all quiet on the western front - stearns

1、ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONTErich Maria RemarqueCHAPTER IWe are at rest five miles behind the front. Yesterday we were relieved, and now our bellies are full of beef and haricot beans. We are satisfied and at peace. E

2、ach man has another mess-tin full for the evening; and, what is more, there is a double ration of sausage and bread. That puts a man in fine trim. We have not had such luck as this for a long time. The cook with his c

3、arroty head is begging us to, eat; he beckons with his ladle to everyone that passes,ana spoons him out a great dollop. He does not see how he can empty his stew-pot in time for coffee.Tjaden and Muller have produced

4、two wash-basins and had then filled up to the brim as a reserve. InTjaden this is voracity, in Muller it is foresight. WhereTjaden puts it all is a mystery, for he is and always will be as thin as a rake.What's mor

5、e important still is the issue of a double ration of smokes.Ten cigars, twenty cigarettes, and twoquids of chew per man; now that is decent. I have exchanged my chewing tobacco withKatczinsky for his cigarettes, which

6、means I have forty altogether. That's enough for a day.It is true we have no right to this windfall. The Prussian is not so generous. We have only a miscalculation to thank for it.Fourteen days ago we had to go up

7、and relieve the front line. It was fairly quiet on our sector, so the quartermaster who remained in the rear had requisitioned the usual quantity of rations and provided for the full company of one hundred and fifty m

8、en. But on the last day an astonishing number of English field-guns opened up on us with high-explosive, drumming ceaselessly on our position, so that we suffered heavily and came back only eighty strong.Last night we

9、moved back and settled down to get a good sleep for once:Katczinsky is right when he says it would not be such a bad war if only one “They won't be fed by you to-day. They're either in the dressing-station or p

10、ushing up daisies.“The cook was quite disconcerted as the facts dawned on him. He was staggered. “And I have cooked for one hundred and fifty men------“Kropppoked him in the ribs. “Then for once we'll have enough. C

11、ome on, begin I“Suddenly a vision came overTjaden . His sharp, mousey features began to shine, his eyes grew small with cunning, his jaws twitched, and he whispered hoarsely: “Man!then you've got bread for one hund

12、red and fifty men too, eh?“The sergeant-cook nodded, absent-minded and bewildered.Tjadenseized him by the tunic. “And sausage?“Ginger nodded again.Tjaden'schaps quivered.“Tobacco too?““Yes, everything.“Tjadenbeamed: