He examined the mountain with little emotion,...
He examined the mountain with little emotion, almost indifferenceBut when he looked away he was bothered by the fear all of the men in the platoon had felt at one time or another that dayLike the others, Red was wondering if this patrol would be the one where his luck ran out

Goldstein and Martinez were talking about AmericaBy chance they had chosen cots next to each other, and they spent the afternoon lying on them, their ponchos drawn over their bodiesGoldstein was feeling rather happyHe had never been particularly close to Martinez before, but they had been chatting for several hours and their confidences were becoming intimateGoldstein was always satisfied if he could be friendly with someone; his ingenuous nature was always trustingOne of the main reasons for this wretchedness in the platoon was that his friendships never seemed to lastMen with whom he would have long amiable conversations would wound him or disregard him the next day, and he never understood itTo Goldstein, men were friends or they weren't friends; he could not comprehend any variations or disloyaltiesHe was unhappy because he felt continually gold gucci watches betrayed
Yet he never became completely disheartenedEssentially he was an active man, a positive manIf his feelings were bruised, if another friend had proved himself undependable, Goldstein would nurse his pains, but almost always he would recover and sally out againThe succession of rebuffs he had suffered in the platoon had made him more wily, more cautious in what he said and didBut still, Goldstein was too affectionate to possess any real defenses; at the first positive hint of friendship he was ready to forget all his grievances and respond with warmth and simplicityNow he felt he knew MartinezIf he had phrased his opinion he would have said to himself, Martinez is a very fine fellowHe's a little quiet but he's a nice guyVery democratic for a sergeant
"You know in America," Martinez was saying, "lots of opportunity
"Oh, there is," Goldstein nodded sagely"I know I've got plans for setting up my own business, because I've considered it a-lot, and a man has to strike out for himself if he wants to get aheadThere's a lot to be said for steady wages and security, but I'd rather be my own boss"Lots of money in your own business, ladies rolex for sale huh?"
"Sometimes
Martinez considered thisMoney! A little perspiration formed on his palmsHe thought for a moment of a man named Ysidro Juaninez, a brothelkeeper who had always fascinated him when he was a childHe shivered as he remembered the way Ysidro would hold a thick sheaf of dollar bills in his hand"After the war maybe I get out of the Army
"You certainly ought to," Goldstein said"I mean you're an intelligent fellow and you're dependable He did not know how to say itHe was always embarrassed at mentioning the fact that he was a MexicanHe thought it was bad manners as if he were blaming the man he told it to, implying that it was his fault there were no good jobs for himBesides, there was always the irrational hope he might be taken for a pure Spaniard
"Still, I'm no educated," he said
Goldstein shook his head in commiseration"That's an obstacle, it's trueI've always wanted a college education, and I feel its absenceBut for business a good head can carry you throughI really believe in being honest and sincere in business; all the really big men got where they are through decencyHe wondered how big a room a very rich man tiffany and co earrings needed to hold his moneyImages of rich clothing, of shoeshines and hand-painted ties, a succession of tall blonde women with hard cold grace and brittle charm languished in his head"A rich man do anything he damn well feel like it," Martinez said with admiration
"Well, if I were rich I'd like to be charitablewhat I want is to be well off, and have a nice house, some securityDo you know New York?"
"No
"Anyway there's a suburb I'd like to live in," Goldstein said, nodding his head"It's really a fine place, and nice people in it, cultured, refinedI wouldn't like my son to grow up the way I did
Martinez nodded sagelyHe never possessed any definite convictions or ambitions, and he always felt humble when he talked to a man who had sharp complete plans"America's a good country," he said sincerelyHe had a glow of righteous patriotism for a moment; half-remembered was his image of a schoolroom and the children singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee For the first time in many years he thought of being an aviator, and felt a confused desire"I learn to read good in school," he said"The teacher thought I was smart
"I'm sure she did," Goldstein chanel clutch said with conviction
The water was less rough, and the spray had become infrequentMartinez looked about the boat, listened for a moment to the random sounds of conversation, and shrugged again
Gallagher had come back to his cot, which was adjacent to Martinez's, and he lay down without saying anythingGoldstein was uncomfortable; he had not spoken to Gallagher for over a month"It's a wonder none of the men are seasick," Goldstein said at last"These boats aren't good for traveling
"Roth, Wyman, they're sick," Martinez said
Goldstein shrugged proudlyI'm used to being on boatsA friend of mine had a sailboat on Long Island, and in the summer I used to go out with him a lotI enjoyed it thoroughly He thought of the Sound and the pale dunes that surrounded it"It was beautiful thereYou know you can't beat America for beautiful country
"You can say that again, brother," Gallagher snorted suddenly
It was just his way of talking, Goldstein decidedHe didn't mean any harm"Did you ever go out on boats, Gallagher?" he asked mildly
Gallagher raised himself on an elbow"Aaah, I went canoeing once in a while out on the Charles, past West chanel purses bags Rox