4/21/2021 0 Comments The Wars By Timothy Findley
On the seventh day after his return to the front, Robert finds that the German guns have finally found their mark.He discovers that his kit bag, containing his socks, shirt, underwear, binoculars, and his Webley pistol, has not made the trip with him.
The way back to the front is circuitous and long, fraught with delays. Robert thinks about his family, imagining them at Jacksons Point occupying the screened porch they would frequent in the spring. He is still twelve miles from his destination at Bailleul. It is 4 am. He settles on a bench and falls asleep. He inquires with the station officer and is told that he should walk the remainder of the way if he wants to arrive in Bailleul before nightfall. His belongings will come by wagon but if he waits it will be after midnight before he arrives and all the hotel beds may be taken. When he finally arrives at Bailleul he is exhausted and suffering a headache. He sleeps irregularly and wakes at odd hours, hungry and unkempt. He has been sleeping in the same shirt and underwear for days. He lies on the bed and begins caressing himself before masturbating and falling asleep. He shaves, dresses, and walks through the town on his way to Desol, where he can bathe in the bath house. Desol houses inmates and patients, many of whom are mentally impaired. He particularly dislikes the feeling of the small room, having become afraid of small spaces ever since the walls of the dugout collapsed. As he leaves, some of the patients begin to cause a scene and are restrained by the attendants. He is trapped inside with several other men, but cannot see them at all. The towel in his hand is yanked away and the men descend on him. His assailants are his fellow soldiers and Robert never sees their faces. He begins looking all over the room, tearing it apart looking for these things. Robert wants desperately to embrace Poole but he knows that they cant, and mustnt. While approaching the front the convoy is attacked by an airplane. One rainy night on the road between Wytsbrouk and Bailleul Roberts horse suddenly stops and refuses to go further.
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