under fire

" "there's only one way to take things and that's as they come." "you bet, otherwise you go nuts. we're crazy enough as it is, don't you think Firmin?" ... "you musn't look too far ahead. you've got to live from day to day, or even hour by hour, if you can." ... clearly these men who, a year and a half ago, descended on this frontier from every part of the country, now have the same thoughts in their heads: giving up understanding, giving up being themselves, the hope of not dying and the struggle to live as best they can."

- under fire by henri barbusse