The Cadet Sergeant Major (39 page)

The crowd were moving back faster now. Apart from Morry, Stephen and Larry the only people still standing on their side of the road were Graham, then a few paces further back Roger, Sgt Crane and Cpl Brown, and nearer the crowd: Sgt Copeland, Sgt Rankin, Barbara and Margaret.

Capt Conkey pushed his way to the front of the crowd and halted, a look of horror on his face.

Larry snarled at him, “Back off! All of you!”

‘Crack !'

The rifle went off. Peter flinched, as did most of the others. The bullet struck the truck with a loud, metallic ‘whack!'

Larry snarled and shook the rifle. “Back off I said. I won't miss next time.”

“Move back out of sight,” Graham roared, but he remained where he was himself. “Sgt Copeland! Cpl Brassington! Cadet Lake! Get back out of sight.”

By now some people were running away and the bulk of the crowd began to ebb quickly. Peter saw with relief that the girls had begun to reluctantly back away. ‘Thank God!' he thought. ‘We don't want one of the girls taken hostage.'

Capt Conkey and the officers began to urge everyone to move under cover. Morry started dragging Stephen towards the car. Stephen struggled gamely. Morry released his grip on Stephen's throat and gave him a savage belt over the ear.

“Stop wrigglin' kid or I'll break yer bloody neck,” he snarled.

“Let him go,” Graham ordered. He stood and faced the two men, hands on hips again.

“Clear orf kid or I'll shoot you,” Larry replied, reloading the rifle.

In answer Graham half-turned. “You sergeants move back.”

Peter noted that Sgt Rankin had joined Crane and Brown, and that Gwen Copeland was still in the middle of the road.

Larry pointed the rifle at them. “You heard what yer boss said. Back off!”

“No,” Crane replied. “You wouldn't be game to shoot us.”

“Don't tempt me kid,” Larry snarled. “Come on Morry, get that kid in the car.”

Graham called out as Morry moved. “Sgt Crane, move back. He will shoot. These are the men who murdered the man Cpl Doyle found. Peter saw them on the river bank.”

Morry was close to Peter then. He lashed out with his boot, landing a savage kick on Peter's ribs.

“Little turd! That's for dobbin' on us. We'll get you one day.”

Peter tried to get up. He rose painfully to his hands and knees. Larry turned to look at him, his face a mask of hate. “I'll give it to him right now while I got the chance,” he snarled. He raised the rifle to his shoulder and aimed it at Peter's head.

Peter rose to a crouch, his eyes riveted on the tiny black bore of the rifle. ‘I am dead!' he thought. ‘I don't want to die! Yes I do. I don't care. I've made a mess of everything.' The thoughts flashed through his mind, along with calculations: ‘Five paces. Can I cover them before he shoots? No. Will the shot be fatal. Yes, if I stand still, then he will get me right between the eyes. But it's only a .22. If I'm moving I've got a chance.'

He tensed to spring, saw Larry's eye line up the sight and his finger tighten on the trigger.

Graham flung his cane with all its force. The sharp bullet-head of the cane struck Larry hard on the temple.

‘Crack !'

Peter lunged even as the rifle went off. He felt the bullet pluck at the collar of his shirt. Larry reeled and struggled frantically to re-cock the rifle. Peter raced forward and grappled with him as he did. The rifle ended up wedged between them, its barrel pointing up. Peter hung on desperately, knowing he was dead if he let go.

Larry snarled and wrestled frantically, both arms pinned. He kicked and spat. His hard, hate-filled eyes were only centimetres from Peter's. He stamped on Peter's insteps and tried to knee him in the groin. In desperation he head-butted Peter. The blow smashed into Peter's nose and he reeled on the edge of unconsciousness.

‘Bang!'

The rifle discharged right next to Peter's ear. There were shouts and running figures. An arm appeared around Larry's neck: Crane's. Brown punched at Larry's head.

“Hold him! Hold him!” Graham yelled, grabbing Larry by an arm.

They fell over in a struggling heap. Peter clung on with all his strength, aware that he was weakening and frightened by Larry's desperate struggles. He thought he was going to be crushed as more cadets flung themselves into the fight. His left arm felt as though it must snap at any moment. He couldn't even yell out or breathe properly. Frantically he screwed his head the other way. Grass and dirt were ground onto his battered face. He glimpsed a furious struggle as Sgt Rankin, Stephen, Gwen Copeland and the OC wrestled Morry to the ground.

There were more running figures. “Hold that leg!” cried Lt Hamilton. Larry continued to heave and struggle. More cries and running feet: Barbara and Margaret. Lt Maclaren yelling, “Here's a rope. Tie that ankle.”

Peter was underneath the heap of squirming bodies and worrying now that his neck or back would be broken. He was having trouble breathing and began to experience real alarm. He heard Lt Maclaren order: “Hold his arms. Got them? Good, tie that wrist. Now, roll him on his back. Let go Peter.”

Peter did so. The weight suddenly came off. He was left lying on the footpath, bruised and winded. Beside him Sgt Rankin and Sgt Copeland knelt on Larry's left arm.

“Take the rifle off him Cpl Brown,” Lt Maclaren ordered. “Pull his little finger. Break it if you have to. That will make him let go. Don't let him cock it.”

There was another furious struggle. Brown hauled the rifle clear. The siren of a police car sounded. The vehicle screeched to a halt. A policeman leapt out and ran across to them. Graham struggled up from where he had been knocked flat. He picked up his slouch hat and dusted it, put it on, then scooped up his cane and put it under his arm. Larry's other arm was tied securely by Sgt Crane.

Peter lay back, gasping and still half stunned. Graham knelt beside him, his face a picture of concern.

“Are you OK mate?”

“Yeah. Bit bruised that's all. Thanks for that. I reckoned I was dead then.”

Graham held up his cane and smiled. “So did I!”

Capt Conkey knelt with him. “How are you Peter?”

“OK sir. Bit battered,” Peter replied. In fact he felt like passing out. He began to tremble in reaction.

“Well done both of you,” Capt Conkey said, gripping them both by the shoulder. An ambulance arrived with a wail of sirens.

Six hours later Graham stood watching a line of cadets returning stores to the ‘Q' Store at their school. It was already dark and the lights were on under the buildings. Behind him sat the remainder of the unit in platoon groups, waiting for dismissal. Over to one side were hundreds of parents and a gaggle of media people. They comprised an impatient, irritated, even angry crowd because the unit was three hours behind schedule.

And what a three hours! Police interviews, TV interviews, medical treatment (they had wanted to take both Peter and Stephen to Hospital for ‘Observation' but both had refused), then 3 hours travel followed by the checking and handing back of stores, radios and compasses. The company had arrived back to a blaze of publicity and more TV and Newspaper interviews and a lot of worried and annoyed parents.

Capt Conkey, the School Principal and an army staff officer were over with them now. The parents had been informed of the delay by telephone, but sensational and inaccurate media reports had aggravated their temper. Graham had overheard several hostile parents abuse the OC and accuse him of being ‘incapable' and ‘irresponsible' and other things of a similar vein. It made Graham boil with anger at the injustice.

‘They could at least get the facts right first, before making such harsh judgements,' he muttered. ‘Poor old Capt Conkey. He goes out of his way to try to keep things safe and he gets landed with this.'

Graham shook his head in disgust and turned away- only to face the group of suspended cadets. Peter was prominent among them because of the sticking plaster and antiseptic on his face. ‘At least the parents don't know about this lot yet. That will just about put the cap on things properly,' he thought bitterly.

Graham looked at Peter and didn't know how he felt about him. ‘I thought he was my best friend- but he let me down badly- and all because of a girl!' For a few seconds he mulled over unkind thoughts about Kate O'Brien. Then he mused how things could get easily twisted and go badly wrong. ‘Pete tried to do the right thing and the next we know there are guns being fired in the street!' He shook his head and shuddered when he considered by what a narrow margin tragedy had been avoided.

For a moment he relived that dreadful moment when the man had aimed the rifle at Peter's head. ‘I thought I would be too late; or miss,' he thought.

Graham was diverted from these unpleasant thoughts by the OC, who left the parents and walked across under the building.

“How is it going CSM ?”

“Be finished in about twenty minutes Sir.”

“Thank God! We will have a full parade and then dismiss the company. In the circumstances I want us to finish properly. The parents can wait a bit longer. There are things I need to say to everyone, to set the tone. If we go wrong at this moment then the long term future of the company could be in jeopardy.”

“I agree sir.”

Capt Conkey nodded and sighed. “What an ending to a camp! And what a camp! Just one damned thing after another.”

Graham felt an urgent need to re-assure the OC; to express his sympathy and support. “It could have been worse sir. I think that, overall, the camp was a real success. All the training went off well; and nearly all the cadets enjoyed it most of the time. Besides, we did catch the murderers.”

“Yes, I know. But what a nuisance! There goes the rest of my holidays. I will be writing blasted reports to the army and the Education Department for days.”

Graham hadn't thought of that. It gave him an unpleasant insight into the realities of the adult world.

“Well sir, I'd like to say thank you. I appreciate very much the effort you and the other officers make to keep the unit running. And I think I speak for most of the cadets when I say that.”

“Thank you very much CSM. But it's the future I am now worried about. I don't want a sour ending to mar next year's retention and recruiting. Somehow we have got to turn a bunch of negatives into a big positive. We must end on a high note. What do you think?”

“I agree sir,” Graham replied. His mind raced. Capt Conkey was obviously grappling to come up with the best action to take over the suspended cadets. To demote or expel them at this juncture, on top of the other drama, could cause serious damage whose effects would be felt for years. On the other hand, to take no action would also have serious long-term consequences. As soon as the cadets were dismissed they would start to tell their parents and siblings the stories. It would all come out. It could not be covered up.

‘What a cruel dilemma!' Graham thought.

As though he was reading his mind Capt Conkey nodded towards the suspended cadets and pinned Graham right to the spot. “What do you think we should do with them CSM?”

Graham hesitated, his mind furiously weighing the pros and cons. Capt Conkey prompted him. “I know that is not a very fair question; but remember the final decision is mine. I just want a cadet's opinion; a gut-reaction.”

“A conditional amnesty Sir. Let them all off, but ensure they understand why. And make them renew their promises to behave, in front of the whole company.”

“Hmmm…” Capt Conkey tugged at his jaw. “But then we have injustice. Brown was demoted for far less than what some of the others have done.”

Graham had an answer ready. “Restore his rank for bravery sir. He rushed in and grappled with that gunman without hesitation. When the chips were down he did the right thing. In fact he and Crane both did a good job.”

“But White and Costigan slunk off,” Capt Conkey pointed out, “While Stephen and Gwen were both in there boots and all; and she was disobeying your specific orders to withdraw.”

“I know it's not a perfect solution sir,” Graham persisted, “But it is the sort of glory that can wash away a lot of the earlier mistakes, to everyone's benefit.”

“What about Peter?”

Graham bit his lip. He had hoped to convince the OC without too many individual cases, especially Peter's. He now realized that, in his heart, he really wanted Peter to be saved- and wanted him still to be his friend.

“Well sir, his case is different. To start with he wasn't caught doing anything wrong. He came and confessed because he believed it was the right thing to do. He didn't do it out of a guilty conscience, although I know he had that. When I think back over the camp I can see he was crucifying himself over his lapse. And he didn't try to implicate anyone else. He wouldn't say who the girl was. And he did help the police. He went to identify that dead body and I know he was terrified of that.”

“Hmmm. You think we should be like the ancient Spartans, who used to punish their youth if they were caught doing something wrong, not for the crime but for getting caught?”

“No sir. We should weigh the right and wrong.”

“Yet he let you down,” Capt Conkey replied.

“I know sir. And he broke his promise to you. As I think you know, I did something very similar when I was a corporal, yet you gave me another chance and promoted me,” Graham answered.

“You want him saved then?”

“Yes Sir, and not just because he is my friend. He is a damned good sergeant.”

Capt Conkey turned to Graham and clapped him on the shoulder. “Well said CSM. Now, I will go and discuss this with the officers. After that I will speak to the miscreants. I want you there when I do. And have the company ready to form up for dismissal parade.”

“Yes Sir.” Graham came to attention and saluted. As he watched Capt Conkey walk over to where Lt Maclaren and Lt Standish were sorting Personal Qualities Reports he felt confused. Was the OC going to accept his advice or not? He saw Lt Hamilton and Lt McEwen, plus the other three CUOs called over. The officers went into earnest discussion. Graham watched anxiously, unable to hear, but aware that the OC was doing most of the talking. There was some argument and then a general nodding of heads. Capt Conkey looked around and caught Graham's eye. He jerked his head in the direction of the suspended cadets. Graham guessed, by the expressions on most of the officer's faces, that it must be generally good news. He hurried over to join the OC and the officers.

Together they marched over to where the suspended cadets sat in two dejected groups. CUO White had the good sense to call them to attention before they arrived. Capt Conkey returned his salute and looked at his watch, then ordered crisply.

“CUO White, stand there. Remainder, form one rank. Move!”

There was an edge to Captain Conkey's voice and they moved. Graham halted just to his left, facing the group. The other officers stood on his right.

“At attention!” Graham growled.

Capt Conkey looked hard at each in turn. Some were defiant: White and Crane; some sulky: Brown and Goltz. Peter's face showed he was desperately unhappy and ashamed.

“Now listen you lot. I have made my decision. The officers and the CSM agree. The sum of it is this. The other cadets are more important than you are. And we are concerned with the long term good of the unit. Because of your actions what should have been a very successful camp is ending on a very sour note. Do you understand?”

They replied “Yes Sir,” with varying degrees of conviction. Graham thought Peter was going to burst into tears and prayed he would not. He did note tears running down Cadet Smart's face.

Capt Conkey went on, his voice conveying his anger and disappointment. “I was depending on you people- and you let me down. You promised me to behave- and you broke your word. You betrayed my trust.”

The words made some of them visibly flinch. Peter seemed to wilt and shrink. Capt Conkey continued, “One of the problems is that whatever I do is going to cause damage to the unit, to its reputation. Another is that what I am going to do will not appear to be entirely just. That is because each case is different.”

He had their entire interest. All were looking at him, hanging on every word. He explained: “For example, CUO White, you are a Cadet Under-Officer- yet I find you down in the river in discreditable circumstances; and with the suspicion it was not the first time you had been up to mischief.”

Capt Conkey paused and Graham saw White's face mottle with shame. Capt Conkey went on, “Staff Sergeant Costigan, you are discovered sitting in the dark a thousand metres from where you should have been with a girl whose shirt was unbuttoned- even if you were only talking.” That last delivered with a savage irony which prevented even a hint of a smile on their faces.

“Sergeant Crane, I find you kissing and cuddling Cadet Ramsey- and both of you knew it was inappropriate behaviour.” Capt Conkey glared at each in turn.

“But sir we...” Crane began.

“Silence! Let me finish; then you can speak,” Capt Conkey snapped. “And Sergeant Bronsky, in charge of HQ and its girls, admits to having taken one of the girls down to the river for a swim. He won't say who so we have to speculate. Swimming he said. Wearing what? Their uniforms? Not likely. They returned to camp dry.”

Graham winced with Peter at that. ‘Now I know what our English teacher meant when she said “biting sarcasm”,' he thought.

Capt Conkey moved on to Cpl Goltz. “And you Corporal Goltz. Your name has been linked to a dozen rumours since the camp began. Don't you care about your reputation? Don't you care what people say?”

Goltz had the grace to blush and lower her eyes, although her upper lip was curled defiantly. Capt Conkey paced up and down then turned to face them.

“Now we come to the inequality and injustice. I happen to believe that at least one other girl in this unit did similar, or worse, things than you girls here are accused of. But she wasn't caught, and I have no proof.” He held up his hand as several mouths opened. “I know it's not fair. And there are the sergeants. Corporal Brown lost his stripes for kissing a girl in another platoon after ‘lights out'- and thereby undermined that platoon's discipline and let down his fellow sergeant.”

He paused and glared at them, then went on, “So, in fairness, you should all be demoted a rank.”

“What about Kirk sir? He was gropin' the girls in swimmin',” Costigan cried.

Capt Conkey marched over to stand close to him. “I witnessed the alleged incidents. My impression was that they were indulging in harmless horseplay! And besides, everyone in the unit knows that Cadet Lake thinks he is wonderful- although I can't imagine why!”

Graham tinged pink with embarrassment and concern, but Capt Conkey gave a thin smile. He went on. “The issue, Staff Sergeant Costigan, is not whether the CSM hugged or kissed his girl friend in front of the whole company. It is one of honesty, of trust. That was all open, above board, no deceit!”

Several of them hung their heads at that and Peter bit his lip. Capt Conkey resumed, “But, as I said, the unit is more important than the individuals. As well as that other things have happened which overshadow your discreditable behaviour. Bravery in action you might almost call it. For the good of the unit I am going to take an action which I trust you will not misinterpret as weakness.”

He paused. They all looked up.

“The action is this. If each of you will offer me a genuine apology, and make me another promise to behave, here and now, then I will take no direct disciplinary action.”

Graham saw hope light up in several faces. He felt his own chest go tight with anticipation. Capt Conkey continued, “I do not promise to forget. I will take your past record into account when we select who is to be promoted next year. But you will all be spared the public humiliation of being demoted, or of being dishonourably discharged. You will not have to face angry parents, although there will obviously be rumours. You will have to live with that.”

He paused again. “So, no discharges. No demotions. And, for your courage in grappling with an armed murderer Corporal Brown; you are promoted to sergeant.”