“Our neighbours are Taliban,” says Staff Sergeant Sundell as the patrol gathers at first light.
It’s a fair comment, because enemy machine-gun fire is erupting in four-shot bursts from the area pretty much directly next to the Green House. Less than 50 metres away.
“I’m telling you man, I’ve got a feeling about today,” says Corporal Dan Franke, constantly smiling with that dark humour that makes life out here in Helmand livable for the troops. There’s no point in pretending bad things don’t sometimes happen, so make light of it – perhaps it’s the best way.