Chapter 34 32

December 19, 1916 La Carlotri France, Pas-de-Calais * This is the officer's night's rest.They gathered around the brazier, an abandoned barn that had served as company headquarters for the past week.In an hour's time they were going to have dinner in a small café in a nearby village.Now they are waiting. Ashley was reading a book with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.Jeffreys and Bennett were playing cards, both holding their cards at an angle towards the brazier, trying to see them clearly in the dim light. In came a lieutenant named Ismay, who had just finished his last shift, his overcoat covered in ice and mud from the waist down.Ismay had only recently been transferred from the Second Battalion.He was tall, with black hair, and eyes of different shades, brown on one side and pale green on the other. Ashley thought he looked a little sinister, but Ismay's focus always stayed behind him.Ismay yawned, wrapped himself in a blanket, and pulled a chair beside Ashley.He picks up a bag of peanuts and shells them and eats them, his booted feet resting on the brazier, the ice melting and hissing against the metal surface.

That would ruin the boots.Ashley said. Just want to be warmer. Ashley wanted to continue reading.It was too noisy in here to concentrate, but it was too cold to be far from the fire.He read the sentences from the book again. □□□ You know, every night I see my buddies on the Matterhorn, their arms outstretched, the same distance, and they slide perfectly one after the other. , and finally Douglas. Jeffries and Bennett finished playing cards, and the officers began discussing rumors of the troops' next destination.Ashley closed the book.He pulled the blanket up so that only his eyes were exposed, his knees touching in the cold air.Bennett wondered if there was any chance of troops being transferred from France.

They say the adjutant mentioned Palestine rumor.Ashley interrupted.Useless rumors. You are just a man of no faith.You never believe in anything. Jeffries took the rest of the peanuts from Ismay and threw the bag into the brazier.He nodded his chin towards Ashley. The spy chief believed in the Kaiser's pistol. That is true.Ashley said: This is not a rumor. I've never heard of a Kaiser pistol.Bennett said. Because that's not a rumor.Ashley said: The truth is almost never widely known. Ashley leaned back in his chair and smiled.He explained that the German Kaiser, like everyone else who started a war, only liked to dress up and not risk going to war.The emperor loved uniforms, Ashley said, and had been wearing them since his days as a commoner before the battle.The uniform came with a holster containing a silver-plated Chamelot/Delvigne revolver, which the Emperor always carried with him.The pistol's ivory grip is engraved with the letter V and a crown, as a gift from the emperor's grandmother and her ruler's friend.

Queen Victoria.Ismay murmured: This story is really strange. This is not a story.Ashley said: It's true. Why not get another pistol? Maybe he likes the old lady.Bennett spoke. not only so.Ashley said: He kept it for a reason, even though he didn't know it. Jeffries smiled and shook his head. what is the reason? In order to remember who the enemy is.Ashley said. who is it? Ashley laughed again, but he didn't answer.The officers rose and began to dress for dinner.Bennett took a comb to comb his hair, and suddenly turned to face Ashley. Do you think he used that gun on the British?

I daresay only for hunting game in England.He has other men who can deal with the British. There was no wind at night, but it was cold.A small café in the middle of a half-destroyed village, across the street from an almost leveled slaughterhouse.Yet the tiny café was spared, with cracked marble tables, an iron stove, and a piano out of tune.The hostess opened the door, her white hair tied in a neat bun on top of her head.She waved warmly to them as they came from the cold outside. Good night.Her voice is loud.Come in, folks, come in! The dining room was empty, so the officers chose a round table by the fire.The hostess took their coats away, calling the waitress to do something.There was light red wine and Chardonnay to accompany the Englishmen, but the hostess was chagrin about the lack of champagne.One girl brought out the wine, and another added a log to the fireplace.Jeffries told the mistress that they would eat whatever was in her kitchen, but only the best.

Everyone should want to drink Bordeaux.Jeffries said. A blond girl uncorked the corks and poured wine for everyone.Jeffries raised his glass. To my lover and wife. The others picked up their glasses and responded in unison. Hope they never meet again! Red wine was not sweet at all, so Ashley drank very little at first.The hostess brought onion soup, which the officers drank with relish.They talked about the medals of the army, and thought that some regiments awarded too few medals.Ismay ordered a second bottle before the first bottle was finished.Ismay snorted when Jeffries mentioned the Victoria Cross.

As unfair as a slot machine at an amusement park.A guy could spend all day killing Germans and ambulances, but as long as no officer was watching, he'd just go home empty-handed.As the saying goes, fifty soldiers are worth a lieutenant. The hostess set down a plate of lobster salad, each wrapped in a lettuce leaf. If we take the soldier's story, Jeffreys said, there's going to be constant medals and rum rations. nonsense!Ismay disagrees.Just look at the spy chief. Everyone looked at Ashley.Ismay picked up a lettuce leaf, swallowed it in one big gulp, and wiped his mouth. I've heard about Queen's Castle.Ismay said: "Very heroic.You might get a Victoria Cross for it, but you can't hold the trench.Of course, it's not your fault, but it just means you were lucky enough to get the medal.You'd think the military would understand by now that there's no goddamn correlation between valor and success.But they still don't understand.

Ashley didn't speak.The hostess brought four bowls of veal stew, veal shoulder, carrots, onions, glistening in a white sauce simmered in cream and cream.The officers ate quietly and contentedly, and Ismay finished his claret. When everyone had finished eating, the blond girl brought out a piece of aged Camembert on an old dinner plate.Ismay tells some nasty jokes to a girl while Ashley cuts cheese.The brunette girl poured wine for everyone again, and then Ashley talked to her about the geographical situation nearby.Ismay heard them talking and interrupted immediately: The young ensign was very heroic.Ismay emphasized.Very heroic.He took only a few men and took the Germans' trenches.Hundreds of men have already tried to take this trench

Ashley showed a strange expression, but the girl looked at him with interest. is that true? no.Ashley said: The Germans thought there were more people on my side, so they retreated.That's all.Then they came back. Ismay retorted that the young ensign was truly heroic.He raised his glass to Ashley's coat and spoke French with a heavy British accent. Do you see that purple and white sash?That's the British Valor Cross. The girl was talking, but the hostess brought out a box of Upmann's cigars.Everyone took one.A bottle of brandy was brought up, and Ismay apologized to the girl who poured them drinks and lit their cigars.

We are all married men.Ismay said: "Just like to crack jokes. The blond girl smiled, but the brunette stared straight at the group of young men with the bottle in hand.She shook her head. certainly not. Then we'll all be bachelors.Ismay said: This is better.It's so pathetic to have married people die in battle. You are not all single.The brunette girl looked at Ashley and said: He is married.Or get engaged.It's obvious. Do you think any woman would want to marry him?Ismay retorted.Even a British woman? Everyone laughed.After the cigars are finished, the hostess calculates the price on a small white board and places it on the table.Ismay leaned forward, knocked down his wine glass when he saw the bill, and the tablecloth was soaked with red wine.He complained loudly in English.

What a robbery.Seventeen francs for that bottle of brandy?Twice as expensive as last year.And it was too light. The hostess cleared the tables and took away the wet tablecloths.She looked at the group of officers curiously. Any questions? Jeffress reassured her, then collected money from everyone, and made it clear in front of the hostess.When the others walked out of the small cafe, Ashley put two golden ten francs on the galvanized small bar in the corner.He glanced across the mirrored wine rack, at the dusty bottles.He asked the hostess to give him a bottle of brandy to take away.Then he looked carefully at the shelf again, and frowned. No, I want Armagnac.The top bottle of Boingneres.Can you open it for me? Of course, said the hostess, and proceeded to deftly remove the cork with an old corkscrew.Ashley took the wine bottle and put the cork back in with the heel of his hand.He told the hostess that no change was required.The girls stood at the door to see off the guests, and the brunette girl put her back against the open door.Ashley bid them good night.He also looked away from them as he walked out. Going down the icy stairs of the small café, Ismay stumbled and nearly fell, but was caught by Bennett at the last moment.Ashley handed the bottle to Jeffries. From the foot of the Pyrenees.It's a waste to give you rough people to drink. Jeffries admired the bottle in his hand, trying to read the label in the moonlight, but almost slipped it. Good guy.And a smart one.You can't keep it to yourself. Ashley grinned.certainly.It's just that we don't have wine glasses. Jeffries uncorked the cork and passed the bottle to everyone.It was still fifteen minutes to walk back to their lodgings in La Carlotri.The road was dark, there was no one else, and phosphorescent flares falling from the eastern sky pierced the emptiness around them.Ismay whistled the melody of "Any Time's Kissing Time".Here the shells were only the lowest, ordinary roar. The officers trek along a dirt track through a fallow beet field.They staggered along, stepped into puddles, splashed mud on their leggings.Ismay handed the bottle to Ashley, and put a hand on his shoulder.He told Ashley that he wasn't trying to find fault with Queen's Castle or anything.He knew Ashley was a good officer, probably the bravest in the battalion.He had heard about Ashley and the girl.Ismay's eyes brightened as he spoke.His nose was red with the cold, and a lock of black hair poked out from under his hat over his forehead. We're not here forever, Ismay said: We'll be back in the meat grinder in two weeks, so it doesn't really matter what we say here unless we tell the truth.It's all pretentious words that don't work. Jeffries stopped singing and snatched the bottle.It's half drunk already. Jesus, said Jeffress: Spare the poor spy chief.The last thing he needs is your advice. Go ahead, said Ismay: We're just talking about Marlowe's Faust.The spy chief was a literary youth, like me. Jeffries and Bennett went on ahead.Ismay looked back at Ashley, with a strong smell of wine and brandy on his breath. listen to me.I also ran into the same thing as you.Of course, you must think that it cannot be the same.But I was engaged to a lovely girl once.I have known her since childhood.I wrote almost every day for four months.Then when I was in Los, I got a letter saying she'd run off with some good-for-nothing guy.I did the same thing as you, but not as well.Night watch, see how many times they are willing to let me go.I don't go in the trenches, I was crazy then, I guess I was trying to kill myself.why is that?Let me have a cigarette first. Ashley took out a silver box from his pocket, and took a cigarette for him and himself. If I keep going like that, Ismay went on, I'll rot in Derville Woods for that girl, and she won't come to my funeral, and she won't be likely to think of me again.When did you come to France? : August. So you've been in some dire situations, haven't you?But you survived.There must be a reason for this.There's no way you're going to get through those things and end up being dealt with by some girl.Remember, Worthingham, whoever she was, was only a girl.Do remember. I try my best. You should go back to the little cafe and meet the brunette girl.I noticed the way you looked at her. Ashley shook his head, then took a drag on his cigarette. Maybe I'm just tired of watching you guys. Maybe.Listen, I just want to help.You can do whatever you want.If I do what I like, I'll die for the man who won't go across the street today.I will stop here. Ismay's hand moved away from Ashley's shoulder. Worthingham, what did you do before the war? I am in Cambridge. of course.I mean what are you doing?I wonder what matters to someone like the spy chief. you mean it used to matter It will still matter someday.Perhaps a fox hunt?Billiards?Or you're the kind of person who travels around the world with binoculars to see geese and ducks I like mountain climbing. For exercise? There is no other reason. Ismay shook his head. Climb a mountain for exercise.He said it again.It sounds dangerous. Not compared to France. Right.Ismay echoed: Nothing is as dangerous as France.But how to climb?Rope to some guy and climb up somewhere high and icy? almost. What if he falls? He better not. But what if it really falls? I really hope he better not. Ismay grinned.I admire you, Worthingham, though you seem like a big eccentric.You are very assertive and not influenced by others.You are patient with fools. What I just said is very interesting. Ismay nodded gratefully. I want to ask one thing.He said: It's about you taking the Germans' trenches.How does it feel to be the first person to go there?I've imagined it I don't know how many times Ashley threw the cigarette butt into the darkness without saying a word. Ismay smiled.You should go find the brunette girl. Others stopped singing.Jeffries stood in the middle of the wheel-tracked road, waiting for Ashley and Ismay to follow.He looked at Ashley with a strange expression. Where's your hat? Ashley only touched his own hair. hateful.stay there.I'd better go back. forget it.Jeffreys said: I'm sure there are more.You can send someone to pick it up again in the morning. He can also go by himself.Ismay said. He can also go by himself.Where did Bennett die for me? Everyone guessed that Bennett was already ahead, so everyone staggered forward and called his name.Bennett never showed up.Ismay was particularly angry because the wine was in Bennett's hands. Ismay could barely stand when they reached La Carlotri.Ashley and Jeffreys carried Ismay to his residence, a room on the second floor of a farmhouse with odd angles of wooden walls.They left Ismay in the courtyard in front of the house.Lying on the frosty ground, he squirmed and cried out: I just have one question for you guys.Do you have able-bodied grooms, chauffeurs, gardeners, or gamekeepers serving you in your household, and are they supposed to serve your king and country? enough!Jeffries said. Do you have someone in your garden to help dig the soil, should they dig a trench? hush Ismay stood up from the mud.He squinted at them, his movements exaggerated. I would like to ask everyone, is there someone who keeps the prey for you? Should they help protect the country? Ashley put Ismay on his shoulders. Leave him to me.This way you don't have to bother two people. The old woman in the house appeared holding a candle as Ashley dragged Ismay up the steps, the black ice cubes from his boots falling onto the carpet.The woman began to babble about the Englishman again, but her accent was so strong in Picardy that Ashley could only understand some of the swearing.Ismay growled at her: Ma'am, I can only respond with my question.Is there a man in your family who helps with housework, should he go to war with a gun? The old woman narrowed her eyes with a contemptuous expression.She opened the door, and Ashley threw Ismay on the bed.The woman lit an oil lamp, complained a little, and pointed to the sheets covered with frozen earth.Ashley promised to clean it up herself, but that didn't comfort her as she stomped away cursing.Ashley took off Ismay's boots and tucked him under the quilt while he was still wearing his overcoat. Spy chief.Ismay muttered: Dear spy chief Ashley sat down on a chair, allowing himself to calm down and think.The whole room was spinning.How does he think like this.He can solve the mystery.But what is the problem?Ashley noticed that Ismay was waving vigorously, beckoning him over, muttering something he didn't understand.Ashley walked to the bed. We'll be the last ones to come out, Ismay said vaguely, isn't it? What? We will beat them.Even you have to admit it. Ashley shook his head.I don't know, Ismay. My name is Edward. I don't know, Edward. Ismay sat up in bed.He grabbed Ashley's arm firmly. I can't go back.I'm not stupid enough to go back, you hear me?Nothing can make me go.Let them shoot me. calm down Do you think I'm afraid of death?Do you think I can't die like everyone else? Be quiet, Edward.take it easy. I can't go back.Did you hear it? Ismay threw off the covers and began to gasp.Afraid that he might vomit, Ashley took the washbasin to the side of the bed and held it at his waist.Someone downstairs knocked on their floor, telling them to be quiet.Ashley cursed, and put the washbasin on the ground. We will beat them.He makes a promise. We will beat them.Ismay repeated his words.But we'll get fucked by them first. Ismay buried her face in the pillow, then sat up excitedly, staring at Ashley with wide eyes. Do you think we can make it through? certainly. You bloody liar.