Annoyance2 on the part of Henriot. He questioned Lieutenant3 Delafosse who succeeded him. The latter knew nothing about it, nothing at all! He was yawning. He noted4 the sentry's orders with a bored expression.
We rejoined the rest of the company at the farm where they remained in support of the outposts. For the first time in four days I was able to indulge in a wash and a change of linen5. The joy of it. Bouillon rolled my things up into a parcel and carried them off. He was left busy all the afternoon washing, cleaning, and brushing them, while I slept on the straw.
When I woke Guillaumin announced:
He and Breton had been to "get round" the farmer's wife, who for a comparatively moderate sum had consented to hand over a couple of fine rabbits.
"How many of us will there be for them?"
"Eight.... No; nine, with the sergeant-major."
[Pg 266]
Oh "that lot" was going to join us? Yes, Guillaumin, who bore no grudge7, had invited them. He explained that we would go shares; it would come cheaper like that!
"Haven't I done right?"
Guillaumin had introduced Gaufrèteaux to the farmeress, who having quickly known him for what he was, a real virtuoso9 of the frying-pan and casserole, had given him a free hand. She had no reason to repent10 it, as she was invited to join us and share the feast. Rabbit à la Bordelaise, a cro?te aux champignons, and ham à la Proven?ale reminded her of the cheer at her sister's wedding.
Playoust had persuaded her to bring out some wine. It was pronounced excellent. Much flattered, she announced her intention of giving it to us free of charge. We cheered her. We touched glasses again and again, and drank to the health of her boy, who had left on the third day of mobilisation to join her father, one of the heroes of the year '70, in the Zouaves. I am not sure that we did not drink to the health of her deceased husband.
The wag of the evening was Playoust. There was no denying that the fellow was really funny when he liked. He hummed and sang and imitated the calls of animals. And between times he got Hourcade to take some powdered chalk thinking it was castor sugar, and an egg, taken from a setting hen, in an egg cup (the chicken was in it!).
I forget how it was that he came to jeer11, in pretty strong terms too, at Henriot. Humel immediately backed him up; the battalion sergeant-major, who had[Pg 267] drunk rather more than was wise, let him have his say, and winked12, and even went as far as to put in a word himself. The poor lieutenant was laughed at for his strategical pretensions13, in a really unkind manner. I was surprised. I should have thought that he would have found grace at the hands of these fellows for whom he was always doing good turns. Oh, ah! Grace! Playoust went off on a new tack14, and talked of his behaviour under fire. It was grotesque15. Beat everything! He had let his platoon go hang, had chucked himself into a hole, and left the others to get along as best they could.
He raised howls of laughter, and by Jove, I joined in. There was some truth in what he said after all. Guillaumin alone protested vigorously and courageously16 but unfortunately he embarked17 upon a verbose18 vindication19 which tended to prove that true courage consists precisely20 in being afraid....
"Listen to the staff-officer!"
He was hooted21 and pelted22 with bread pellets, and finally reduced to silence. Dessert time. The bottles went on circulating. The wine had gone to my head. I hazarded a few facile pleasantries, which were greeted with roars of laughter, which spurred my malice23 on to further efforts. I set myself to rival Playoust's buffoonery. He gained a momentary24 advantage by imitating the various phases of a pig fight. We had to go to the help of the farmeress who was choking with laughter. Then I played the ventriloquist, one of my parlour tricks. I gave a three-part scene. Our hostess again grew hysterical25, and a dish was broken.
I felt occasional twinges of remorse26 in the midst of all this folly27. All this gaiety the day after a cruel[Pg 268] loss!... But what did it matter? Had I not mourned my brother as he would have liked to be mourned? This death already seemed such an old story.... And lastly I privately28 thought that I had acquired a sort of right to give proof of a versatile29 disposition30 ... violent and fleeting31 feelings, tears yesterday, and joy to-day. Was it not the prerogative32 of soldiers and children?
We spent several days at this farm. Every evening when we went to sleep, we expected to have to turn out and start off in the middle of the night. Henriot was eaten up with impatience33, and repeated:
"It's madness not to profit by our advantage! We ought to be near Trèves by now!"
He calmed down at last. The captain had laughed at him, and reminded him of endless circumstances in military history, where prudence34 had dictated35 an identical line of conduct, which was to recover oneself before entering upon a new enterprise.
Besides that there was a complete lack of any news: not a word of the development of the action in Alsace-Lorraine. We only had the impression of a general movement of our armies towards the Belgian frontier. A big blow would be struck in the North! From time to time I amused myself by goading36 Guillaumin. How were we getting on over there, I wondered.
He no longer took me seriously, or else retorted:
"My dear chap, we only have to hold out for three weeks. The Russians will be coming along now!"
Again one might have thought we were at man?uvres. The spirit of the men was extraordinary. The fight the other day, the wounded and dead—all[Pg 269] that was forgotten, or rather it was taken as a basis for fearing nothing from the future. They took a delight in repeating that the worst was over. Artillery37, machine-guns, and rifles had all talked at the same time. The Bosches could not invent anything worse.
I have said that I was on good terms now with the poilus in my section, but I was not intimate with them yet. I made a few tentative advances. I asked one or two of them about their family, or their home life. They answered me politely, but did not expand. I had the feeling that I embarrassed, almost disquieted38, them; so I soon stopped. There was no need to bother myself.
The most complete idleness reigned39. The battalion sergeant-major no longer multiplied parades. He, Ravelli, had changed in the most extraordinary way since he had been under fire. He took no interest in anything and left his men to themselves. He may have heard—it was Breton who insinuated40 it—French bullets whistling past his ears!
The Lamalou-Judsi lot organised fishing parties at a pond close to the farm. No notice was taken for the first two days; on the third day they brought back a cartload of fish, having been inspired with the brilliant idea of stretching a net from one side to the other. They had cleared everything. The farmeress protested that the pond belonged to her. The captain lost his temper and threatened the beggars with Court Martial41. They did not haul down their colours. Things were getting serious. Lamalou clenched42 his fist.
"I've been through the Court Martial once before now, I 'ave. I'll tell 'em it's a bit rough on a chap wot's going to get knocked on the 'ead."
[Pg 270]
I privately agreed with him. Playoust secretly encouraged him, just to see what would happen. As for Guillaumin, he took the defaulters apart, and reasoned with them. I don't know what he preached or promised, but the fact was that he appeased43 them. He went off to see the captain and disarmed44 him too. The matter went no further.
But that evening at mess he gave Playoust a bit of his mind. The latter, surrounded by his faithful satellites, answered back and had the last word.
I had kept out of it. It was my turn next morning. I found the whole lot collected round the well, disputing violently.
"What's up?" I asked.
Descroix shouted:
"Did you ever hear such a thing! This'll be the third day that the company has taken outpost duty."
No. 1 platoon had just been told that it was their turn to supply No. 2 picket45. They had been congratulating themselves upon getting out of it. Hence their rage!
"Always the same lot to fork out."
Playoust headed them:
"It's disgustin' that's wot it is. There's the bally 21st there doin' nothing. Wy can't they send them?"
I ventured to remark:
I laughed.
"Outpost duty has its interesting moments."
They fell upon me, and in such a tone!
"Oh, Dreher ... on other people's worries...!"
I retorted. There was a sudden torrent47 of bitter words, of almost injurious reproaches. Yes, yes, they had seen me at it! Then they brought up their[Pg 271] eternal grievances48 at F——. Descroix accused me of toadying49 to the lieutenant.
Oh! I turned on my heel. I was stupefied, sickened at this persistent50 animosity after our brotherly agape, the other day. What paltry51 minds they had!
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1
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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7
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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8
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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virtuoso
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| n.精于某种艺术或乐器的专家，行家里手 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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12
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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13
pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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14
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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verbose
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| adj.用字多的；冗长的；累赘的 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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versatile
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| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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32
prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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36
goading
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| v.刺激( goad的现在分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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37
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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38
disquieted
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| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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40
insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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41
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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42
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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44
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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45
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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46
overdone
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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47
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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48
grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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49
toadying
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| v.拍马，谄媚( toady的现在分词 ) | |
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50
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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51
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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