CHAPTER 8

Summary

The next afternoon, it was scheduled that the Italians would launch an attack up the river. Henry took four cars up there in order to bring back wounded soldiers. Before going there, however, he went to the British hospital and was able to meet Catherine for a few moments. He referred to the Italian attack as a show and told her that he would be back the next day. She gave him an image of Saint Anthony strung on a chain to ward off evil and bad luck. She begged him not to say good-bye, but say that he would be back the next evening. The other ambulance driver was also wearing a Saint Anthony image at his suggestion and then promptly forgot all about it. When he was wounded later on, he did not find it on his person. As he was travelling, Henry saw a lot of mountains around him. He also saw several troops on the road, trucks, and mules carrying mountain guns. The mountains he saw were on the Austrian side; the Italians had nothing like them. He could also see a river far down below and an old bridge across it. It was nearly dark when he arrived at his destination.

Notes

The war gears up a little. The movement of troops and guns, the tactical plans, and the ambulances being readied prove that an offensive will be launched soon. The symbol of the mountain again occurs here.

Catherine, we come to know, is not a Catholic. Even though she is not overtly religious at all. She is tremendously concerned for Henry's safety and for that reason, she gives him an image of St. Anthony.

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