Aldiss, Brian W - A Soldier Erect by Aldiss Brian W

Author:Aldiss, Brian W
Language: eng
Format: epub

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The noises Tertis made provided a running commentary on the state of affairs, from his initial inability to get a hard-on to when he came his load -

followed by immediate demands for cash and buckshees from the chicko. I got what Tertis called a touch of the duke myself, just listening. This was cured by frightful throat-clearings and spittings by the chicko, as he cleared out his mouth on the ashy dust, harsh sounds full of hatred.

'You're lucky he didn't munch the end off,' I said, as Tertis rejoined me, pale and sweating. He did not answer.

'Thik-hai?'

'You won't tell any fucker, will you? Not Jock nor nobody?'

We went back to the others in silence.

Throughout that day, the lorries came and went, and we supervised the loading of their contents into our train, gathering furnace-heat in its siding.

The last thing to be loaded was a sackful of rations, our food for the journey - cans of bully beef, jam, marmalade, American oleomargarine, fruit and condensed milk, as well as tea, sugar and bread. We left a guard on the train and the rest of us plunged into town for a quick look round and a drink. By six, we were back at the train, cheerful and relaxed, entirely independent of anything that might happen next.

Nothing happened for a long while. We talked about football matches.

Harding played a mouth organ. We recovered from the amazement of finding that Captain Gore-Blakeley, installed in the next carriage, had a compartment all to himself, whereas there were twelve in our compartment. As Dutt sensibly pointed out, 'We wouldn't want him in here with us.'

The sun set. Even the beggars had deserted us. The station lights went on, and the lights of the great decaying world. The macaque monkeys which lived in the sheds nearby and had watched our loading operations with interest were now settling for the night; they were stocky animals, agile, un-squalid, detached from their surroundings - the serviceman's final proof that India and Indians were barbarous. When the light failed, the monkeys scuttled away, we were alone in the sidings.

The Mendips were on to episodes from their life-histories now. They never pretended that living was other than a dreadful and on the whole makeshift thing, or that it couldn't be got through pretty well by anyone with a strong stomach and a sense of humour.

The captain poked his head in through our window.

'I've just been over to the RTO and departure time has been postponed for a few hours.' Groans from us all.

'The train will leave in the morning, as early as possible. It means you will have to sleep here. I'm sorry about that.

Corporal Dutt, arrange a guard on the train as last night, two-on, four-off, right?'

'Yes, sir. Can those off duty sleep on the platform as last night?'

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'I think it better you should all stay here.

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