The Desert Rats Page #2

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- Currie, sir.

- Tom, give us a bit of help.

- Come on. Lift him up here.

ln with him, Pete.

Comes up smellin' like a rose every time.

He'll ride and we'll walk,

and that ruddy captain'll

turn out to be his long-lost son.

(bomb approaching)

(groaning)

Where'd you get it, Jim?

- Must be a shell splinter. Get his coat off.

- Stand back.

- What are you men doing?

- We have a man wounded.

You'll have more if you

let these men bunch up.

- He's hurt bad.

- Let the medics handle it.

- But he's my best friend.

- Get these men out of here.

Take cover!

- Now get out of here!

- Move out at the double!

Come on, move! And spread out!

At the double!

Keep moving, there.

(bomb approaching)

Noisy show you're running.

That fool could have had

his whole platoon killed.

Don't be too hard on him.

After all, it's only his first night here.

He'll never see another if he doesn't

learn about Rommel's artillery.

You're still impatient.

You haven't changed much, Tammy.

Well, l suppose l haven't, either.

You haven't got a little nip

of something, have you?

- lt's all l've got.

- l could have done with something stronger.

Ugh. What on earth is this?

Desert water. You'll get used to it, sir.

No one but a camel could get used to that.

Yes, and l wish you would stop ''sirring'' me.

You know, in our positions

it's a little embarrassing.

- How did you get into this?

- l suppose the way l get into everything.

A schoolmaster with the nickname

of Blind Tom doesn't last long.

l got an idea l might find

greener pastures in one of the dominions.

Unfortunately, l picked Australia,

where it appears everyone volunteers.

l made my usual mistake of being

in a pub the day war was declared,

- and on a wave of beer suds, l...

- You might at least have got a commission.

Commission? l'm the perfect private soldier.

No worries, no responsibilities.

- l can't even be demoted.

- Don't believe that for a minute.

Being an infantryman is

the toughestjob in the army.

(bomb approaching)

Let me get you a transfer, sir.

l know a staff officer...

No.

lt's good of you, Tammy, but no.

l'd only mess that up too.

And don't you worry about me.

You've got your own job.

All right.

There's your new home.

There's one thing you might like to know, sir.

At school... we all thought

you were the best of the lot.

When sober.

Good night, Tammy...

Uh, good night, Captain.

And thank you, sir.

(bomb approaching)

- You'll need two feet more.

- Two feet?

You'll wish it were ten

when the mortars drop.

When you finish, put the dirt in sandbags

and camouflage the position with brush.

Anything else...

sir?

Yes.

Save that water. That's all you'll get.

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