The Cadet Under-Officer

by Christopher Cummings

  “Berzinski and Martinez, you come with me!”

  Falls stood looking anxious at the entrance to the tent. “How long will you be?” he asked.

  “A few hours,” Bargheese lied. Through his mind ran the timings for his escape. ‘I must give all this up and get on that aircraft tonight,’ he thought. He felt no compunction about abandoning Falls and his men.

  As soon as the helicopter landed Bargheese, Berzinski and Martinez scrambled in. “To the mine, quickly!” Bargheese ordered. ‘Will we be in time?’ he wondered fearfully. ‘What is Kirk planning to do?’

  Map 2: The High Ground

  CHAPTER 31

  THE HIGH GROUND

  On the crest of Whaleback Hill Graham worked his way cautiously forward to a small knoll. Beyond the knoll the hill dropped sharply down the whale’s nose. He edged in amongst large boulders which were so hot to the touch that he broke into a sweat. Two frightened rock wallabies bounded out, one vanishing with a spectacular leap round a huge boulder lower down.

  Wary of snakes among the boulders Graham found a sheltered spot where he wasn’t silhouetted and leaned the heavy rifle against a rock. Keeping well out of sight he took out his notebook and pencil. The Brendan Creek mine was newer than the map and he needed a sketch map to clarify the layout and for giving orders. He wished he had binoculars.

  The mine camp held his interest to begin with but then he quickly scanned the area. Beyond the hill with the radio mast were several smaller rock piles, then two larger rocky hills. The furthest was scarred on its western side by open-cut mining. That, then, was the actual mine site. It was at least 3km away and almost due north. A gravel road led out of the camp towards the mine but was lost to sight amongst trees and then behind the bulk of the ‘Mast’ Hill.

  Graham moved his gaze further to the right. To the east of the line of hills was a gentle slope of open timber which ended abruptly in a large clearing - the mine’s private airstrip. This now took all of his attention. The road which led from the gravel road on his side of the dry creek and around the base of the snout went to the airstrip. The strip was only partly visible so Graham pocketed his notebook, picked up the rifle and back-tracked across the cliff top, into the hollow and around to the other side of the knoll. The others followed.

  This gave them another superb view extending out for another hundred kilometres; but it was the foreground which held Graham’s attention. The airstrip ran parallel to Whaleback Hill and only about four or five hundred metres from it. The dirt road led to some buildings not far from the base of the hill. On the far side of the airstrip clearing there was a fence line running North-South. Beyond that was at least 30km of flat open bush.

  Graham quickly pencilled a sketch map of the layout. The clearing was a good 2km long and 300m wide. The landing strip, which was dirt, took up about half this, with a gravel taxiway leading in to some silver fuel drums about due east of Graham’s position - about 500 metres away he estimated. The taxiway looped up to a corrugated iron shed which was plainly a hangar. The red and white Cessna stood parked in front of it with its engine cowling open. A white utility stood next to the hangar.

  There was another shed 50 metres north of the hangar with a toilet - the original country dunny - at the back. A series of small gullies led from the dry creek up to the rear of the shed and hangar. There was a Landcruiser parked in front of the shed but no sign of people moving about.

  Graham moved through a deep cleft among huge boulders and frightened three more rock wallabies which fled off around the hill. He found a level stretch with large, shoulder high rocks on three sides which offered a view of the airfield and camp at the same time.

  He turned his attention back to the camp. There were six buildings on the closest side of the street and five on the other. Five of the buildings on this side had small lawns and clothes lines and looked like accommodation. The last was much bigger and was some sort of workshop with a vehicle park full of bulldozers, scrapers and dump trucks beyond it.

  The closest building on the other side seemed to be an Admin Building or office. There were signs in the front and white painted rocks marking a car park. Next were a dining hall and kitchen, then two store sheds and a smaller shed. There was a large tank stand beside it and Graham decided it was possibly a water treatment plant like the one at the Army Camp. Going off towards the river from the tank stand was a dirt vehicle track. There were several smaller sheds at the far side of the camp. Not a soul was visible. A white car was parked beside the kitchen and some ordinary cars amongst the accommodation blocks.

  Graham finished his sketch. What immediately struck him was that good luck had brought him to the best possible OP. Whaleback Hill was near the centre of the main parts of the layout and gave an excellent vantage point. Now the hard part. Where in all that was Miss McEwen being kept prisoner?

  He sat and arranged his thoughts. ‘She will be kept in a building,’ he decided. There were buildings visible in two places - the camp and the airfield. There would probably be some at the mine but he couldn’t see that from here. It would have to be investigated. But how to find her? How could he search all those buildings unseen? ‘Did it matter if we are seen?’ he wondered. Should he just march in and search them all at gun point and risk it? Was she being guarded? Did Bargheese know he was coming and was it a trap? Perhaps she was being held at some isolated building not visible - a pump house beside the river - or a magazine - there must be one up near the mine - or some little shed out in all that bush accessible by helicopter?

  Then an answer seemed to fall out. From what Graham knew the mine was run as a legitimate operation, as a ‘front’ to cover the illegal operations. The miners were honest workers like Jack Schein had been, so if Miss McEwen was held it wouldn’t be where they might see her and become suspicious. It would be too difficult to explain and too risky. That meant she wasn’t at the mine, or in the camp. That left the airfield. The pilots were crooks. He knew that. They smuggled drugs - and people. That meant the illegal immigrants had to be kept out of sight and moved by night. Was that the purpose of the shed near the hangar? It made sense to Graham.

  If she was there he needed to find out fast as he had no idea how Bargheese’s search was going. ‘He could return at any time,’ Graham worried. He had been going to wait until the rest of the platoon arrived but sudden resolve seized him. ‘I can’t afford to wait,’ he thought. ‘If there are men down there, there can’t be many,’ he reasoned. Most had been moved to help in the search. ‘Now is the time,’ he decided. The risk of a trap had to be taken.

  It was nearly 1600hrs. Less than 3 hours to dark. Graham scanned the hillside, looking for the best covered route, then beckoned the other three to join him. Cadet Tully had no rifle. He was told to stay and to meet the platoon. “Tell Sgt Dunning to hide them just up there in that hollow with sentries facing all directions. He is to send a water party as soon as he arrives. Password tonight will be ‘Bunyip – Boar’.”

  Graham then told the others in a few terse sentences what he proposed to do and pointed out the route. They nodded. Halyday asked under what circumstances he could shoot.

  Graham swallowed at the seriousness of what he was saying. “Self-defence only. Aim at the legs if you have to hit someone,” he said. They nodded and looked both serious and excited. At Graham’s insistence they had a big drink. By then the sun was already going down and Graham knew he was lobster red from sunburn. Excitement overcame aching leg muscles and sore feet.

  Just to the right was a small re-entrant which led down to the dirt road near the fuel drums. It was down this that they made their way. Graham didn’t try crawling or anything so slow. He just walked down, even though it was in full view of the airfield buildings. The hill was smaller than it looked, only about 50 metres high, and in a couple of minutes they were hidden by the tree canopy. On the lower slopes there was a jumble of scattered boulders, small bushes and the dwarf acacias which effectively hid them from anyone who was not actually
keeping a strict watch.

  It was a risk but Graham kept on, rifle now at the ready and in the ‘action’ condition. He began getting glimpses of the fuel drums, plane and buildings. After two minutes walking they reached the road. It dipped through the small gully. Down in the gully they were in dead ground. Graham led them quickly to the left along the winding creek bed.

  Within 15 minutes of making his decision Graham lay on the slope of a small gully a hundred paces from the back of the hangar. This was open at both front and back so he could see right through. Two men were inside working on some machine on a workbench. Graham couldn’t see how Miss McEwen could be held prisoner in there as there were no side rooms. He crawled back down into the gully and led the way quickly on down the dry creek and up another small gully.

  This led up behind the toilet. From here the men in the hangar were invisible and the plane couldn’t be seen. The shed had an open door and was larger then it had looked from up on the hill. Then all doubts were instantly removed when Graham saw Lt McEwen’s car parked beside the far end of the shed.

  Apprehension and anger welled up in him. “Pat, you follow me in. I’m going to look inside. Halyday, you go to the right-hand end where you can see both front and back of the hangar and make sure those two blokes in there don’t catch us by surprise. Stick them up if they do.”

  Graham had a careful look in all directions. His heart was beating furiously but he was determined and almost to his own surprise he found himself walking quickly forward, rifle on his hip, safety catch off, and the doorway growing larger and blacker at every step.

  When he got to the door he didn’t hesitate. He just walked straight in and looked around. Coming from bright sunlight into a darkened room partially blinded him but enough light came in for him to see. A man sitting on a chair back-the-front looked around casually, supposing him to be from the hangar. The man sprang to his feet mouthing an obscenity, the chair clattering on its side. Near him, lying in a heap on the concrete floor was a woman in a white floral dress - Lt McEwen.

  Graham aimed the rifle at the man. “Don’t move and don’t call out,” he snarled quietly, his finger moving onto the trigger. The man appeared flabbergasted. He swore again. Cpl Sheehan joined Graham.

  Lt McEwen stirred and looked up. She tried to speak but only a croak came. Graham glanced at her and a wave of horror and anger swept over him as his gaze took in her black eye and bruised face covered with dirt and dried blood. She had been savagely beaten and was tied hand and foot.

  “Why you rotten bastard!” Graham said in a voice which quavered with emotion. He raised the rifle butt to his shoulder and sighted on the man. ‘Only ten paces and I won’t miss!’ his furious thoughts told him. The man’s eyes dilated in fear and he licked his lips, his hands now high above his head.

  Whether Graham would have shot him he could never afterwards decide. It was a black pit he didn’t care to be too introspective about. But he was sure it was Lt McEwen who stopped him.

  “No Graham!” she cried, in a hoarse, cracked sounding voice. “He’s not worth it.”

  Graham slowly lowered the rifle but kept it pointing at the man’s stomach. As the rage surged in him his breath came in big gulps. “Don’t try anything mister or I will shoot. Be sure of that,” he said very quietly.

  Evans was sure of it. He had seen the boy’s eyes and could detect the deadly intent in his voice. He was so terrified that his legs felt ready to give way.

  Graham gestured with the rifle. “Get over there! Face the wall! Now lean forward and put your hands on the floor. Feet apart! Further! Cpl Sheehan cover him. If he moves or calls out blast him.”

  As soon as the man was in the ‘push up’ position Graham moved quickly over to Lt McEwen. He lay the rifle down and examined the bindings, appalled at what he saw. Quickly he pulled out his clasp knife and carefully cut the ropes.

  Lt McEwen looked at him with relief evident even on her battered face. Tears began to trickle from her bruised eyes. “How did you find me? Oh thank God you’ve come! It’s been a nightmare. I thought I was going to die!” she croaked.

  Graham cut her hands free. They were purple- almost black the circulation had been cut off so long; and she cried out in pain. He cut her legs free, then returned his knife to its pouch. Gently he took her right hand and began massaging the ugly weals around her wrists. She began sobbing, then collapsed.

  “It’s alright, Miss. You are safe now. It’s alright,” he said soothingly. He lifted her and slipped his arms around her neck and pulled her to him, holding her head on his shoulder and gently stroking her curls. She groaned several times but did not regain consciousness.

  The man, his muscles now quivering from the strain, looked over and called, “Bargheese done that.”

  “Did he?” Graham snarled. He was still shocked and deeply angry. “Did you do anything else to her?”

  The man licked his lips nervously and shook his head. “No we didn’t. Bargheese only hit her,” he replied.

  “You’d better be telling the truth,” Graham said grimly.

  Cpl Sheehan called. “What will we do with this bloke CUO Kirk?”

  “Tie the bastard up! You got any nylon cord?”

  Cpl Sheehan nodded. All the NCOs carried plenty for use as perimeter cords for night defence. Graham gently lowered Lt McEwen to the floor and picked up his rifle and also a .308 Winchester which was leaning against the wall. He placed the Winchester on the table, then stood to one side and aimed his rifle at the man’s head. “One move and I’ll blow your brains all over that tin wall,” he growled. “Now lie on your stomach and put your hands behind your back.”

  Evans didn’t doubt the CUO for a moment. He did as he was told. In two minutes he was trussed hand and foot. The cord was then used to strain his feet and hands towards each other up his back. Cpl Sheehan gave the last knot a good yank. “One hundred kilogram breaking stain that cord,” he said cheerfully. He picked up a dirty, oily rag off the floor and stuffed it into the man’s mouth.

  While Graham stood there he had been thinking hard. His anger was abating somewhat with the relief at rescuing Lt McEwen. Now he considered his next move. He looked at the battered and unconscious teacher and the sight of her battered face and torn clothes made his blood boil anew. They had hurt her badly, particularly Bargheese.

  ‘The mongrel’s should pay,’ he thought grimly. Determination to bring Bargheese to justice suddenly flared. Graham had been hitting back all day, but that had been trying to escape. Now the realization came to him that he was done with all that. He sensed that he had the initiative.

  ‘Time to go over to the attack!’ he resolved. He felt instinctively that the time for running was over; and that there must be a showdown. He knew he could (should!) just walk away into the bush with Lt McEwen, Elizabeth, his platoon- and the Brown Notebook - and let Bargheese and his crooks escape. The police could do the chasing. But it went against the grain and seemed wrong. The thing had become personal. People he loved and cared for had been badly hurt.

  ‘And I am in a position to ensure justice is done!’ he thought.

  CHAPTER 32

  PLUNGING FIRE

  It took only a minute for Graham to decide on his policy and another minute to order the first step. If Bargheese was to leave the country he would use the plane. It had to be rendered unfit for flying.

  1635hrs. Time seemed to have slowed down.

  “Cpl Sheehan, get more cord ready. We’ll get you two more customers. When you’ve tied them up carry Miss McEwen out to her car,” Graham instructed. Then he walked out, calling Halyday to follow. As they walked over to the hangar Graham looked around. No-one else was in sight. When he reached the hangar Graham just walked in. The two men were engrossed in their task and only looked up when he spoke. They raised greasy hands from what looked like an oil filter, wide-eyed astonishment on their faces.

  “Who the bloody hell are you!” demanded a man wearing slacks and open necked white shirt, whom G
raham assumed was the pilot as the other man wore greasy overalls.

  “CUO Kirk. Four Platoon. Give my regards to Mr Bargheese. Now, this is loaded and I mean business. You lie down there,” he pointed at the mechanic, “and you go into the shed next door.”

  The pilot did not argue. Graham ushered the man out at gunpoint, keeping a good five paces away as he’d been taught to handle prisoners. The pilot was soon tied up. Graham went back to the hangar.

  “Take him in and cover him while Cpl Sheehan ties him up. Then have a search in there and in the vehicles for guns and ammo.”

  “What we gunna do sir?” Halyday asked.

  “Take Miss McEwen to hospital, but first we are going to wreck this plane,” Graham replied.

  Halyday nodded and took the mechanic away. The man began to whine that he was innocent and knew nothing. Graham ignored him and walked to the front door of the hangar and looked at the plane. The possible repercussions of his next move really worried him. He knew NORMAC was a legitimate mining company, and he was sure that if he started smashing their property without very good reason that he could be in terrible legal trouble. Again he weighed his decision to try to bring Bargheese and his cronies to justice, or whether he should just walk off into the bush and leave it to the police.

  Cpl Sheehan appeared at the shed door carrying Miss McEwen. She was still unconscious and lay limp in his arms. Her legs and arms were covered with scratches and dried blood and were blotched with weals and bruises. In the sunlight her battered face looked even worse.

  That decided Graham. He said: “I’m going to immobilize this plane, so that Bargheese mongrel can’t use it to escape. Put Miss McEwen in her car and find the keys.”