"March, march, march and die of thirst." Private Costello flapped a hand in a futile attempt to clear some of the dust that clouded around the column of British infantry. "I didn"t join the army to wear my feet out."
"Then, why did you join?" Private Williams asked.
"Because I was b****y starving," Costello said.
"Well, then," Williams stumbled, swore, and recovered, "you"re not starving now, so stop grousing."
"Aye, stop grousing, you bastard." Private Doyle shifted his Brown Bess musket to ease the pressure on his shoulder. "You should thank Her Majesty for sending you to sunny India, away from sodden Donegal, where even the ducks hide from the rain."
"If we had found ducks, we would have eaten them, you Connaught bugger," Costello said, "feathers, beaks, and all."
"Ducks have bill
