"Yes?"

"Devlin. With General Munro's staff."

"Pleased to meet you."

"You holding up all right?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose."

"Yes, well. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, Colonel Porchester. "

"Jolly."

"You're staying."

"Bloody hell. What do you mean?"

"Seems straightforward to me, Colonel. You have been selected to stay."

"I don't want to."

"No, of course not. The evacuation of Gallipoli is being handled on a first-in, first-out basis. The rear-guard is to consist of those forces most recently arrived. General Munro has asked me to notify the officers personally."

"Yes, right. I understand. Thank you."

"There's a general briefing at 1300 hours, you'll get all the particulars then. The General realizes that the past several months have been quite hellish..."

"That's putting it mildly."

"Well, between us, now that Hamilton's gone and General Munro's in charge, things will be handled much more professionally. Shouldn't have to muck about here for too much longer. Do you have a family?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, I doubt you'll make it in time for Christmas, but with any luck at all you'll be home for the new year."

"Yes. Assuming I don't stop a Turkish bullet first."

"Yes. Assuming."

©1995 Hyperbole Studios Inc.