The Lost Patrol Page #2

Don't jest, Quincannon.

You know what this place really is.

I do, and I can tell you in 50 words.

And every one of them forbidden.

If you'd read your Bible...

instead of hanging around canteens

and native quarters all your life...

you'd know that Mesopotamia...

this, this very spot that you're

standing on this very minute...

is the actual Garden of Eden.

The Garden of Eden!

The Garden of Eden, how are you?

I tell you, it'd take no angel

with a flaming sword to drive me out.

That's blasphemy, Quincannon!

- You'd better not...

- Blasphemy?

Are you aware you're talking to a man

who was for 10 years an altar boy?

- How you feeling, Pearson, better?

- Oh, I feel fine, thank you, sir.

I'm sorry I wasn't

quite up to it out there.

- Guess I'm not much of a soldier yet.

- You're all right, lad. You did fine.

- You'll learn.

- Thank you, sir.

Sure he'll learn.

Take for an example yon Matlow.

I remember the time when he first came

to the regiment 20 years ago...

the time Quincannon and myself had

making a soldier of him.

Michael, do you mind the time

we were at the depot at Poona together?

- I was Troop Sergeant Major at the time...

- Excuse me...

but I was Troop Sergeant Major

at the time.

Oh, no, Michael.

You were Troop Sergeant Major...

but you had been broken

for being drunk and disorderly...

setting fire to your tent...

and appearing on the parade ground

with nothing on...

but your drawers and your topi.

That's a dirty lie.

I did not set fire to my tent.

Well, as I was saying...

Matlow was no better nor no worse

a soldier than he.

And look at him now.

- Quincannon.

- Sergeant.

Yeah?

How soon are we going to join up

with the brigade?

I don't know.

Tomorrow, possibly the next day.

Yes, sir.

Yes, but everything's all right now,

isn't it?

Why, yes, certainly.

Quincannon, have you seen that

the horses are securely pegged down?

Yes, Sergeant.

Well, I want you to

paste this in your hat.

Our getting back to the brigade

depends entirely on our horses.

Well, we've lost one today, you know,

McKay's horse.

- Now that's bad.

- Now, don't worry, Sergeant.

They're as secure as

if I was in charge myself.

They'll stand through the night.

Well, before you kip down tonight,

look them over again.

All right, Sergeant.

Pearson.

I think I'll give you a whack

at sentry-go tonight.

Will do you good.

Yes, sir.

All right, get your rifle

and watch over the horse lines.

Yes, sir.

Well, boys, it's hotter in here

than it is out there.

Aye.

Hey, here's a place there might be

some shelter from the wind.

Come on, Matlow.

I say, jolly sort of place, isn't it?

There ain't no swansdown feather beds

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