Dead men

[devros1]

Tom sat rotting away in his cell. He had gotten of with a demotion he was lucky not to be shot himself. He requested a transferee to the royal welsh fusiliers life was to short he though to him self.

They were all dead men one way or another even the gourds were dead men. People died each day in that made Tom value his life he had been such a fool he had been reckless he would change his act start anew in a new division the royal welsh fusiliers. He would fight until he gained back his rank as corporal.

[S.SGT David Bevan]

David and Private Price walked slowly into the prison block towards the cell where Private Edwards had been kept since trying to shoot David last time they met. David had come to the prison not only to make fun of the disgraced soldier but to have chat as he was always so bored on leave. As he neared the prison bars of the lonely cell David noticed how depressed Tom seemed to look.

"How's it going Private"said David making sure to emphasize the word Private because following his actions Edwards had been demoted to private.

David knew what the answer would be David had been to prison before after a bar fight in which he left his enemy seriously injured. even being back in a prison made him feel bad. David could not stand sitting in a cell all day besides one hour of going outside to exercise and relax.

[devros1]

Tom haerd some voises and looked up and said "here to moke me a go on were all dead men anyway snd all most none of them will be remebered just think who will remeber you when your gone"he singhed "lifes to short i heard you asked for me being shot not a bad idea i woulden't mind seeing my perents again" he laughed "did i tell you i got transfered to your division!,don't nhow why they let me join do you?"he asked

[S.SGT David Bevan]

"I will be remembered"said david David sternly after a brief pause he continued "For diying in battle whith a slain foe at my feet and whithout fear in my eyes.

David waited patiently for the private to reply Edwards looked rather puzzled by what david had just said.

"Of course a disgraced soldier like you can never expect to gain fame or glory only infamy"said David.

"Did i tell you i got transfered to your division!,don't nhow why they let me join do you?"said Tom.

David knew the exact reason but he was not going to give the real reason.

"The reason you have been folded into our unit is to learn respect for all your superiors and above all me and gain our respect in return"said David staring strait into the privates eyes.

[Nicholas Ealing]

Ethan rounded down the corridor to check up on Tom. He felt slightly responsible for the Private's downfall. A strong sense of guilt was heavy in his heart and he wasn't entirely sure why. After all, it wasn't Ethan who had shot David while his back was turned was it?

Tom looked so pathetic, alone in his filth that he looked almost poignant, noble. A strange fire danced in his eyes, one that gave Ethan the shivers. Had prison turned the young Private mad.

He seemed to be in the middle of a fierce arguement with his old enemy, the confident Sergeant David Bevan who seemed to be being particularly spiteful on this particular night. Ethan nudged the Sergeant to shut up and turned back to the miserable-looking Edwards.

"Listen, Tom," said Ethan clearly. "I'm going to bail you out of here, OK? You don't deserve this; no one does,"
Ethan shivered. Even spending half an hour in the dank misery of the jailhouse was sending a shiver up the Lieteunant's spine. It truly was a horrible place. After all, nobody was there because they wanted to, were they?

"When you get out, I expect you to join us in our campaigns in Italy," continued Ethan. "You're a good soldier, Tom. We could use you on the frontlines,"

[S.SGT David Bevan]

"Bail him out not on your life"shouted David. "He deserves the full penalty he should be dead not in prison but now you think we should let him out".

David felt terribly angry this man had tried to kill him and now Lt day wanted him out of prison!
David felt like attacking Lt day but he had to try as hard as he could to stay calm or he would be in prison.

"you don't deserve this"said Ethan to the disgraced Private.

"Excuse me Sir but you seem to have forgotten he put a bullet hole in my back said David while breathing heavily.

David could not believe his ears a potential murderer was being unleashed without a true penalty.

[Nicholas Ealing]

Ethan turned towards Bevan angrily. He was being as stubborn and as childish as ever. Besides, the bullet had barely skimmed his spine. David had spent a day in hospital, nothing more. And there was no proof whatsoever that it had been intentional in the first place.

"You think I don't know that?" he roared. "But he's not well in the head, is he? How can we be sure he was acting under his own intentions. For all we know, he could be completely mad. And I will do all I can to help him. Do you understand me, Sergeant?"

[devros1]

Tom heard what David had said "no you won't not in a five hundreds years they won't like they rememberer the three hundred but they don't how they're names or who they wer". Tom watched as the Lieutenant entered he stood up and listened to what he said

"Private Edwards reporting for duty sir" he said.

[Nicholas Ealing]

"Private Edwards reporting for duty, sir" said Edwards brightly, rising to his feet and saluting his Commanding Officer. Ethan smiled fondly. He would take him under his wing, knock some sense into him. Who knew? Perhaps one day he could be sitting in Ethan's chair itself. It all depended on his actions in the following months.

Ethan turned professionally towards Edwards and Bevan and decided to issue them their mission immediately. Maybe cause Bevan to temporarily shut up.

"I recieved a letter from Field Marshal Sir Arthur Donovan yesterday," explained the Lieteunant, refferring to a infamous officer of great renown who had taken Ethan under his wing as something of a protoge. "The Fusiliers are expected to join a large army amassing in Europe. Some of us will be deployed in Italy, the others France. But the fact is, we must all stick together. I will issue you a thorough briefing tomorrow; there are eyes and ears everywhere. I do not trust this place,"

[S.SGT David Bevan]

"He wasn't well in the head in first place"said David jokingly.

David couldn't believe his CO was against him so strongly. The Private should learn the hard way that you don't win wars by killing your own allies. David always believed in harsh punishment.

"How can you be sure he wasn't acting under his own intentions"said David defensively he was not going to back down unless the Lt convinced him it was fair.

"Do you understand me, Sergeant?" asked Ethan loudly.

"Finally some action"shouted David excitedly jumping to his feet hearing the Lt's latest anouncement.
"I understand perfectly but why are you on his side or is he your girlfriend".

[devros1]

"Yes sir" Tom replied. He heard what the Sargent had said and so he walked up to him and said "permission to speak sir!"he said.

[Nicholas Ealing]

Ethan felt the anger bubble up inside him like a shaken Champagne bottle. How on earth could this Bevan character be so childish?

"I understand perfectly," said Bevan with a barely concealed sneer. "But why are you on his side? Or is he your girlfriend?"

"Jealous, are you?" hissed Ethan, slamming David against the wall. "Now, listen to me, Sergeant. I am your Commanding Officer and you will not argue with me. This insolence is not tolerated, Bevan, let me assure you. Now, I suggest you close your foolish mouth unless you want to spend the rest of the night in a cell,"

Ethan breathed heavily and turned back towards Tom, who had sprung to his feet and had edged closer to the Lieteunant.

"Permission to speak, sir?" he asked formally, obviously not pushing his luck.

"Permission granted," nodded Ethan stiffly, still angry at the Sergeant at his side.

[S.SGT David Bevan]

David decided not to contiune arguing whith his CO not because he was losing but because he knew Ethan would give him some extra training to do. Ethan had always been very harsh for punishment but David just didn't know why he wanted to help Tom so much.

Memories caming flooding back to david of about a week ago when in the middle of the noght after a hard days trainig they were woken up by day to unddertacke a huge cross country run followed by a battle training exercise.

David was feeling very excited. He always hated being awayu from the action and now Lt Day was briefing them on an operation in Europe.

"I have question sir is Tom gonna be whith me on this operation"asked david in a much frendlier tone.

David began debating whith himself where they might be going he hoped it would be somwhere whith plenty of AXIS forces to battle.

[Nicholas Ealing]

"I have question sir," replied David hurriedly. "Is Tom going to be with me on this operation?"

Ethan thought for a moment. Perhaps it would be good for Tom to have someone as experienced as David looking over his shoulder. Who knew? Perhaps they would work well together. Ethan wasn't going to hold his breath.

"Nothing is certain at the moment, Sergeant, but more likely than not that will be the case," nodded Ethan. "Donovan specified that he plans to send a small number of troops into the African plains; I could suggest the two of you if you are willing..."

[devros1]

Tom thought of were they weregoing probably Italy he had heard that things were heating up there. If so it would be issued by special ops or Field Marshal Sir Arthur Donovan.

This ment they probebly be eating half rations in Italy and staing in the poorest parts not to meate the Italion army.

"Graet half raitons"Tom said