The “private” was actually pilot Nately’s girlfriend, who was a whore. When Nately died in a flying mission, Yossarian made a special trip to Rome to inform her of the mishap. At the moment she knew the misfortune, she snatched a knife and almost stabbed Yossarian, who then escaped from Rome. Yet the girl trailed him and looked for chances to murder him. Here she disguised herself as a private in a green costume and awaits Yossarian to assassinate him. Yossarian had seen her before, so he found the “private” familiar but strange.