King Rat (40 page)

He saw the King through the fog of his mind. His friend. He had been waiting the days to talk with him, but each time he had found him the King had put him off. “Later,” the King had always said, “I’m busy now.” When the new Americans had arrived there still had been no time.

So Peter Marlowe stood at the gate, with many men, watching the departure of the Americans, waiting to say a last goodbye to his friend, waiting patiently to thank him for his arm and for the laughter they had had together.

Among the watchers was Grey.

Forsyth was standing tiredly beside the lorry. He handed over the list. “You keep the original, sir,” he said to the senior American officer. “Your men are all listed by rank, service and serial number.”

“Thanks,” said the major, a squat, heavy-jowled paratrooper. He signed the paper and handed back the other five copies. “When’re the rest of your folks arriving?”

“A couple of days.”

The major looked around and shuddered. “Looks like you could use a hand.”

“Have you any excess drugs, by any chance?”

“Sure. We got a bird stacked with the stuff. Tell you what. Once I’ve got our boys on their way, I’ll bring it all back in our jeeps. I’ll let you have a doc and two orderlies until yours get here.”

“Thanks.” Forsyth tried to rub the fatigue out of his face. “We could use them. I’ll sign for the drugs. SEAC will honor my signature.”

“No goddam paper. You want the drugs, you got ‘em. That’s what they’re there for.”

He turned away. “All right, Sergeant, get ‘em in the truck.” He walked over to the jeep and watched as the stretcher was lashed securely. “What you think, Doc?”

“He’ll make it state-side.” The doctor glanced up from the unconscious figure neatly trussed in the straitjacket, “but that’s about it. His mind’s gone for good.”

“Son of a bitch,” the major said wearily, and he made a check mark against Max’s name on the list. “Seems kinda unfair.” He dropped his voice. “What about the rest of them?”

“Not good. Withdrawal symptoms generally. Anxiety about the future. There’s only one that’s in halfway decent shape physically.”

“I’ll be goddamned if I know how any of ‘em made it. You been in the jail?”

“Sure. Just a quick runaround. That was enough.”

Peter Marlowe was watching morosely. He knew his unhappiness was not due solely to the departure of his friend. It was more than that. He was sad because the Americans were leaving. Somehow he felt he belonged there with them, which was wrong, because they were foreigners. Yet he knew he did not feel like a foreigner when he was with them. Is it envy? he asked himself. Or jealousy? No, I don’t think so. I don’t know why, but I feel they’re going home and I’m being left behind.

He moved a little closer to the truck as the orders began to sound and the men began to climb aboard. Brough and Tex and Dino and Byron Jones III and all the others resplendent in their new starched uniforms, looked unreal. They were talking and shouting and laughing. But not the King. He stood slightly to one side. Alone.

Peter Marlowe was glad that his friend was back once more with his own people, and he prayed that once the King was on his way all would be well with him.

“Get in the truck, you guys.”

“C’mon, get in the goddam truck.”

“Next stop Stateside!”

Grey was unaware that he was standing beside Peter Marlowe. “They say,” he said looking at the truck, “that they’ve a plane to fly them all the way back to America. A special plane. Is that possible? Just a handful of men and some junior officers?”

Peter Marlowe had also been unaware of Grey. He studied him, despising him. “You’re such a goddam snob, Grey, when it comes down to it.”

Grey’s head whipped around. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Yes.” Peter Marlowe nodded at the truck. “They think that one man’s as good as another. So they get a plane, all to themselves. It’s a great idea when you think of it.”

“Don’t tell me the upper classes have at last realized —“

“Oh shut up!” Peter Marlowe moved away, his bile rising.

Beside the truck was a sergeant, a vast man with many stripes on his sleeve and an unlit cigar in his mouth. “C’mon. Get in the truck,” he repeated patiently.

The King was the last on the ground.

“For Chrissake, get in the truck!” the sergeant growled. The King didn’t move. Then, impatiently, the sergeant threw the cigar away, and stabbing the air with his finger shouted, “You! Corporal! Get your goddam ass in the truck!”

The King came out of his trance. “Yes, Sergeant. Sorry, Sergeant!”

Meekly he got into the back of the truck and stood while everyone else sat, and around him there were excited men talking one to another, but not to him. No one seemed to notice him. He held to the side of the truck as it roared into life and swept the Changi dust into the air.

Peter Marlowe frantically ran forward and held up his hand to wave at his friend. But the King did not look back. He never looked back.

Suddenly, Peter Marlowe felt very lonely, there by Changi Gate.

“That was worth watching,” Grey said, gloating.

Peter Marlowe turned on him. “Go away before I do something about you.”

“It was good to see him go like that. “’You, Corporal, get your goddam arse in the truck.’” There was a vicious glint in Grey’s eyes. “Like the scum he was.”

But Peter Marlowe only remembered the King as he truly was. That wasn’t the King who meekly said, “Yes, Sergeant.” Not the King. This had been another man, torn from the womb of Changi, the man that Changi had nurtured so long.

“Like the thief he was,” Grey said deliberately.

Peter Marlowe bunched his good left fist. “I told you before, a last time.”

Then he slammed his fist into Grey’s face, knocking him backwards, but Grey stayed on his feet and threw himself at Peter Marlowe. The two men tore at each other and suddenly Forsyth was beside them.

“Stop it,” he ordered. “What the hell are you two fighting about?”

“Nothing,” Peter Marlowe said.

“Take your hand off me,” Grey said and pulled his arm from Forsyth. “Get out of the way!”

“Any more trouble out of either of you and I’ll confine you to your quarters.” Appalled, Forsyth noticed that one man was a captain and the other a flight lieutenant. “Ought to be ashamed of yourselves, brawling like common soldiers! Go on, both of you, get out of here. The war’s over, for God’s sake!”

“Is it?” Grey looked once at Peter Marlowe, then walked off.

“What’s between you two?” Forsyth said.

Peter Marlowe stared into the distance. The truck was nowhere to be seen. “You wouldn’t understand,” he said and turned away.

Forsyth watched him until he had disappeared. You can say that a million times, he thought exhaustedly. I don’t understand anything about any of you.

He turned back to Changi Gate. There were, as always, groups of men silently staring out. The gate was, as always, guarded. But the guards were officers and no longer Japanese or Koreans. The day he had arrived, he had ordered them away and posted an officer guard to keep the camp safe and to keep the men in. But the guards were unnecessary, for no one had tried to break out. I don’t understand. Forsyth told himself tiredly. It doesn’t make sense. Nothing here makes sense.

It was only then that he remembered he had not reported the suspicious American — the corporal. He had had so much to worry about that the man had completely slipped his mind. Bloody fool, now it’s too late! Then he recalled that the American major was coming back. Good, he thought, I’ll tell him. He can deal with him.

. Two days later more Americans arrived. And a real American General. He was swarmed like a queen bee by photographers and reporters and aides. The General was taken to the Camp Commandant’s bungalow. Peter Marlowe and Mac and Larkin were ordered there. The General picked up the earphone of the radio and pretended to listen.

“Hold that, General!”

“Just one more, General!”

Peter Marlowe was shoved to the front and told to bend over the radio as though explaining it to the General.

“Not that way — let’s see your face. Yeah, let’s see your bones, Sam, in the light. That’s better.”

That night the third and last and greatest fear crucified Changi.

Fear of tomorrow.

All Changi knew, now, that the war was over. The future had to be faced. The future outside of Changi. The future was now. Now.

And the men of Changi withdrew into themselves. There was nowhere else to go. Nowhere to hide. Nowhere but inside. And inside was terror.

The Allied Fleet arrived at Singapore. More outsiders converged on Changi.

It was then that the questions began.

Name, rank, serial number, unit?

Where did you fight?

Who died?

Who was killed?

What about atrocities? How many times were you beaten? Who did you see bayoneted?

No one? Impossible! Think, man. Use your head! Remember. How many died? On the boat? Three, four, five? Why? Who was there?

Who’s left in your unit? Ten? Out of a regiment? Good, that’s better. Now, how did the others die? Yes, the details!

Ah, you saw them bayoneted?

Three Pagoda Pass? Ah, the railroad! Yes. We know about that. What can you add? How much food did you get? Anesthetics? Sorry, of course, I forgot. Cholera?

Yes, I know all about Camp Three. What about Fourteen? The one on the Burma-Siam border? Thousands died there, didn’t they?

With the questions, the outsiders brought opinions. The men of Changi heard them furtively whispered, one to another.

Did you see that man? My God, it’s impossible! He’s walking around naked! In public!

And look over there! There’s a man doing it in public! And good God, he’s not using paper! He’s using water and his hands! My God — they all do!

Look at that filthy bed! My God, the place is crawling with bugs!

What degradation these poor swine have sunk to — worse than animals!

Ought to be in an insane asylum! Certainly the Japs did it to them, but all the same it’d be safer to lock them up. They don’t seem to know what’s right and what’s wrong!

Look at them lap up that filth! My God, you give them bread and potatoes and they want rice!

Got to get back to the ship. Can’t wait to bring the fellows out. Chance of a lifetime, never see this again.

My God, those nurses are taking a chance, walking around.

Rubbish, they’re safe enough. Seen a lot of the girls coming up to have a look. By jove, that one’s a corker!

Disgusting the way the POW’s are looking at them!

With the questions and the opinions the outsiders brought answers.

Ah, Flight Lieutenant Marlowe? Yes, we’ve had a cable answer from the Admiralty. Captain Marlowe RN is, er, I’m afraid your father’s dead. Killed in action on the Murmansk run. September 10, ‘43. Sorry. Next!

Captain Spence? Yes. We’ve a lot of mail for you. You can get it at the guardhouse. Oh yes. Your — your wife and child were killed in London in an air raid. January this year. Sorry. A V2. Terrible. Next!

Lieutenant Colonel Jones? Yes, sir. You’ll be on the first party leaving tomorrow. All senior officers are going. Bon voyage! Next!

Major McCoy? Oh yes, you were inquiring about your wife and son. Let me see, they were aboard the Empress of Shropshire, weren’t they? The ship that sailed from Singapore on February 9, 1942? Sorry, we’ve no news, except that we know it was sunk somewhere off Borneo. There are rumors that there were survivors, but if there were or where they would be, no one knows. You’ll have to be patient! We hear there are POW camps all over the Celebes-Borneo — you’ll have to be patient! Next!

Ah, Colonel Smedly-Taylor? Sorry, bad news, sir. Your wife was killed in an air raid. Two years ago. Your youngest son, Squadron Leader P. R. Smedly-Taylor VC, was lost over Germany in ‘44. Your son John is presently in Berlin with the occupation forces. Here is his address. Rank? Lieutenant Colonel. Next!

Colonel Larkin? Oh, Australians are dealt with somewhere else. Next!

Captain Grey? Ah, well, it’s somewhat difficult. You see, you were reported lost in action in ‘42. I’m afraid your wife remarried. She’s — er — well, here’s her present address. I don’t know, sir. You’ll have to ask the Solicitor General’s Office. Afraid legalities are out of my line. Next!

Captain Ewart? Oh yes, the Malayan Regiment? Yes. I’m happy to tell you your wife and three children are safe and well. They’re at Cha Song Camp in Singapore. Yes, we’ve transport for you this afternoon. I beg your pardon? Well, I don’t know. The memo says three — not two children. Perhaps it’s an error. Next!

More men went swimming now. But the outside was still fearful and the men that went were glad to be back inside once more. Sean went swimming. He walked down to the shore with the men and in his hand was a bundle. When the party got to the beach, Sean turned away, and the men laughed and jeered, most of them, at the pervert who wouldn’t take off his clothes like anyone else.

“Pansy!”

“Bugger!”

“Rotten fairy!”

“Homo!”

Scan walked up the beach, away from the jeers, until he found a private place. He slipped off his short pants and shirt and put on the evening sarong and padded bra and belt and stockings and combed his hair and put on makeup. Carefully, very carefully. And then the girl stood up, confident and very happy. She put on her high-heeled shoes and walked into the sea.

The sea welcomed her and made her sleep easy, and then, in the course of time, devoured the clothes and body and the time of her.

A major was standing in the doorway of Peter Marlowe’s hut. His tunic was crusted with medal ribbons and he seemed very young. He peered around the hut at the obscenities lying on their bunks or changing or smoking or preparing to take a shower. His eyes came to rest on Peter Marlowe.

“What the fucking hell are you staring at?” Peter Marlowe screamed.

“Don’t talk to me like that! I’m a major and —“

“I don’t give a goddam if you’re Christ! Get out of here! Get out!”

“Stand to attention! I’ll have you court-martialed!” the major snapped, eyes popping, sweat pouring. “Ought to be ashamed of yourself, standing there in a skirt —“