The German troops, drunk with the wine from our cellars, and fattened10 with the rich products from our fertile fields, were in a few instances, held back without aid of munitions11, as without support of artillery12, by mere13 stones and rocks hurled14 upon them by our men inexorably determined15 not to let 3 the enemy pass. Again I took courage. I had never doubted the fate of our army, but in the rarer and more hazardous16 moments, had none the less been compelled to question my own convictions, since events scarcely justified17 my boundless18 optimism. This optimism depended in some measure upon the fact that I was an officer of the Third Army, the army which, under the command of the Duke of Aosta, had numerous times endeavored to open up a way toward Trieste, and which had occupied, little by little, the land of the Dolina and the rocky regions of the Carso. We of the Third Army had never considered ourselves beaten; we had been compelled to submit to inevitable19 events; we had been compelled to withdraw, against our wishes, lest we had been surrounded, and to the end that the stream of Germans which had penetrated20 from Caporetto, might not cut off our road to the Piave. But the heroes of Faiti, the heroes of Hermanda, even on the day when 4 the retreat was determined upon, repulsed21 more than thirty attacks of the enemy, and in a final magnificent play, in defiance22 of the enemy pressing them on all sides, made a desperate assault in which they conquered new trenches and made several prisoners.
Those soldiers wept as they abandoned their huts. On our front the enemy had always been held back, and when it did advance, its journey was slow and costly23. We aviators24, who had been absolute masters of the air over the Isonzo, who had traversed with unswerving flight the enemy sky where hostile machines had in vain attempted our territory, who a thousand times had brought a greeting to the City of Grief, Trieste, seeming ever to be waiting for us there at the end of the Gulf25 at the foot of the hills—we aviators of the Third Army had even in our retreat inflicted26 such great damage on the enemy, that our troops, our ordnance27, our supplies were enabled to move slowly on the muddy, congested roads, without 5 fear of any harm from the wings of the enemy. Although the enemy planes were supported on land by the slow, persistent28 advance of their troops, they never dared nor risked firing on our slowly retreating column. A feat29 which but for us would have been easy, and would have shaken seriously the morale30 of our soldiers.
I shall ever be able to visualize31 the spectacle of that retreat; I shall ever remember that throng32 of men with heads bent33 low, with an air at once so grim, and so surly, that the collective countenance34 seemed scarcely human. Yet there were not a few encouraging ones among them. I shall always remember a corporal of the Alpini whom I met in the village of Pordenone. He was lying exhausted35 beside his machine gun which he had carried on his shoulder from summit to summit, from hill to hill, for seven consecutive36 days, until he had reached the plain. For food he had eaten bits of musty bread chanced upon along the 6 road. When I stopped he first begged me for a bit of bread, then anxiously inquired on what line our command had decided37 to halt. He desired to shoulder his gun thither38, again to set it up against the enemy where the need of halting their advance was greatest. The soldiers of the new Italy were being re-born!
Without a tear I had left the countryside endeared to me by memories of my childhood, the place where I was born, the place where for several centuries my ancestors had lived. On the last night, when I had a clear vision of the inevitable, after I had learnt from a superior officer that our next stand would be on the Piave, and that all the region in which lay my properties, my houses, my villas39, all I possessed40, was to be ceded41 to the enemy, I rushed in an automobile43 borrowed from headquarters to my father’s dwelling44 that I might persuade him to depart. I was certain that he would not believe me, and it was not without a 7 prolonged struggle that I succeeded in convincing him. Indeed he would have preferred on that day to hear that we, his two boys, had fallen in battle, rather than learn from one of us that we had been unable to stop the enemy. At last becoming resigned to the cruel reality, giving no thought to the salvation45 of any of our belongings46, since even the dearest personal thing lost all significance when the entire country was in danger he decided to leave.
Even now I can see his tall, straight figure on the threshold of the house, as he turned to cast a final look upon the scene of all our memories; a scene which he would never again observe as he left it that night. The women servants in the house, convulsively weeping, threw themselves at his feet that they might express in a last desperate farewell all the strength of their love. I could not shed a tear. I had given all my tears when I had seen our soldiers retreating from the Carso. I had never feared 8 death, yet then I prayed God with all my strength and faith, that I might live; that I might not die with that vision of defeat in my mind. A thousand times I had hurled myself where danger seemed the greatest, where death was reaping a rich harvest, not asking God to spare me. But at the Carso I prayed for life. I could not die defeated.
Every foot of land we ceded to the enemy was a new grief to my Italian heart. For every villa1, for every square, for every expression of art we had to cede42, for every remembrance profaned47 by the greedy barbarian48, the wound became greater and hurt with a vehemence49 never heretofore experienced. At the death of my mother alone had I felt anything similar. I felt as though the world were crumbling50 about me. At dawn and at evening, on the rising of the sun and its setting, I would ask myself, how, with such immense grief in the world, nature could act according to her custom 9 of mathematical regularity51, regardless of so much suffering.
With our successful resistance on the Piave the most painful days had passed. A wave of new bold blood, of passion, had permeated52 our fighters. They had found themselves again, and if anyone among them previously53 for a moment had felt a streak54 of cowardice55, he now asked to be allowed to sacrifice his life, to place his multiplied energy at the disposal of his country. Often I had asked myself anxiously what would become of our villages; often flying low over the territories which were now held by the enemy but which I knew inch by inch, I had tried to discover what the enemy plans might be. I had tried to steal from the enemy the secret he guarded so jealously.
Once indeed while flying over San Vendemmiano, over the road which passes near my villa, I discovered a long line of cars slowly traveling eastward56. Without a moment’s 10 hesitation57 I ordered the pilot to lower the plane as much as he could. We were a few hundred feet above the enemy when I let loose on them the fury of our machine gun. Gradually I saw a few men turn for cover towards my villa. This assured me that it, too, was occupied by the enemy, and I fired repeatedly at my own house. Small satisfaction though the deed brought me, it yet sufficed to drive away somewhat of the deep dejection which recent events had instilled58.
However, my usual program was interrupted one day by a communication from the Intelligence Division of the Third Army, sent by Colonel Smaniotto, ordering me to report at once to the Command for important instructions. I had but just returned from a flight and was editing my report on the movements I had noticed on the coast roads and the modifications59 I had noticed on an enemy bridge over the new Piave, when the summons came. Swiftly 11 enough I traversed by automobile the short distance between the aviation camp at Marcon and the headquarters of the division which were in a villa in Mogliano. The colonel immediately received me, with his customary smile and courteous60 manner. He was seated in front of a large table burdened by maps and books—a high table which dominated other smaller tables at which officers in charge of special departments of the Intelligence Division were seated. Colonel Smaniotto was the leading mind in the Intelligence Division. He possessed the calm, fine, discriminating61 mentality62 which analyzed63 all the varied64 reports—strange, common, unusual, gathered from all sides, whence he prepared an exact summary of the enemy forces and plans for the use of the General Staff. With his clear, straightforward65 look he would stare into our eyes to divine our thoughts; his manner was serious and tranquil66; his entire personality inspired faith and confidence.
12 “Are you from Vittorio?” he asked me.
“No, sir. I was born in Venice, but the old house of my family is in Vittorio, and in Vittorio, Congliano, Cimetta, Fontanelle, in fact scattered67 all over that region we have—or rather we had—extensive properties.”
“Did you know,” the Colonel continued with a smile, “that the command of the German army of Von Buelow had established itself in your house in Vittorio?”
“I did not know.”
“But why? Don’t you read the daily bulletins which are circulated to keep the aviators informed about the enemy forces?”
“No, sir. For the past few days I have been flying a great deal and I have had less time for reading.”
“What would you say,” he asked me point-blank, “if I were to propose to you an excursion to go on the enemy side for the purpose of seeking exact information about the condition of the enemy? Nothing 13 has been determined as yet—the time, nor the means for effecting this project. Think it over. We need a trustworthy person, a man who is serious, and in whom we can have absolute faith. I am glad to see you have already two medals, one of silver and one of bronze. This might be a chance for you to earn a medal of gold. As I said before, I have as yet no particular plan. It is up to you, knowing well as you do that countryside, and the habits of its peasantry and their dialects, to devise some way for landing and keeping yourself on the other side. Tell me, now, when your family left Vittorio, didn’t you leave some custodian68 or guardian69 to look after the houses?”
The question annoyed me, and I answered half in jest and half in earnest, “The day of the retreat we were really very little preoccupied70 by our own affairs, but I do believe, however, that an old agent and a woman did not succeed in getting behind our lines. I presume they remained in our 14 house, where they used to stay before. But, Colonel, do you think the Germans will have permitted them to remain in our house? I do not think so. I am inclined to believe, however, that many of our peasant families which live isolated71 out in the country, have not been molested72, and it would perhaps be better, if I should succeed in reaching the other side, to try to join one of these families. I know how deep is their affection for my father, and how greatly they love all that belongs to our family.”
“Very well, think it over, and let me have an answer shortly. Meanwhile I want you to live here in the Intelligence Office, that you may become acquainted with the kind of information we receive concerning the doings on the other side. This will not prevent your flying, since I know that would displease73 you too much.” A broad smile passed over and illumined his soldierly face. “Here you will get a clearer notion of the 15 possibilities of my project, and a better angle on the customs of the enemy in invaded territory. Therefore to-morrow you will be transferred to my department, without, however, binding74 yourself in any way to undertake the trip I have mentioned. I shall expect you to-morrow.”
Our hands met in a firm, cordial clasp, and I left him.
All night I could not sleep because of the thousands of plans I kept revolving75 in my mind. One plan suggested another, and then another, until there were heaps and heaps of them, confused, without beginning or end, just overlapping76 fragments of ideas. Towards dawn I slumbered77 a little, but I had to get up early to go to the office. On the fifteenth of January I became a part of that complicated organization which gathers and summarizes all the information the army has about the enemy.
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1
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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pugnacity
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| n.好斗，好战 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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caliber
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| n.能力；水准 | |
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belching
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| n. 喷出，打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式 | |
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7
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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entanglements
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| n.瓜葛( entanglement的名词复数 )；牵连；纠缠；缠住 | |
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10
fattened
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| v.喂肥( fatten的过去式和过去分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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11
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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16
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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20
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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21
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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22
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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aviators
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| 飞机驾驶员，飞行员( aviator的名词复数 ) | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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morale
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| n.道德准则，士气，斗志 | |
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visualize
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| vt.使看得见，使具体化，想象，设想 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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consecutive
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| adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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41
ceded
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| v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 ) | |
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cede
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| v.割让，放弃 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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44
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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46
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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47
profaned
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| v.不敬( profane的过去式和过去分词 )；亵渎，玷污 | |
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48
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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49
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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50
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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51
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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52
permeated
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| 弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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53
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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55
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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56
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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57
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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58
instilled
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| v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
modifications
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| n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变 | |
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60
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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mentality
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| n.心理，思想，脑力 | |
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63
analyzed
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| v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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custodian
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| n.保管人，监护人；公共建筑看守 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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displease
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| vt.使不高兴，惹怒；n.不悦，不满，生气 | |
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74
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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75
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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76
overlapping
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| adj./n.交迭（的） | |
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slumbered
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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