Part 5 (1/2)

The machine guns interrupted him. The kneeling man beside the wires listened, started as if to run, and fell upon his face. The earth behind him rose in dust from the bullets and the others beyond raised themselves like snakes, then all three gave a short leap forward and--lay very still.

For a moment Captain Marschner stood speechless. He opened his lips, but no sound came from his throat. At last his tongue obeyed him and he yelled, with a mad choking fury in his voice:

”Lieutenant Weixler!”

”Yes, sir,” came back unconcernedly.

Captain Marschner ran toward the lieutenant with clenched fists and scarlet face.

”Did you fire?” he panted, breathless.

The lieutenant looked at him in astonishment, placed his hands against the seams of his trousers and replied with perfect formality:

”I did, sir.”

Marschner's voice failed him again for a moment. His teeth chattered.

His whole body trembled as he stammered:

”Aren't you ashamed of yourself? A soldier doesn't fire at helpless, wounded men. Remember that!”

Weixler went white.

”I beg to inform you, Captain, that the one who was near our trench was hiding the others from us. I couldn't spare him.” Then, with a sudden explosion of anger, he added defiantly: ”Besides, I thought we had quite enough hungry mouths at home as it is.”

The captain jumped at him like a snapping dog and stamped his foot and roared:

”I'm not interested in what you think. I forbid you to shoot at the wounded! As long as I am commanding officer here every wounded man shall be held sacred, whether he tries to get to us or to return to the enemy.

Do you understand me?”

The lieutenant drew himself up haughtily.

”In that case I must take the liberty, sir, of begging you to hand me that order in writing. I consider it my duty to inflict as much injury upon the enemy as possible. A man that I let off to-day may be cured and come back two months later and perhaps kill ten of my comrades.”

For a moment the two men stood still, staring at each other as though about to engage in mortal combat. Then Marschner nodded his head almost imperceptibly, and said in a toneless voice:

”You shall have it in writing.”

He swung on his heel and left. Colored spheres seemed to dance before his eyes, and he had to summon all his strength to keep his equilibrium.

When at last he reached the dugout, he fell on the box of empty tins as if he had been beaten. His hatred changed slowly into a deep, embittered sense of discouragement. He knew perfectly well that he was in the wrong. Not at the bar of his conscience! His conscience told him that the deed the lieutenant had done was cowardly murder. But he and his conscience had nothing to say here. They had happened to stray into this place and would have to stay in the wrong. What was he to do? If he gave the order in writing, he would afford Weixler his desired opportunity of pus.h.i.+ng himself forward and invite an investigation of his own conduct.

He begrudged the malicious creature that triumph. Perhaps it were better to make an end of the whole business by going to the brigade staff and telling the exalted gentlemen there frankly to their faces that he could no longer be a witness to that b.l.o.o.d.y firing, that he could not hunt men like wild beasts, no matter what uniform they happened to wear. Then, at least, this playing at hide and seek would end. Let them shoot him, if they wanted to, or hang him like a common felon. He would show them that he knew how to die.

He walked out into the trench firmly, and ordered a soldier to summon Lieutenant Weixler. Now it was so clear within him and so calm. He heard the h.e.l.lish shooting that the Italians were again directing at the trench and went forward slowly like a man out promenading.

”They're throwing heavy mines at us now, Captain,” the old corporal announced, and looked at Marschner in despair. But Marschner went by unmoved. All that no longer mattered to him. The lieutenant would take over the command. That was what he was going to tell him. He could hardly await the moment to relieve himself of the responsibility.

As Weixler delayed coming, he crept up through the shaft to the top.

The man's small, evil eyes flew to meet him and sought the written order in his hand. The captain acted as though he did not notice the question in his look, and said imperiously: