The Desert Rats Page #5

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Ah, not then he wasn't. He is now.

Yes, he is. And whether you like

him or not, he's a good soldier.

Then let him soldier with

the king's flamin' guards.

He saved your stinkin' neck

today, and the position, too.

Ah? Now l hear he's

court-martialling Carstairs.

- What about that, Blue?

- l wouldn't know.

- The CO's boy.

- Why...

- Sergeant Smith?

- Yes, sir.

- Did you get the men to the position?

- Just moving up.

Come on, get going. Come on, move.

lf any man goes to sleep out there,

l'll have him shot.

Get goin'!

There'll be none of that here,

or l'll tear you apart with me bare hands.

Break it down, Bluey. l was only thinking.

Never mind thinking. You're a footslogger.

Now get moving.

- Captain?

- Who is it?

Oh, you, sir.

- How's your hand?

- Burning like brimstone. But how are you?

l found a very deep hole.

lf you can dig deep enough,

only your pride gets hurt.

- Look, let me get you a transfer...

- No, no.

Don't say it again.

l'm afraid l might take you up on it.

- l wanted to talk to you about something.

- Oh?

Harry Carstairs.

There's a rumour that

he's to be court-martialled.

lt's no rumour.

l forwarded the papers tonight.

But why, Tammy?

lt was a natural and courageous thing to do.

Certainly it was.

But that has nothing to do with it.

He disobeyed orders,

jeopardised the position.

- But he's just a boy...

- We've no use for boys here,

- particularly not as officers.

- You can't be much older than he is.

l don't know whether l am or not.

l do know that l've been here a year.

And one of the first things l learned was

that this isn't a game for children.

Men get killed and stay killed.

- l know that.

- l don't think you do, sir.

Only a line officer knows

that any decision he makes

may involve somebody

being killed or wounded.

His job is to follow orders

and make decisions

without letting sentiment, loyalty,

friendship or anything else interfere.

When he can't do that, he might as well

get rid of whatever he's got up here.

He's no good to himself

or anybody else any more.

- That's a pretty cold estimate, Tammy.

- Perhaps it is, but it's the truth.

(aeroplanes approaching)

(gunfire in distance)

They'll just try to knock out

our supply convoy in the harbour.

- How do you know?

- l'm just guessing.

- Would you sooner get in there?

- Yes.

That's all there is to it.

Now, what's all this concern for an officer?

l thought you were a confirmed private.

l like him. He's honest, fair to his men

and, for a young man, very understanding.

- Did he let you off a couple of work details?

- Maybe, but he's done other things.

He gave me the bottle that was responsible

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