The Cadet Corporal (7 page)

CHAPTER 7

DAY NAVEX

The first ‘leg' went South West for 400 metres, past 1 Platoon's hutchies and down the gentle slope, then across a small gully to the flat outcrop of rocks at the head of the shallow valley between the camp and Bare Ridge. Kirsty had no trouble using the compass and took them directly to the spot. Sgt Yeldham was there. He gave Graham the next leg, which was even easier- on across the valley for another 400 metres to the Burdekin Plum tree beside the road on Bare Ridge.

The tree was plainly visible from the rocks but Graham insisted that Pat use the compass correctly. The section walked across to find Lt Hamilton there again, his Land Rover parked nearby. As Graham worked on the navigation his attention was distracted by the sound of a train. He looked up and saw the train off to the south. It was about a kilometre beyond the highway. From where they were the highway was clearly visible but the railway was partly hidden by trees and long grass. As Graham watched it, the big diesel locomotive went out of sight behind a cluster of houses that the map named as ‘Bunyip Bridge'.

Graham looked down to continue with his calculations but an abrupt change in the sound of the train, from a noisy sort of vibration to a distinct roar, made him look up. For the first time he noticed the railway bridge. At a glance he could see that it wasn't just an ordinary rail bridge. This one was huge. A long, grassy embankment led across the plain to the nearest end. The first section of the bridge, over the last part of the high bank, was steel-sided. After that it was a massive steel girder construction set on top of colossal concrete pylons. As Graham watched the train it was swallowed by the criss-crossing steel girders, the noise changing to an even deeper roar.

‘Through truss,' Graham told himself. Being a keen model railway operator he was interested in such things. He noted that the girders were mostly a dull reddish colour. The train, a long ‘goods', passed through with a continual flickering effect. ‘Bloody big bridge,' Graham thought, estimating the length at over half a kilometre. It was marked on his map so he now studied it carefully and then revised his estimate. ‘Nearly a kilometre long! That is a big bridge,' he thought.

The train had gone by then so he resumed his mathematics. Two minutes of work gave him the next leg. It was also very easy. They had been there the night before and could see the check point from where they were. It was in the dry creek which ran down from 1 Platoon's hutchies to the highway. Halyday took the lead with the compass and they walked the distance in five minutes.

CSM Cleland was there. As Graham's section arrived from the west No 9 Section (Cpl Gallagher) came in from the east. There was a fair amount of good-natured teasing and chatter between the sections while the two corporals worked out their next leg. Graham liked Gallagher and was happy to compare notes and to check his sums.

After that 4 Section went on eastwards over the low ridge which ran down from 2 Platoon to the Highway. Andrews was the cadet with the compass.

“We are now going backwards around the same course as last night,” Roger said as they puffed up the slope from the gullies to the South Gravel Pit.

“So far,” Graham agreed.

After that the course changed however. Sgt Sherry was at the South Gravel Scrape and she told them to move to a Grid Reference over towards Scrubby Creek. That pleased Graham as he was finding the exercise too easy. Even the next leg was no real challenge. Dianne did the compass work but as the route went across the gullies where the other boy's latrine was Graham knew exactly where he was most of the time.

Checkpoint ‘S' was at a track junction and was staffed by Capt Conkey and CUO McAlistair. The CUO gave them a cheerful greeting and told them to move to another Grid Reference which was a gravel scrape further north. “There's a fence you need to go through,” he cautioned, “But don't cross the Canning.”

Very conscious that Capt Conkey was watching Graham studied his map and noted that the left-hand track went north to the North Gravel Scrape while the right-hand track went to a windpump called ‘Quiglys Mill' beside Scrubby Creek. That made the navigation simple but he decided he had better work out the exact magnetic bearing with Capt Conkey there. Otherwise he would have just walked along the vehicle track.

The OC's presence made Graham anxious but he quickly did the calculation. He showed this to CUO McAlistair, who nodded. The next person to navigate was Lucy so Graham gave the compass to her and they set off. It was easy going through more open savannah, heading down a long, gentle ridge. However the navigation was not Graham's only problem. Leadership soon came to dominate as Andrews and Halyday both began to complain. Andrews said it was too hot and Halyday moaned of sore feet. Dianne also muttered that she needed to go to the toilet. That made Graham conscious of his own needs but he insisted they get to the next check point first.

As they walked along Graham saw Peter's section go past a hundred metres away and he gave his friend a wave. After that Graham began to fret about the time. The exercise was due to end by 11:30 and he saw with alarm that it was almost 11:00 already. He hurried the section along, encouraging and growling at Halyday and Andrews in turn. The fence was encountered and they rolled under, several cadets objecting because the sand was now quite hot.

On the other side they paused for a drink and Graham wiped sweat off his face. The sun was now blazing down from a clear blue sky and there was no breeze to cool them. ‘I'd better watch out no-one gets heat exhaustion,' he thought, noting the red, sweaty faces.

Two hundred metres of walking along a gentle, open slope brought them to a stand of timber. Beyond that was the harsh, bare redness of the North Gravel Scrape. The checkpoint was under the last of the trees beside a vehicle track which led in from the Canning Road. No 1 Section, Cpl Rankin, was there already. Manning the checkpoint was the CQ, Staff Sergeant Coralie Bates, a tall thin girl with fair hair and a freckled face. With her were two of the ‘Control Group': Cpl ‘Porno' Pornosittipol and Cpl ‘Ziggy' Zeiglitz.

Graham could not resist. As he arrived he said loudly, “Well, well, if it isn't the famous Hutchie Men!”

Porno gave an evil grin and called back, “And if it isn't Mister Crapin-pants- Kirk.”

The unjust jibe hurt but Graham noted that neither denied being Hutchie Men.

Halyday said, “Jeez, you blokes scared the crap out of me last night!”

Both Hutchie Men laughed and Ziggy nodded. “We sure scared the shit out of Carnes too.”

That annoyed Graham. He stood over them and said angrily, “You shouldn't pick on the poor bugger. He doesn't deserve it.”

Porno had the grace to look embarrassed but Ziggy sneered. “Huh! He's just a bloody weakling!”

“All the more reason not to pick on him!” Graham flared.

“Yeah, yeah, alright,” Ziggy agreed. “We'll leave him alone in future.”

“Good!” Graham said.

“But we won't stop picking on you,” Ziggy added, giving Graham a challenging stare as he said it.

Graham felt his stomach turn over with anxiety (He did not want to name it as fear) but he managed to keep a bold face. “I look forward to it,” he retorted. Even as he did he was uncomfortably aware that he still hadn't managed to have his morning crap and the need was becoming insistent.

So, on the next leg, which took them down to a fair sized dry creek towards the Canning Road, he halted the section and told them to wait. “Just sit under this tree,” he said, “I'll only be a few minutes.” He was embarrassed at having to admit to bodily needs in front of the girls, particularly Kirsty, but he knew he could not hold on any longer.

“What's wrong? Where you going?” Andrews asked.

“Just down the gully,” Graham said.

“What for?” Andrews persisted.

Halyday laughed. “Because he's got to see a man about a dog.”

“What?”

That drew a laugh from the others. Dianne pointed up the creek. “We will go too,” she said. “Come with me Kirsty, to keep watch.”

Graham walked away, burning with embarrassment. As quickly as he could he found a spot hidden from the others. This was around the bend and behind some small bushes. After scraping a hole with the heel of his boot he dropped his trousers and proceeded to relieve himself.

In the middle of this Graham heard a peculiar scuffling noise and looked anxiously around. His first thought was that the Hutchie Men had followed him but no-one was visible. Then he heard what sounded like a sniffle, or a sob.

“Definitely someone crying,” he muttered anxiously. As quickly as he could Graham finished his business and dressed then walked up to some bushes nearer to the Canning Road to investigate.

It was David Carnes. He was sitting hunched up, tears streaming down his cheeks. At the sound of Graham's footsteps he looked around, fear all over his face.

“It's only me Cadet Carnes,” Graham said. “Are you alright? What's happened? What are you doing here?”

“They keep teasing me!” Carnes cried. More tears flowed down his cheeks.

“You should tell your corporal,” Graham replied, somewhat uneasily.

“Brown! He's the worst! He puts me down all the time. I hate it! I'm going to run away!” Carnes sobbed. Graham saw that he was very red in the face and looked utterly miserable.

“Where is your section?” Graham asked, looking in all directions.

“They wouldn't stop so I walked away. I don't know where they are,” Carnes replied. His chest heaved and his lower jaw quivered as he sobbed.

“You mean they left you?” Graham asked. He was astonished. One of the unit's strict safety rules was that no-one was ever left in the bush.

“I don't know,” Carnes admitted between sniffles.

“Why didn't you just walk back to camp?” Graham asked.

More tears flooded Carnes' eyes. “I don't know the way. I'm lost!”

Graham shook his head in amazement. From where he stood he could see both the red scar of the North Gravel Scrape and the tin shed beside the Canning Road. “You'd better come with us,” he said.

Carnes didn't want to but Graham insisted. “You can't bloody well stay here! You'll get heat exhaustion,” he snapped. He made Carnes have a drink and wash his face, then led him back to rejoin the section.

As Graham and Carnes walked down into the dry creek bed to rejoin the section Andrews curled his lip and called out, “Well, look what the cat dragged in!”

Graham was in no mood for any more nonsense. He was hot, tired and angry. “Shut up Andrews! If you've got nothing good to say then say nothing. Come on, get up! Let's go!”

Andrews looked sulky and moaned about the heat and feeling tired but the group began moving. Lucy did the compass work. They crossed a bare, sandy flat through scattered trees and then crossed another sandy creek bed. Graham saw on his map that it was the one which had it's beginnings up near the 4 Platoon latrine. A fifty metre climb up a bare slope brought them to the Canning Road opposite the tin shed.

To his surprise and dismay Graham saw that Capt Conkey had just arrived there and was talking to Lt McEwen. ‘Oh no! I hope he doesn't notice Carnes,' Graham thought. But even as they walked across to the two officers Graham saw Capt Conkey's gaze rove along the section. A frown wrinkled his brow.

“What is Cadet Carnes doing with your section Cpl Kirk?” he asked.

Graham did not want to answer, knowing it would just lead to more ill will and trouble but he could not think of any sensible excuse. He stopped in front of Capt Conkey and gestured back towards the creek. “We... he... we ..er, we found him back there sir.”

“Found him! What the devil does that mean?” Capt Conkey cried in amazement.

“He wasn't with his section sir, so I told him to come with us,” Graham explained, knowing as he said it that his explanation sounded lame.

“Not with his section! What on earth?” Capt Conkey exploded. His gaze shifted to Carnes, who burst into tears again.

“They left me sir!” Carnes shrieked. “They tease me and call me names all the time, and they hit me.”

“Who, the people in your section? Doesn't Cpl Brown stop it?” Capt Conkey asked angrily.

“N...n...no sir. He teases me too,” Carnes sobbed. He then burst into tears and howled. “I hate this! I want to go home!”

Capt Conkey looked grim. He turned to Graham. “You keep going Cpl Kirk. We will deal with this. Cadet Carnes will stay here with us.” He indicated that Graham should go to Lt McEwen and turned back to comfort the distressed boy.

Graham did as he was told, but with a sinking heart. ‘Bloody Brown will give me a hard time now,' he thought unhappily.

Nor was he wrong. After getting the final leg (back to camp) from Lt McEwen Graham worked out the bearing, gave the compass to Roger and then urged his grumbling and protesting band into motion. They trudged up the bed of the dry creek until they reached Sandy Ridge. After reporting to Lt Standish Graham led the section back to the platoon area and fell them out. Half an hour later Brown arrived, furiously angry.

Graham was lying in the shade of his hutchie resting. Brown kicked his boots and snarled at him. “You bloody dobber Kirk! You bastard! Now you've gotten me in the shit!”

Half expecting to be struck as he did so Graham crawled out of his hutchie and stood up. “I did not. We found Carnes and took him with us. Capt Conkey saw him and asked what he was doing with us.”

“Bull! You're always suckin' up to the OC. You just want another stripe, ya boot-licking turd!” Brown shouted. He had his balled fists on his hips and it took all of Graham's resolve to stand his ground.

‘I don't want a fight,' he thought. ‘That could get me into real trouble.' But his pride was hurt and he stood his ground. “You shouldn't have left him in the bush,” he said as calmly as he could.