The recruits march through town under pennants and the strains of a familiar song("The Jolly Plowboy") - it is a song they all know, which means a lot to them - full of soul - a song of harvest or a Celtic hymn, something relating specifically to the lives they have led together. Everyone of every age - everyone in the village knows this song - it is theirs.

Nicholls passes in his car and we see those they are leaving behind - cheering - a whole generation of young men is marching off to war. One girlfriend rushes up to kiss her leaving boyfriend. Nicholls watches the couple with envy wishing that he could have someone like that to love him. His mind just went back to the woman who tried to stop her fahter from selling Joey. Her beautiful green eyes full of hope with her Long red curly hair blowing slightly in the wind. He sighed quietly when he saw her no where in sight.

From the crowd, Albert watches Joey, then remembers the campaign pennant dangling from his pocket. He runs up to Joey - "Joey..." - and tucks the pennant into Joey's halter.

"Here now, I've told you - sling your hook!" Perkins told.

But Nicholls intervenes from his car. "Let him be, Perkins."

"This isn't the end. This isn't the end, my brother... I, Albert Narracott, solemnly swear we will be together again. Wherever you are, I will find you. And I will bring you home!" And then they are past him, leaving him behind. As Perkins leads Joey across a stone bridge, Albert watches from thebank of the stream.

Joey balks one last time "Whoa. Steady, steady. Steady now, come on. Walk on! Walk on now, come on!" then Perkins leads him away, leaving Albert behind. The very last recruits leave the village - leaving the debris of this army's visit strewn on the square. Like the debris of a party you are already beginning to regret.

At the Narracott house where Ted and Albert were just coming through the gate for only Rosie to come meet them "Where Christina?" Rosie asked. The two males looked at each other.

"She's not here?" Albert asked. Rosie shook her head just then Miss. Grey came up to them.

"Hello Miss Grey. Is everything alright?" Rosie ased, walking up to the elderly lady. All the lady did was give her a letter and walked off. The family crowded around the letter.

Dear family.

There is no easy way to write this but I am going to the Army and fight in the war as a man. I will sent you the money that i will make from fighting and don't worry Albert. I will watch over Joey. Don't follow us Albert, stay and care for mother and father. remember you are strong and big hearted.

Mother, please look after Albert and Father. lord knows that they always need one of us there. Oh and look after Harold the goose for me.

Father, watch out for that leg of yours and please do not try to out bid Lyons again or else we will loose the farm.

I love you all so much and i will ocme back in one piece, i promise.

Love

Christian Rose Narracott

On the paper, there was tear stains on it. Rosie cried in her husband arms while Albert just stared at the note.

Captain Nicholls walked into where the man in charge was. "Quite the beast you have James"

"Just a bit spirited sir" Nicholls replied "he just doesn't understand whats happening. He misses his home"

"What family did you get him from?"

"The Narracotts. Why sir?"

The man smiled and motioned for Captain Nicholls to follow "The way i see it is that there is an Narracott here and the horse will be fine" The Man then called out "NARRACOTT, HERE NOW!" Chris came running along in her army uniform still looking like a man.

"Yes sir" Chris said, putting on a masculine voice.

"Narracott you will stay with Captain Nicholls side. If he is on a horse, you are on the same horse. is that understood?"

"Sir, yes sir." She nodded, He left Chris and Captain Nicholls to each other. Captain Nicholls smiled down at what he thought was a man. Oh bugger thought Chris

Joey is handed off to a groom. Joey is amazed by the scale of the building as Each horse has a large stall and is being tended to assiduously. Joey looks around at the hundreds of men and horses around him and panics. "Whoa whoa whoa. Easy easy..." He bucks, throwing the groom to the ground, and gallops away. Chris who was still standing with Captain Nicholls saw Joey running and ran to where he was before and did the Indian Call. Joey stopped instanly and ran back to her.

"That's a good boy." she whispered, swaping back to her normal voice in his ear. "It's me. Christina. Your not alone. I'm Here" Then Perkins came along so she used her male voice "Here Sir" But Perkins shook his head.

"No, son. You walk him. I'll show you where." Chris nodded and followed him. "You have guts Kid. Not many would try to get in the way of that beast, let alone call it."

"He was my brothers sir. He knows me and he would never hurt me" Chris said, looking at Perkins. He led them to Joey's stall and Chris put him in, next to Major Stewart's horse, a magnificent black stallion, Topthorn. "Good boy, good boy. Steady steady... Easy. Relax. Easy easy, back up." soothed Chris.

Joey rears up in his stall. "Joey - meet Topthorn. Topthorn - this is Joey. " Perkins introduced "Sort out who's in charge between the two of you, you hear? If you want to fight, you get it over with - `cause once we're over there, you're gonna need everything you've got for Fritz!" This is the first time that Joey has had to deal with another horse since his mother - the beginning of one of the most important relationships in his life.

"Gently, Perkins. I don't want to sour him." A gentle voice that made shivers down Chris's spine. Nicholls passes his gloves and crop to his bat boy who is there to assist him.

"There'll be nothing gentle about the war, sir. And there'll be nothing gentle about this one either! Your Lucky this lad here knew how to stop him" Perkins answered nodding to Chris

"I understand that, Sergeant, but I want him fit and shining. He's my horse." Nicholls commanded.

"Sir." with that Perkins walked away.

Then Chris and Nicholls is joined by Nicholls' friend Lieutenant Charlie Waverly. He is sweet and friendly - upper class but completely benign. "Scares the living daylights out of me."

"Who?" Asked both Chris and Nicholls. The two men looked at Chris.

"Oh, Hello. I'm Lieutenant Charlie Waverly." he held his hand out for Chris to shake "And you are?"

"Chris Narracott sir"

"Nice to meet Perkins. Glad he's on our side."

They're joined by a tall, confident officer, Major Jamie Stewart. He sizes up Joey. "Not bad. Not bad at all. Still not a patch on my Topthorn."

"I wouldn't be so sure. I think he's got potential. He's certainly got the bit between his teeth." Captain Nicholls said with pride shining in his blue eyes.

"I actually think my Blenheim is faster than the pair of them." Charlie bosted.

"Clear off!" Jamie suddenly turns from the joking into the efficient senior officer he is. "All right, gentlemen, listen here. Everything tells us the same story, from Waterloo to Omdurman, from Pickett's Charge to the Battle of Mars La Tours - the first attack can and should be the decisive one. Perkins..."

"Yes, sir!"

"No excuses, no mistakes - every horse groomed and fit for presentation! I want a full practice charge tomorrow."

"Sir."

Jamie then turns to Chris "And you are?"

"Chris Narracott sir"

The two shake hands "Nice to meet you, son"