ck21 18.8 KB
Newer Older
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296


	Beckworth/np handed/vbd the/at pass/nn to/in the/at colonel/nn ./.
He/pps had/hvd thought/vbn that/cs the/at suggestion/nn of/in taking/vbg it/ppo himself/ppl would/md tip/vb the/at colonel/nn in/in the/at direction/nn of/in serving/vbg his/pp$ own/jj order/nn ,/, but/cc the/at slip/nn of/in paper/nn was/bedz folded/vbn and/cc absently/rb thrust/vbn into/in the/at colonel's/nn$ belt/nn ./.
Despite/in his/pp$ yearning/nn ,/, the/at colonel/nn would/md not/* go/vb down/rp to/to see/vb the/at men/nns come/vb through/in the/at lines/nns ./.
He/pps would/md remain/vb in/in the/at tent/nn ,/, waiting/vbg impatiently/rb ,/, occupied/vbn by/in some/dti trivial/jj task/nn ./.


	--/-- Beckworth/np ./.


	--/-- Sir/nn ?/. ?/.


	--/-- Fetch/vb me/ppo the/at copies/nns of/in everything/pn B/np and/cc C/np companies/nns have/hv requisitioned/vbn in/in the/at last/ap six/cd months/nns ./.


	--/-- The/at last/ap six/cd months/nns ,/, sir/nn ?/. ?/.


	--/-- You/ppss heard/vbd me/ppo ./.
There's/ex+bez a/at lot/nn of/in waste/nn going/vbg on/rp here/rb ./.
It's/pps+hvz got/vbn to/to stop/vb ./.
I/ppss want/vb to/to take/vb a/at look/nn ./.
This/dt is/bez no/at damned/vbn holiday/nn ,/, Beckworth/np ./.
Get/vb busy/jj ./.


	--/-- Yes/rb ,/, sir/nn ./.


	Beckworth/np left/vbd the/at tent/nn ./.
Below/rb he/pps could/md see/vb the/at bright/jj torches/nns lighting/vbg the/at riverbank/nn ./.
He/pps glanced/vbd back/rb ./.
The/at colonel/nn crouched/vbd tensely/rb on/in one/cd of/in the/at folding/vbg chairs/nns ,/, methodically/rb tearing/vbg at/in his/pp$ thumbnail/nn ./.




The/at bombproof/jj was/bedz a/at low-ceilinged/jj structure/nn of/in heavy/jj timbers/nns covered/vbn with/in earth/nn ./.
It/pps stood/vbd some/dti fifty/cd paces/nns from/in the/at edge/nn of/in the/at bank/nn ./.
From/in the/at outside/nn ,/, it/pps seemed/vbd no/at more/ap than/in a/at low/jj drumlin/nn ,/, a/at lump/nn on/in the/at dark/jj earth/nn ./.
A/at crude/jj ladder/nn ran/vbd down/rp to/in a/at wooden/jj floor/nn ./.
Two/cd slits/nns enabled/vbd observers/nns to/to watch/vb across/in the/at river/nn ./.
The/at place/nn smelled/vbd strongly/rb of/in rank/jj ,/, fertile/jj earth/nn ,/, rotting/vbg wood/nn and/cc urine/nn ./.
The/at plank/nn floor/nn was/bedz slimed/vbn beneath/in Watson's/np$ boots/nns ./.
At/in least/ap the/at Union/nn-tl officer/nn had/hvd been/ben decent/jj enough/qlp to/to provide/vb a/at candle/nn ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at place/nn to/to sit/vb ,/, but/cc Watson/np walked/vbd slowly/rb from/in the/at ladder/nn to/in the/at window/nn slits/nns and/cc back/nn ,/, stooping/vbg slightly/rb to/to avoid/vb striking/vbg his/pp$ head/nn on/in the/at heavy/jj beams/nns ./.
In/in the/at corner/nn was/bedz the/at soldier/nn with/in the/at white/jj flag/nn ./.
He/pps stood/vbd stiffly/rb erect/jj ,/, clutching/vbg the/at staff/nn ,/, his/pp$ body/nn half/ql hidden/vbn by/in the/at limp/jj cloth/nn ./.
Watson/np hardly/rb looked/vbd at/in him/ppo ./.
The/at man/nn had/hvd come/vbn floundering/vbg aboard/rb the/at flat-bottomed/jj barge/nn at/in the/at last/ap instant/nn ,/, brandishing/vbg the/at flag/nn of/in truce/nn ./.
Someone/pn had/hvd hauled/vbn him/ppo over/in the/at side/nn ,/, and/cc he/pps had/hvd remained/vbn silent/jj while/cs they/ppss crossed/vbd ./.


	An/at officer/nn with/in a/at squad/nn of/in men/nns had/hvd been/ben waiting/vbg on/in the/at bank/nn ./.
The/at men/nns in/in the/at boats/nns had/hvd started/vbn yelling/vbg happily/rb at/in first/od sight/nn of/in the/at officer/nn ,/, two/cd of/in them/ppo calling/vbg him/ppo Billy/np ./.
When/wrb the/at boat/nn had/hvd touched/vbn ,/, the/at weaker/jjr ones/nns and/cc the/at two/cd wounded/vbn men/nns had/hvd been/ben lifted/vbn out/rp and/cc carried/vbn away/rb by/in the/at soldiers/nns ./.
Watson/np had/hvd presented/vbn his/pp$ pouch/nn and/cc been/ben led/vbn to/in the/at bombproof/jj ./.
The/at officer/nn had/hvd told/vbn him/ppo that/cs both/abx lists/nns must/md be/be checked/vbn ./.
Watson/np had/hvd given/vbn his/pp$ name/nn and/cc asked/vbn for/in a/at safe-conduct/nn pass/nn ./.
The/at officer/nn ,/, surprised/vbn ,/, said/vbd he/pps would/md have/hv to/to see/vb ./.
Watson/np had/hvd nodded/vbn absently/rb and/cc muttered/vbd that/cs he/pps would/md check/vb the/at lists/nns himself/ppl later/rbr ./.
He/pps had/hvd peered/vbn through/in the/at darkness/nn at/in the/at rampart/nn ./.
The/at men/nns he/pps would/md take/vb back/rb across/in the/at river/nn stood/vbd there/rb ,/, but/cc he/pps turned/vbd away/rb from/in them/ppo ./.
He/pps wanted/vbd no/at part/nn of/in the/at emotions/nns of/in the/at exchange/nn ,/, no/at memory/nn of/in the/at joy/nn and/cc gratitude/nn that/wps other/ap men/nns felt/vbd ./.
He/pps had/hvd hoped/vbn to/to be/be alone/rb in/in the/at bombproof/jj ,/, but/cc the/at soldier/nn had/hvd followed/vbn him/ppo ./.
Though/cs Watson/np carefully/rb ignored/vbd the/at man/nn ,/, he/pps could/md not/* deny/vb his/pp$ presence/nn ./.
Perhaps/rb it/pps would/md be/be better/jjr to/to speak/vb to/in him/ppo ,/, since/cs silence/nn could/md not/* exorcise/vb his/pp$ form/nn ./.
Watson/np glanced/vbd briefly/rb at/in him/ppo ,/, seeing/vbg only/rb a/at body/nn rigidly/rb erect/jj behind/in the/at languid/jj banner/nn ./.


	--/-- We/ppss won't/md* be/be too/ql long/jj ./.
If/cs my/pp$ pass/nn is/bez approved/vbn ,/, I/ppss may/md be/be a/at half/abn hour/nn ./.


	The/at soldier/nn answered/vbd in/in a/at curious/jj ,/, muffled/vbn voice/nn ,/, his/pp$ lips/nns barely/rb moving/vbg ./.
Watson/np turned/vbd away/rb and/cc did/dod not/* see/vb the/at man's/nn$ knees/nns buckle/vb and/cc his/pp$ body/nn sag/vb ./.


	--/-- Yes/rb ,/, sir/nn ./.


	He/pps had/hvd acknowledged/vbn the/at man/nn ./.
It/pps was/bedz easier/jjr to/to think/vb now/rb ,/, Watson/np decided/vbd ./.
The/at stiff/jj figure/nn in/in the/at corner/nn no/at longer/jjr blocked/vbd his/pp$ thoughts/nns ./.
He/pps paced/vbd slowly/rb ,/, stooping/vbg ,/, staring/vbg at/in the/at damp/jj ,/, slippery/jj floor/nn ./.
He/pps tried/vbd to/to order/vb the/at words/nns of/in the/at three/cd Union/nn-tl officers/nns ,/, seeking/vbg to/to create/vb some/dti coherent/jj portrait/nn of/in the/at dead/jj boy/nn ./.
But/cc he/pps groped/vbd blindly/rb ./.
His/pp$ lack/nn of/in success/nn steadily/rb eroded/vbd his/pp$ interest/nn ./.
He/pps stopped/vbd pacing/vbg ,/, leaned/vbd against/in the/at dank/jj ,/, timbered/vbn wall/nn and/cc let/vb his/pp$ mind/nn drift/vb ./.
A/at feeling/nn of/in futility/nn ,/, an/at enervation/nn of/in mind/nn greater/jjr than/cs any/dti fatigue/nn he/pps had/hvd ever/rb known/vbn ,/, seeped/vbd through/in him/ppo ./.
What/wdt in/in the/at name/nn of/in God/np was/bedz he/pps doing/vbg ,/, crouched/vbn in/in a/at timbered/vbn pit/nn on/in the/at wrong/jj bank/nn of/in the/at river/nn ?/. ?/.
Why/wrb had/hvd he/pps crossed/vbd the/at dark/jj water/nn ,/, to/to bring/vb back/rb a/at group/nn of/in reclaimed/vbn soldiers/nns or/cc to/to skulk/vb in/in a/at foul-smelling/jj hole/nn ?/. ?/.


	He/pps grew/vbd annoyed/vbn and/cc at/in the/at same/ap time/nn surprised/vbn at/in that/dt emotion/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz conscious/jj of/in a/at growing/vbg sense/nn of/in absurdity/nn ./.
Hillman/np had/hvd written/vbn it/ppo all/abn out/rp ,/, hadn't/hvd* he/pps ?/. ?/.
Wasn't/bedz* the/at report/nn official/jj enough/qlp ?/. ?/.
What/wdt did/dod he/pps hope/vb to/to accomplish/vb here/rb ?/. ?/.
Hillman/np had/hvd ordered/vbn him/ppo not/* to/to leave/vb the/at far/jj bank/nn ./.
Prompted/vbn by/in a/at guilty/jj urge/nn ,/, he/pps had/hvd disobeyed/vbn the/at order/nn of/in a/at man/nn he/pps respected/vbd ./.
For/in what/wdt ?/. ?/.
To/to tell/vb John/np something/pn he/pps would/md find/vb out/rp for/in himself/ppl ./.


	The/at figure/nn in/in the/at corner/nn belched/vbd loudly/rb ,/, a/at deep/jj ,/, liquid/nn eruption/nn ./.
Watson/np snorted/vbd and/cc then/rb laughed/vbd aloud/rb ./.
Exactly/rb !/. !/.


	The/at soldier's/nn$ voice/nn was/bedz muffled/vbn again/rb ,/, stricken/vbn with/in chagrin/nn ./.
He/pps clutched/vbd the/at staff/nn ,/, and/cc his/pp$ dark/jj eyes/nns blinked/vbd apologetically/rb ./.


	--/-- 'scuse/vb me/ppo ,/, sir/nn ./.


	--/-- Let's/vb+ppo get/vb out/in of/in here/rb ./.


	Watson/np ran/vbd up/in the/at ladder/nn and/cc stood/vbd for/in a/at second/od sucking/vbg in/in the/at cool/jj air/nn that/wps smelled/vbd of/in mud/nn and/cc river/nn weeds/nns ./.
To/in his/pp$ left/nr ,/, the/at two/cd skiffs/nns dented/vbd their/pp$ sharp/jj bows/nns into/in the/at soft/jj bank/nn ./.
The/at flat-bottomed/jj boat/nn swung/vbd slowly/rb to/in the/at pull/nn of/in the/at current/nn ./.
A/at soldier/nn held/vbd the/at end/nn of/in a/at frayed/vbn rope/nn ./.


	Three/cd Union/nn-tl guards/nns appeared/vbd ,/, carrying/vbg their/pp$ rifles/nns at/in ready/jj ./.
Watson/np stared/vbd at/in them/ppo curiously/rb ./.
They/ppss were/bed stocky/jj men/nns ,/, well/rb fed/vbn and/cc clean-shaven/jj ,/, with/in neat/jj uniforms/nns and/cc sturdy/jj boots/nns ./.
Behind/in them/ppo shambled/vbn a/at long/jj column/nn of/in weak/jj ,/, tattered/vbn men/nns ./.
The/at thin/jj gray/jj figures/nns raised/vbd a/at hoarse/jj ,/, cawing/vbg cry/nn like/cs the/at call/nn of/in a/at bird/nn flock/nn ./.
They/ppss moved/vbd toward/in the/at skiffs/nns with/in shocking/jj eagerness/nn ,/, elbowing/vbg and/cc shoving/vbg ./.
Four/cd men/nns were/bed knocked/vbn down/rp ,/, but/cc did/dod not/* attempt/vb to/to rise/vb ./.
They/ppss crept/vbd down/in the/at muddy/jj slope/nn toward/in the/at waiting/vbg boats/nns ./.
The/at Union/nn-tl soldiers/nns grounded/vbd arms/nns and/cc settled/vbd into/in healthy/jj ,/, indifferent/jj postures/nns to/to watch/vb the/at feeble/jj boarding/nn of/in the/at skiffs/nns ./.
The/at crawling/vbg men/nns tried/vbd to/to rise/vb and/cc fell/vbd again/rb ./.
No/at one/pn moved/vbd to/in them/ppo ./.
Watson/np watched/vbd two/cd of/in them/ppo flounder/vb into/in the/at shallow/jj water/nn and/cc listened/vbd to/in their/pp$ voices/nns beg/vb shrilly/rb ./.
In/in a/at confused/vbn ,/, soaked/vbn and/cc stumbling/vbg shift/nn of/in bodies/nns and/cc lifting/vbg arms/nns ,/, the/at two/cd men/nns were/bed dragged/vbn into/in the/at same/ap skiff/nn ./.
The/at third/od crawling/vbg man/nn forced/vbd himself/ppl erect/jj ./.
He/pps swayed/vbd like/cs a/at drunkard/nn ,/, his/pp$ arms/nns milling/vbg in/in slow/jj circles/nns ./.
He/pps paced/vbd forward/rb unsteadily/rb ,/, leaning/vbg too/ql far/ql back/rb ,/, his/pp$ head/nn tilted/vbd oddly/rb ./.
His/pp$ steps/nns were/bed short/jj and/cc stiff/jj ,/, and/cc ,/, with/in his/pp$ head/nn thrown/vbn back/rb ,/, his/pp$ progress/nn was/bedz a/at supercilious/jj strut/nn ./.
He/pps appeared/vbd to/to be/be peering/vbg haughtily/rb down/in his/pp$ nose/nn at/in the/at crowded/vbn and/cc unclean/jj vessel/nn that/dt would/md carry/vb him/ppo to/in freedom/nn ./.
He/pps stalked/vbd into/in the/at water/nn and/cc fell/vbd heavily/rb over/in the/at side/nn of/in the/at flat-bottomed/jj barge/nn ,/, his/pp$ weight/nn nearly/rb swamping/vbg the/at craft/nn ./.
Watson/np looked/vbd for/in the/at fourth/od man/nn ./.
He/pps had/hvd reached/vbn the/at three/cd passive/jj guards/nns ;/. ;/.
he/pps crept/vbd in/in an/at incertain/jj manner/nn ,/, patting/vbg the/at ground/nn before/in him/ppo ./.
The/at guards/nns did/dod not/* look/vb at/in him/ppo ./.
The/at figure/nn on/in the/at earth/nn halted/vbd ,/, seemingly/rb bewildered/vbn ./.
He/pps sank/vbd back/rb on/in his/pp$ thin/jj haunches/nns like/cs a/at weary/jj hound/nn ./.
Then/rb he/pps began/vbd to/to crawl/vb again/rb ./.
Watson/np watched/vbd the/at creeping/vbg figure/nn ./.
He/pps felt/vbd a/at spectator/nn interest/nn ./.
Would/md the/at man/nn make/vb it/ppo or/cc not/* ?/. ?/.
If/cs only/rb there/ex was/bedz a/at clock/nn for/in him/ppo to/to crawl/vb against/in ./.
If/cs he/pps failed/vbd to/to reach/vb the/at riverbank/nn in/in five/cd minutes/nns ,/, say/vb ,/, then/rb the/at skiffs/nns would/md pull/vb away/rb and/cc leave/vb him/ppo groping/vbg in/in the/at mud/nn ./.
Say/vb three/cd minutes/nns to/to make/vb it/ppo sporting/vbg ./.
Still/rb the/at guards/nns did/dod not/* move/vb ,/, but/cc stood/vbd inert/jj ,/, aloof/jj from/in the/at slow-scrambling/jj man/nn ./.
The/at figure/nn halted/vbd ,/, and/cc Watson/np gasped/vbd ./.
The/at man/nn began/vbd to/to creep/vb in/in the/at wrong/jj direction/nn ,/, deceived/vbn by/in a/at slight/jj rise/nn in/in the/at ground/nn !/. !/.
He/pps turned/vbd slowly/rb and/cc began/vbd to/to crawl/vb back/rb up/in the/at bank/nn toward/in the/at rampart/nn ./.
Watson/np raced/vbd for/in him/ppo ,/, his/pp$ boots/nns slamming/vbg the/at soft/jj earth/nn ./.


	The/at guards/nns came/vbd to/in life/nn with/in astonishing/jj menace/nn ./.
They/ppss spun/vbd and/cc flung/vbd their/pp$ rifles/nns up/rp ./.
Watson/np gesticulated/vbd wildly/rb ./.
One/cd man/nn dropped/vbd to/in his/pp$ knee/nn for/in better/jjr aim/nn ./.


	--/-- Let/vb me/ppo help/vb him/ppo ,/, for/in the/at love/nn of/in God/np !/. !/.


	The/at guards/nns lowered/vbd their/pp$ rifles/nns and/cc their/pp$ rifles/nns and/cc peered/vbd at/in Watson/np with/in sullen/jj ,/, puzzled/vbn faces/nns ./.
Watson/np pounded/vbd to/in the/at crawling/vbg man/nn and/cc stopped/vbd ,/, panting/vbg heavily/rb ./.
He/pps reached/vbd down/rp and/cc closed/vbd his/pp$ fingers/nns on/in the/at man's/nn$ upper/jj arm/nn ./.
Beneath/in his/pp$ clutch/nn ,/, a/at flat/jj strip/nn of/in muscle/nn surged/vbd on/in the/at bone/nn ./.
Watson/np bent/vbd awkwardly/rb and/cc lifted/vbd the/at man/nn to/in his/pp$ feet/nns ./.
Watson/np stared/vbd into/in a/at cadaverous/jj face/nn ./.
Two/cd clotted/vbn balls/nns the/at color/nn of/in mucus/nn rolled/vbd between/in fiery/jj lids/nns ./.
Light/jj sticks/nns of/in fingers/nns ,/, the/at tips/nns gummy/jj with/in dark/jj earth/nn ,/, patted/vbd at/in Watson's/np$ throat/nn ./.
The/at man's/nn$ voice/nn was/bedz a/at sweet/jj ,/, patient/jj whisper/nn ./.


	--/-- Henry/np said/vbd that/cs he'd/pps+md take/vb my/pp$ arm/nn and/cc get/vb me/ppo right/ql there/rb ./.
But/cc you/ppss ain't/ber* Henry/np ./.


	--/-- no/rb ./.


	--/-- It/pps don't/do* matter/vb ./.
Is/bez it/pps far/rb ?/. ?/.


	How/wrb far/rb could/md it/ppo be/be ,/, Watson/np thought/vbd bleakly/rb ,/, how/wrb far/rb can/md a/at blind/jj man/nn crawl/vb ?/. ?/.
Another/dt body/nn length/nn or/cc all/abn the/at rest/nn of/in his/pp$ nighted/jj life/nn ?/. ?/.


	--/-- Not/* far/rb ./.


	--/-- You/ppss talk/vb deep/rb ./.
Not/* like/cs us/ppo fellas/nns ./.
It/pps raises/vbz the/at voice/nn ,/, bein/beg in/in camp/nn ./.
You/ppss Secesh/np ?/. ?/.


	--/-- yes/rb ./.
Come/vb on/in ,/, now/rb ./.
Can/md you/ppss walk/vb ?/. ?/.


	--/-- Why/wrb ,/, course/nn I/ppss can/md ./.
I/ppss can/md walk/vb real/ql good/jj ./.


	Watson/np stumbled/vbd down/in the/at bank/nn ./.
The/at man/nn leaned/vbd his/pp$ frail/jj body/nn against/in Watson's/np$ shoulder/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz no/at heavier/jjr than/cs a/at child/nn ./.
Watson/np paused/vbd for/in breath/nn ./.
The/at man/nn wheezed/vbd weakly/rb ,/, his/pp$ fetid/jj breath/nn beating/vbg softly/rb against/in Watson's/np$ neck/nn ./.
His/pp$ sweet/jj whisper/nn came/vbd after/in great/jj effort/nn ./.


	--/-- Oh/uh ,/, Christ/uh ./.
I/ppss wish/vb you/ppo was/bedz Henry/np ./.
He/pps promised/vbd to/to take/vb me/ppo ./.


	--/-- hush/uh ./.
We're/ppss+ber almost/rb there/rb ./.


	Watson/np supported/vbd the/at man/nn to/in the/at edge/nn of/in the/at bank/nn and/cc passed/vbd the/at frail/jj figure/nn over/in the/at bow/nn of/in the/at nearest/jjt skiff/nn ./.
The/at man/nn swayed/vbd on/in a/at thwart/nn ,/, turning/vbg his/pp$ ruined/vbn eyes/nns from/in side/nn to/in side/nn ./.
Watson/np turned/vbd away/rb ,/, sickened/vbn for/in the/at first/od time/nn in/in many/ap months/nns ./.
He/pps heard/vbd the/at patient/jj voice/nn calling/vbg ./.


	--/-- Henry/np ?/. ?/.
Where/wrb are/ber you/ppss ,/, Henry/np ?/. ?/.


	--/-- Make/vb him/ppo lie/vb down/rp !/. !/.


	Watson/np snatched/vbd a/at deep/jj breath/nn ./.
He/pps had/hvd not/* meant/vbn to/to shout/vb ./.
He/pps stood/vbd with/in his/pp$ back/nn to/in the/at skiff/nn ./.
The/at men/nns mewed/vbd and/cc scratched/vbd ,/, begging/vbg to/to be/be taken/vbn away/rb ./.
Watson/np spoke/vbd bewilderedly/rb to/in the/at dark/jj night/nn flecked/vbn with/in pine-knot/nn torches/nns ./.


	--/-- Goddamn/vb you/ppo !/. !/.
What/wdt do/do you/ppo do/do to/in them/ppo ?/. ?/.


	Intelligence/nn jabbed/vbd at/in him/ppo accusingly/rb ./.
He/pps was/bedz angry/jj ,/, sickened/vbn ./.
He/pps had/hvd not/* felt/vbn that/cs during/in the/at afternoon/nn ./.
No/rb ,/, nor/cc later/rbr ./.
All/abn his/pp$ emotions/nns had/hvd been/ben inward/rb ,/, self-conscious/jj ./.
In/in war/nn ,/, on/in a/at night/nn like/cs this/dt ,/, it/pps was/bedz only/rb the/at outward/rb emotions/nns that/wps mattered/vbd ,/, what/wdt could/md be/be flung/vbn out/rp into/in the/at darkness/nn to/to damage/vb others/nns ./.
Yes/rb ./.
That/dt was/bedz it/pps ./.
He/pps was/bedz sure/jj of/in it/ppo ./.


	John's/np$ type/nn of/in man/nn allowed/vbd this/dt sort/nn of/in thing/nn to/to happen/vb ./.
What/wdt a/at fool/nn he/pps had/hvd been/ben to/to think/vb of/in his/pp$ brother/nn !/. !/.
So/rb Charles/np was/bedz dead/jj ./.
What/wdt did/dod it/pps matter/vb ?/. ?/.
His/pp$ name/nn had/hvd been/ben crossed/vbn off/in a/at list/nn ./.
Already/rb his/pp$ cool/jj body/nn lay/vbd in/in the/at ground/nn ./.
What/wdt words/nns had/hvd any/dti meaning/nn ?/. ?/.
What/wdt had/hvd he/pps thought/vbn of/in ,/, to/to go/vb to/in John/np ,/, grovel/vb and/cc beg/vb understanding/nn ?/. ?/.
To/to confess/vb with/in a/at canvas/nn chair/nn as/cs a/at prie-dieu/fw-nn ,/, gouging/vbg at/in his/pp$ heart/nn until/cs a/at rough/jj and/cc stupid/jj hand/nn bade/vbd him/ppo rise/vb and/cc go/vb ?/. ?/.
Men/nns were/bed slaughtered/vbn every/at day/nn ,/, tumbled/vbn into/in eternity/nn like/cs so/ql many/ap torn/vbn parcels/nns flung/vbn down/in a/at portable/jj chute/nn ./.
What/wdt made/vbd him/ppo think/vb John/np had/hvd a/at right/nn to/to witness/vb his/pp$ brother's/nn$ humiliation/nn ?/. ?/.
What/wdt right/nn had/hvd John/np to/in any/dti special/jj consideration/nn ?/. ?/.
Was/bedz John/np better/jjr ,/, more/ql deserving/jj ?/. ?/.
To/in hell/nn with/in John/np ./.
Let/vb him/ppo chafe/vb with/in impatience/nn to/to see/vb Charles/np ,/, rip/vb open/jj the/at note/nn with/in trembling/vbg hands/nns and/cc read/vb the/at formal/jj report/nn in/in Hillman's/np$ beautiful/jj ,/, schoolmaster's/nn$ hand/nn ./.
John/np would/md curse/vb ./.
He/pps believed/vbd that/cs brave/jj boys/nns didn't/dod* cry/vb ./.


	Watson/np spat/vbd on/in the/at ground/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz grimly/rb satisfied/vbn ./.
He/pps had/hvd stupidly/rb thought/vbn himself/ppl compelled/vbn to/in ease/vb his/pp$ brother's/nn$ pain/nn ./.
Now/rb he/pps knew/vbd perfectly/rb that/cs he/pps had/hvd but/in longed/vbn to/to increase/vb his/pp$ own/jj suffering/nn ./.