War seen through the eyes of Serra, a university student from Palermo who volunteers in 1942 to fight in Africa. He is assigned to the Pavia Division on the southern line in Egypt. Rommel and the Axis forces are bogged down; its October, the British prepare an offensive. At first, boredom, heat, hunger, and thirst bedevil the Italians; then the Brits attack, and theres no luck or heroism in death. Finally, its retreat in confusion. Serra, his sergeant Rizzo, and his lieutenant Fiori take a last walk toward home. Its said that each soldier gets three miracles; when Serras are used up, what then?