The ground was muddy and sloppy, which kept Norman from walking without trouble. His feet were somewhat heavier, and his boots that were about a size too big increased the effect. He was assigned to find Sergeant Collier, and the only tip he'd had was that he looked tough, and had the down sides of his hair shaved off. Which about applied to everybody here. Though he got lucky, as the first person he asked was him he was looking for.

'First Sergeant Collier?' The man did not stop walking so Norman was required to keep up with him.

'Maybe. What the fuck are you?' he replied. 'Private Ellison. I was told to report to you, I'm your new assistant driver.' The man stopped walking and started studying Norman closely and critically.

'No you are not.' he then said. 'Yes. Yes I am.' 'God damn it! Who told you this?' Sergeant Collier said. 'Master Sergeant with the clipboard there sir.' he pointed at some younger superior. 'Bullshit!' Collier shouted. 'He's right there… he…' Norman stopped talking. He just didn't know what to say, but it seemed like Collier seemed to understand.

'What's your name?' he asked. 'Norman…' 'How long have you been in the army?' He sighed. 'Eight weeks.' Collier now sighed as well, but then pointed over to a Sherman some yards away.

'That's home.' It had 'FURY' written on its 76mm gun. 'Do as you're told, don't get too close to anyone.' Norman slowly nodded and then walked over to the tank, as Collier walked into a different direction. There were three men outside, seeming to repair the machine gun placed next to the main hatch. One of them was singing a biblical song, Norman recognized but he couldn't say he was able to sing along. He reached out his hand towards one that was squatted close to the ground as he had just laid down the barrel of the gun for repair. He was the one that had been singing.

'Hi, I'm Norman.' He had a moustache and had a cigarette in his mouth while he looked up, but he refused to take on his hand while he rose up and removed the cigarette from between his lips. Norman just awkwardly pulled back his hand. Now say something, Norman.

'Which… which way is the front?' he asked.

' "Which way is the front?",' the moustache repeated his eyes were somewhat read and he had a tiny fresh scar on his right cheek. 'Hmm. All around us, kid, 'cause this is Germany, we're surrounded by Krauts. Ain't that right Grady?' 'That's right.' The second guy replied. Norman had already stated that this was the ugliest guy, himself included.

A man that looked quite exotic, maybe Mexican walked over to them and took Norman's bag from his shoulder. Norman let it be, but only up until the guy started going through his stuff. He noticed how the Mexican guy had taken Norman's diary out of his bag.

'Can I have my book back please?' The Mexican didn't listen but looked at him in a surly way.

'Where are your cigarettes?' he asked. 'I don't smoke.' Norman replied. 'You're a bastard.' Before Norman could answer, the man with the moustache spoke up.

'Did you go to tank-school?' the moustache asked. 'Tank-school? No. I've never even seen the inside of a tank.' The three looked at each other in subtle astonishment. 'I'm a clerk typist.' Norman added. 'I was heading to Fifth Corps HQ, they pulled me off the truck and they sent me here. This has got to be a mistake.' He said while he retook the bag from the Mexican.

'Mistake? The army don't make mistakes.' the ugly one said.

'You from Missouri?' the moustache asked. 'No.' Norman said. 'Are you from Chicago?' the Mexican asked but Norman shook his head. 'Nah, you from Arkansas ain't you?' the ugly one asked. 'No, I'm from Pittsburg…'

'Hey, shut up man, nobody gives a fuck where you from.' the ugly one interrupted and the Mexican seemed to think it funny because he laughed.

'Are you a praying man?' the moustache asked. Norman slowly nodded. 'Yeah, I go to church.' It was silent for a quick moment.

'Which denomination are you? Episcopalian?' Norman didn't answer. 'Yeah you are. You're a mainliner, ain't you?' The moustache grinned. 'Yes. I am.' Norman now said.

'Are you saved?' the moustache asked. 'I'm baptized.' Norman replied. The ugly one, started laughing.

'That's not what he said. See, you gotta listen.'

'Are you saved?' the moustache repeated. Norman did not reply so there was a brief silence.

'Wait until you see,' moustache said. 'See what?' Norman asked. 'What a man can do to another man.' Sergeant Collier returned.

'Before you find Jesus, why don't you tell us what the fuck you're doing here?' The ugly one said.

'He's our new assistant driver.' Collier muttered.

'What?' the ugly one spat out. 'Don, what the fuck, why? We've got Aggie for that.' the moustache said while pointing out his hand back at the tank, Norman was not completely sure what he meant with that.

'Don't you think that's exactly what I said to that officer son of a bitch, what's his name? The higher officers didn't approve so they sent this kid.' Collier looked at Norman now.

'Nothing personal. Come on boys, work him in.' Collier left again and the boys seemed extremely reluctant to follow his order, but they eventually did it. They started off introducing themselves shortly, by stating their names and their position inside the tank. So they were known as Grady, Gordo and Bible, but Norman doubted that the moustache's name was actually Bible.

'Why don't you go inside and take a look at your seat then?'

'Wait, wait,' Gordo spoke. 'We've gotta tell him the rules first.'

'You're right Gordo, Boyd tell this fucker the rules.' Grady said.

'Okay. Rule number one: do as you're fucking told. Rule number two: you don't touch any personal belongings from anyone else. Rule number three…' Bible seemed to slow down just to make sure Norman would understand the severity, but it all didn't go fast enough for Gordo.

'Rule number three is you don't fuck with Angel. Not only because it's a rule –just for you though- but trust me it's for your own good either way.' Gordo said.

'Who's Angel?' Norman asked after which Bible –who was apparently officially named Boyd- started grinning and slammed on the hood of the tank.

'Aggie, get the fuck outta there!' he yelled. The main hatch opened up and Norman was flabbergasted. He was completely struck. It was a woman coming out. A young, stunningly beautiful woman.

'What the fuck do you want?' she yelled back but she kept silent when she saw Norman. 'Who the fuck's that?' Both Grady and Gordo started laughing.

'He's the new assistant driver.' Bible said, and then the woman's face turned into a death stare.

'What?' she said, after which she climbed out whole and let herself slide onto solid ground. 'This fucking kid? He's like fucking seventeen.' she said. 'I'm eighteen, actually.' Norman said but the woman raised her hand for him to shush. 'Shut up. Where's Don?' she asked Gordo, but at that exact moment Collier arrived at Fury's parking place again.

'Don.' The woman caught his attention immediately. 'What the fuck's this supposed to mean?' Don looked at her silently and then starting tying luggage onto the outside of the tank.

'You mad, Agnes?' Collier said with a small grin. So what was her name? Agnes, Aggie or Angel? Norman had lost track.

'Am I mad? Of course I'm mad, is this kid really going to take up my fucking place?'

'Listen, I can't change it; the platoon-crew division is up to my superiors. All I can say is that they're never gonna get you outta Fury so don't worry about that.' Collier said.

'So what will I do then? Be up there stuck with you and Bible doing nothing?' Don started laughing as well as Bible.

'Shut up Aggie, you love me.' he chuckled. Agnes ignored him.

'Actually I'm glad,' Collier began. 'Now I can use you for what you're in the army for.'

'I can't do shit with my sight if I can't shoot, Don.' Agnes replied. 'You'll have a loose machine gun. You'll be my lookout.' Collier said.

'And what of me during heads up?' Don sighed as he actually didn't know. 'I don't fucking know, how often will that be?'

'Fine, but then I want a sniper as well.' Grady started laughing, but Don, Gordo, Bible and Norman were wise enough not to because a slap on the back of the head of the guy from Agnes followed.

'What are you going to do with a sniper in a moving tank?' Bible asked calmly. 'You can't keep the scope steady.'

'I don't need the scope,' she replied. 'I need the distance it covers.' Collier looked around at the lads and lady. 'I can step out of this platoon whenever I want, Don.' It was the first time Norman had seen her grin. Collier sighed.

'You'll have the sniper.'