"Did you ever get the decorations?"
"Yes.
I got them fine.
Thank you very much."
"Let's see them."
I opened my cape so he could see the two ribbons.
"Did you get the boxes with the medals?"
"No.
Just the papers."
"The boxes will come later.
That takes more time."
"What do you want me to do?"
"The cars are all away.
There are six up north at Caporetto.
You know Caporetto?"
"Yes," I said.
I remembered it as a little white town with a campanile in a valley.
It was a clean little town and there was a fine fountain in the square.
"They are working from there.
There are many sick now.
The fighting is over."
"Where are the others?"
"There are two up in the mountains and four still on the Bainsizza.
The other two ambulance sections are in the Carso with the third army."
"What do you wish me to do?"
"You can go and take over the four cars on the Bainsizza if you like.
Gino has been up there a long time.
You haven't seen it up there, have you?"
"No."
"It was very bad.
We lost three cars."
"I heard about it."
"Yes, Rinaldi wrote you."
"Where is Rinaldi?"
"He is here at the hospital.
He has had a summer and fall of it."
"I believe it."
"It has been bad," the major said. "You couldn't believe how bad it's been.
I've often thought you were lucky to be hit when you were."
"I know I was."
"Next year will be worse," the major said. "Perhaps they will attack now.
They say they are to attack but I can't believe it.
It is too late.
You saw the river?"
"Yes.
It's high already."
"I don't believe they will attack now that the rains have started.
We will have the snow soon.
What about your countrymen?
Will there be other Americans besides yourself?"