按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mhouse； no wall； no apple trees。 Already 5 half a mile of concrete road lay between bare clay banks and on open ditches showed where the municipal contractors had designed a system of drainage。 Another year of peace would have made the place part of the neighbouring suburb。 Now the huts where we had wintered waited their turn for destruction。
Over the way； the subject of much ironical ment； half hidden even in winter by its embosoming trees； lay the municipal lunatic asylum； whose cast…iron railings and noble gates put our rough wire to shame。 We could watch the madmen； on clement days； sauntering and skipping among the trim gravel walks and pleasantly planted lawns； happy collaborationists who had given up the unequal struggle； all doubts resolved； all duty done； the undisputed heirs…at…law of a century of progress； enjoying the heritage at their ease。 As we marched past； the men used to shout greetings to them through the railings … 'Keep a bed warm for me； chum。 I shan't be long' … but Hooper； my newest…joined platoon…mander； grudged them their life of privilege； 'Hitler would put them in a gas chamber；' he said； 'I reckon we can learn a thing or two from him。'
Here； when we marched in at mid…winter； I brought a pany of strong and hopeful men； word had gone round among them； as we moved from the moors to this dockland area； that we were at last in transit for the Middle East。 As the days passed and we began clearing the snow and levelling a parade ground； I saw their disappointment change to resignation。 They snuffed the smell of the fried…fish shops and cocked their ears to familiar； peace…time sounds of the works' siren and the dance…hall band。 On off…days they slouched now at street ers and sidled away at the approach of an officer for fear that； by saluting； they would lose face with their new mistresses。 In the pany office there was a crop of minor charges and requests for passionate leave； while it was still half…fight； day began with the whine of the malingerer and the glum face and fixed eye of the man with a grievance。
And I； who by every precept should have put heart into them … how could I help them； who could so little help myself。？ Here the colonel under whom we had formed； was promoted out of our sight and succeeded by a younger and less lovable man； cross…posted from another regiment。 There were few left in the mess now of the batch of volunteers who trained together at the outbreak of war； one way and another they were nearly all gone … some had been invalided out； some promoted to other battalions； some posted to staff jobs； some had volunteered for special service； one had got himself killed on the field firing range； one had been court…martialled … and their places were taken by conscripts； the wireless played incessantly in the ante…room nowadays and much beer was drunk before dinner； it was not as it had been。
Here at the age of thirty…nine I began to be old。 I felt stiff and weary in the evenings and reluctant to go out of camp； I developed proprietary claims to certain chairs and newspapers； I regularly drank three glasses of gin before dinner； never more or less； and …went to bed immediately after the nine o'clock news。 I was always awake and fretful an hour before reveille。
Here …my last love died … There was nothing remarkable in the manner of its death。 One day； not long before 'this last day in camp； as I lay awake before reveille； in the Nissen hut； gazing into the plete blackness； amid the deep breathing and muttering of the four other occupants； turning over in my mind what I had to do that day … had I put in the names of two corporals for the weapon…training course？ Should I again have the largest number of men overstaying their leave in the batch due back that day？ Could I trust Hooper to take the candidates class out map…reading？ … as I lay in that dark hour； I was aghast to realize that something within me； long sickening； had quietly died； and felt as a husband might feel； who； in the fourth year of his marriage； suddenly knew that he had no longer any desire； or tenderness； or esteem； for a once…beloved wife； no pleasure in her pany； no wish to please； no curiosity about anything she might ever do or say or think； no hope of setting things right； no self…reproach for the disaster。 I knew it all； the whole drab pass of marital disillusion； we had been through it together； the Army and I； from the first importunate courtship until now； when nothing remained to us except the chill bonds of law and duty and custom。 I had played every scene in the domestic tragedy； had found the early tiffs bee more frequent； the tears less affecting； the reconciliations less sweet； till they engendered a mood of aloofness and cool criticism； and the growing conviction that it was not myself but the loved one who was at fault。 I caught the false notes in her voice and learned to listen for them apprehensively； I recognized the blank； resentful stare of inprehension in her eyes； and the selfish； hard set of the ers of her mouth。 I learned her； as one must learn a woman one has kept house with； day in； day out； for three and a half years； I learned her slatternly ways； the routine and mechanism of her charm her jealousy and self…seeking and her nervous trick with the fingers when she was lying。 She was stripped of all enchantment now and I knew her for an uncongenial stranger to whom I had bound myself indissolubly in a moment of folly。
So； on this morning of our move； I was entirely indifferent to our destination。 I would go on with my job； but I could bring to it nothing more than acquiescence。 Our orders were to entrain at 0915 hours at a nearby siding； taking in the haversack the unexpired portion of the day's ration； that was all I needed to know。 The pany second…in…mand had gone on with a small advance party。 pany stores had been packed the day before。 Hooper had been detailed to inspect the lines。 The pany was parading at 0730 hours with their kit…bags piled before the huts。 There had been many such moves since the wildly exhilarating morning in 1940 when we had erroneously believed ourselves destined for the defence of Calais。 Three or four times a year since then we had changed our location； this time our new manding officer was making an unusual display of 'security' and had even put us to the trouble of removing all distinguishing badges from our uniforms and transport。 It was 'valuable training in active service conditions'； he said。 'If I find any of these female camp followers waiting for us the other end； I'll know there's been a leakage。'
The smoke from the cook…houses drifted away in the mist and the camp lay； revealed as a planless maze of short…cuts； super…imposed Oh the unfinished housing…scheme as though disinterred at a much later date by a party of archaeologists。
'The Pollock diggings provide a valuable link between the citizen…slave munities of the twentieth century and the tribal anarchy which succeeded them。 Here you see people of advanced culture； capable of an elaborate draining system and the construction of permanent highways； over…run by a race of the lowest type。'
Thus； I thought； the pundits of the future might write； and； turning away； I g