The Cadet Under-Officer

by Christopher Cummings

  “Oh, good idea,” Halyday agreed. Both he and Hodgins followed suit. A couple of minutes later the trio were walking along the overgrown track, stumbling on the rough wooden sleepers. They came to a concrete loading platform and walked up onto it and along the top.

  Spotting a flicker of light shining on the trees off to his right Graham stopped. “Down! Quick!” he hissed. He jumped carefully down onto the railway again. The others joined him. As they did a car came into view from beyond the very large store shed they were heading towards. The car’s lights swung in their direction. They ducked below the platform. The boys crouched in the shadows as the engine noise grew louder. A spotlight swept over the bush beyond them and then along the loading platform. ‘Have we been seen?’ Graham wondered, his mind racing with options such as drawing the gun and somehow overpowering whoever was in the car.

  The car drove slowly past just on the other side of the loading platform. After it had gone by Graham risked a peek and saw its spotlight shine on stacks of Engineer stores near the end of the railway. As the car passed under a lone street light he saw it was driven by the camp’s civilian caretaker.

  “It’s ok. It’s only the caretaker, probably only a routine check. Let’s keep going on to the big shed before he comes back.”

  They walked briskly along. There were two rail tracks side by side here and one actually went through the end of the giant store shed. To allow this there were huge padlocked doors with a security light above them. The boys stopped in the shadows at the end of the shed as the caretaker’s car re-appeared near the canteen but it drove straight back along the main camp road. As it did Graham ran across to the far side of the shed. From there he watched with relief as the car went on towards the guardhouse - a small wooden hut whose lights were visible half a kilometre off through the trees.

  The three set off again, walking along a dirt track beside the railway. There were no more sheds near the railway, just a scattering of trees and mowed grass. The nearest lights were security lights over the shed doors several hundred metres on their right over towards the guardhouse.

  What felt like an icy wind had started again and was blowing full in their faces as they were walking due west. It made their eyes water and chilled their hands. It was well after midnight now and all were feeling tired but Graham did not stop until they came to a gate. The fence marked the boundary of the camp.

  The boys climbed the gate and had a drink of water. The entire camp seemed deserted and the only sound was the wind in the trees. The dirt road ended so they had to walk along the railway track which was heavily overgrown with waist-high spear grass which stuck in their trousers and prickled.

  They stumbled frequently on uneven timber sleepers and Graham, who was leading, had to curb his deep-seated fear of snakes by continually reminding himself that there were fewer poisonous snakes in this dry country.

  It only took a bit over ten minutes for them to reach the points where the spur line branched off from the main railway although it seemed a good deal longer. Graham allowed a five minute halt while he crouched in the low cutting and used his masked torch to check his map and the Nav data in his notebook. He set his compass on the new magnetic bearing. They were, in fact, within a few metres of where Elizabeth had left the railway on her frantic run for freedom.

  Graham did another check of his watch. “Zero zero thirty hours, come on. Let’s move. We’ll be late to bed otherwise,” he said. He stood up and walked to the fence bordering the railway. The little group crawled under it and stumbled over the little stony ridges and steep gullies which in daytime were relatively easy to cross but in the pitch black of the moonless night seemed like a real maze. Progress slowed to a crawl lest a stumble caused a sprained ankle.

  They went down into a gully and up again.

  Halyday hissed. “What’s that awful smell?” he whispered. They were in deep shadow under a Burdekin Plum tree. The ground was grazed bare.

  “You must need a bath,” Hodgins suggested.

  Suddenly things moved in the shadows. Graham went tense with anxiety as he saw the shapes were animals. His initial concern was that they might be cattle but his first anxious thoughts about bulls were quickly replaced by genuine fear when he saw they were smaller than that. ‘Pigs?’ he wondered.

  Halyday stepped quickly back then gasped. “Oh phew! Bloody goats!” he cried.

  There was more movement, heard as much as seen, and then the bleating of disturbed goats came to them, as did the acrid stench of their droppings. Graham didn’t know if the goats would attack or not but he still felt some degree of alarm. Leading the way he detoured around the herd and went slithering on loose sand down into another gully.

  A few minutes later they came to the fence beside the highway. The wind was blowing strongly now, unobstructed by trees. It set them all shivering. After crawling under the fence they lay in the long grass beside the bitumen and Graham looked carefully in both directions. He knew there should be a NORMAC vehicle a few hundred metres to his left at the junction of the Canning Road but he could not see it. Nor was there any sign of movement or lights on the barely visible silhouette of Bare Ridge off to his left front.

  ‘In fact there isn’t a light to be seen anywhere,’ he noted. Nor were there any cars. Satisfied it was safe he motioned to Halyday who stood and ghosted across. It only took a minute for them to cross the road and this put them at the bottom of the tree-covered spur leading up to Sandy Ridge.

  There was another fence to crawl under and Graham found this a bit wearing as he was feeling quiet worn out by this time. He stood and resumed moving quietly through the open bush. They had only walked another fifty paces when the glow of headlights off to their right warned them a car was coming.

  “Get behind a tree,” said Graham.

  The vehicle came over the crest, the lights making flickering moving shadows through the trees. A spotlight suddenly flashed into the area near them. Graham’s heart leapt and he pressed himself against the rough bark, hoping the tree was big enough to hide him. To add to his anxiety the car slowed and the spotlight began to sweep back and forth. As the beam moved so did Graham. Out of the corner of his eye he noted that the other two cadets also kept themselves on the other side of the trees they were hiding behind. Heart now hammering very fast Graham had to resist the urge to look.

  The car went on towards Bunyip River and the light swept across Bare Ridge. The three cadets moved on. It was only another 500 paces but there was a lot of deadfall - leaves and small sticks mostly, so Graham made sure they moved carefully in case the security man at the camp was awake. The security vehicle out at the Canning Road went out of sight so its lights were no longer visible. After another hundred paces the glow of a lantern at Pl HQ became visible.

  “Halt!” The challenge came soft but clear. They stopped. The voice was Margaret’s. She went on with correct procedure.

  “Hands up! Advance one of you and be recognized; that’s close enough. Halt. Wild,” she said softly, the last word being half the password.

  “Pig,” replied Halyday, giving the counter sign for the night. “It’s us, Cpl Lake, platoon commander’s recon party.”

  They closed in to where Margaret and Cadet Sharon Morrow were sitting on a log, well rugged up against the cold. Graham crouched beside Margaret. “How are things? Did that security bloke notice we had gone?”

  Margaret shook her head. “No sir, he’s been asleep.”

  “Any problems with Cadet Woodhouse?” Graham whispered.

  Margaret nodded. “She got a bit upset and still wants us to tell the police but we calmed her. She’s been crying. I think she’s asleep.”

  “Any other problems?”

  “Apart from a few horses wandering through there’s been nothing. Isn’t it cold?” she added.

  “You’re telling me. Ok Cadet Hodgins, give me that pack. Thanks for that you two blokes, now get yourselves to bed. Is Elizabeth ok?”

  The question stabbed little needle
s into Margaret as it meant she was on Graham’s mind. “She’s a bit restless and she’s been muttering in her sleep a few times - sore I suppose and just not used to sleeping on the ground,” Margaret replied. She was a bit grumpy and then regretted it.

  Graham nodded. “This pack and the stuff in it are for Elizabeth,” he explained. He listed the contents and pulled out the sleeping bag then added, “Ok. Thanks Marg, see you in the morning.” He stood and walked quietly over to the HQ location, not realizing that Margaret had stayed awake on sentry duty waiting for his safe return. Lt McEwen was sitting there, wrapped in a blanket. Graham put his pack, sleeping bag and webbing in his hutchie then went and sat down close to her and peered into the darkness at where the security man lay.

  Lt McEwen raised an eyebrow. “How did it go?” she asked.

  Graham shook his head. “No good Miss. The OC and the 2ic have gone to Townsville and there is a NORMAC man at the camp. We kept out of sight so no-body there knows. I got some gear from the Q store for Elizabeth,” he explained. He was too embarrassed to add how he’d been locked in.

  “That’s a worry,” Lt McEwen replied. “I’d like this problem resolved as quickly as possible.”

  “Me too Miss,” Graham replied. He glanced at the sleeping security man and then whispered, “Margaret is having a bit of trouble with Cadet Woodhouse. She wants to tell the police and give Elizabeth up. We need to keep an eye on her.”

  Lt McEwen nodded and looked thoughtful. “I’ll do that.”

  Graham checked his watch and saw that is was nearly 0100hrs. “My turn on piquet Miss,” he said.

  “No, you get some rest. You’ve got a harder day ahead of you than I have. I can last another hour alright,” she replied.

  Graham was indeed feeling very tired and was so cold he was shivering so he didn’t argue. He went to his hutchie and unrolled the sleeping bag he’d ‘borrowed’, took off his boots and within a few minutes was getting rapidly warmer. Sleep came quickly despite his worrying about what might happen the next day.

  CHAPTER 12

  THE TRAINING DAY

  Elizabeth had a restless and uncomfortable night. She suffered from cramps in her calves and felt as though she had aches and pains all over. Her right foot throbbed and itched. She tossed and turned and woke frequently, usually in alarm, wondering where she was. She was not only uncomfortable but also slightly cold.

  It was with a mixture of relief and amazement that she greeted the next day. At 6am she was shaken awake. For a few moments she could not work out where she was. Then realization flooded in and her heart rate shot up with alarm. She sat up, holding the sleeping bag around her and shivering. “What is it? What’s going on?” she asked.

  “Check parade. Time to get up,” said another girl she recognized as Margaret Lake.

  “Check parade?” Elizabeth asked, puzzled and wondering what the crooks were doing.

  Margaret nodded. “Yes. To check everyone is here and that there are no problems. We do it every morning.”

  “Is that man still here, the security man?” Elizabeth asked.

  “He was when we went to bed. I suppose so. Don’t worry, just hide in the bunch,” Margaret replied. “Now hurry up.”

  “But it’s cold!” Elizabeth said.

  Margaret made a face and snapped, “Tough! Pull your sandshoes on and come out with me, and keep quiet. Come on, move! If we are late you will stand out more so hurry.”

  Elizabeth wanted to lie down again and opened her mouth to protest but the other girl’s voice didn’t brook any argument. A glance at the other girl in the hutchie, Brenda Woodhouse, got her nothing but an unsympathetic and vaguely hostile look. Realization of her perilous situation and of her need for the cadet’s help came to her so she got up and hobbled through the gloom to join three ranks of shivering cadets.

  Margaret thrust her into line. “Stand here and don’t say anything,” she hissed.

  Elizabeth did as she was told and stood shivering with cold and misery. She sensed that Margaret didn’t like her but wasn’t sure why.

  Roger stood at the front. He called the platoon to attention, gave them a ‘right dress’ and ‘eyes front’, then stood them ‘at ease’. Next he called the roll. Elizabeth listened to the others answering ‘sergeant’ as they came to attention and prepared herself to do the same. But Roger did not call out ‘Black’ for the girl Elizabeth was supposed to be. Roger then reminded them of key timings and fell them out. Next he reported to Graham, who was standing nearby watching the sky lighten through the trees to the east.

  “All present sir, no-one missing,” Roger reported.

  Graham nodded. “Good. Now, we will need to do a levy of the platoon to get Elizabeth some food for breakfast and possibly lunch. See to that please.”

  They walked the few paces back to the HQ. Lt McEwen was awake and Hodgins and Rebecca had both already lit hexamine stoves for cooking their breakfast. The bright little fires added a cheery atmosphere.

  The security man looked at them with bleary eyes from his bedroll. “What’s going on?” he asked.

  Graham smiled inwardly at the man’s discomfiture. “Just time to get up. We will be moving in two hours,” he replied. He sat and began the morning routine of eating and shaving. After a cup of hot coffee followed by a tin of steak and kidney and some bran with condensed milk he felt quite refreshed.

  Next he packed his bedding and put more water on to heat. Roger went over to Margaret’s hutchie to help set up the webbing and gear Graham had brought back for Elizabeth. Graham shaved, polished his boots then walked around saying ‘good morning’ and seeing how people were. Lt McEwen had Roger organize a sick parade and people with sore feet, blisters, etc were told to sit on their groundsheets with their boots off. This allowed her to clean and bandage Elizabeth’s foot without attracting any attention from the security man who was busy trying to cook some breakfast.

  Graham walked over to Margaret’s hutchie while Elizabeth’s foot was being attended to. The sole of the foot looked raw and inflamed but there wasn’t much puss, just a few tiny thorns which had been missed the day before. Lt McEwen got busy extracting these, making Elizabeth gasp in pain a few times. Tears came to her eyes. While this was going on Margaret studied Graham and the look of concern on his face again aroused the green monster of jealousy in her.

  Graham then turned to her. “Cpl Lake, assemble this webbing for Elizabeth and help her to pack,” he said, unknowingly twisting the knife in the wound. To Lt McEwen he said, “Will she be able to walk, Miss?”

  Lt McEwen shook her head. “It would be better if she went in my car.” The platoon was moving about a kilometre to another training area and Lt McEwen would be driving the car there as a safety vehicle. She met Graham’s eyes. “Do you think she would be safer walking?”

  “Yes Miss. You will have to pass that security vehicle out there on the Canning Road and there might be others. We will just be walking down through the bush. It’ll hurt but I think it is better; much safer for her and for you.”

  “Alright. We will do that, then. I will take any other sickies though.”

  By 0730 all the hutchies were down and everything was packed. Lt McEwen, Graham and Roger each went to a different section and inspected them. The sections stood in a line with their packs and webbing in front of them, and mess gear laid out on top of their packs. Graham took Cpl Sheehan’s section. He wanted to inspect Margaret’s so he could see Elizabeth but he had inspected them the previous day. The inspection was a check of teeth, fingernails, boots and basic hygiene and took half an hour.

  During the inspection the security man packed up and stood around, uncertain what to do. His radio squawked and he picked it up and spoke into it. A few minutes later a Landcruiser came along the Canning Road and turned in along the track. It pulled up nearby and the man put his gear in the back. The big red-faced man with the beer gut, Falls, got out and walked over to Graham.

  “Would you mind checking if you’ve lost anyth
ing during the night, in case this girl has stolen something,” he asked.

  “We are doing a full inspection right now but no-one’s reported anything missing,” Graham replied, gesturing to where Cpl Sheehan’s section stood in line.

  This seemed to satisfy Falls. “You moving out?” he asked.

  “Yes, we will be going North West to a hill we call Black Knoll. It overlooks the Canning,” Graham explained, pointing in that direction.

  “The hill just near the crossing?”

  “That’s the one. We will go down this creekline here, where we were yesterday. That will be our training area all morning. If you need to find us we will be close to the road and the army car will be parked there. We’ll keep an eye open for the girl.”

  “Thanks. My people will be in the area so if you see her you can call them,” Falls replied. Then he walked back to his Landcruiser and got in. He didn’t say anything to the security man and Graham wasn’t sure if the man would be coming along with them or not. He hoped not. As the vehicle drove away he went on with his inspection while watching it out of the corner of his eye.

  As soon as it was out of sight he turned to Cpl Sheehan. “Right, Cpl Sheehan, let’s get moving. Head off with your section and wait for us in the new training area.” Graham then walked quickly over to Margaret’s section and repeated the instruction, then to Cpl Kenny’s. Lt McEwen was a bit surprised as she hadn’t finished the inspection.

  Graham gestured towards the security man and said quietly, “I want to move before this fellow gets orders to come with us Miss. He might anyway but I hope not. Could you wait here and talk to him till we are all out of sight, then drive off quickly and leave him?”

  By this time Cpl Sheehan’s section was already moving off into the trees and Margaret’s section were pulling on their packs. Graham put on his webbing and swung on his own bulging pack. Roger, Hodgins and Rebecca did likewise. Hodgins had done a radio check earlier and now he called up the camp to inform them the platoon was moving. They made contact easily. Roger then helped Hodgins hoist the army radio onto his front and his pack onto his back.