Bataan Page #4

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of the ravine as far as we can.

All right, come on.

Go ahead, Sarge.

This guy, Burns,

used to toss 'em left-handed.

Is that so?

You know...

...that's a funny thing.

I'm a southpaw myself.

- Hold it!

- But they need us up yonder!

The Sergeant'll sing out when he needs us!

Get back on the job.

Sulfanilamide powder

and a piece of adhesive tape.

How bad's he hurt?

Lost a quarter of an inch of heel.

Well, that he can spare.

We're like ducks in a shootin' gallery.

Do you suppose those guys might get

discouraged and call this party off, Sarge?

No, they'll snipe us by daytime

and paste that bridge together by night...

...until it's across.

They don't get discouraged.

They got plenty of time.

Yep, they set the clock.

What's the matter, Sarge?

I'm wonderin' how long these guys

can stand up to this stuff.

They've done all you told 'em,

neat and proper so far.

They haven't been here long yet.

If they were real soldiers, Jake,

it'd be different.

The way it is, I'm wondering

if headquarters wouldn't say...

...we did good enough even if I ordered

to pack up and get out of here tonight.

We could be a long ways by morning,

associating with a better class of people!

I don't think you'll give

any kind of an order like that.

Those kids signed up for this

just like you and me.

They'll get tired, sure.

Things'll get tough, sure.

But they won't put their tails

between their legs...

...and run any more than you would.

What do you think you're doing?

Plenty Japs over there, tanks, artillery.

I go tell General MacArthur.

He sends planes...

...planes drop bombs on Japs!

Bang! Fourth of July!

I can make it, Sarge.

I know this piece of country all over.

- Born around here?

- Oh, no.

I'm Moro from Mindanao,

but when I am little kid...

...my old man is traveling salesman

for sewing machines.

This piece of country

very good territory for him.

I go along to keep the

dough for my mom.

Because when my pop drinks the coconut,

he's loco in the coco.

They got a dollar down,

dollar when you catch 'em, even here.

One dollar down, you bet.

If the collector has to catch you...

...no more coco!

I come from onetime

very murdering family, Sergeant.

- So long. See you in the funny paper.

- Wait.

Get your clothes on and get civilized again.

Somebody got to go tell the General.

That'll do a lot of good,

tellin' the General.

What's the matter, Mister?

Look, Joe, the General ain't got any planes.

He ain't gonna get any.

If I was you, I wouldn't say that.

I reckon the U.S. Is sendin' help

as best as they can, as fast as they can.

Oh, sure, sure.

Help that don't exist is on the way.

Private, lead us in three rousing cheers!

Sarge, you better bury

the rest of us face down...

...so we don't keep lookin' up

for the planes that ain't coming!

Sergeant, I gotta bust one of your orders.

Come on, get on your feet, Todd.

Why not?

Might as well get this over right.

At ease!

You spoke your piece.

All right, sit down.

Come on, sit down, both of you!

Yankee...

I hope he gets to talk to the General.

Oh, boy! It sure is a fine,

pretty morning, ain't it?

Reminds me of how the sun came up

when I was a cowpuncher once...

...out west in Texas.

Of course, we never had

none of this kind of fog out there.

That's something else I've done

in my past. I punched cattle once.

- What's the matter with you?

- Just tired. Long night we put in.

No, sir. I'm no doctor, but I worked

in a drugstore once. You're sick.

Don't you go saying that!

Don't you say that to anybody! I mean it!

What do you want to get mad for?

If a man's sick, he's sick.

It's no disgrace that I know of.

Don't you tell the Sergeant.

Yes, sir, Lieutenant.

It's time to get back.

Get your stuff and let's get movin'.

Yes, sir.

What we've done look all right?

Fine. It's a good night's work.

Is she anywheres near ready to go?

No, not quite yet.

Say, Lieutenant? Lieutenant?

Do you reckon if we was to lay down

and cork off awhile...

...the Sarge'd be too put out?

I mean, after we check in.

I'll tell him you did a hard night's work

and deserve a little sleep.

I guess us men could use

a little rest, couldn't we?

- 'Morning, Sergeant.

- 'Morning, Lieutenant. How'd it go?

Rome wasn't built in a day.

It says in the book.

That was a nice job you did on the bridge.

Yeah, it turned out okay.

Lieutenant.

Sergeant.

These men had kind of a tough night.

I think they could use a little sleep.

All right. Right after inspection.

All right, men. Fall in over here.

All right, front and center. Everybody up.

Jake, you stay on your gun.

How's the heel?

I feel fine. How are you?

Say, Sarge, where's Salazar?

He took a walk.

Now, look, Junior,

you got all day to hear the news.

- Sergeant, what about Corporal Katigbak?

- I haven't seen him.

He came back to work on the carburetor.

I sent him in about an hour ago.

As you were, men.

Katigbak!

Hardy!

I'd say he's been dead about...

about an hour, Sergeant.

Get back in line. You too, Private.

One thing at a time!

All right, fall in.

- What's the matter with you, Soldier?

- Nothin'. I'm fine.

Hold still.

Coming down with this for days?

No, sir, Sarge.

Well, I had the shivers.

The shivers, then the shakes.

Hot, cold, and hot again.

I've had malaria myself. I know it.

I ain't sick.

Take charge of him.

But I ain't sick, Sergeant.

You need a little rest

and some double shots of quinine.

Eeps, Malloy, take care of Katigbak.

You others, get on your guns.

Keep your eyes open.

Purckett, get in with Feingold.

I don't know whether you know it,

but that was a Samurai sword, Lieutenant.

- Officer?

- Yeah.

Probably get in close enough so he knows

exactly how many men you got left.

Won't be long before they hit you with

everything they can get across that ravine.

When'll the plane be ready to take off?

The Corporal and I figured we'd need

a few more night's work, but...

...we don't have much time.

Don't crack her up

before you're off the ground.

I'll know what the chances are

after tonight.

Okay.

Don't seem possible Salazar could have

got there so quick.

Depends upon how far he had to go

and how fast he traveled.

Yeah, and if he caught up to the General.

What do you want to say that for?

Those are Japs! Everybody down!

Hug the ground!

But I thought them was Japs!

I think they are.

Malloy! Malloy, get back there!

Get down!

Look at that! Malloy got him!

Malloy, I take back everything

I ever thought against you! You're okay!

I told you, Sarge.

That guy's gotta know somethin' better

than he knows how to cook!

Hold it.

Back on your guns.

Nothing you can do for him now, Private.

Can't you stay off your feet

like I told you to?

I feel much better.

When I want you, I'll let you know!

Now get back into bed and stay there!

Turn your radio on. It might do us all good

to hear some music.

But the battery is only good

for a few hours.

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