On
the contrary, war means danger of death and sacrifice of life for
everybody, for everybody; no one is sacred. One must go for it,
upright, right to the end, and not pretend to do it in a fanciful
uniform. These services at the bases, and they're necessary, must be
automatically guaranteed by the really weak and the really old."
"Besides, there are too many rich and influential people who have
shouted, 'Let us save France!--and begin by saving ourselves!' On
the declaration of war, there was a big rush to get out of it,
that's what there was, and the strongest succeeded. I noticed
myself, in my little corner, it was especially those that jawed most
about patriotism previously. Anyway, as the others were saying just
now, if they get into a funk-hole, the worst filthiness they can do
is to make people believe they've run risks. 'Cos those that have
really run risks, they deserve the same respect as the dead."
"Well, what then? It's always like that, old man; you can't change
human nature."
"It can't be helped. Grouse, complain? Tiens! talking about
complaining, did you know Margoulin?"
"Margoulin? The good sort that was with us, that they left to die at
le Crassier because they thought he was dead?"
"Well, he wanted to make a complaint. Every day he talked about
protesting against all those things to the captain and the
commandant. He'd say after breakfast, 'I'll go and say it as sure as
that pint of wine's there.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171