4بخش

Yes.

Yes. I think you are.

This? Inside.

Will you write to my mum for me?

I will.

Tell her I wasn’t scared.

Anything else?

I love them.

I wish that…

I wish…

Talk to me.

Tell me you know the way.

I know the way.

I’m going to head south-east until I hit Ecoust.

I’ll pass through the town and out to the east, all the way to Croisilles Wood.

It’ll be dark by then.

That won’t bother me.

I’ll find the 2nd, I’ll give them the message.

And then I’ll find your brother.

Just like you, a little older.

You alright, mate?

It’s alright, it’s okay.

Come on, help him.

Jesus, what happened to him?

Was it the plane? We saw the smoke.

Yeah.

Go fetch his things.

Sir. Sir.

A friend?

What are you doing here?

I have an urgent message for the 2nd Devons.

Orders to stop tomorrow morning’s attack.

And where are they stationed? Just beyond Ecoust.

Come with me.

Come with me, Corporal. That’s an order.

We’re passing through Ecoust. We can take you some of the way.

Sir.

Oh, come on Sergeant. Put more men at the base.

At the trunk! It’ll be heavier there.

Might be a tight squeeze.

You’re not going to be able to just lift it.

Pivot the front end to the left.

Jesus, they don’t make things easy, do they.

They could at least have retreated with a bit of grace. Bastards.

Sir.

You’re not one of mine. No, Sir.

He has an urgent message to deliver to the 2nd Devons, Sir.

Can you get past it? No, Sir.

Oh, for God’s sake. Just move it!

There’s room in the casuals truck, sir.

He has orders. Yes, yes, alright.

Come on now. You can get through there sideways.

How did you get here, Sir?

Crossed No Man’s Land just outside Bapaume.

Took us the whole night.

Bumped into a couple of Hun stragglers on the way who made a nuisance of themselves.

You going up to the new line? Attempting to.

The Newfoundlands have pushed forwards and requested reinforcements.

I’m sorry about your friend.

May I tell you something that you probably already know?

It doesn’t do to dwell on it.

No, Sir.

Hop on.

Make some space there.

Come on, in you get!

Alright. Here we go again boys.

Welcome aboard the night bus to a fuck-knows-where.

Is that a dead dog?

You got a fag? Yeah, there you go.

Butler.

Carry on with that story. Oh yeah, right.

So, when we get off the train, Beaufoy comes up to us,

and he’s having a right go:

“Lance Corporal! Whatever one does, one never lets standards slip!”

Then, Scott comes out of the latrine,

he wipes his hand on the back of Beaufoy’s jacket!

Shit all down his back.

Was that meant to be Captain Beaufoy?

Oh, piss off you. You can’t do any better.

“Men! Your rifle stocks are an embarrassment to the entire expeditionary force”.

You’re both bloody awful.

You don’t know, you barely even speak the bloody language.

He’s got a better grasp of it than you, Cooke.

Go on then Jondalar, give it a go, let’s see it!

Let’s hear it then Jonny!

“Rossi! Never in my 200 years as a soldier have I seen such a sorry excuse for a latrine pit.”

Shite. That is total shit.

You could’ve taken my teeth out with that.

You could do with a new set.

You got somewhere you need to be?

Arsehole needs driving lessons.

He should reverse. Yeah.

Try it in reverse. Reverse!

No. Stop. Stop!

Everyone needs to get out.

All out! Come on!

Alright, alright. Keep your bloody hair on.

Right. One. Two. Three.

We need to get some wood, put it under the wheels.

No! We haven’t got the time! We all need to push. Come on.

Come on!

Come oooon!

Please. I have to go now. Please.

Alright, come on lads. Come on! Come on, boys.

One. Two. Three!

Come on boys! One last push! Yes! One. Two. Three!

Back in. Get back in. Go.

Are you alright?

Here, Driver, how about you try to keep it on the bloody road for a change!

Oh, piss off.

So, where are you going?

I have to get to the 2nd Devons. Just past Ecoust.

Why?

They’re attacking at dawn. I have orders to stop them.

How come?

They’re walking into a trap.

How many?

1600.

Jesus.

Why did they send you on your own?

They didn’t. There were two of us.

So, now it’s down to you.

Yes.

You’ll never make it.

Yes. I will.

Thank you.

Look at it. Fucking look at it.

Three years fighting over this.

We should have just let the bastards keep it.

I mean, who machine guns, cows?

Huns with extra bullets. Bastards.

Clever. They know if they don’t shoot the cow, you will eat it.

Still, bastards.

Yeah, it’s not even our bloody country.

How long gone d’you reckon they are?

Why? Worried we’ll catch up with them?

Yeah, right. Be a bloody miracle at this rate.

They are probably right around the next corner.

Piss off, no they’re not.

Why don’t they just bloody well give up?

Don’t they want to go home?

They hate their wives and mothers… and Germany must be a shit hole.

They’re retreating… they’re miles back. We’ve got them on the ropes at least.

No. We don’t.

Oh, bollocks. What’s up now? Not another bloody tree.

Bridge is down. That’s a shame.

Looks like I’ll be getting out here. Good luck.

Keep some of that luck for yourself pal. Think you’ll be needing it.

Good luck, mate. Good luck, guv.

Good luck. Don’t balls it up.

I hope you get there.

Thank you.

The next bridge is six miles. We’ll have to divert.

I can’t, Sir. I don’t have the time.

Of course.

Best of luck.

Thank you, Sir.

Corporal.

If you do manage to get to Colonel MacKenzie,

make sure there are witnesses.

They are direct orders, Sir.

I know.

But some men just want the fight.

Thank you, Sir.

Driver! Move off!