Adopting Terror

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BULGARIAN BORDER, 10 SEPT. 1918

Relax!

Coffee's on the way.

It's nothing!

Stay put Ferrandire.

It's just the 9 o'clock mail.

Sleep, sleep!

Who ordered that flare?

Something moved sir.

Just a rat.

I could've wiped you

and your slackers out.

My boys never sniffle, cough'

or get snagged on the wire.

Warn us next time'

or you may get shot like rabbits.

20 minutes to get up before

the moon clears the ridge.

You mucked up the ravine

with your patrols again.

I've got to use the left gully now.

Going up Socrates?

I sent a runner over

to Hill 915 yesterday.

He never arrived.

If you spot the body, let me know.

Send up

as many flares as usual tonight.

If any man fires a shot

too many, he answers to me!

You making that racket?

Malaria, sir. It'll pass.

Stay here.

Stay here!

That's rotten!

De Scve...

Where's Conan?

Went up 20 minutes ago.

He forgot me!

He likes you. He didn't want

to turn you down.

- I look dumb.

- You look dumb.

Did the mess get any mutton in?

My men got dysentery

from that frozen Aussie rabbit.

What's Conan up to?

Takes time to get up there, sir.

The Senegalese moan

they eat too much mutton.

And us, nothing since Christmas!

The n*ggers have it better than us!

Where are the prisoners?

You'll pay for this!

C'mon, you bastards!

What? We're going back?

You took a while, but bravo!

Yeah, congratulate 'em...

The buzzards!

I'd like to re-arrange a few mugs!

F***in, bastards!

We forgot to take prisoners!

Aren't those two there Bulgars?

Sure. We went back for 'em.

He'll chew me out!

You lucky. War over.

Drink this.

I don't get you, but I can guess...

Shut up!

Here, Rouzic... It's his loss.

A bit late for guinine, Mahut!

We got our wires crossed.

Watch how you clods hold him!

Keep his head up!

Easy, son! We'll take care of you.

I'll see to it.

Carry him like the Holy Grail.

How do you say "disinfectant"?

Really, it's the same?

And "antiseptic"?

Rouzic can bring your mail.

Thanks, sir.

Don't thank me. Mail doesn't

automatically mean good news.

Why, only last week

I got dumped by a fiancee.

Only got six left now!

Here's to you, old man!

I can't use him now.

He'll be soldiering in a month.

So?

My job's not fighting'

it's butchery.

A bum shoulder and you're out.

You go to staff college?

No loss. A lot of shirkers

who bust your chops!

If our hours don't suit you'

gentlemen, please let us know.

We'll be honored

to conform to yours.

Sir, I...

My fault, sir.

I was visiting my wounded.

But our young friend wasn't.

I took him along.

He's good with words.

I get into a muddle.

You don't do so badly.

Well, sit down.

Your wounded...?

OK, but Perrin's got to transfer.

Good soldier?

Try him. First-rate.

Major?

Work it out between you.

Don't let it get cold.

Ageing potatoes'

like bashful virgins'

need to be warmed up

for consumption.

Sorry, sir, but the hospital visit

upset our stomachs.

Smell of ether, likely.

Sure, he knows I'm riding him'

but I won't pretend their glop

tastes like chocolate.

We're getting eggs.

When they grow wings.

That's just like you, sir!

Watch the wire.

It either rings or it explodes.

No scream.

It's rabbit stew tonight!

And a scream?

Depends... Boche or Bulgar.

I've got the runs, sir!

Try some Pernod.

Ass down, Rabier!

Come eat now, sir'

before it's overcooked.

Be right in. We have a guest.

Hey, boys, this is Lt. Norbert!

I added stuffing: Olives and onions'

breadcrumbs and bacon.

Some wine! Don't speak Breton

with our friend here.

Rouzic...

If they were all like him'

we'd still be living in caves.

But he's a real fighter!

Know Hill 818?

The little stream?

He went to wash my socks

and came back

nudging a Bulgar! He wanted to give

him a drink. Took him for a Greek!

How could I tell he wasn't Greek?

Cushy, no?

Not for all tastes, though.

De Scve calls this place...

the barbarian's cave.

Bordeaux. Real Bordeaux!

Courtesy of the Brits.

I wanted to buy a case... No way.

So I swiped two without paying.

There's a nibble of stew left...

Let's have it.

No, it's too much.

It's venison!

Big fat General Berthelot would give

his kepi just to suck the bones!

A taste, then.

How do you manage?

The army's starved.

Special diet, you mean?

But our work's special.

You'd find it hard to stomach.

My father said:

"Use what God puts in your pack."

Me, I strike hard and fast. Always!

While you...

Say, let me see your pistol.

I'll take a leak.

The trigger's slack.

You go with that redhead?

Smart-ass!

The farm near the Turks...

Oh, right! I think I've seen her.

Seen her? She gave two

of my boys the clap.

The clap? Oh, yeah?

So maybe that's why...

Your nose runs. Get her treated

before she sinks the division.

So that's why she's so cheap!

The one I really wanted

was the Greek girl from the bar.

And...?

She threw my money in my face.

Leave this with me until tomorrow.

We may move out.

Lend him a gun.

Anything beats a slingshot.

I've got a Mauser in perfect shape.

Perfect.

Speak any Greek?

Ancient Greek. Literary.

Better than nothing...

Tell her she resembles my sister.

It puts 'em at ease.

Nothing smutty, OK?

My Greek won't do.

Try English.

Skip it, sonny.

If she can manage, so can I.

Midnight leave's up, lads.

Back to camp. On the double!

Sir, is it true about the big push?

Artillery's moving up

and they're saying...

I get it! The usual rubbish.

Sorry to interrupt, sir...

Just a minute.

I'm paying my respects to the lady.

Sit your pretty little ass

down here.

Got a room here?

What happened?

An attack on De Scve's sector.

Pretty nasty.

Sh*t! Conan!

Lt. Norbert, 2nd Company.

Get me the attack group.

Send a man out to find Conan

on the double!

You can hang up.

That knocked you for a loop, eh?

They sent a motorbike

while you were having kittens.

Just when I was learning Greek!

Better eguipped than us!

The Boche supplied 'em

with new gear.

Half our privates have holes

in their trousers. Not these guys!

There aren't only Buls...

Must've been Boches too.

Nasty show!

De Scve didn't cop it with them.

Must be a prisoner.

We looked all over for him.

You looked, but I'll find him.

Sorry, Conan, but you're no longer

on your own.

The rumor was right:

It's the big push.

- Matter of hours.

- Meaning?

Your men join

a machine-gun unit.

You fight with the buddies.

The buddies will have to adapt!

It's hell up there!

Your helmet!

Get that phone line up. Faster!

Keep going!

Orders, sir!

From the Colonel, sir!

- Your name?

- Riguiou, sir.

You never saw me.

What?

Not seen, not found.

If the Colonel ever says otherwise'

you'll answer to me!

I didn't see you?

So I go back? Is that it?

That's it, Riguiou, my boy.

You go back.

Hey, where you from?

Paris suburbs.

Go home.

"Hold ridge and await orders."

While the others run for it! My ass!

Still there, Riguiou?

Brandy and hot coffee ahead!

Took your guinine?

Careful, sir.

They'll get you.

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