Поющие в терновнике

           Greasydankmud,unearthlyforestswhichglowedwithcoldpalespectrallightafterdarkfromphosphorescentfungi,precipitousclimbsoveragnarledtangleofexposedrootswhichmeantamancouldn’tlookupforasecondandwasasittingduckforasniper.ItwasaboutasdifferentfromNorthAfricaasanyplacecouldget,andtheNinthwasn’tabitsorryithadstayedtofightthetwoAlameinsinsteadofKokodaTrail.

           Laewasacoastaltownamidheavilyforestedgrasslands,farfromtheeleven-thousand-footelevationsofthedeepinterior,andfarmoresalubriousasabattle-groundthanKokoda.JustafewEuropeanhouses,apetrolpump,andacollectionofnativehuts.TheJapanesewereasevergame,butfewinnumberandimpoverished,aswornoutfromNewGuineaastheAustralianstheyhadbeenfighting,asdiseaseridden.AfterthemassiveordnanceandextrememechanizationofNorthAfricaitwasstrangenevertoseeamortarorafieldpiece;justOwengunsandrifles,withbayonetsinplaceallthetime.JimsandPatsylikedhand-to-handfighting,theylikedtogoinclosetogether,guardeachother.ItwasaterriblecomedownaftertheAfrikaKorps,though,therewasnodoubtaboutit.Pint-sizeyellowmenwhoallseemedtowearglassesandhavebuckteeth.Theyhadabsolutelynomartialpanache.

           TwoweeksaftertheNinthlandedatLae,therewerenomoreJapanese.Itwas,forspringinNewGuinea,averybeautifulday.