Never So Few Page #5

How did we come out?

We got hurt.

Jim?

Jim.

Hi, Danny.

What's been going on?

You're pretty good with the mortar.

Where'd you learn it?

I didn't. I was just trying to find

something to shoot them with.

- Here we go.

- Easy, now.

All right, doc, knock off the whistling.

Nobody's interested in how

medically unconcerned you are.

How is the wound, Dua?

It's a good wound, old man.

A million-dollar wound.

It'll get me hospital leave and get

me out of sight of your ugly old face.

I still can't understand

how the Nips had us figured out.

According to the scouts,

there wasn't a yellow within 40 miles.

I imagine we'll soon find out.

Ringa's got a Jap out there,

and I imagine he'll talk.

You got a count on the wounded?

Thirty walking, 22 litter.

Danny, get the walking

wounded back on the line.

It'll keep them from griping

and feeling sorry for themselves.

You know, the movies

have got it all wrong.

A cigarette tastes lousy

when you're wounded.

He's a tough one, pappy.

A real tough one.

But he split.

Right down the middle.

Nautaung wants to tell you himself.

He'll be right in.

You have a hard day, boy?

At the office?

You hear what I said, doc?

I asked him if he had a hard day

at the office.

I stand in disgrace before you, Dua.

He who betrayed us is of my people.

It was Billingsly.

Billingsly and the Shan girl.

What is your wish, Nautaung?

What is the wish of your people?

Billingsly will be put

in the circle tomorrow.

And the girl?

She must be shot.

Reynolds, you're not judge and jury.

You'll spill the plasma.

You're a lousy barbarian.

- You're a murderer.

- You're an idealist.

And a lousy idealist.

Well, maybe I am.

But this is murder,

and we're all part of it.

You've got a lot to learn, Travis.

You got a kid safe at home.

Suppose the information Ringa got

off the Jap could keep him safe at home.

Would you call Ringa a murderer?

And if the Kachins

assassinate a traitor...

...in order to save their own lives,

you think they would be murderers?

Or us?

Go to bed, doc. You got assistants.

- They're tired.

- Sure.

And tomorrow you'll be tired

and all screwed up.

But they'll be well rested.

Is that the important thing?

Well, when I give an order,

there's a reason for it.

I'm sorry.

Do as you're told until you find out what

year it is and you won't have to be sorry.

- Yes, sir.

- Have a drink.

- Not while I'm working.

- Don't be an ass, have a drink.

I wish there was time to tell you

everything, but...

Look, we don't drink to get drunk.

We- We nip.

The booze just helps to keep you going.

Take my word for it.

How are the men?

What men? They're boys.

Say, didn't you do the field operating

around here?

Yeah.

Yeah, well, you were lousy.

The base surgeon said so.

That's why I wanted you, doc.

Maybe you can teach me

a few things.

You know...

...the base surgeon didn't say

you were lousy at all.

Matter of fact, he said

you were pretty good.

I kind of made that up.

- What's this?

- It's your airlift tag.

I'm shipping you

to the base hospital tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

Here's your lunch.

Well, you're a new one.

Mind if I ask you

the famous question?

- Where am I?

- Still at the base at Assam.

All right, knock it off, you guys.

Drop your griping and grab your socks.

Hey, Dua, no good in here.

No rice, Dua.

What's that all about?

- Give me that robe.

- You stay right in bed.

Give me the robe.

Stay in bed and watch your language.

You're not in the jungle.

Stand back, lieutenant.

Thank you.

If you'll excuse me.

Please, there are very sick men

in here.

You fellas wanna spend your lives

in the feathers?

Go back to the jungle

where you belong.

No can do, Dua.

- There's no food.

- Can't eat.

- No good.

- Our bellies sing with hunger.

And they feed us torn-up weeds.

No food.

Captain, please.

And hot water smelling dead chicken.

- No good.

- Can't eat.

- Can't eat, Dua.

- No good.

This we'll soon remedy.

You get back into bed.

That's an order.

Get back into bed.

One day, I'm gonna meet a nurse who

doesn't sound like a troop commander.

Captain, I'm going to report you

to the colonel.

Tattletale.

- Hey, come back here.

- Where you going?

Colonel.

Now, just what is this?

Colonel, I'd like to have a few words

with you about this stuff.

Captain, may I remind you that

this is a hospital, and not a circus?

That's just an opinion.

Put that down.

Surely you don't mind

if we have a drink.

I'm not running a bar for Kachins.

Well, you feel they're below

your station, doctor?

You know, your type of so-called

democratic American burns my butt.

The captain is a mental case.

I'm gonna have to report this.

- You realize how weak these patients are?

- Well, of course I do.

They're wounded.

They've got dysentery.

Why do you suppose that is?

- It's the water.

- It's the diet.

Salad.

Chicken soup.

Corn bread?

We don't have the personnel

to cater to-

These people are brought up

on pure red peppers, doctor...

...and when they can't get red peppers,

they get dysentery.

Now, do you feed them rice?

We do the best we can.

Doctor, let's assume that you were

wounded in a strange place.

And you were fed red peppers

and rice and monkey entrails.

That's what they eat.

Don't you suppose that would

knock the slats out of your system?

If you've got nobody to cook for them,

they'd be happy to cook for themselves.

That's the way they are,

and you gotta respect it.

Now, let's cooperate, shall we?

I just had a rather interesting discussion

about garbage.

I heard the last part of it. I won't ask

how you feel. What can I do for you?

Well, you can get me some Scotch.

And what can I do for you?

Soon as you get back to the hills, your

Kachins will attack the airfield at Ubachi.

It's garrisoned by only a token force.

How large a token force?

We're not sure.

- Your Kachin detachment will attack.

- You mean, all 324 of us?

Infiltrating enemy positions...

...blowing ammo dumps, gas tanks,

destroying all aircraft on ground.

You'll chop it up good.

What about some support, Fred?

You'll have trucks

from the Chinese border.

Among other things, the trucks

will carry explosives and artillery.

They'll give you support.

Chinese border.

That's a long way.

- Think they can make it?

- They'll be unpleasant.

That's a lousy detail.

I'd rather shinny up a thorn tree

with an armful of eels.

Tom, you and your Kachins are

the only ones we've got for the job.

Okay.

I'll get you the Scotch.

You've got a visitor.

In there.

Well, I'm glad to see

you have both your arms...

...and they are still

strategically placed.

Can't you say something?

I don't know what to say, I-

I'm just so glad to see you.

Well, you were saying enough in there,

and at the top of your voice.

I didn't expect to see you again

so soon. How did you know?

Nikko and I were in town again.

The colonel told us you were

badly chewed up.

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