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142
«What was that?» the country mouse stuttered.
«Oh, that is the master with his big cat.»
«Good-by, cousin,» the country mouse squealed as he leaped through the hole in the pantry wall. «I'm going
backto the meadow in the country. I prefer to live with the woods, the tall mountains and the fresh gurgling
streams rather than in your exciting city.»
Th e M ra l
A simple meal eaten in peace is better than a banquet eaten in fear and trembling.
(From Aesop Fables, compiled by J.N. Quinter)
* * *
«How do you feel, Tenente?»¹ Piani asked. We were going along the side of a road crowded with vehicles
and troops.
«Fine.»
«I'm tired of this walking.»
«Well, all we have to do is walk now. We don't have to worry.»
«Bonello was a fool.»
«He was a fool all right.»
«What will you do about him, Tenente?»
«I don't know.»
«Can't you just put him down as taken prisoner?»
«I don't know».
«You see if the war went on they would make bad trouble for his family.»
«The war won't go on», a soldier said. «We are going home. The war is over.»
«Everybody's going home.»
«We're all going home.»
«Come on, Tenente,» Piani said. He wanted to get past them.
«Tenente? Who's Tenente? A basso gli ufficiali!² Down with the officers!»
Piani took me by the arm. «I better call you by your name,» he said. «They might try and make trouble.
They've shot some officers.» We worked up past them.
«I won't make a report that will make trouble for his family,» I went on with our conversation.
«If the war is over it makes no difference,» Piani said. «But I don't believe it's over. It's too good that it
should be over.»
«We'll know pretty soon,» I said.
«I don't believe it's over. They all think it's over but I don't believe it.»
«Ewiva la Pace!»³ a soldier shouted out. «We're going home!»
«It would be fine if we all went home,» Piani said. «Wouldn't you like to go home?» «Yes.»
1
(It.) – lieutenant
2
(It.) – Down with the officers!
3
(It.) – Long live peace!
(From A Farewell to Arms, by E. Hemingway)