Describe the fighting that occurs after the bombardment stops.

When the shells finally stop, the company is ordered out onto the firesteps. At first, Thomas can see several Germans coming into noman's land, then a hundred, then thousands. As the Germans run for the allied trenches, they open fire. To Thomas, it seems that the Germans must be immortal. Finally, when they are closer, Thomas can see that they are indeed mortal and many of them fall and die right in front of him, but that they are also brave. He doesn't bother aiming, just fires until empty, reloads, and starts again.