Поющие в терновнике

           "Youknow,I’dratherbemeandgetshotatthanbeasapper,"saidColStuart,leaningonhisshovel.

           "Idunno,mate;Ithinkthey’vegotthebestofit,"growledhissergeant."Waitingbehindthefuckin’linesuntilwe’vedoneallthework,thenouttheytoddlewiththeirbloodyminesweeperstoclearnicelittlepathsforthefuckin’tanks."

           "Itisn’tthetanksatfault,Bob;it’sthebrasswhodeploythem,"Jimssaid,pattingtheearthdownaroundthetopofhissectionoftheirnewtrenchwiththeflatofhisspade."Christ,though,Iwishthey’ddecidetokeepusinoneplaceforawhile!I’vedugmoredirtinthelastfivedaysthanabloodyanteater."

           "Keepdigging,mate,"saidBobunsympathetically.

           "Hey,look!"criedCol,pointingskyward.

           EighteenRAFlightbomberscamedownthevalleyinperfectflying-schoolformation,droppingtheirsticksofbombsamongtheGermansandItalianswithdeadlyaccuracy.

           "Bloodybeautiful,"saidSergeantBobMalloy,hislongnecktiltinghisheadatthesky.

           Threedayslaterhewasdead;ahugepieceofshrapneltookoffhisarmandhalfhissideinafreshadvance,butnoonehadtimetostopexcepttopluckhiswhistlefromwhatwasleftofhismouth.Menweregoingdownnowlikeflies,tootiredtomaintaintheinitialpitchofvigilanceandswiftness;butwhatmiserablebarrengroundtheytooktheyheldonto,inthefaceofabitterdefensebythecreamofamagnificentarmy.Ithadbecometothemallnomorethanadumb,stubbornrefusaltobedefeated.