The Night of the Generals Page #8

there was anyone who knew

him better than me.

Hartmann's doing

a good job, isn't he, sir?

Yes. What?

Oh, yes! Apparently.

Of course, inspector,

as I said before,

I haven't seen Hartmann

since the war.

Don't want to see him,

after what he did.

But I'll say one thing, he had the most

extraordinary effect on women.

I don't know why.

Well, he wasn't what you'd call

really handsome.

Too skinny.

But whatever it was he had,

it worked out all right with women.

I think they must have

got together almost from

the first moment they met.

Well, things were like that

in the war.

I remember once in Paris,

meeting this girl in the Metro.

Well, anyway, you didn't waste time,

not with knowing maybe tomorrow

you'd be sent to the fronts or

the damned Allies would drop

a bomb on you.

Oh, worry, I didn't mean that

about the Allies.

After all, where would we be now

without Americans?

Nice.

I'd forgotten how nice.

Would you say there

were no girls in Russia?

Girls? I was too scared.

I'm hopeless when I'm scared.

Well, it's a good thing

I don't scare you, isn't it?

Yes, it's just that this room

makes me nervous.

Nervous?

Mm.

Oh, you have no sense of history.

Do you realize this used to be

the bed of the king of Poland.

Did it really?

Mm-hm.

It's like sleeping on the floor.

It's freezing in here.

Ah, but the king and the queen

never slept. They just made love.

They were never cold.

Do you like the war?

Do I like the war?

Good God, no. Do you?

If it weren't for the war,

I'd be on the marriage circuit now,

living on some army post,

making conversation

with dreary young officers.

Instead of making love

with dreary young corporals.

Oh, not dreary. Not at all.

In fact, the best so far.

Oh?

Do you specialize in corporals?

No.

Only heroes like you.

Just think, all this bravery

in my arms.

It must be very inspiring.

What's the matter?

You know, we mustn't like

each other too much.

Why? Because I'm a corporal

and you're a general's daughter?

No. It's because...

It's a man, a girl, a war.

Two boys I knew

are already dead in Russia.

It's funny.

In the dark,

you feel just like them to me.

And you like this war?

No. I like this.

No, no!

What's wrong?

Nothing. I thought

they were firing at me.

You're shaking like a leaf.

I'm all right now.

What's it like having people

try to kill you?

Noisy bastards.

Good morning.

Good morning,

king of Poland.

What's it like having people

try to kill you?

Well, what do you think it's like?

Terrible.

Yes.

I'm glad...

Well, I'm glad that you're here.

So am I.

But you'll be going back soon,

I suppose?

Not if I can help it, I won't.

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