The Lost Patrol Page #3

like what you got at home, Topper.

The Garden of Eden Temperance Hotel.

Brother Sanders, will you lead us

in prayer, or are we to be spared that?

I likes that tune, Morelli.

That was my cue in the music halls.

When the orchestra did that...

boom.

I come down rolled up in the curtain.

It always knocked them.

Topper, what is it when two things

happen at the same time?

- Coincidence?

- A coincidence. That's it.

Play it again, will you, Morelli?

That's what the band was playing

when we sailed from Tilbury.

And here was I,

standing on the deck...

and there was Molly, in a red hat,

a-waving from the dock.

First time she ever saw me in my khaki,

and the last sight I ever had of her.

So, there's a Molly with a red hat

in your love life, is there?

Molly's me wife, Topper.

We were married that morning

by the regimental chaplain.

- Married, huh?

- Got a baby.

I'm the father of a boy.

Herbert Hale Jr. II.

Got a letter when we left Cairo.

I've got a picture of the nipper here.

It's in my haversack. I'll show you.

He's two months old.

- Two months?

- Yes.

Splendid fellow, Herbert.

Nothing like a family.

It's all right, Pearson, it's me.

Now, if I was one of those sneaking

Arabs, I'd have cut your throat by now.

Well, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't think.

I mean...

I was just thinking.

What were you thinking?

Well, that moon.

It's so bright.

It sort of gets one, Sergeant.

I was just thinking

that in 12 hours' time...

that same moon

will be shining over England.

Makes it seem sort of close.

Don't you think so, Sergeant?

I never thought of that.

- How old are you, son?

- 19, sir.

Public school?

No, I had a tutor for a while.

Just Mother and I.

She never wanted me to be away.

Guess that's why I'm here now.

I ran away.

Joined up, huh?

Well, I thought it was

the right thing to do.

My uncle, well,

he's in the War Office.

He wanted to wangle me a commission.

But I'd rather be on my own.

That's why I'm glad I'm here.

Oh, I suppose I'll get a commission,

eventually...

but it's a fine thing

to come up from the ranks.

- Don't you think so, Sergeant?

- Yes.

You see, you're more on your own.

You're around fine soldiers...

men like Mr. McKay

and Mr. Quincannon...

the kind of soldiers I read about

in Kipling. I'm crazy about Kipling.

And here I am...

a part of it now.

The finest thing is,

they're so modest.

They don't even see the glory in it,

do they?

No.

How about your mother?

What did she say

about your joining up?

She didn't like it.

First time I ever saw her cry.

Well, you're lucky, son.

Nobody ever cried over me.

Well, stop looking at the moon

or you'll be seeing ghosts.

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