But I don't believe in defeat.
Though it may be better."
"What do you believe in?"
"In sleep," I said.
He stood up.
"I am very sorry to have stayed so long.
But I like so to talk with you."
"It is very nice to talk again.
I said that about sleeping, meaning nothing."
We stood up and shook hands in the dark.
"I sleep at 307 now," he said.
"I go out on post early to-morrow."
"I'll see you when you come hack."
"We'll have a walk and talk together." I walked with him to the door.
"Don't go down," he said. "It is very nice that you are back.
Though not so nice for you." He put his hand on my shoulder.
"It's all right for me," I said. "Good-night."
"Good-night.
Ciaou!"
"Ciaou!" I said.
I was deadly sleepy.
27
I woke when Rinaldi came in but he did not talk and I went back to sleep again.
In the morning I was dressed and gone before it was light.
Rinaldi did not wake when I left.
I had not seen the Bainsizza before and it was strange to go up the slope where the Austrians had been, beyond the place on the river where I had been wounded.
There was a steep new road and many trucks.
Beyond, the road flattened out and I saw woods and steep hills in the mist.
There were woods that had been taken quickly and not smashed.
Then beyond where the road was not protected by the hills it was screened by matting on the sides and over the top.
The road ended in a wrecked village.
The lines were up beyond.
There was much artillery around.
The houses were badly smashed but things were very well organized and there were signboards everywhere.
We found Gino and he got us some coffee and later I went with him and met various people and saw the posts.
Gino said the British cars were working further down the Bainsizza at Ravne.
He had great admiration for the British.
There was still a certain amount of shelling, he said, but not many wounded.
There would be many sick now the rains had started.
The Austrians were supposed to attack but he did not believe it.
We were supposed to attack too, but they had not brought up any new troops so he thought that was off too.
Food was scarce and he would be glad to get a full meal in Gorizia.
What kind of supper had I had?
I told him and he said that would be wonderful.
He was especially impressed by the dolce.
I did not describe it in detail, only said it was a dolce, and I think he believed it was something more elaborate than bread pudding.
Did I know where he was going to go?
I said I didn't but that some of the other cars were at Caporetto.
He hoped he would go up that way.
It was a nice little place and he liked the high mountain hauling up beyond.