The Cadet Sergeant Major (35 page)

There was an outburst of murmurs and grumbles. For a moment Graham feared mutiny and open rebellion but the sergeants, including Gwen, who returned, sat them down and silenced them. The work parties, once detailed, headed off meekly enough; their selection providing a certain amount of sardonic amusement.

Dusk began turning into darkness. The rows of boys sat on the sand muttering, with an odd laugh or two. Graham stood alone out the front. The sergeants stood with their platoons. After ten minutes Graham set off to check progress.

Before he arrived at the latrine he could hear angry voices:- LCpl Leroy saying to Cadet Steele, “Pick it up Steele and do what I say.”

“Get stuffed!” was Steele's rejoinder just as Graham emerged from the track through the rubber vines. Graham's temper flared.

“Cadet Steele, do what Lance Corporal Leroy orders you to!” he snapped, taking in the circle of cadets and the shovel lying on the sand beside a half-dug hole,

“No!” Steele cried. “He can't tell me what to do. He isn't in my platoon.”

“He can,” Graham replied. “He outranks you in the military system. He gave you an order. Now I'm giving you one. Obey the lance corporal.”

“No! I won't. You are all picking on me!” Steele shouted.

“Cadet Steele, pick up the shovel!” Graham grated angrily.

“No! I won't!” Steele flung back. He turned and pushed past the cadet next to him.

Graham was enraged. “Don't you walk away from me Cadet Steele! Stand still! Come back here and obey orders!”

“No!” Steele shouted again. He made a quick dart to get past Graham and onto the track. Instinctively Graham reached out and grabbed Steele's sleeve.

“Stop Cadet Steele! Don't you disobey.”

“Let me go!” Steele shrieked. He flailed at Graham, striking him several times on his arm and chest. Then he jerked clear and ran off into the gloom.

“Cadet Steele! Come back here!” Graham bellowed. He felt himself to be engorged with anger and mortification- that his authority had been flouted and defied; that he had been made appear silly and impotent. His mind raced with how to solve the problem; half his consciousness telling him that the whole situation was largely his own fault. ‘Don't get stubborn,' he told himself. ‘Use your brain. Calm down!' With an effort of willpower he did so. He turned to the watching group.

“How deep is the hole?”

Hodgins clicked on a torch and shone it down. Graham grunted in grudging satisfaction. He looked around. “All cleaned up? Fresh water and soap? Good. Thank you. Let's go back.”

Graham led them back, aware that his skin was burning in the cool night air. The boys still sat in their platoon groups. Graham did not waste time. “Platoon sergeants, take your platoons away. The company campfire is at nineteen thirty and everyone is to attend. Sgt Rankin, have Cadet Steele report to Coy HQ. Carry on.”

The troops fell out and dispersed. Graham strode over to the HQ fire. When he arrived he became aware of an uneasy silence. Capt Conkey came to meet him.

“What was that all about CSM?”

Graham told him. Capt Conkey grunted and tugged at his chin. After an awkward pause he said. “Hmmm. Yes. I see. But I'm afraid something more serious has come up. Cadet Steele has just made the accusation that you assaulted him.”

Graham's stomach instantly churned, before being gripped tight by icy fingers.

Assault!

As his mind tried to grapple with the implications Capt Conkey continued. His tone more than his words conveyed to Graham the seriousness of the issue. He was in trouble- big trouble!

“I'm sorry CSM but a complaint has been made and I must investigate it. You realize that assault is not only an offence under Cadet Regulations, but is also a civil crime?”

“Yes sir,” Graham replied. He felt stunned. “But sir, I didn't. I...”

Capt Conkey cut him off. “Don't say anything for the moment. Just give me the names of any witnesses. We will interview them first then you can defend yourself. Until then go and sit with Lt McEwen and say nothing to anyone. Until this is resolved you are suspended from duty. SSgt Costigan can act as CSM if required.”

“Yes sir,” Graham replied. His mind raced: witnesses- yes, there were plenty, at least five or six. Then, as he listed them in his mind, his heart sank. They were all the worst troublemakers in their platoons; the ones he most frequently had to discipline: Carleton, Ross, Arthur, Walsh, Hodgins and LCpl Leroy.

What an opportunity it was for any of them if they had a grudge against him! The thought made him feel sick. Into his mind flashed all the little incidents where he had clashed with these people. Surely they wouldn't all twist the truth?

At Capt Conkey's prompting Graham named them. Then Lt McEwen led him off to sit in the shadows. Graham could sense her sympathy, but also her worry. He had no doubt, judging by the way the officers spoke and appeared, that it was very serious. ‘I could be sacked from being CSM!' he realized. Black clouds of doubt boiled over his bright vision of the future.

Peter and Costigan were sent to collect the witnesses. Lt Standish took Cadet Steele off with CUO White. People came wandering past and were sent away. Graham writhed in silent agony and shame. Already the rumours had gone round the unit. ‘Suspended from duty! Costigan to act as CSM!' Oh, that was a cruel irony!

‘My enemy triumphant!' he thought bitterly.

The witnesses were seated out on the sand, isolated from each other and supervised by Costigan and Peter. Lt Maclaren and Lt Hamilton then began calling them one at a time to question them.

As Graham sat there in the darkness he went over every second of the incident in his mind. Yes, he had grabbed at Steele's shirt. He knew that, in the State Law of Queensland, even to lay a finger on someone could be construed as assault, if the person objected. Bitterly he cursed himself.

‘What a bloody fool I am! There go my chances of making CUO!'

Capt Conkey joined them with a lantern and a notebook. “OK CSM, what happened? Tell me your version of it.”

Graham did so. He felt so wretched he thought he was going to throw up. Inside he began to burn with indignation. The situation was absurd! The actual act so trifling! And to be crucified by a bloody liar!

When Capt Conkey had finished his questions he moved away to go into conference with the other officers. All the preliminary interviews had been completed. Graham was left sitting alone in the dark. He checked his watch. 1945. The campfire should now be underway, but the platoons were all still dispersed at their own fires. A few curious cadets came wandering around, among them a worried Margaret. Costigan chased them away. Steele and the witnesses still sat out on the sand in a long line being watched by Peter. Graham was acutely aware that the ‘case' must be a hot topic around the platoons.

Twenty long minutes dragged by. Graham watched anxiously. By the nodding of heads a decision had been reached. Lt Hamilton detached himself from the group of officers at the fire and walked over.

“CSM, come over to the OC now.”

Graham tried to read his fate in the officer's voice but could not. He stood up and went with him. At the fire he halted, standing stiffly at attention, annoyed that he could not quell the butterflies in his stomach nor stand without trembling slightly. His palms were sweaty and he wanted to wipe them but he made himself stay at the correct position of attention. His eyes met the OC's serious face with dread in his heart.

Capt Conkey shook his head slightly and cleared his throat. Graham's hopes plummeted.

“Well CSM, you have made a few enemies,” Capt Conkey said. He paused and Graham feared the worst. The OC then looked him squarely in the eye and went on, “But I would not expect a good CSM to be popular with the troublemakers. A couple of the witnesses were prepared to support Cadet Steele's accusation, but the others would not. You strongest supporter was Cadet Hodgins. He was emphatic that Steele actually struck you. Walsh and Arthur said the same. So we questioned them all again and the others decided that maybe they weren't sure what they saw because it was too dark. And Cadet Ross admitted he had lied and agreed with Hodgins.”

Capt Conkey smiled. “So we believe your version CSM. You are restored to duty. I know it was a natural action to reach out to attempt to restrain Cadet Steele; and I am sure you were sorely provoked- we could hear him shouting from here- but you should not have tried to do so. In future keep your hands by your sides and report such incidents to me. We will now speak to Cadet Steele. You will not make any personal issue of this with him, or with the other witnesses. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir,” Graham said. Inside he felt the pain in his chest ease and his spirits bubbled up.

“Now go and get the Campfire going; and make sure everyone is there. Carry on.”

Graham felt as though a great weight had been removed from his skull. He breathed deeply and tried to pretend he was unmoved but inside he surged with relief.

“Sir!” He about turned and strode off, calling for Peter to move HQ to the campfire. Peter joined him.

“You OK then?” Peter asked quietly.

“Yes thanks. I'll tell you about it later. Get HQ to stoke up the campfire.”

It seemed as though the whole unit had been holding its breath. Something like a collective shiver, expressed in an outburst of rapid talk, ran through the darkness as Graham's normal CSM's voice called the sergeants to move to the campfire. A babble of happy voices lightened the mood. Cadets came streaming out of the darkness to seat themselves in platoon groups. Laughter and horseplay broke out. Graham noted many curious looks but he ignored them and acted as though nothing had happened.

The fire was piled high with logs. It flared up, sending up showers of sparks. The updraught made the overhanging leaves shake. Graham controlled the fire maker's efforts for the sake of safety. When a good, crackling bonfire was roaring he called the platoon sergeants to check they had everyone present. When all had replied he sent LCpl Parnell to invite the officers to join them.

Lt Hamilton took over as Master of Ceremonies and began with a joke. Number 1 Section was then called on to perform. Graham moved to one side and looked over the mass of faces, all ruddy in the firelight. His eyes met Margaret's and she smiled her relief. So did Barbara and Allison, and a dozen others.

Graham also noted Hodgins, who gave him a grin and a thumbs-up. That amazed him. A few others avoided his eye. Steele and Waters sat sour-faced at the back, both isolated by their peers. What cheered Graham more was seeing Clayfield sitting in the middle of Barbara's section and actually smiling. Graham realized that he hadn't heard of Clayfield having a toilet problem for two days. ‘Let's hope!' he thought.

For a few minutes Graham stood and scanned the company, looking for any potential trouble. He noted Stephen sitting with Kellie Jones and that caused him to frown. Then he saw Marcia Denton sitting beside Mike Tarrant, a big lad in 4 Platoon. She was leaning against him and smiling and he was talking to her and looking interested. ‘Hmm. I wonder if Tarrant is following the ‘Go ugly early,' theory, or does he actually find her attractive?' Graham wondered. He shrugged and smiled. ‘Good luck to them,' he thought, wishing her well.

The Campfire settled into its usual round of jokes and ribald send-ups, impersonations, poems, songs and skits. Hilarity was quickly reached with an impersonation by Cadet Perry of the OC giving orders. Graham began to relax and enjoy himself. Lt Maclaren set up shop with two ‘Eskis' of soft drink and chocolates. Cadets began moving around to the canteen and off into the shadows where sections were rehearsing for their act.

After an hour it seemed that the Campfire was a roaring success. There was continual cheering and laughter and the skits and jokes seemed to be the best Graham could ever remember. The officers did a variation of the old ‘Operating Theatre' shadow play using a lantern behind a hutchie. They titled it ‘The truck crash' (Lt Hamilton driving, the OC explained). They set about attempting to reconstruct one single cadet from the mangled remains of what was alleged to be all the CUOs and sergeants. All manner of improbable items were held up to cast a shadow, the original owner and his attributes named, and the item inserted into the corpse (the OC).

Peter came out of it lightly. He was credited with a brain (a ball bearing which rolled around in a tin can). Graham was a bit tense as a rope circle was held up and Lt Standish said. “What a giant mouth. I think it must have been the CSM's”

The crowd roared with laughter. Then Margaret called from the audience. “All the better to kiss you with!” The laughter and cheers were deafening. Graham blushed hotly and met Margaret's eye. She was embarrassed too but gave an impish grin.

A skit by the Control Group sending up Dimbo Doyle's navigation followed. This included a body under a blanket with its arm sticking up. Graham wasn't really amused and he noted that Peter appeared to blanch when he saw it. Capt Conkey cut it short and told ‘The bear and the rabbit' to lighten the mood again.

Then Capt Conkey came to stand next to Graham. Graham noted that his mouth was smiling as he watched the cadets, but his eyes were not. He asked quietly, “Your report on the CQ, CSM. What was behind your comments?”

“I was told that he and Cpl Jones did something last night sir, during their patrol,” Graham replied.

“Hmmm. And did they?”

“Definitely not sir but I think that Costigan made improper suggestions to her. It was during the patrol when they were alone and had the opportunity and Costigan was overheard boasting to Sgt Crane that he had done things.”

“Hmmm. I had heard a whisper of some sort of problem,” Capt Conkey replied. “What about Cpl Jones, is she behaving?”

“I believe so sir,” Graham answered.

“Costigan and Cadet Smart?”

“He would if he got the chance. Possibly sir.”

“Hmmm. That fits with something else I was just told. Do you know where they are?”

Graham quickly scanned the faces around the fire. “No sir, I don't. They were here a few minutes ago. I will have a look around.”

“So will I. You search that way and I will go this way,” Capt Conkey said, pointing. Graham nodded and moved off to get his torch.

Nearby in the darkness were quite a number of people. Some were groups rehearsing skits but others were just talking or wandering around.

“Back to the fire you lot,” Graham ordered. He walked slowly along the dark tunnel through the bivouac areas. He did not use his torch but his ears were alert and his eyes probed the shadows. A ten minute walk to the far end of the 4 Platoon area revealed no-one. He circled back along the top of the first dune, well aware that it would be difficult to locate anyone who did not want to be found in the vast tangle of vines and bushes.

Twenty five minutes later he was back at the campfire. The ‘concert' was now in its dying stages and only determined efforts by Lt Hamilton kept it going. Nearly as many cadets sat in groups nearby or strolled around as sat at the fire. Most appeared tired and ready for bed. A few had trickled back to their platoon fires.

Graham stood to one side for a few minutes where he could see most of the faces. There was no sign of Costigan or Cpl Goltz. ‘And of a few others I wanted to keep an eye on: Crane, Brown, Smart, Ramsey,' he mused. Someone came and stood close beside him and nudged his arm. It was Margaret. She gave her lovely shy smile and said, “Everyone seems to be having a good time.”

“Yes,” Graham agreed, his eyes noting Lofty Ward and Wendy Werribee sitting so close together their arms were touching.

“Is everything alright?” Margaret asked.

“I hope so. I'm just keeping an eye open for possible trouble makers,” Graham replied.

“I heard about what Cadet Steele accused you of,” she said. “I'm so glad you didn't get into trouble.”

Graham grunted and gave a dry laugh. “So am I.”

At that moment Kate O'Brien came out of the dark, plonked down next to Allison and Marcia Denton and began whispering to them.

‘Hmm. Someone's upset her,' Graham observed. ‘She certainly looks angry.' He looked around. “Have you seen the OC Margaret?”

“Not for a while,” she replied.

“Thanks. I'd better go and find him,” Graham said. He turned and made his way through the line of trees to where the smaller flames of the officer's fire flickered. Quite a number of people were there and Graham at once sensed trouble.

The OC, Lt Maclaren and Lt McEwen were standing beside the fire talking to CUO White and Erika Goltz. Nearby, watched by Lt Standish, sat Sgt Crane and Cadet Ramsey. No-one was smiling and it was at once apparent that the OC was extremely angry. Graham halted, unsure whether to join them because a CUO was there. He decided it was his business if Goltz was, so he went forward.

Capt Conkey glanced at him then continued talking to CUO White. What he said at once appalled Graham. White was not there in his capacity as platoon commander; he was in trouble. Capt Conkey was lecturing him in the harshest of terms for ‘poor example' and ‘disgraceful behaviour'. He concluded by saying, “CUO White, you are relieved of your command. Go and get your gear and bring it here. You will stay within the close supervision of Lt Maclaren for the rest of camp. Cpl Goltz, the same applies to you. Lt McEwen will supervise you. Now both of you go and get your gear at once. Don't be more than five minutes or I will want to know why. Don't stop to explain to friends. Now move!”