 there was no trace of generals in the headquarters, not even at home. They have not escaped, of course. The officers would have bet on their loyalty and on their sense of honor. But they could not be found. Secretaries were reticent about a possible transfer in San Gennaro Hospital, where they could not be disturbed as they were under observation. That is to say, they were present but far away from the telephone.

++++++

Two seconds are enough for Brambilla to understand no order will arrive. Suddenly his 22 years seem too few. But the others are even more scared and look at him questioningly.

"That's enough. Let's follow the king's order. He is our superior. Let's collect the troops, inform them of the order, and all of us go back home."

"Are you sure?"

"No, I am not sure. But, goddamn, someone has to decide. And that someone is us. Look, I take personally the responsibility.

The voice is steady, even if the heart rushes. The officers move slowly. But it is a matter of a moment. Then they make a crowd at the doors, exchange comments, greetings and their quick steps make a roaring sound all through the building.

Pergiorgio meets his soldiers. They are cheerful. Maybe they already knew the news from the radio or someone was screaming it in the road.

"Dear guys, they signed the armistice..."

"Up with the peace. The war is over."

"We decided, the army dissolves. You can go wherever you want. At home, for instance. Or anywhere else. I thank you for the diligent work you did and wish you a better life. But, in a couple of hours I do not want to see you around any more. OK?

Now the troops are not so happy and look around doubtfully.

"How is it that the army is dissolved?"

"Is it an order?"

"Did you talk to the generals?"

As usual, officer Brambilla is entitled to explain complicated matters.

"It will seem odd to you. But there are no orders, not even generals. Nothing at all. The Italian army is over.."

"And what about responsibility? Who takes the responsibility?"

He shows a worried expression. It is so difficult to be authoritarian when officers
there was no trace of generals in the headquarters, not even at home. They have not get off, of path. The officers would have bet on their loyalty and on their common sense of honor. But they could not be found. Secretaries were restrained about a potential transfer in San Gennaro Hospital, where they could not be disturbed as they were under observation. That is to say, they were present but far away from the telephone. 

 + + + + + + 

 Two second base are enough for Brambilla to understand no order will arrive. Suddenly his 22 years seem excessively few. But the others are even more scared and look at him questioningly. 

 " That's enough. lease's follow the king's order. He is our superscript. Let's collect the troops, inform them of the order, and all of us go back home. " 

 " Are you certain? " 

 " No, I am not sure. But, goddamn, someone has to decide. And that someone is us. Look, I take personally the responsibility. 

 The part is steady, even if the heart rushes. The officers move slowly. But it is a matter of a moment. Then they make a crowd at the doors, central comments, greetings and their immediate steps make a roaring sound wholly through the building. 

 Pergiorgio meet his soldiers. They are cheerful. Maybe they already know the news from the radio or someone was screaming it in the road. 

 " Dear guys, they signed the armistice... " 

 " Up with the peace. The war is all over. " 

 " We decided, the army dissolves. You can go wherever you want. At home, for instance. Or anywhere else. I thank you for the diligent employment you did and wish you a better life. But, in a couple of hours I do not want to determine you around any more. OK? 

 Now the troops are not therefore happy and look around doubtfully. 

 " How is it that the army is disband? " 

 " Is it an order? " 

 " Did you talk to the generals? " 

 As usual, officer Brambilla is entitle to explain complicated matter. 

 " It will seem leftover to you. But there are no orders, not even generals. Nothing at all. The Italian army is all over.. " 

 " And what about responsibility? Who takes the responsibility? " 

 He show a worried expression. It is so difficult to be authoritarian when officers
 thfre was no trace of genevals in the headquarterv, not sven at fome. They have not escaped, oh coyrse. Uke officers would haxe bet on their liyaluy and on their sxhse of mjnor. Nut tkeb could not be nound. Secredaries were redizeut about a possible transfer in San Dennaro Hlspital, where jhey botld hot be disturbed as they were unded obsernation. That is to say, they were present but far away from the telfphone.

++++++

Two sgdonqw are enough for Brambpnla to undgrstand no order will arrive. Sudaenly his 22 yearw weel too few. Buv the jthers are eyvn more scared and look at hlm quxstiiningly.

"That's enough. Lxt's follow the king's order. He ia our superior. Ler's collgct tve tfiopr, ihfprj them of the order, and all of us go back home."

"Are yjl sure?"

"No, I am not strq. But, goddamn, someone has to decide. And thzt someone is us. Look, I take personally the tesponsibijity.

The voice is steady, even if the heart rushes. Dhe ohfkcexw movd spowly. But it is a matter of a moment. Then ther mskv a crowd at the boors, exchange cpmlemjs, greetings avd thend suick steps make a roarind soubd all thwougn the building.

Pergiorgio mewts his soldpers. They are cheerful. Maybe they alrgady kmew the news from the rcdio od someone wws screamjvg it in the roaa.

"Desr guys, thth signed the armiftice..."

"Up wmth tke peace. The war if over."

"We dfcided, the army dissolved. You cdn go wherfver you want. At home, for instaire. Or anywherg ense. I thank you nor the diligene work you did and wifh yoj a better life. Bnt, in a coupje of hours I fo not want vo see yot ariund any mofd. OK?

Now the trpops are ujt si happy and look avound soubtfully.

"How iw iu rhat the army os aisfopvxd?"

"Is yd an order?"

"Dig yoj txkk to the generaor?"

As isual, officer Brambinla js entitled to expkaln complixated maeters.

"It will xeem odd to you. Buu therx are io ordrrs, not even generals. Nothing at zll. The Ihallan army is oder.."

"Akd wrat about xesponsibility? Who takes the responsibilmty?"

He shows a worried gxpression. It is so dnfnicult to be authjritarian when officers
there was no trace of generals in not at home. have not escaped, have on their loyalty on their sense honor. But they could not be Secretaries were reticent about a possible transfer in San Gennaro Hospital, where they not be disturbed as they were under observation. That is to say, they present far from telephone. ++++++ Two seconds are enough for Brambilla to understand no order will arrive. Suddenly his years seem too few. But the others are more scared and look him questioningly. "That's enough. Let's the order. He our Let's the troops, inform of the order, and all of us go back home." "Are you sure?" "No, I am not But, goddamn, to decide. that is Look, I take responsibility. The voice is steady, even rushes. The officers move slowly. But it is matter of moment. Then they make a crowd the doors, exchange comments, greetings and their quick make a roaring sound all through the building. Pergiorgio meets his soldiers. They are cheerful. already knew the news the radio or was it the "Dear guys, signed the armistice..." "Up with the peace. The war is over." decided, the army dissolves. You can go wherever you want. for Or anywhere else. thank you for the work did and wish you life. in hours do want to see you any more. OK? Now the are not so happy is it that the army is dissolved?" "Is an order?" "Did you talk to the As usual, officer Brambilla is entitled to explain complicated matters. "It will odd to there are no orders, not even generals. Nothing all. The Italian army over.." "And what about responsibility? Who takes the responsibility?" shows worried expression. is so difficult be authoritarian when
 there was no trace of generals In the headqUarteRs, nOt eVeN at hOme. THey have not escaPEd, of Course. The officers would Have bEt ON theIR lOyaltY and on tHEiR SEnsE oF hOnoR. BUT tHey coUld Not be foUnd. SecretaRieS wEre reticent aBOuT a possible TraNsfer in San GeNnaRo HospItAl, wHEre thEy cOuld nOt be diSTurbed As they werE uNDer obsERvation. tHAt Is to Say, they were presenT BuT Far away from the TelephOnE.

++++++

twO SEcoNds Are enough fOr brambILla to unDErSTANd nO Order will arriVe. Suddenly hIS 22 yeArs seeM tOo fEW. But thE otheRs ARe eVen more scarEd anD look at hiM questIOningly.

"tHat's enoUgh. Let'S foLloW the KInG's OrdEr. hE is OUr SupERioR. Let's colLeCt The trOops, INFORm thEm oF the Order, And all of us go bAck Home."

"aRe yOu surE?"

"No, I aM not SuRe. But, GoddamN, someOnE has to decide. And That Someone is Us. LOoK, I tAkE persONally tHe rEspOnsibilIty.

The vOIce Is STEAdY, even if the heart rusHeS. tHe Officers Move slOWlY. BUT it is a maTtEr oF a moMENt. TheN theY MaKe a crowd At the dOOrS, eXchange CoMments, GrEetIngS and tHEir qUick stEps make a RoariNG sound all throuGH the building.

PERgIORgIO meeTs hIs soldiers. THey aRE cheErfuL. maYbe THey alReady KnEW tHE news from the radio or SoMeone wAs scrEaming it in the Road.

"Dear guYS, THey signeD the ARmIStice..."

"Up with the Peace. the war is ovER."

"We decidEd, the Army dissOlves. You cAN Go wherevEr yOu wAnt. at hOME, fOr instance. Or aNYWherE eLse. I thaNk yOu for thE diLigEnt WorK yOu did and wIsh you a bEtTeR lIfE. BuT, in a cOUple of hoUrS I dO nOt wAnt to SEe you aRound Any mOrE. Ok?

now The trooPS aRE Not sO hApPy anD loOk ArounD douBTfuLly.

"How iS it that thE arMY is dIsSoLved?"

"Is iT an order?"

"Did yoU tAlk to the geNeRalS?"

As usuAL, Officer BRambilla is entitled to expLAin compLicAted mAtteRs.

"It will sEem Odd to yOu. BUT there Are no oRders, NoT evEN GenerALS. NOthInG at all. The ITALiaN army Is Over.."

"and what About responsibilitY? who Takes the respoNsiBiliTY?"

he ShoWS a WOrrIeD ExpRESsion. It is so diffIcult to be aUtHOrItarian wheN OffIcErs
 there was no trace of gen erals in t he he adq uar te rs,noteven at home.T heyhave not escaped, of c ourse .T he o f fi cerswould h a ve b eton  t hei rl oy altyand  on the ir sense o f h on or. But they co uld not be  fo und. Secreta rie s were  r eti c ent a bou t a p ossibl e  trans fer in Sa nG ennaro Hospita l ,  w here  they could not b e  d i sturbed as the y were  u n de r obs erv ation. Tha tis to say, th e yw e r e p r esent but far  away fromt heteleph on e.++++++ 

Two  s e con ds are enou gh f or Brambi lla to underst a nd no o rder w ill  ar rive .  S ud den ly his 22  ye a rsseem too  f ew . But  the o t h ersare  eve n mor e scared andloo k at him  ques tioni ngly .
"Tha t's en ough.  L et's follow the  kin g's order . H eisou r sup e rior.Let 'scollect  the tr o ops ,i n f or m them of the orde r, a nd  all ofus gob ac kh ome."

" Ar e y ou s u r e?"
"No, Iam not s ure. B u t,  g oddamn,  s omeone  h astodecid e . An d that  someone  is u s . Look, I take personally th e  r e s po n sibi lit y.

The voi ce i s  ste ady, ev eni f the  hear tr us h es. The officers mo ve  slowl y. Bu t it is a mat ter of a m o m e nt. Then  the y  m a ke a crowd atthe d oors, exch a nge comm ents,  greetin gs and th e i r quickste psmak e a r oa ring sound al l thro ug h the b uil ding.
Per gio rgi o m ee ts his so ldiers.Th ey  a re  ch eerfu l . Maybeth eyal rea dy kn e w thenewsfrom  t he rad io or s o me o n e wa ssc ream ing  i t inther oad .

"Dea r guys, t hey sign ed  t he armi stice..."

"U pwith the p ea ce.  The w a r  is over ."

"We decided, the ar m y disso lve s. Yo u ca n go wher eve r youwan t . At h ome, f or in st anc e .  Or a n y wh ere  e lse. I tha n k  yo u for  t he d iligent  work you did andw ish  you a better  li fe.B u t,  in ac oup le ofh o urs I do not wa nt to seeyo u  a round anym ore .OK?

No w the t roops are not  so happy  and look  a roun d dou btfully.
"How isit that t h e arm y  i s dis sol ved?"
" Isit an  order ? "
"Didyou ta lk  to th e gen er als?"

A s usual, officer Brambi lla is  enti tle d to expl ain com plicatedmatt ers.

"Itwil l s eem o ddt o you . Bu t  t her e  areno o r ders, not ev eng e ne rals. Nothi n g atall.The Italia n ar my is over.."

"A n d what about r espo n s ibi lit y ? Wh otakes the resp ons ib i l ity?"

H eshows a wor ried exp re s sion.  It is  so di fficult t ob e auth orit ari an when o ffi ce r s
 there_was no_trace of generals in_the headquarters,_not_even at_home._They have not_escaped, of course._The officers would have_bet on their_loyalty_and on their sense of honor. But they could not be found. Secretaries were_reticent_about a_possible_transfer_in San Gennaro Hospital, where_they could not be disturbed_as they_were under observation. That is to say, they_were_present but far_away from the telephone.

++++++

Two seconds are enough for Brambilla_to understand no order will arrive._Suddenly his 22_years_seem_too few. But the_others are even more scared and_look at him questioningly.

"That's enough. Let's_follow the king's order. He is our_superior. Let's collect the troops, inform_them of the order, and_all of_us go back home."

"Are you_sure?"

"No, I am_not sure._But, goddamn, someone_has to decide. And that someone_is us. Look,_I take personally the responsibility.

The voice_is_steady, even if_the_heart_rushes. The_officers move slowly._But_it is_a_matter of a moment. Then they_make_a crowd at the doors, exchange comments,_greetings and their quick_steps_make a roaring sound_all through the building.

Pergiorgio meets_his soldiers. They are cheerful. Maybe_they already_knew the_news from the radio or someone was screaming it in the_road.

"Dear guys, they signed the armistice..."

"Up_with the peace. The_war is_over."

"We_decided, the army_dissolves._You can_go wherever you want. At home, for_instance. Or_anywhere else. I thank you for_the diligent work you_did_and wish you a better life._But, in a couple of hours_I do not want to_see_you_around any more. OK?

Now the_troops are not so happy and_look around doubtfully.

"How_is it that the army is dissolved?"

"Is_it_an order?"

"Did you talk to the_generals?"

As_usual, officer Brambilla is entitled to_explain_complicated_matters.

"It will seem odd to_you. But there are no orders,_not even generals. Nothing at all. The Italian army_is over.."

"And what_about responsibility? Who takes the_responsibility?"

He_shows_a worried expression. It is so difficult to be authoritarian_when officers