13012181530

Читать онлайн «A Bell for Adano»

Автор Джон Херси

“I know. ”

The Major thought a minute and then said: “Borth, try to help whoever takes my place to try to do a good job in Adano. ”

Borth said: “I’m afraid it will be that awful dope from Pontebasso. ” “

The Major said: “I hope not. Adano needs an understanding man. ”

Borth said. “Adano needs you, Major. ”

The Major said: “Too late to talk about that. I wondef how Marvin ever found out about the carts. ”

Borth suspected Captain Purvis, but he said: “One of his staff must have driven through or something. ”

The Major said: “Yes, I guess so. ”

The jeep came. So as not to arouse suspicion, Borth went with the driver to the Major’s house and got his baggage. His entire possessions consisted of a bedroll, with his clothes rolled into it.

When the jeep got back to the Palazzo, Major Joppolo took his portrait under his arm and went downstairs and got in.

He shook Borth’s hand but he did not say good-bye. The lazy Fatta, standing on the sidewalk, said by way of making conversation: “Going somewhere?”

Major Joppolo tried to sound cheerful as he said.

“Not far. How is Carmelina this morning?”

The lazy Fatta said: “She is making a rabbit stew. ” The driver said: “Where to, Major?”

The Major did not want to say Vicinamare so that Fatta or anyone else could hear it. Perhaps he could not say it. Anyhow, he just said: “This way,” and he pointed out the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

About four miles outside the town the Major said to the driver: “Stop a minute, would you, please?”

The driver stopped the jeep.

“Listen,” the Major said. “Do you hear something?” It was a fine sound on the summer air. The tone was good and it must have been loud to hear it as far as this. “Just a bell,” the driver said. “Must be eleven o’clock. ” “Yes,” the Major said. He looked over the hills across the sea, and the day was as clear as the sound of the bell itself, but the Major could not see or think very clearly. “Yes,” he said, “eleven o’clock. ”