"The doctors here say they never saw such a blooming mess-up of flesh pretending to be alive.

And as for talking, they'd just as soon expect speech from a jellyfish squashed by a steam-roller.

If I do get through, I'll be a helpless crock all my days.

I funked it till I thought of you.

I thought the sight of another fellow who has gone through it and stuck it out might give me courage.