The Cadet Corporal (5 page)

“Oh yeah! Now I see them,” Halyday replied. They set off along the track which wound slightly through the bush and up a very gentle slope. Behind him Graham heard the OC grunt and make some comment to CUO Masters but whether it was approval or not he did not know.

Within a hundred paces they came to 4 Platoon's hutchies. At that Graham felt very relieved. ‘One minute to spare!' he thought.

From ahead, out at the big ironbark, came the sound of many voices and Graham saw torches flickering. Then the glow of the officer's fire became visible on his left front and he knew he had done it. His sense of satisfaction was added to when Capt Conkey said, “Well done Cpl Kirk. Take your section over to the company and sit them in line.”

Graham did so. Sgt Grenfell followed and took over 2 Platoon. Almost the whole company was seated there in section lines, the sergeants standing at the back. Finding the correct place Graham seated his section and then sat down next to Gwen.

“You took your time,” Gwen commented as Graham sat down.

The comment rankled but Graham only half heard it because he was very aware that Kirsty was pressing her knees against his back. ‘Is she doing that deliberately, or is it just crowded back there?' he wondered. Unsure, he decided he didn't mind and said nothing.

Two Land Rovers came driving back along the track which led in from the Canning Road along the top of Sandy Ridge. Several groups of CUOs and sergeants walked in out of the bush and reported to the OC at the fire then joined the company. After a few minutes CSM Cleland arrived and bellowed for silence. After the cadets had stopped talking the CSM called for reports, a platoon at a time. When he got to 4 Platoon Sgt White answered, “Two sections still missing CSM.”

There was a ripple of snickering and comments. Graham experienced a spurt of satisfaction which turned to positive glee when he heard that one was Bannister's section. The other was 12 Section, Cpl David Doyle.

“Bloody ‘Dimbo' Doyle!” muttered a dozen voices.

“Who else!”

“What else could you expect?” asked Stephen. Graham could only silently agree. Dimbo's navigation, or lack of it, was now legendary. It had been an error on his part in the exercise near Bowen in August that had put him five kilometres outside the exercise area because he had marched along a Back Bearing. That this had fortuitously placed him in a position to help rescue Barbara, Gwen and two other girls was another thing.

While CSM Cleland was checking if both groups from HQ were back a section came walking in from near the officer's fire.

“Which section is that?” CSM Cleland called.

“Eleven Section Sir,” replied Cpl Bannister.

“Lost and late!” called someone.

“Silence in the ranks!” CSM Cleland roared. His torch swept over 2 Platoon where the comment had come from. “Platoon sergeants, control your troops.”

When 11 Section was seated CSM Cleland sent a runner over to the OC. Capt Conkey and the officers walked over and stood in the circle of light from a lantern. When CSM Cleland reported that the only people missing were Cpl Doyle's section Graham noted that the expression on Capt Conkey's face did not change. “Thank you CSM. We will look for them in a moment. These people can be dismissed first.”

Capt Conkey then took a sheet of paper from Lt Standish, who then shone a torch on it while the captain read. “Well, we had fourteen sections go out on the navex and it appears that only five have managed to get right around in time. They are One Section, Four section, Five Section, Six Section and Nine Section.”

There was a buzz of conversation, quelled by the CSM as Capt Conkey went on. “That means that all of Two Platoons sections made it, and they took all their cadets with them. Well done Two Platoon.”

‘Yes!' Graham thought, even as he was aware of some jeering and unkind muttering from other platoons. Now he was pleased.

Capt Conkey then turned to CSM Cleland and said, “It is nearly twenty two hundred. They can stay up for another twenty minutes or so but I want them all in bed by twenty two thirty. The sergeants are to stay with the platoons but I want all CUOs to help the officers find Cpl Doyle's section. Carry on CSM.”

As the OC walked away CSM Cleland told the sergeants to move their platoons back to their areas and get them ready for bed.

“Will the canteen be open?” called Cadet Rundle from 1 Platoon.

“You address me as ‘Sir', Cadet Rundle,” CSM Cleland replied. “And no. The officers have to find Cpl Doyle. Now get moving sergeants.”

“Bugger Doyle!” was the muttered consensus as the cadets stood and dusted themselves before moving off in platoon lots. Graham shook his head and silently thanked his lucky stars. ‘Boy, am I glad we didn't get lost!' he thought. That sort of public humiliation did not appeal at all. To rub this in his radio came to life as the OC called Dimbo's call sign.

Sgt Grenfell marched 2 Platoon straight back to their area, then fell them out. As he did Graham called out, “Four Section, stay here!”

“Oh, what for!” cried Andrews in exasperation.

“Yeah hurry up, I'm busting for a leak,” added Halyday.

Graham was too but he managed to suppress the surge of annoyance at their grumbling. “I just wanted to say well done. You did a great job. It was a great team effort. Thanks. That's all, off you go.” he said.

That mollified them. As they dispersed with an outburst of chatter Graham walked beside Andrews. “Particularly you Cadet Andrews. Because you had the guts to try you helped the whole section.”

Andrews made no reply but Graham could tell he was pleased. Graham walked to his hutchie and dropped his webbing with a sigh of relief.

“What about a cup of coffee?” Roger suggested.

“Good idea,” Graham agreed. “We still have fifteen minutes.”

He dragged his pack out and sat on it beside Roger. As he dug out his hexamine stove he heard a below from Sgt Grenfell and saw a torch beam light up two boy's backs. Graham recognized Andrews and Halyday.

Sgt Grenfell roared angrily, “Hoy! You dirty little toads! Don't you do a pee there! You walk to the latrine.”

Graham blushed with shame. ‘Little buggers!' he thought in exasperation. He watched to see that they did actually walk off towards the latrine. He was annoyed they had been caught as he had often been guilty of just using the nearest bit of dark bush himself.

Stephen came and joined them as Roger lit his hexamine. Gwen and Barbara then sat opposite and also began organizing their ‘supper'. As they lit stoves and began heating water the two Land Rovers drove off out to the Canning Road and a group of CUOs led by Capt Conkey went past heading out into the night. Every few minutes the OC called Dimbo on the radio but got no response.

“Dimbo won't be very popular,” Graham commented.

“Again!” Stephen added.

They all laughed but as Graham looked up he met Barbara's eyes and he could tell she was reliving that ghastly experience. She said softly, “He saved my life, so don't tease him please.”

Graham felt embarrassed and nodded. Barbara held his gaze for a second longer, making him wonder if she was sending him some sort of invitation. ‘She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl,' he thought, watching the firelight shimmer on her copper red hair. When he had rescued her she had been naked and he had been granted more than a good eyeful. Now images of her nude shape flooded his mind and fired his thoughts. ‘I wonder?' He began to speculate. It went no further. Deep down he sensed she probably wasn't the girl for him. ‘A bit too much strong will and fire there I think,' he thought.

That got him thinking about girls and girl friends and his thoughts wandered onto Kirsty. ‘Might be possibilities in that direction,' he mused. But that gave him twinges of guilt. Not only was Kirsty one of his cadets but he knew that there was a girl back in Cairns who loved him deeply. That was Margaret Lake, a Year 8 student at his school. She was also his sister Kylie's best friend. Margaret had openly adored him for years and he wavered between loving her and being attracted to other, prettier girls.

‘Poor little Margaret. She's a nice kid but she can't compare with Barbara, or Lucy,' he thought, picturing Margaret's cheerful, freckled face and chubby build.

At that moment a piercing scream of pure terror sounded. It came from the darkness over beyond 4 Platoon.

CHAPTER 5

‘HUTCHIE MEN !'

“Bloody hell!” cried Stephen in alarm. His head jerked up so that the firelight reflected on his glasses.

“At the boy's latrine,” Graham said, scrambling to his feet.

More distant screams sounded, almost lost in the babble of voices that arose around the company area. Then quite distinctly Graham heard Halyday's voice. “No! Stop it! Let me go! Help! Help!”

“Halyday,” Graham cried. He set off at a run.

As he ran Sgt Grenfell yelled, “Stand fast Two Platoon. Stay here!”

Graham stopped, his agitation rising as more shrieks and screams sounded in the night. “But sergeant, that is Halyday. He's one of my cadets.”

Sgt Grenfell nodded, then rapped out orders. “Keep going Cpl Kirk. Cpl Bell, get a torch and follow. Cpl Copeland you are in command. Put the platoon to bed if I'm not back in time. Cadets, stay here!”

By then Graham was running hard across the grassy flat past HQ. As he crossed the vehicle track CSM Cleland's voice roared out, “Stop that running! All you cadets go back to your platoons.”

Sgt Grenfell and Stephen were now pounding along close behind Graham. Once again the CSM's shout came. “Stop running I said!”

At that Graham and the others slowed to a fast walk. Graham knew that one of the unit's ‘Standing Orders' was ‘no running in the dark' but he found it very hard to obey as more shouts and screams sounded.

From the male latrine at the head of the gullies near 4 Platoon came a loud, deep bellowing, “Yowieeee! Yowieee! Oooh! Yowieee!”

Another voice shouted deep, ape-like grunts and sounds. Mixed among these Graham detected other voices: Andrews', Halyday's and ... was it Carnes'?

Andrews screamed, “Stop it! Leave us alone.. Aargh! Stop it!”

As Graham trotted past the big ironbark his eyes detected dark shapes running towards the latrine from 4 Platoon's bivouac area and also more figures flitting about among the trees on top of the slope where the latrine was located. Shouts of laughter sounded over at 4 Platoon and more deep “Hoo! Hoo! Hoos!” over at the latrine.

Two figures came running towards Graham, ignoring more orders by the CSM to stop running. As they got closer Graham identified them by their voices: Andrews and Halyday.

“What's going on?” Graham yelled as they approached.

“Yowie men! Yowie men!” Andrews screamed, his voice high pitched from fear.

“Wait! Stop!” Graham shouted as the cadets reached him but they kept on going. Graham did not wait. He had suspicions and wanted to confirm them. As he broke into a run he heard Sgt Grenfell ordering Halyday and Andrews to stop.

By now the noise had died down at the latrine. Graham thought he saw a couple of dark figures flitting amongst the trees on top of the gully but when he arrived at the Hessian screen strung between the trees there was no sign of them. He was about to run past to look into the gully when sounds of scuffling and sobbing stopped him.

A cadet was squirming on the ground and crying. ‘Carnes!' Graham thought. ‘Must have been those bloody bullies!'

As Graham moved towards Carnes the cadet began to scrabble away from him. “Stay away! Leave me alone!” Carnes shrieked, fear making his voice crack.

Graham halted, shocked by the boy's distress. “It's me, Cpl Kirk,” he called back.

Stephen arrived at that moment and turned his torch on. When the beam swept over Carnes Graham sucked in his breath in shock. Carnes had his trousers and underpants around his ankles and Graham could see his buttocks and half his back. He also noticed that Carnes' clothing and skin appeared to be stained or smeared with something.

“Turn the torch off Steve,” Graham called. “Go and see if there is anyone in the gully.”

Stephen did so. Graham moved closer to Carnes, who had now stopped screaming. The boy lay in a shuddering huddle, sobbing uncontrollably. CSM Cleland and Sgt Grenfell arrived simultaneously.

“What the hell's going on here? What are you up to Cpl Kirk?” CSM Cleland snapped.

To be thought one of the troublemakers instantly sparked Graham's ire but he was saved by Sgt Grenfell who said, “I told Cpl Kirk to come here CSM. He is with me. He had nothing to do with it.”

“What the devil is going on?” CSM Cleland demanded to know.

“I think someone has been playing silly pranks CSM,” Graham replied. “They have frightened the wits out of poor little Cadet Carnes here.”

CSM Cleland clicked on a powerful torch. The beam transfixed the cringing, huddled form of Carnes. “What's going on Cadet Carnes? What's happened to you?”

Carnes made no reply. He shielded his eyes from the beam and hunched into a tighter ball. In the light Graham had his suspicions confirmed: the stains on Carnes' skin and clothing were shit. ‘Poor little bugger!' he thought.

Seeing Cadet Carnes undressed state CSM Cleland swung his torch beam around, picking out Stephen. “Can you see anything Cpl Bell?”

“No-one here CSM,” Stephen replied. He walked back to join them.

Other people now began arriving. CSM Cleland turned his torch on them. Most were just cadets rushing to see the spectacle but Sgt White and Sgt Gayney were among them. “You people go back to your platoons,” CSM Cleland yelled. “Cpl Bell, keep people away.”

The cadets were shooed away but not before a few had peeked around the Hessian. Reluctantly the cadets withdrew, their voices a babble of speculation and snickering. From over at the 4 Platoon camp a loud, cruel laugh sounded.

‘Pike!' Graham thought. ‘I'll bet he was in on this.'

By now Carnes had calmed down a bit. He still lay in a shivering huddle but his sobs had died to sniffles. CSM Cleland walked over to him. “What happened Cadet Carnes?”

Graham said, “I'd watch where you step CSM.”

The smell was now making itself felt. CSM Cleland flicked his torch onto the ground and Graham saw that turds and used toilet paper were scattered and smeared around the ground. He also noted that Carnes had shit smeared all over his right buttock. Sand adhered to it. Worse still there was a large turd inside Carnes' underpants and trousers.

“What happened Cadet Carnes? Who did this to you?” CSM Cleland asked again.

“Y..Ya.. Yow... sniff.. Yowie Men,” Carnes sobbed.

“Crap!” CSM Cleland snorted.

‘Not well chosen that word!' Graham thought.

CSM Cleland went on, “There are no such thing as Yowies. It was cadets dressed up. Who were they and what did they do?”

“I d..d..don't...sniff...don't kn..know...sniff.. wh...who they w...wu..were,” Carnes replied.

“What did they do?” CSM Cleland asked.

“They came up out of the gully (sob) while I was doing....doing a ...a...a poo. They screamed and (sniffle) pushed me into the hole,” he said. At that Carnes burst into tears again.

Lt Standish joined them. She was a lady teacher in her thirties and Graham thought she was a lovely person. She now confirmed that, as well as demonstrating she could handle a crisis. “What happened CSM?” she asked.

As CSM Cleland began to tell her what he knew Carnes began to whimper and pull at his clothing. “Go away! I'm not dressed!” Carnes shrieked.

Cruel laughter sounded from over at 4 Platoon. Graham said, “I'll bet Pigsy Pike and his scaly mates know something about this.”

Lt Standish spoke softly to Carnes. “It's alright David, I'm a mother you know. I've got three boys about your age. Don't worry. Just lie still.” She turned to the CSM. “What's wrong with him CSM?”

“He's all covered in... in.. er.. er.” CSM Cleland stammered. Graham had to sympathise with him as he struggled to find a word he thought suitable to say to a teacher.

“Shit you mean?” Lt Standish said.

“Er... yes Ma'am. It's all over his clothes. They pushed him into the hole.”

“And they used the shovel to dump more on me!” Carnes cried, anger and humiliation evident in his voice.

“Who were they?” Lt Standish asked.

“Don't know Miss.”

“How many?”

“Two of them,” Carnes replied. “They had horrible faces and big shaggy heads and were huge.”

A suspicion formed in Graham's mind and he asked, “Was it Halyday and Andrews?”

Carnes sobbed. “N...no. They had just arrived and were doing a pee when the Yowie Men ran out of the gully,” Carnes said.

“Halyday and Andrews might know something,” Lt Standish said. “CSM, you and Sgt Grenfell go and question them while I clean up here.”

“Four Platoon I reckon,” Graham insisted.

Stephen agreed. “I thought I heard ‘Porno's' voice.”

Lt Standish gestured. “Get some proof and don't make accusations Cpl Kirk. Go on CSM. Cpl Bell, you keep people away. Cpl Kirk, you stay here to help me.”

Graham didn't want to stay but had no choice. Lt Standish sent him to collect a jerry can of water. “And don't say anything to any cadet,” she added as he walked away.

4 Platoon area was closest but Graham went instead to HQ and got a jerry can from the row beside the vehicle track. He lugged the jerry can back, puffing and perspiring with effort. When he arrived back he saw that Lt Standish was standing well away from the latrine, with her back to a naked Carnes who was busy washing himself using the washbasin and soap kept at the toilet for hygiene. In the starlight Graham could just see Carnes' pale skin. The boy had his back to them and was still sobbing.

“Put the jerry can next to Cadet Carnes please Cpl Kirk, then go to his platoon and get his section commander to bring his kitbag,” Lt Standish ordered.

“Yes Ma'am,” Graham replied.

“What section are you in Cadet Carnes?” Lt Standish asked.

“Three Section, Cpl Brown, Miss,” Carnes replied, misery in every syllable.

“Then we can't get your platoon sergeant here,” Lt Standish commented.

As 1 Platoon sergeant was a girl, Sheila Sherry, Graham could only quietly chuckle as he strode across to where 1 Platoon was camped. He felt sorry for Carnes but thought his reaction a bit overdone. ‘The mongrels would regret it if they tried to do that to me,' he told himself. With that came the thought that maybe he had better be careful when and where he went to the toilet. He was uncomfortably aware that he had no friends in 4 Platoon.

Five minutes later Graham walked back with Cpl Brown, who carried Carnes' kitbag. As they arrived at the latrine Graham saw that Carnes, still naked, was now crouched in a shivering ball behind a tree. “There are prickles Miss!” Carnes moaned.

“Won't be long now,” Lt Standish told him.

As she did the headlights of the two Land Rovers appeared out at the Canning Road. “Here comes the OC. Cpl Kirk, go and find the CSM and have him report to Capt Conkey. Cpl Brown, you stay here and keep watch for Cadet Carnes.”

By the time the two Land Rovers had parked at the officer's fire Graham saw that his mission was wasted. CSM Cleland was already walking that way. Curious to know what Halyday and Andrews might have said Graham continued on. Lt Standish walked beside him and they arrived at the fire just after the CSM had informed Capt Conkey of the outrage. While he was doing this the other officers and the four CUOs all climbed out of the vehicles and joined the group around the fire.

In the firelight Graham saw Capt Conkey's lips press together and his eyes harden. When the outline of the story had been given he asked, “Do we know who did it?”

CSM Cleland answered. “No sir. Sgt Grenfell and I have questioned Cadets Halyday and Andrews but they either don't know, or won't say. All they could tell me was that they were big and that they had hutchies wrapped around them which they wore like cloaks. Apparently when they ran forward they spread these like bat's wings. They wore some sort of rubber masks, those horrible things you see in the novelty shops, and they had wigs made of scrim.”

“Hutchies!” Capt Conkey cried in astonishment. “I'll give them bloody hutchies if I catch them. So there are no suspects?”

“It was suggested that Four Platoon were involved sir,” CSM Cleland replied, gesturing in Graham's direction.

At that CUO Grey scowled at Graham. “You got any proof Kirk?”

Graham swallowed and wished he hadn't spoken. He replied, “I heard their voices afterwards, and they thought it was very funny.”

“Whose voices?” asked Capt Conkey as he glanced quickly at Graham.

CSM Cleland answered. “Someone said they thought they heard Porno's voice sir.”

“Porno eh?” Capt Conkey replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Cpl Pornosittipol was a huge Thai, a Year 12 student who had been passed over for promotion. Along with two others he had been placed in what was called the ‘Control Group', but more usually ‘the Enemy', because that was the role they normally filled on exercises. The unit policy was that, if a cadet NCO was not promoted they were moved sideways onto an unofficial part of the establishment table, though still being enrolled and counted as a Cadet for official returns. This allowed more cadets to have a chance of being promoted.

“Has he got an alibi?” Capt Conkey asked. Graham knew that Porno was a notorious practical joker and mischief maker.

CSM Cleland nodded. “He claims he was with Four Platoon all the time and Sgt White and Cpl Bannister back that up,” he replied. He sounded annoyed.

“What about Pigsy Pike?” Graham interjected.

“Be quiet Cpl Kirk! Speak when you are asked,” Capt Conkey rapped back. He turned to the CSM. “Well?”

“He says he was with Four Platoon too sir. Others backed his story.”

Capt Conkey frowned.“Do you think they are telling the truth?” he asked.

CSM Cleland shook his head. “No sir.”

At that CUO Grey became indignant. “Oh sir! That's not fair, to blame my platoon without any evidence. We get blamed for everything.” He flashed Graham another venomous look, making him wish he had stayed away.