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e sunset。 We parked the cars beyond a brickyard。 The ovens and some deep holes had been equipped as dressing stations。 There were three doctors that I knew。 I talked with the major and learned that when it should start and our cars should be loaded we would drive them back along the screened road and up to the main road along the ridge where there would be a post and other cars to clear them。 He hoped the road would not jam。 It was a one…road show。 The road was screened because it was in sight of the Austrians across the river。 Here at the brickyard we were sheltered from rifle or machine…gun fire by the river bank。 There was one smashed bridge across the river。 They were going to put over another bridge when the bombardment started and some troops were to cross at the shallows up above at the bend of the river。 The major was a little man with upturned mustaches。 He had been in the war in Libya and wore two woundstripes。 He said that if the thing went well he would see that I was decorated。 I said I hoped it would go well but that he was too kind。 I asked him if there was a big dugout where the drivers could stay and he sent a soldier to show me。 I went with him and found the dugout； which was very good。 The drivers were pleased with it and I left them there。 The major asked me to have a drink with him and two other officers。 We drank rum and it was very friendly。 Outside it was getting dark。 I asked what time the attack was to he and they said as soon as it was dark。 I went back to the drivers。 They were sitting in the dugout talking and when I came in they stopped。 I gave them each a package of cigarettes； Macedonias； loosely packed cigarettes that spilled tobacco and needed to have the ends twisted before you smoked them。 Manera lit his lighter and passed it around。 The lighter was shaped like a Fiat radiator。 I told them what I had heard。
〃Why didn't we see the post when we came down？〃 Passini asked。
〃It was just beyond where we turned off。〃
〃That road will be a dirty mess；〃 Manera said。
〃They'll shell the out of us。〃
〃Probably。〃
〃What about eating； lieutenant？ We won't get a chance to eat after this thing starts。〃
〃I'll go and see now；〃 I said。
〃You want us to stay here or can we look around？〃
〃Better stay here。〃
I went back to the major's dugout and he said the field kitchen would be along and the drivers could e and get their stew。 He would loan them mess tins if they did not have them。 I said I thought they had them。 I went back and told the drivers I would get them as soon as the food came。 Manera said he hoped it would e before the bombardment started。 They were silent until I went out。 They were all mechanics and hated the war。
I went out to look at the cars and see what was going on and then came back and sat down in the dugout with the four drivers。 We sat on the ground with our backs against the wall and smoked。 Outside it was nearly dark。 The earth of the dugout was warm and dry and I let my shoulders back against the wall； sitting on the small of my back； and relaxed。
〃Who goes to the attack？〃 asked Gavuzzi。
〃Bersaglieri。〃
〃All bersaglieri？〃
〃I think so。〃
〃There aren't enough troops here for a real attack。〃
〃It is probably to draw attention from where the real attack will be。〃
〃Do the men know that who attack？〃
〃I don't think so。〃
〃Of course they don't；〃 Manera said。 〃They wouldn't attack if they did。〃
〃Yes； they would；〃 Passini said。 〃Bersaglieri are fools。〃
〃They are brave and have good discipline；〃 I said。
〃They are big through the chest by measurement； and healthy。 But they are still fools。〃
〃The granatieri are tall；〃 Manera said。 This was a joke。 They all laughed。
〃Were you there； Tenente； when they wouldn't attack and they shot every tenth man？〃
〃No。〃
〃It is true。 They lined them up afterward and took every tenth man。 Carabinieri shot them。〃
〃Carabinieri；〃 said Passini and spat on the floor。 〃But those grenadiers； all over six feet。 They wouldn't attack。〃
〃If everybody would not attack the war would be over；〃 Manera said。
〃It wasn't that way with the granatieri。 They were afraid。 The officers all came from such good families。〃
〃Some of the officers went alone。〃
〃A sergeant shot two officers who would not get out。〃
〃Some troops went out。〃
〃Those that went out were not lined up when they took the tenth men。〃
〃One of those shot by the carabinieri is from my town；〃 Passini said。 〃He was a big smart tall boy to be in the granatieri。 Always in Rome。 Always with the girls。 Always with the carabinieri。〃 He laughed。 〃Now they have a guard outside his house with a bayonet and nobody can e to see his mother and father and sisters and his father loses his civil rights and cannot even vote。 They are all without law to protect them。 Anybody can take their property。〃
〃If it wasn't that that happens to their families nobody would go to the attack。〃
〃Yes。 Alpini would。 These V。 E。 soldiers would。 Some bersaglieri。〃
〃Bersaglieri have run too。 Now they try to forget it。〃
〃You should not let us talk this way； Tenente。 Evviva l'esercito；〃 Passini said sarcastically。
〃I know how you talk；〃 I said。 〃But as long as you drive the cars and behave……〃
〃……and don't talk so other officers can hear；〃 Manera finished。 〃I believe we should get the war over；〃 I said。 〃It would not finish it if one side stopped fighting。 It would only be worse if we stopped fighting。〃
〃It could not be worse；〃 Passini said respectfully。 〃There is nothing worse than war。〃
〃Defeat is worse。〃
〃I do not believe it；〃 Passini said still respectfully。 〃What is defeat？ You go home。〃
〃They e after you。 They take your home。 They take your sisters。〃
〃I don't believe it；〃 Passini said。 〃They can't do that to everybody。 Let everybody defend his home。 Let them keep their sisters in the house。〃
〃They hang you。 They e and make you be a soldier again。 Not in the auto…ambulance； in the infantry。〃
〃They can't hang every one。〃
〃An outside nation can't make you be a soldier；〃 Manera said。 〃At the first battle you all run。〃
〃Like the Tchecos。〃
〃I think you do not know anything about being conquered and so you think it is not bad。〃
〃Tenente；〃 Passini said。 〃We understand you let us talk。 Listen。 There is nothing as bad as war。 We in the auto…ambulance cannot even realize at all how bad it is。 When people realize how bad it is they cannot do anything to stop it because they go crazy。 There are some people who never realize。 There are people who are afraid of their officers。 It is with them the war is made。〃
〃I know it is bad but we must finish it。〃
〃It doesn't finish。 There is no finish to a war。〃
〃Yes there is。〃
Passini shook his head。
〃War is not won by victory。 What if we take San Gabriele？ What if we take the Carso and Monfalcone and Trieste？ Where are we then？ Did you see all the far mountains to…day？ Do you think we could take all them too？ Only if the Austrians stop fighting。 One side must stop fighting。 Why don't we stop fighting？ If they e down into Italy they will get tired and go away。 They have their own country。 But no； instead there is a war。〃
〃You're an orator。〃
〃We think。 We read。 We are not peasants。 We are mechanics。 But even the peasants know better than to believe in a war。 Everybody hates this war。〃
〃There is a class that controls a country that is stupid and does not realize anything and never can。 That is why we have this war。〃
〃Also they make money out of it。〃
〃Most of them don't；〃 said Passini。 〃They are too stupid。 They do it for nothing。 For stupidity。〃
〃We must shut up；〃 said Manera。 〃We talk too much even for the Tenente。〃
〃He likes it；〃 said Passini。 〃We will convert him。〃
〃But now we will shut up；〃 Manera said。
〃Do we eat yet； Tenente？〃 Gavuzzi asked。
〃I will go and see；〃 I said。 Gordini stood up and went outside with me。
〃Is there anything I can do； Tenente？ Can I help in any way？〃 He was the quietest one of the four。 〃e with me if you want；〃 I said； 〃and we'll see。〃
It was dark outside and the long light from the search…lights was moving over the mountains。 There were big search…lights on that front mounted on camions that you passed sometimes on the roads at night； close behind the lines； the camion stopped a little off the road； an officer directing the light and the crew scared。 We crossed the brickyard； and stopped at the main dressing station。 There was a little shelter of green branches outside over the entrance and in the dark the night wind rustled the leaves dried by the sun。 Inside there was a light。 The major was at the telephone sitting on a box。 One of the medical captains said the attack had been put forward an hour。 He offered me a glass of cognac。 I looked at the board tables； the instruments shining in the light； the basins and the stoppered bottles。 Gordini stood behind me。 The major got up from the telephone。
〃It starts now；〃 he said。 〃It has been put back again。〃
I looked outside； it was dark and the Austrian search…lights were moving on the mountains behind us。 It was quiet for a moment still； then from all the guns behind us the bombardment started。
〃Savoia；〃 said the major。
〃About the soup； major；〃 I said。 He did not hear me。 I repeated it。
〃It hasn't e up。〃
A big shell came in and burst o