Part 18 (2/2)
”I will leave you also Pinocchio and Ciampanella, so that there will be ten of you. Choose the other eight quickly, because I am going to give immediate orders to depart.”
”Draghetta, Senzaterra, Pulin, Cattaruzza, and the four Scagnol brothers.”
”All right! Go and tell them. Remember that I trust you. I am attempting a big coup, but if I succeed, Heavens, what a stroke!...
They'll fly up like birds.”
A little later Pinocchio was witness of a marvelous and fantastic scene. The narrow trench was alive with a ma.s.s of black figures that moved noiselessly. The Alpine troops armed themselves with rope and hatchets, filled up their canteens, and replenished their cartridge-belts, whispering quick, concise sentences, interrupted with laughs, quickly smothered as the rattle of an officer's sword was heard. All these shadows grouped themselves in the depth of the trench against a heap of huge stones and merged into the profound darkness.
For a time still there was to be heard coming from down below a subdued rustle, then a profound silence. Pinocchio was strangely affected and was eager to find out what had happened. He ran to the end of the trench--there was not a soul there. Where had his Alpine troops gone? Had they perhaps been swallowed up by the abyss which yawned a few feet away? He was so terrified that he began to yell desperately.
”Captain! Captain Teschis ...”
He didn't get the chance to finish; he felt two rough, heavy hands grab him by the ears and lift him up three feet from the ground.
”Less racket here. Don't be such an idiot. Don't you know that in the trenches you've got to be as quiet as in church, and ... here I'm in command, and when I command anything I've got to be obeyed.”
”I'll obey,” Pinocchio grumbled, keeping back a cry of pain.
Corporal Scotimondo put him down gently on the ground, face to face with himself, and then asked, sharply:
”What did you want with Captain Teschisso?”
”I? Nothing.”
”Why did you call him, then?”
”I thought perhaps ... something terrible had happened.... He's gone ... they're all gone.”
”Gone? How gone? They haven't disappeared; they've only gone down ...”
”Where?”
”The precipice, and then they'll climb up again on the other side, will reach the first trench, will get the better of the enemy and drive them on the mined zone. Then we'll see a fine sight. But until this minute comes we've got to keep quiet and not make a racket. Do you understand? Now go to sleep because you have been mobilized and will have to stand sentry also, and, besides, to-morrow there'll be things to do. Now march!”
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Scotimondo emphasized this command with a kick which made Pinocchio take the first steps and showed him the direction he was to go. The unexpected disappearance of the Alpine troops still seemed miraculous in spite of the simple explanation Scotimondo had given him, and Pinocchio had a profound respect for everything that smacked of magic.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
”Yes, gone down,” he grumbled to himself while he was nearing the other end of the trench. ”That's quickly said, but I'd just like to know how it is possible for men of skin and bones to do such a thing.
The precipice is so deep and so steep that if Ciampanella had not pulled me by the collar I should never have got here. And how will they manage to get down it? Hum! I am almost beginning to believe that these Alpine soldiers are in league with the devil. I saw two of them yesterday with some kind of shoes a couple of yards long which flew over the snow like airplanes. I wanted to ask the mess-cook to explain it to me, but from fear he would make fun of me I kept quiet. But from now on I must keep my eyes more on those men. If I discover they really have any dealings with the devil I'll take myself off on the first occasion.”
He stumbled and fell face downward into a soft warm ma.s.s from which came a dull grunt. Overcome with terror, he was about to take flight when he felt himself held fast by a leg as firmly as if by a trap.
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