I don't think the blurb on the back of my copy matched the story inside at all! I was expecting something much more dramatic with more back story to the characters. This was an odd little story, an excellent example of the stupidity of war. I'm sure there must have been some twisted logic behind forcing the prisoners to work harder and longer to build a better bridge for the Japanese, but I must admit my sympathies lay entirely with the destructions company. COMMUNICATION is IMPORTANT people! Was the man so self obsessed he couldn't fathom the idea that there would be people trying to sabotage the railway when his own men were doing so? I suppose he was. I suppose that was the point. Utterly mad. I can't help thinking that the ending made perfect sense given the circumstances, and it makes me wonder how many times things like this really happen in the real world. Tragic.