Anthony Simmonds asked: “How do you actually find the mines?”
“Some mines are laid on the sea bed and are exploded by the sound of a ship going over it, or by the change in water pressure from its passage. Those sorts of mines can’t be swept by minesweepers. They have to be located by a mine hunter’s sonar, or by a remote controlled robot sub. Once the mine has been located a diver goes down to look at it. He either disarms it, if he thinks it is safe to do that; or he places explosives on it and blows it up,” WO Crabb explained.
“What if it blows up when he touches it?” a girl asked.
All the divers laughed and WO Crabb said, “Then he is dead.”
When the black humour had subsided WO Crabb went on: “Don’t get the wrong idea. Today will be a lovely day for us, diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Ideal conditions, calm sea, bright sunlight, clear water, shallow. I mean, tourists actually pay to come and do this for fun. Most of our work is very boring, dirty and hard. Most jobs are in some muddy harbour, often at night where you can’t see your hand in front of your face and you have to work by feel.”
Blake looked horrified. “You swim underwater at night?” he cried.
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you scared of sharks?”
“Yes. But they don’t bother working divers much. Gropers and crocs are more of a worry. And none of them compare with worrying that some engineer might turn over a ship’s engines when you are near the propellers.” He made a sucking, scrunching noise and a twisting motion with his hands. Graham shuddered. What a horrible way to die!
WO Crabb explained that much of their work was checking the bottoms of ships that had run aground or hit some object, to see what the damage was; or untangling mooring lines and tow ropes from around propellers, picking up tools that idiots had dropped in the harbour, or removing obstructions from the cooling inlets to ship’s engines.
“Had to do that in Hong Kong once,” he said, “Main inlet to a frigate was blocked. Turned out to be a dead baby.”
There was a collective shudder of horror and several gasps. He explained: “Girl baby of course. The Chinese apparently value boy babies more and sometimes throw the girl babies in the river, which is how it came to be sucked into a ship’s engines. We see a lot of bodies. If you don’t like dead bodies don’t become a professional diver. We are always being called in to extract them from wrecked planes, cars that run of bridges, boats that sink, even from drain pipes and sewers.”
That got more gasps and shudders of revulsion. Apparently the last job the team had done had been to raise a sunken helicopter and one of them named Jacko had tugged at an arm and it had pulled off the body. This description caused more gasps of horror and Graham saw a few cadets looking quite anxious and pale. Could I cope with recovering mangled dead bodies? he wondered. He decided he could.
At the end of the lecture Graham was sold. What an exciting job: Salvage, searching, finding things—real adventure! He began to consider whether that might be the branch of the navy he wanted to go into.
The cadets were now all moved back up to the main deck and the divers got to work. The bow ramp of the LCH was lowered until it was just past horizontal. That put the end of the ramp just in the water. The divers were then able to carry their rubber boats along and launch them with no trouble. Their gear was placed aboard, the outboard started and they headed off.
“Where are they going?” Tina asked.
“To that yellow buoy,” Ken said, pointing to where a tiny yellow flag fluttered above the sea about a kilometre away.
Hoyle, a cadet in the Starboard Watch said to Tina: “Why do girls wear T-shirts over their bathers when they go swimming?”
Tina looked puzzled and blushed. “Why?” she asked.
“Because the air gets trapped under it and acts like a boy. Ya get it? Acts like a buoy!” Hoyle said with a snigger.
Graham couldn’t help glancing at Tina’s front. She was a very busty young lady for her age and his mouth went dry at the thought of acting like a boy with her bosom. Tina blushed and scowled.
Hoyle then said, “You all heard the one about the homosexual sailor?” They shook their heads. Hoyle went on: “He fell overboard and was found clinging to a buoy. Ya get it? Found clinging to a boy. Hah! Hah!”
There was laughter but Graham could see that Tina was very embarrassed. The situation made him feel uncomfortable but being only a new recruit he did not know what to do in the circumstances.
Carmen Collins did though. “You boys stop that disgusting talk! That is sexual harassment and I won’t have it. You don’t have to put up with that Tina; and you shouldn’t pretend you aren’t offended if you are.”
That shut the boys up, even the ones of higher rank than Carmen. Graham saw PO Armstrong look embarrassed. He should have stopped those jokes, Graham thought.
Lunch followed. The navy did not feed them. The cadets had all brought their own cut lunch. They sat around the decks and talked happily while they ate. The divers came back and went off to their own lunch below, then returned to the reef in their inflatable boats.
Graham sat and watched hungrily, wishing he was out there with them.
Chapter 30
SHOCKS AND SURPRISES
The divers reported back at 1300hrs. The cadets were able to overhear the conversation from vantage points along the walkways. The divers had indeed found an unexploded bomb. “An old 250 pound aerial bomb,” said WO Crabb, relaying the news to the CO. “Dropped way back in the Second World War I’d say. She’s all covered with coral and only parts of the fins are visible.”
Lt Howe chuckled. “They weren’t very environmentally friendly in those days.”
Blake interrupted. “Excuse me sir, why would they drop bombs here?” he asked.
“Probably using the reef as a practice target for attacks on ships. They may even have had a target set up on the reef,” Lt Howe replied.
“But World War 2 was over seventy years ago. Surely the bomb wouldn’t be dangerous now,” Blake said.
WO Crabb and his divers laughed. “Don’t you believe it son. That stuff can last for donkey’s years. And usually it becomes more unstable with age.”
Lt Howe asked: “So what do you propose to do with her Crabby?”
“We are cutting the coral away now sir. Once we can get at the casing we will drill a hole to let the water in. Should have no problem securing a line to it. We will then haul it free. If it doesn’t go bang we will suspend it from a boat and take it out into the deep water beyond the reef and blow it. Should be safe then,” WO Crabb replied. He said it very matter-of-factly but Graham appreciated there was a degree of tension about the divers.
They went back to where the other boat was anchored and the work went on. All that the cadets could see were two tiny black dots and the yellow marker buoy. After about an hour the cadets were told, the news having been passed by radio, that the bomb had been pulled free and was now hanging under one of the boats. This was seen to head off out through the gap in the reef. Watching it put an awful feeling of dread into Graham’s stomach. In anticipation of the blast all of the ship’s company and the cadets lined the rails to watch. Graham remained tense until he saw the small boat move well away from the place where it had released the bomb in deep water. There was a nail-biting delay of another 5 minutes or so before the distant sea suddenly erupted in a column of white water. It wasn’t as big as Graham had hoped for, his mind full of old newsreel images of depth charges exploding, but it was still very satisfying to see. The water quickly subsided and the muffled sound was barely noticed. The two dive boats then returned to the LCH.
As soon as they were aboard, the bow ramp was winched up, the anchor raised and the LCH got under way. As she nosed her way out through the reef Graham stood and watched with the wide eyes of hero-worship as the divers took off their dive equipment, then checked and packed it. By then it was after 2pm and the wind had got up with the afternoon sun so that the waves were even bigger a
s the LCH left the shelter of the reef. The distant coastal mountains looked a long way away as the first big wave burst over the bow in a splatter of spray.
The cadets fled to the stern and to the lee of the superstructure. Several soon became seasick, including Hoyle. The LCH began to batter into every wave as she moved further from the lee of the reef. The waves slammed against the flat ramp with a force that made the whole vessel shudder. This was no novelty to Graham who had endured days of slogging into ‘Sou-Easters’ on week-long voyages back from T.I. Some of the other cadets however looked positively worried. He could only smile and enjoy the whole experience.
As they got closer to Cairns the sea moderated as they got behind Cape Grafton, and then False Cape. By then they were sharing the water with a variety of other craft. A big Bulk Carrier passed on its way northwards. Several large sail yachts went racing by with fine feathers of spray at their bows. A Big Cat ferry went past towards Green Island.
“Cadet Recruit Kirk to the bridge!” boomed the loudspeaker.
Graham was so surprised that for a moment he could not respond.
Andrew nudged him. “That’s you.”
“I know,” Graham replied. He examined his conscience, wondering what he had done wrong. Quickly he made his way up the ladder to the bridge. Lt Howe greeted him. He pointed over the starboard quarter and said, “Wewak,” then proffered a pair of binoculars.
Graham took the binoculars and focused them. Into the lenses came a long, low black hull with a white painted box of a superstructure at the stern and bursts of white spray at her bows. The barge was about three miles off, just passing to seaward of Double Island and heading in the same direction.
Graham studied her for a few minutes, then stood leaning on the wing of the bridge staring across the tumbling water towards her. Is that my future? he wondered. He had some unpleasant memories of uncomfortable voyages on his father’s ships: long hours and hard work with tough, unsympathetic men who cared little for children.
Below him on the main deck stood a young rating who turned and called to a friend: “Hey Nobby! Come and get an eyeful of this.”
Graham looked where the rating was pointing. He saw that the LCH was overhauling a large sailing yacht. The yacht was less than 50 metres away, both vessels on converging courses as they headed for the channel markers. For a moment Graham wondered what had excited the sailor’s interest; then his eye detected girls. He raised the binoculars and focused them.
Not just girls but half naked girls! On the foredeck of the yacht reclined two big-breasted girls who wore no tops. They began waving at the LCH as it drew abeam. Graham felt his mouth go dry and his heart started to pound faster as he watched the girl’s breasts quiver as they waved. He moved his gaze aft to see if there were any more girls on the yacht. There were. Then he froze with shock. Sitting on the roof of the cabin were Janet and Thelma! Janet wore only a pair of brief black bikini pants and no top. And Thelma wore only a pair of shorts!
Graham was stunned. He licked his lips and refocused the binoculars, his hands trembling from the shock and a rush of desire. Then he felt a surge of jealousy that left him feeling sick. Seated beside the girls were Jerry Denham, Edmonson, Pinky and another lad: a good looking fellow of about twenty. They all wore only bathers. Seated in the cockpit was a blowsy, middle-aged woman who looked badly sunburnt. Standing in the cockpit steering the yacht was a thin, tanned, middle-aged man with short grey hair. He wore only a pair of brief bathers.
Graham moved his vision back to Thelma. She turned to look then waved, making no attempt to cover herself. Graham was stunned. That can’t be her! he thought. She’s not like that!
A hand clapped him on the shoulders. It was the Swain. “Give us those binos young fella. You are too young to be looking at things like that. It’ll make you go blind before your time,” he said with a chuckle.
Graham handed over the binoculars and blushed, then went even redder when the CO and lookout both laughed. They all focused binoculars on the yacht. Graham turned back to look at the yacht, gripping the rail as his mind whirled with ugly speculation.
The yacht’s name caught his eye: Frolicker, he read. That sounded ominous. He had an idea that word meant something to do with sex; like orgies. He screwed up his eyes to squint as the glare of the afternoon sun sparkled off the water. Tears formed and he moved hastily away lest anyone see.
It was Thelma. And the girl next to her definitely was Janet. Graham felt sick; and also aroused. The two girls on the foredeck were Danelle and her friend. They looked very attractive, even at that distance. Graham slipped off down the port ladder lest they recognize him. Thelma! Topless on a yacht with Jerry Denham, Edmonson and some dirty old man!
The LCH drew ahead as they passed between the first channel markers. Graham stood and stared at the jungle covered mountains to the east of the inlet, his emotions and thoughts in sickening upheaval. The remainder of the voyage into harbour passed in a blur. He gave monosyllabic answers to people who spoke to him and was only glad when they were at last tied up at the naval base and he could get ashore. By then the yacht was far behind and nosing into the marina.
Once the LCH was tied up Lt Cdr Hazard said ‘thank you’ to the navy. The cadets were then lined up on the edge of the parade ground. Lt Cdr Hazard then said, “You must be the luckiest cadets afloat. Next weekend there are two US warships coming to Cairns. One is the nuclear powered cruiser USS Ticonderoga. The other is the frigate USS Samuel P McGillicuddy. We have made arrangements to visit them next Saturday. We won’t get a trip on them but we should have a good look around. They arrive next Friday afternoon and we would like you to be at the wharf to give them a warm welcome. Now here are the details.” He went on to give the cadets timings and details of where to be and what to wear. The ships were staying for five days to give their crews some deserved R & R. Graham heard all this in a sort of a daze. It really was of no importance at all.
The cadets were then called to attention and dismissed. As they made their way to the gate Andrew spoke to him: “Did you enjoy the trip Graham?”
“Yes, yes I did,” Graham replied distractedly.
Blake joined them: “Did you see those topless sheilas! I reckon a couple of them go to our school; that Janet and her friend Thelma. Aren’t they in your class Graham?”
Carmen arrived and overheard this: “It was them, the little tarts!”
Graham felt sick. Thelma a tart! He could only mumble and pretend he wasn’t interested. Carmen’s presence ended the discussion anyway and he was able to get away on his own. He was now gripped by fierce jealousy and felt an almost frantic urge to rush to the marina to see if they were there. That made him extremely edgy. He immediately sprang on his bike and pedalled off as fast as he could go.
On arrival at the marina he just dumped his bike and raced out onto the boardwalk. Almost at once he saw the yacht. It was berthed out at one of the long pontoons. No-one appeared to be aboard. As the security gate to the pontoon pier was open Graham walked out along the pontoon past several other yachts until he came to it. At any moment he expected to see Thelma or Janet appear on deck. He was now so distressed he thought he might throw up. In case they appeared he prepared a story to explain why he was there. He need not have bothered. The yacht was locked up and deserted.
For several minutes he stood on the pontoon looking down at the yacht, his thoughts tormented by images of half-naked girls; of Thelma.
Then a man spoke to him: “What do you want kid?”
Graham turned. The man looked like some sort of marina official. “I was just looking.”
The man sneered then laughed. “Just looking eh? What for? Thinking of buying; or planning to pinch something?”
Anger and embarrassment seethed in Graham. “Neither,” he snapped. “Would you please tell me who owns this yacht?”
“It’s none of your business, now get off the pontoon unless you have some legitimate reason to be here,” the man replied.
&nbs
p; Angry and embarrassed Graham turned and walked off, watched by the man. As Graham strode along the floating walkway towards the shore a man glanced up at him from the next yacht. He looked a friendly old cove so Graham stopped and asked: “Excuse me sir, can you tell me who owns the Frolicker?”
“Sure son. She belongs to that greenie environmentalist, Doctor Metcalf, the bloke who is standing for parliament. You’ve just missed them. They all left just a few minutes ago.”
“Thank you sir,” Graham said. Puzzled and sad he continued on his way. A doctor who was an environmental radical? Yes, he had heard of Dr Metcalf. He was often in the news acting as spokesperson for some issue or other. Presumably Thelma was on the yacht because Janet and her sister were. They might even be family friends, Graham pondered unhappily. That made him realize that he knew almost nothing about Thelma or her family.
When he reached the boardwalk Graham stopped and sat down, so upset he was ready to burst into tears. What to do now? Should I go to this games evening tonight? he pondered. Did they see me on the LCH? He decided they had not. I doubt if they realized all us navy cadets were on board. If they had they would surely have covered up. Gosh, they are in for a time at school when word gets out. That was an unhappy prospect which raised another dilemma: Should he warn them?
As Graham sat there the old Wewak came churning past on her way up to Portsmith. Distracted by his emotional turmoil he barely noted her as she went by. Dad is back, he thought, but otherwise wasn’t interested. For a few minutes he stood, staring unseeingly across the Inlet at the line of mountains that had been the backdrop to his whole life.
Sadly, he hopped on his bike and pedalled slowly home.
***
Arriving home raised new problems. He had to pretend he was happy and that he had enjoyed the day. Somehow he was able to chatter away about the LCH and the clearance divers without letting on he was deeply distressed.
The Boy and the Battleship Page 35