‘Slow down,’ he snapped at Harper. The boy was pushed backwards and forwards and a couple of boys ruffled his hair. He couldn’t remember being so happy.
At the table while they ate their dinner, the sixth former asked why Darnley had hit him.
‘I don’t remember him hitting me,’ the boy said. The boys stopped eating and turned to him.
‘You didn’t see him hit you?’
‘No.’
‘But he knocked you out,’ a fourth former said.
The boy shook his head. ‘I don’t remember him hitting me.’
‘But you had to go sick bay.’
‘Did Four Stars take your clothes off for you?’
The boy replied sharply, ‘No way.’ Everybody laughed, the boy smiled.
‘Platmore said he saw Darnley hit you,’ the sixth former said. There was silence.
‘Yes,’ the boy answered.
‘Was Platmore in the corridor before you fainted?’
‘No,’ the boy said.
The boys turned their attention to the sixth former.
‘Did you tell any teachers you don’t remember Darnley hitting you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Who?’
‘Mr Abbott.’
The sixth former talked quietly to the fifth former, who left the table. The third formers, the boy’s enemies, had said nothing to him the whole meal. Lock pretended to punch him in the stomach, the boy turned and did the same thing to Lock and the sixth former told him off, giving him another week’s table duty. This was greeted with a cheer. They had been the first table with all their meals.
After dinner the boy ran to the sixth form common room, one hand in his pocket holding the bullet. A few boys attempted to chase him but he outran them. He pushed his back to the wall, in his spot, panting. He watched boys file through, a few faked a punch to his stomach to which he made exaggerated ducking moves which were greeted with pushing and laughing. Binder came through with his gang.
‘Show me how Darnley hit you,’ Binder ordered.
‘No.’
‘You know what you’ll get if you don’t?’
‘I can’t, I don’t remember, I’d fainted.’
‘You fainted, you little girl,’ Binder said and turned looking for applause from his mates. He didn’t see the first four punches that landed on the back of his head. When he pushed back from the boy, the boy ran at him, kicking and flailing his arms. Binder staggered among his mates who were also ducking. Binder was sitting on the floor with his arms up protecting his face when the boy was plucked from him. His arms and legs still struck out while Double Daws held him three feet from the ground. Yelling and laughter filled the corridor. A group of second formers were cheering and running at the other third formers as if to bash them too. Binder scrambled backwards and was pulled to his feet. A few sixth formers shouted commands. Double Daws threw the boy to the floor where the second formers picked him up and crowded around him, jeering at the third formers.
Carmody arrived. The second formers ran, the boy was dropped on his backside, but quickly scrambled to his feet. The third formers also tried to run but a sixth former caught Binder by the collar. His legs flew out in front of him, he dropped to the floor, jumped up and was pushed against the wall by Double Daws’ massive hand pushing on his chest. Binder had a lump on the back of his head and reddening on his forehead and cheek. The boy ran at him again swinging his arms. Binder cringed and tried to slide away from the pressure Double Daws had on his chest.
Another sixth former caught the boy mid-flight around the waist and threw him against the opposite wall where he held him. The sixth formers were laughing, some folding double in merriment. The sixth former who held the boy nearly lost grip of him due to his laughter. Double Daws said ‘boo’ to Binder in a massive voice and Binder ducked. The boy saw this, he saw Binder as he had never seen him before. Binder, the threat and fear of all second formers, squirmed like a pinned insect, tears squirted from his eyes, reddening patches on his face. The boy realised he had done that, he looked at his fists, bunched like steel, he felt his arms as branches that could swing any weight. He pushed against the arm and elbow that pinned him to the wall, it pushed harder and the elbow dug deeper. He tried to look past the head of the boy who held him. When he saw Binder staring at him, the boy’s arms and legs began flailing again. A noise was coming from his mouth, he didn’t know what it was saying or even if it was saying words, he just felt the noise strain and tear at his throat. Another boy grabbed him and between the two of them they pushed and carried him to the other end of the corridor. He saw them release Binder and threw all his strength and strained every sinew in his throat to grab at him again. Binder was helped from the corridor by a swinging leg and laughter from the sixth formers. When Binder disappeared the boy collapsed to the floor. The sixth formers who had held him dropped back exclaiming at the boy’s ferocity as they laughed to each other. Eventually the boy looked up; smiling faces looked down on him.
Fifty
Day 20
Kilkenny Road
6.30 p.m. Friday, 13th November 1965
The phone rang.
‘Don’t get it,’ Cardilini said.
‘Dad?’ Paul questioned.
‘Let it ring.’
‘It might be work.’
‘It won’t be.’
‘My work,’ Paul said.
‘You don’t work tonight.’
‘Doesn’t matter. I’m getting it,’ Paul replied shaking his head.
‘Okay. But I think I know who it is.’
Paul left the kitchen. Cardilini heard him talking on the phone. He heard Paul replying ‘yes’ and ‘that’s right’ several times before Paul called for him. They crossed each other in the passageway. Cardilini gave him a quizzical look, and Paul shrugged.
‘Hello.’
‘Cardilini,’ the caller said.
‘Leggett, what were you talking to my son about?’ Cardilini asked.
‘I wanted to know how keen he was for the academy, and to wish him luck.’
‘Did you say who you were?’
‘Of course. And I asked him if he would accompany you here tonight.’
‘What are you playing at, Leggett?’
‘I’m trying not to play at anything. Why not come and hear what we have to say? Believe me, I want this finished for the sake of the boys, for you and the school,’ Leggett answered.
He wanted to tell Leggett to go to hell. ‘I’ll come, but Paul’s not coming.’
‘You come with Paul and I’ll tell you exactly what you want hear. So will Carmody.’
‘Why Paul?’
‘I need him to witness your response.’
‘What’re you up to?’ Cardilini asked after a pause.
‘Trust me, I’m a judge of the high court after all.’
‘Ex-judge,’ Cardilini said and took the phone from his ear before turning to Paul who stood in the kitchen doorway. ‘He wants you to come.’
‘I know, good.’
‘It’s about the abuse of those boys.’
‘I know.’
‘It mightn’t be pleasant.’
‘Christ, Dad, I’m going to be a bloody policeman, aren’t I?’ Paul answered.
‘We’ll be there at seven,’ Cardilini said and hung up. He swore to himself then turned and said, ‘He’s a real old fox.’
‘Justice Leggett?’
‘Yes. I wouldn’t believe a word he says.’
Fifty-one
Day 20
St Nicholas College
7.50 p.m. Friday, 13th November 1965
The boy arrived at the sixth form common room just before the end of prep, as requested. Carmody and the other sixth formers were having a meeting. He wondered when he would be getting into trouble, when a teacher wou
ld come. The punishment would start with the cane across his backside. Who the teacher was would decide how many ‘cuts’ he would get. He’d listened ardently to the stories from those who’d had the ‘cuts’. Don’t put your hands or arms back, if the cane touches bare skin it will open it up like a bursting pomegranate, keep your arms forward, don’t tighten your bum, stay as relaxed as you can, a tight bum is more painful, don’t make any sounds unless it’s Mills. Mills is the weakest, he doesn’t hit hard and he makes so much noise grunting you’d think he was the one being hit. If you have to fight, fight when Mills is on duty after school, the other teachers know Mills is weak and will step in and belt you if it’s near the change of their shift. The worst is Abbott, he deals it out like it’s the hand of God, he thinks it’s good for you so he really puts his heart into it. You can’t make any noise for him, if you don’t make noise he says ‘good boy’ while he belts you and goes easier. If you make a noise he thinks you’re complaining and belts you harder. Abbott would have belted Darnley. The boy wanted to be belted by Abbott, and he wouldn’t make a noise, not because Abbott might go easy, but because Darnley wouldn’t have made a noise.
The bell for prep sounded and the sixth formers left their common room. Carmody and Mohr stopped in front of him.
‘Harper, have you got it?’ Carmody asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Good boy,’ Carmody looked relieved.
‘Did Binder hit you?’ Mohr asked.
‘Not tonight.’
‘Before?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why?’
The boy shook his head. Carmody smiled and shared a knowing look with Mohr.
‘You’re going to go out of bounds, Harper, does that worry you?’ Carmody asked.
‘What about the cuts?’
Both boys laughed. ‘You want to get the cuts?’ Carmody asked.
‘For fighting.’
‘Maybe later.’
‘Show us what you have,’ Mohr said.
The boy put his hand in his pocket and closed his hand on sharpness. He pulled his fingers out and opened his palm.
‘Shit,’ Mohr said. The two older boys stood staring at what was in the boy’s hand.
‘How did you find it?’ Carmody asked.
‘I trod on it.’
‘Are you glad Captain Edmund’s gone?’ Mohr asked.
‘Yes. He wasn’t a good teacher,’ the boy said.
Mohr laughed at that.
‘Will you promise us you’ll never try to hurt yourself because Edmund hurt you?’ Carmody asked.
The boy tried to understand what Carmody meant.
‘You heard about Masters?’ Mohr asked.
‘Yes,’ the boy answered. Masters hung himself from a verandah roof. What sort of rope was keenly debated. Being all country boys the second formers knew about rope. Some rope would cut. Some rope would break. There wasn’t a mention of a chair, so other options were discussed. It was decided you would need plenty of time and that there wouldn’t be much height for the ‘drop’. You needed a good drop.
‘Do you know he killed himself?’ Mohr asked.
The boy felt guilty. That’s what he thought he should do, but he hadn’t told anyone. ‘Yes.’
‘Will you promise you’ll never do that?’ Carmody asked. The boy looked at the frozen splash of metal in his palm. He couldn’t promise that. The three boys stood in silence.
‘Edmund was hurting four other boys – that we know of – this year. They all made that promise. The pain that Edmund caused is over, you mustn’t hurt yourself because of it, otherwise he’s still controlling you,’ Carmody said.
The boy looked up sharply and frowned at Carmody.
‘Do you want him still controlling you?’ Mohr asked.
‘No,’ the boy answered.
‘Then you should promise,’ Mohr said.
‘I promise,’ the boy said to Carmody. Carmody and Mohr nodded and gave each other a quick glance. They were happy, the boy thought.
‘Do you know anyone who had a road accident?’ Mohr asked.
‘No,’ the boy replied, shaking his head.
‘If you were in a road accident would you punish yourself?’
The boy frowned, confused because he had been planning a road accident to stop the images. ‘No’, he replied slowly after a pause.
‘Same with Edmund. Not your fault. Wrong place, wrong time. Just put it behind you,’ Mohr said.
The boy looked back to Carmody. The boy’s frown was giving him trouble with his eyes. They kept closing and he had to keep opening them. ‘Are you going out of bounds with me?’ the boy asked.
This brought more laughter to the sixth formers. Their laughter wasn’t as dignified as he imagined it would be, they were more like second formers.
‘Yes. We are. We’re going to Justice Leggett’s house. Have you been there?’ Carmody asked.
‘No. But I know where it is,’ the boy said.
‘Good boy. We’re expected,’ Carmody said.
The boy’s mouth dropped at this, fear of humiliation dripped from his eyes.
‘Harper,’ Carmody snapped. ‘I’ve told you, no one is going to hurt you, I won’t let that happen no matter what, no matter what,’ he said and laid his hands firmly on the boy’s shoulders.
The boy nodded. Carmody gave the boy’s hair a ruffle. The boy wasn’t sure which way he had to walk when it finished. Carmody and Mohr laughed. He followed them down the corridor and into the night.
The boy watched them walk ahead of him through the dark. He realised that the other boy with Carmody the night he found the bullet must have been Mohr.
They left the school by a gate between the front fence and the limestone wall. The moon hadn’t come out, the boys had to feel for the latch.
‘Careful, there’s a gully,’ Carmody said. The boys stepped over a black shadow that snaked by the side of the road, gravel crunched under their shoes. Then they were walking on the bitumen of the road. Through the trees the Leggett house glowed gold.
‘We have a question to ask you, Harper,’ Carmody’s voice floated in the darkness. The boy looked in Carmody’s direction but he couldn’t make out any features. They walked, angling away from the Leggett house, to avoid the gully at that side of the road.
‘It’s an important question, you must be honest with us.’ Again Carmody’s voice without a face.
The boy continued sliding his feet down the gradient of the road. He was rarely in this degree of darkness unless he was on the farm. He felt comfortable in the dark.
‘Do you want to catch the person who shot Captain Edmund?’ Carmody asked.
‘Catch him and send him to jail?’ Mohr added.
The boy hadn’t thought of that, it was the bullet that killed Captain Edmund. He thought of his father shooting roos.
‘No,’ the boy said.
‘We were very sad when Masters killed himself, we didn’t do enough, we knew and didn’t do anything, we didn’t really understand what was happening, but Lockheed told us. Have you heard about Lockheed?’ Mohr asked.
‘He was expelled last year,’ the boy said.
‘Do you know why?’ Mohr asked.
The boy thought about that. It had to be bad, he’d heard lots of things, but they were second former things that even third formers thought stupid.
‘No.’
‘He tried to tell on Edmund,’ Mohr said.
The boy felt a chill in his stomach. He couldn’t even conceive what words would be used to tell on Edmund. The tears he felt now were for Lockheed, he was glad it was dark and they were walking slowly.
Mohr continued, ‘He told the school and the school did nothing about it, so he was able to continue hurting other boys. We’re glad Edmund is dead, we think the person who shot him did a good thing.’
‘What do you think?’ Carmody asked after a while.
The boy shrugged then said he didn’t know.
They were opposite the front verandah of Leggett’s house. The surrounding air was damp and had a muddy smell. The front gate creaked when the boy pushed it closed behind them, he jumped at some leaves that brushed his face. The verandah steps were in shadow and he stumbled on them.
‘You okay?’
‘Yes.’ But he could feel a scratch from the timber boards on his knee.
Carmody knocked on the door and called. A woman replied to them. The boy saw a figure walking towards them, she was in light, smiling, then the light was behind her. She opened the door and said Carmody and Mohr’s names then let them walk past her down the corridor.
‘And who are you, sir?’ she asked.
‘Harper,’ the boy said. He saw Carmody looking back at him. He’d forgotten to ask Carmody why he was there.
‘You call me Mrs Leggett,’ Jean said, smiling. The boy felt her hand on his shoulder as he walked beside her. ‘Would you like some ginger beer, Harper?’
‘Yes please, Mrs Leggett.’
‘You follow me then.’ She walked ahead and pointed to a room on the right for the older boys. The boy glanced in the room as he passed. He could see an old man standing, all spindly, and on the couch was a big man with a very sad face sitting next to an older boy.
Fifty-two
Day 20
Legget’s
8.10 p.m. Friday, 13th November 1965
Cardilini parked his car where he had that afternoon. Now blackness surrounded him. Light coming from Leggett’s house made it seem even darker.
‘Is the school up there?’ Paul asked, pointing beyond the house.
‘Yes.’
Cardilini and Paul walked to the house.
Jean Leggett let them in and showed them to the lounge where Leggett was waiting.
They had just sat when Cardilini heard the voice of Carmody call from the front door. Jean Leggett jumped from her seat. She called a greeting as she left the lounge. Leggett and Paul chatted like old friends while Cardilini sat moodily. Carmody and another boy entered and stood just inside the doorway. Jean walked past, followed by a very slight, younger boy who looked into the room. Cardilini made eye contact with him. The boy looked lost.
Man at the Window Page 27