The 19th River Guard Summary

Having joined the army, Alesandro is sent to the front lines where he is soon taken captive and sent to a prisoner of war camp. With two friends, a soldier called Euridice and another named Guariglia, Alessandro makes his escape. They run to the relative safety of a bell tower staffed by the Italian 19th River Guard, close to the Austrian line. Relieved at their survival, the three decide to take a daring midnight swim in the river under the noses of the Austrian machine gunners on a nearby ridge. They strip naked and shout advice to each other about how to swim undetected by the enemy. Whenever Guarligia raises his voice or shouts, Euridice tells him to "shut up, you fucking little tick." They seem to be doing well until suddenly a phosphorus shell explodes overhead...