Up and down the hills they marched, evenly wearing away the distance that lay between themselves and their destination. In the night there were no directions, no cool and mysterious little cafés to draw their attention from placing one foot after the other. Marching at night, Hicks thought, was much easier than marching in the daytime, provided that it was not too dark and the roads were not too slippery. Everything was serene1. And it remained so until the man behind you stepped on your heel or until a small, carnivorous louse, a yellow one with a large black speck2 in the middle of its back, commenced to crawl under your arm or upon your chest. But after fifteen or twenty kilometres, marching even at night was oppressive.
At the bottom of the millionth valley they[61] passed through, lay the town. Along the road, leading up the hill on the other side, horizon-blue motor-trucks stood and waited.
The platoon came to a halt in one of the streets, the butts3 of their rifles clattering4 on the cobblestones. It had been quite dark a moment ago, but dawn had come hurriedly, and now Hicks could see the great number of troops that were preparing to embark5.
He turned to Lepere, a confessed virgin6 and the only person in the platoon who boasted of it. “It will be hours before our turn comes. Let’s sneak7 off somewhere and lie down.”
“Oh, no,” Lepere decisively answered. “You can’t tell how soon we’ll be called. And then we may get into trouble.”
“You’ll probably get into trouble if you go up to the front, too. You’d better go up to the company commander and tell him you’re sick.”
Lepere failed to reply, and Hicks, glancing around, noticed that the officers were not in sight.
“Oh-o, Hicksy’s gittin’ to be a wildcat. He wants to leave his little platoon. All right, come on, Hicksy.” Every time Pugh talked[62] his voice reminded Hicks of a crippled professional beggar.
No more than they had passed out of sight of the platoon when Hicks exclaimed: “Well, I’m damned. Old Fosbrook. Have you got a drink?”
“Hello, William.” Fosbrook put out a hand that was like a dead fish. “I’ve got a little rum.”
“Well, who wants anything better than rum? Pugh, meet an old friend of mine, Raymond Fosbrook. Fosbrook, this is Jack Pugh, the best gambler in the regiment10.”
“How do you do?” Fosbrook again produced the clammy, insensible hand.
“What kind of a job have you got that you can be traipsing around the streets like this with a bottle of rum on your hip11?” demanded Hicks.
“Oh, I’m the colonel’s interpreter. I order the ham, eggs, drinks, and women for him.”
“That’s not a bad job,” Hicks admitted. “Now, how about that?”
A full quart bottle was brought into view. Fosbrook uncorked it and passed it around. The bottle was passed around a number of[63] times. Then it was thrown into the gutter12, empty.
“I tell you, William, and you, too, Mr. Pugh, that we are going to see strange things before very long. What would you say if I told you that the Germans had broken through the French lines and were headed for Paris?”
“I’d say,” said Pugh, “that I don’t wondah a damn bit. Them damn Frogs is always asleep. They’re too pretty to kill a mosquito.”
Fosbrook, taking hold of Hicks’s shoulder-strap and holding it grimly, set his mouth with firmness, and, with a full pause between each word, said: “William, I mean it. There’s going to be hell to pay in a few days.”
“Well, why are you worrying?” Hicks answered. “You won’t be in any of it.”
“Come on, Hicksy, we’d better go.” People were beginning to open the shutters13 of the houses on either side of the street, and both men began to wonder how long they had been away from the platoon.
They hurried back, arriving just as the platoon had started slowly to move forward.
No one seemed to have the least notion of the direction in which the camions were moving.[64] Though some of the men who had been reading a recent copy of the Paris edition of the Chicago Tribune, believed them to be headed for the Somme, where, it was said, there was heavy fighting; others believed that they were on their way to relieve the First American Division, which a few days earlier had attacked at Cantigny. Apparently14 the trip was to last for two or more days, for each squad15 had been apportioned16 two days’ extra rations17 before entraining. The drivers of the camions were Japanese, which, as purveyors of information, made them as useful as do many “professional” silent men of the President’s cabinet. With twenty men in each camion the train bumped and thundered along the road all day. At night they stopped only a few minutes to allow the soldiers to prepare themselves for a still longer journey.
Late the next afternoon they passed a city which they decided18 was Meaux. The men in the camions did not know where they were going, but they did know that it was in the direction of the front. In the town the streets were crowded with wagons19, carts, domestic animals, and people. Comforters were thrown out over the hard pavement, and families were lying on[65] them, resting. It seemed as if the entire city was so filled with people that one other person could not get in.
The camions hurried through, while the men inside, leaning forward, shouted “couche” and other words of which they did not know the meaning whenever they saw any youngish women.
Leaving Meaux, the spirit of attack already seemed to be entering the men. Outside the city they met an old man with a patriarchal beard, seated upon his household goods, which were piled upon a little cart driven by a mule20. Beside the cart walked a woman that might have been either his wife or his daughter. The old man looked as if he were crying. His mouth was drawn21 back into a querulous pucker22 and his hands rested limply in his lap.
“Don’t you worry, pappy. We’ll get your home back for you,” called a voice from one of the camions. The sentiment was taken up and voiced by a great number. Through the warm glow of the spirit of the crusader that it gave them, all other emotions were submerged.
Mirrors in ornate frames apparently had a special significance for the refugees. Not one of them but had carefully salvaged23 his mirror[66] and was displaying it, safely bound to the bedclothing with which the cart was loaded down. Every one of the refugees seemed also to have a large feather bed, and among the property that they were carrying away from their deserted24 homes was often to be noticed a round glass cover under which was a wedding-cake or a carved miniature of an old-fashioned man and maid dancing a minuet.
It was night, and many of the men had gone to sleep. The camions stopped abruptly25, and the awakened26 men, trying vainly to unlimber their stiffened27 muscles, laboriously28 made their way to the ground.
Hicks had been one of the first men to leave the camion. Now he walked around in front of it. Funny, there were no other camions before him! He ran to the rear and down the road a few paces. No camions there either.
“Hey, fellows! we’re lost.”
“Lost? And up here? What the hell are we going to do?”
“I don’t give a damn if we are lost. I need a vacation, anyway.”
“Pipe down, damn it. You can’t tell how near we are to the German lines.”
“Yeh, and that Jap might be a German spy. We better watch out.”
They were still talking when Sergeant29 Ryan arrived. He had left the truck when it stopped. Walking ahead, he had found a deserted village.
“Well, fellahs. You better get down out of there and come with me. There are plenty of places to sleep right up ahead, and as it looks like we’re lost, that’s what we’d better do.”
Sergeant Ryan always talked as if he were about to chuckle30. Ever since the platoon had been formed Sergeant Ryan had been held up to the entire company, and often to the battalion31, as the best-looking soldier readily to be found. Even in the trenches32 his nails were manicured, the nails of his long, sensitive fingers. His small, pointed33 mustache looked as if it had been freshly waxed. His puttees were rolled neatly34 about his smart-looking legs. And he could drink all night, and, to the eye, not be affected35 by it.
“We’ll foller Ryan any place, won’t we, guys?”
“You’re damned right.”
They gathered together their equipment and started after him down the road. It was a very small town and had been evacuated36 two[68] days before. No matter if the feather beds had been taken away, there was plenty of dry hay to sleep on.
Morning came and Sergeant Ryan was awake and engaged in rousing the men. After they had all been found, he assembled them on the street and issued orders:
“Now you men can do what you please. Only don’t break anything. We are going to stay here until somebody comes for us. There ought to be plenty of food around, and you ought to know what to do.”
There was plenty of food. Young pullets stalked temptingly before them, and young Higgins, who heretofore had never distinguished37 himself in any way, developed an uncanny aptitude38 of snaring39 them with a swoop40 of his left arm, clutching them neatly by the leg. Nearly all of the cellars were stored with potatoes, and wine was not uncommon41.
Into a chateau42 which presumably belonged to the overlord of the village the party carried their food. The pullets had been prepared for frying, potatoes were sizzling in a large kettle of grease, a table had been laid with a crisp linen43 cloth.
The party was seated around a large table.[69] Upon the linen cloth were china plates and silver knives and forks. In the centre were dishes piled high with fried chicken and potatoes. A salad brightened the menu. Wine-glasses and tumblers were filled and dust-covered bottles stood near at hand, ready to replenish44 them.
“This is what you might call the life of Riley.” Sergeant Ryan spoke45 with his soft voice that almost broke into a chuckle.
“I’ll tell the world. Jist like New York.”
“Gittin’ lost ain’t hard to take. Jist think of the rest of the outfit46, snappin’ into it whenever Harriman opens his yap.”
The glasses were emptied and refilled. It was a religious ceremony.
Suddenly Hicks started to laugh, long and loudly.
“What you laughin’ at? Is there anything funny in my wantin’ a little company? ’Course these Frog gals48 ain’t as nice as....”
“No, no. It wasn’t that at all. But we were going to save these people’s homes—and now we’re killing49 their chickens.”
“You can’t be so damned finicky. This is war.”
The party, all but Ryan, tilted51 back in their chairs, their tunics52 unbuttoned and their belts unfastened. Their eyes having proved larger than their appetites, much of the food remained on the table untouched. But there was room in their bellies53 for wine, and bottle after bottle was opened and emptied.
“There,” said Bullis, pointing to an empty bottle, “is a good soldier. He has done his duty and he is willing to do it again.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
serene
|
|
| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
speck
|
|
| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
butts
|
|
| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
clattering
|
|
| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
embark
|
|
| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
dodged
|
|
| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
hip
|
|
| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
gutter
|
|
| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
shutters
|
|
| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
squad
|
|
| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
apportioned
|
|
| vt.分摊，分配（apportion的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
rations
|
|
| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
wagons
|
|
| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
mule
|
|
| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
pucker
|
|
| v.撅起，使起皱；n.（衣服上的）皱纹，褶子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
salvaged
|
|
| （从火灾、海难等中）抢救（某物）( salvage的过去式和过去分词 )； 回收利用（某物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
stiffened
|
|
| 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
laboriously
|
|
| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
battalion
|
|
| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
trenches
|
|
| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
evacuated
|
|
| 撤退者的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
aptitude
|
|
| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
snaring
|
|
| v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
swoop
|
|
| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
chateau
|
|
| n.城堡，别墅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
replenish
|
|
| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
outfit
|
|
| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dames
|
|
| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
gals
|
|
| abbr.gallons （复数）加仑（液量单位）n.女孩，少女( gal的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
sagely
|
|
| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
tunics
|
|
| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
bellies
|
|
| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |