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           Onlytheydidn’t.WhiletheNorthwaitedforitstroopshipstheseesawtippedagain;theEighthArmywasinfullretreatbackfromBenghazi.PrimeMinisterChurchillstruckabargainwithPrimeMinisterCurtin.TheNinthAustralianDivisionwouldremaininNorthAfrica,inexchangefortheshipmentofanAmericandivisiontodefendAustralia.Poorsoldiers,shuttledaroundbydecisionsmadeinofficesnotevenbelongingtotheirowncountries.Givealittlehere,takealittlethere.

           ButitwasahardjoltforAustralia,todiscoverthattheMotherCountrywasbootingallherFarEasternchicksoutofthenest,evenapoultasfatandpromisingasAustralia.

           ***

           OnthenightofOctober23rd,1942,itwasveryquietinthedesert.Patsyshiftedslightly,foundhisbrotherinthedarkness,andleanedlikeasmallchildrightintothecurveofhisshoulder.Jims’sarmwentaroundhimandtheysattogetherincompanionablesilence.SergeantBobMalloynudgedPrivateColStuart,grinned.

           "Pairofpoofs,"hesaid.

           "Fuckyou,too,"saidJims.

           "Comeon,Harpo,saysomething,"Colmurmured.Patsygavehimanangelicsmileonlyhalfseeninthedarkness,openedhismouthandhootedanexcellentimitationofHarpoMarx’shorn.EveryoneforseveralyardshissedatPatsytoshutup;therewasanall-quietalerton.

           "Christ,thiswaiting’skillingme,"Bobsighed.

           Patsyspokeninashout:"It’sthesilencethat’skillingme!"

           "Youfuckin’side-showfraud,I’lldothekilling!"Colcroakedhoarsely,reachingforhisbayonet.