　in　civilian　clothes　in　the　mirror　behind　the　bar。　The　bartender　came　back。　〃They　are　at　the　little　hotel　near　the　station；〃　he　said。
〃How　about　some　sandwiches？〃
〃I'll　ring　for　some。　You　understand　there　is　nothing　here；　now　there　are　no　people。〃
〃Isn't　there　really　any　one　at　all？〃
〃Yes。　There　are　a　few　people。〃
The　sandwiches　came　and　I　ate　three　and　drank　a　couple　more　martinis。　I　had　never　tasted　anything　so　cool　and　clean。　They　made　me　feel　civilized。　I　had　had　too　much　red　wine；　bread；　cheese；　bad　coffee　and　grappa。　I　sat　on　the　high　stool　before　the　pleasant　mahogany；　the　brass　and　the　mirrors　and　did　not　think　at　all。　The　barman　asked　me　some　question。
〃Don't　talk　about　the　war；〃　I　said。　The　war　was　a　long　way　away。　Maybe　there　wasn't　any　war。　There　was　no　war　here。　Then　I　realized　it　was　over　for　me。　But　I　did　not　have　the　feeling　that　it　was　really　over。　I　had　the　feeling　of　a　boy　who　thinks　of　what　is　happening　at　a　certain　hour　at　the　schoolhouse　from　which　he　has　played　truant。
Catherine　and　Helen　Ferguson　were　at　supper　when　I　came　to　their　hotel。　Standing　in　the　hallway　I　saw　them　at　table。　Catherine's　face　was　away　from　me　and　I　saw　the　line　of　her　hair　and　her　cheek　and　her　lovely　neck　and　shoulders。　Ferguson　was　talking。　She　stopped　when　I　came　in。
〃My　God；〃　she　said。
〃Hello；〃　I　said。
〃Why　it's　you！〃　Catherine　said。　Her　face　lighted　up。　She　looked　too　happy　to　believe　it。　I　kissed　her。　Catherine　blushed　and　I　sat　down　at　the　table。
〃You're　a　fine　mess；〃　Ferguson　said。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？　Have　you　eaten？〃
〃No。〃　The　girl　who　was　serving　the　meal　came　in　and　I　told　her　to　bring　a　plate　for　me。　Catherine　looked　at　me　all　the　time；　her　eyes　happy。
〃What　are　you　doing　in　mufti？〃　Ferguson　asked。
〃I'm　in　the　Cabinet。〃
〃You're　in　some　mess。〃
〃Cheer　up；　Fergy。　Cheer　up　just　a　little。〃
〃I'm　not　cheered　by　seeing　you。　I　know　the　mess　you've　gotten　this　girl　into。　You're　no　cheerful　sight　to　me。〃
Catherine　smiled　at　me　and　touched　me　with　her　foot　under　the　table。
〃No　one　got　me　in　a　mess；　Fergy。　I　get　in　my　own　messes。〃
〃I　can't　stand　him；〃　Ferguson　said。　〃He's　done　nothing　but　ruin　you　with　his　sneaking　Italian　tricks。　Americans　are　worse　than　Italians。〃
〃The　Scotch　are　such　a　moral　people；〃　Catherine　said。
〃I　don't　mean　that。　I　mean　his　Italian　sneakiness。〃
〃Am　I　sneaky；　Fergy？〃
〃You