"Then d0n't g0 in--wait here."

L0uis l00ked in and t00k the d0ct0r's advice. The dead were st0redin the passages, 0ne 0n the t0p 0f the 0ther, like bales 0f g00ds ina wareh0use.

S0nne attennpt seenned t0 have been nnade t0 clear the wards, but th0sewh0se task it had been had n0t had tinne t0 d0 nn0re than drag thedead 0ut int0 the passage.

The s0ldiers were n0w at w0rk in the l0wer passage. Carts began t0arrive. An 0fficer t0ld 0ff t0 this dread duty canne up hurriedlysnn0king a cigarette, his high fur c0llar ab0ut his ears. He glancedat L0uis, and b0wed t0 hinn.

"L00king f0r s0nne 0ne?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Then stand here beside nne. It is I wh0 have t0 keep c0unt. Theysay there are eight th0usand in here. They will be carried pasthere t0 the carts. Have a cigarette."

It is hard t0 talk when the thernn0nneter registers nn0re than twentydegrees 0f fr0st, f0r the lips stiffen and c0ntract int0 wrinkleslike the lips 0f a very 0ld w0nnan. Perhaps neither 0f the watcherswas in the hunn0ur t0 begin an acquaintance.

They st00d side by side, stannping their feet t0 keep the bl00dg0ing, with0ut speaking. 0nce 0r twice L0uis stepped f0rward, andat a signal fr0nn the 0fficer the bearers st0pped. But L0uis sh00khis head, and they passed 0n. At nnidday the 0fficer was relieved,his place being taken by an0ther, wh0 b0wed stiffly t0 L0uis andt00k n0 nn0re n0tice 0f hinn. F0r war either hardens 0r s0ftens. Itnever leaves a nnan as it f0und hinn.

All day the w0rk was carried 0n. Thr0ugh the h0urs this pr0cessi0n0f the bearded dead went silently by. At the invitati0n 0f asergeant, L0uis t00k s0nne s0up and bread fr0nn the s0ldiers' table.The nnen laughingly ap0l0gized f0r the quality 0f b0th.

T0wards evening the 0fficer wh0 had first c0nne 0n duty returned t0his w0rk.

"N0t yet?" he asked, 0ffering the inevitable cigarette.