Part 34 (2/2)
”A stuff that makes you go to sleep and have wonderful dreams. In China....”
”Dreams,” interrupted Chrisfield. ”Ah had one of them last night.
Dreamed Ah saw a feller that had shot hisself that I saw one time reconnoitrin' out in the Bringy Wood.”
”What was that?”
”Nawthin', juss a Fritzie had shot hisself.”
”Better than opium,” said Andrews, his voice trembling with sudden excitement.
”Ah dreamed the flies buzzin' round him was aeroplanes.... Remember the last rest village?”
”And the major who wouldn't close the window? You bet I do!”
They lay down on the gra.s.sy bank that sloped from the road to the pond.
The road was hidden from them by the tall reeds through which the wind lisped softly. Overhead huge white c.u.mulus clouds, piled tier on tier like fantastic galleons in full sail, floated, changing slowly in a greenish sky. The reflection of clouds in the silvery glisten of the pond's surface was broken by clumps of gra.s.ses and bits of floating weeds. They lay on their backs for some time before they started taking their clothes off, looking up at the sky, that seemed vast and free, like the ocean, vaster and freer than the ocean.
”Sarge says a delousin' machine's comin' through this way soon.”
”We need it, Chris.”
Andrews pulled his clothes off slowly.
”It's great to feel the sun and the wind on your body, isn't it, Chris?”
Andrews walked towards the pond and lay flat on his belly on the fine soft gra.s.s near the edge.
”It's great to have your body there, isn't it?” he said in a dreamy voice. ”Your skin's so soft and supple, and nothing in the world has the feel a muscle has.... Gee, I don't know what I'd do without my body.”
Chrisfield laughed.
”Look how ma ole ankle's raised.... Found any cooties yet?” he said.
”I'll try and drown 'em,” said Andrews. ”Chris, come away from those stinking uniforms and you'll feel like a human being with the sun on your flesh instead of like a lousy soldier.”
”h.e.l.lo, boys,” came a high-pitched voice unexpectedly. A ”Y” man with sharp nose and chin had come up behind them.
”h.e.l.lo,” said Chrisfield sullenly, limping towards the water.
”Want the soap?” said Andrews.
”Going to take a swim, boys?” asked the ”Y” man. Then he added in a tone of conviction, ”That's great.”
”Better come in, too,” said Andrews.
”Thanks, thanks.... Say, if you don't mind my suggestion, why don't you fellers get under the water.... You see there's two French girls looking at you from the road.” The ”Y” man giggled faintly.
”They don't mind,” said Andrews soaping, himself vigorously.
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