The Cadet Corporal by Christopher Cummings Page B

voice. “No! Stop it! Let me go! Help! Help!”
    â€œHalyday,” Graham cried. He set off at a run.
    As he ran Sgt Grenfell yelled, “Stand fast Two Platoon. Stay here!”
    Graham stopped, his agitation rising as more shrieks and screams sounded in the night. “But sergeant, that is Halyday. He’s one of my cadets.”
    Sgt Grenfell nodded, then rapped out orders. “Keep going Cpl Kirk. Cpl Bell, get a torch and follow. Cpl Copeland you are in command. Put the platoon to bed if I’m not back in time. Cadets, stay here!”
    By then Graham was running hard across the grassy flat past HQ. As he crossed the vehicle track CSM Cleland’s voice roared out, “Stop that running! All you cadets go back to your platoons.”
    Sgt Grenfell and Stephen were now pounding along close behind Graham. Once again the CSM’s shout came. “Stop running I said!”
    At that Graham and the others slowed to a fast walk. Graham knew that one of the unit’s ‘Standing Orders’ was ‘no running in the dark’ but he found it very hard to obey as more shouts and screams sounded.
    From the male latrine at the head of the gullies near 4 Platoon came a loud, deep bellowing, “Yowieeee! Yowieee! Oooh! Yowieee!”
    Another voice shouted deep, ape-like grunts and sounds. Mixed among these Graham detected other voices: Andrews’, Halyday’s and ... was it Carnes’?
    Andrews screamed, “Stop it! Leave us alone.. Aargh! Stop it!”
    As Graham trotted past the big ironbark his eyes detected dark shapes running towards the latrine from 4 Platoon’s bivouac area and also more figures flitting about among the trees on top of the slope where the latrine was located. Shouts of laughter sounded over at 4 Platoon and more deep “Hoo! Hoo! Hoos!” over at the latrine.
    Two figures came running towards Graham, ignoring more orders by the CSM to stop running. As they got closer Graham identified them by their voices: Andrews and Halyday.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Graham yelled as they approached.
    â€œYowie men! Yowie men!” Andrews screamed, his voice high pitched from fear.
    â€œWait! Stop!” Graham shouted as the cadets reached him but they kept on going. Graham did not wait. He had suspicions and wanted to confirm them. As he broke into a run he heard Sgt Grenfell ordering Halyday and Andrews to stop.
    By now the noise had died down at the latrine. Graham thought he saw a couple of dark figures flitting amongst the trees on top of the gully but when he arrived at the Hessian screen strung between the trees there was no sign of them. He was about to run past to look into the gully when sounds of scuffling and sobbing stopped him.
    A cadet was squirming on the ground and crying. ‘Carnes!’ Graham thought. ‘Must have been those bloody bullies!’
    As Graham moved towards Carnes the cadet began to scrabble away from him. “Stay away! Leave me alone!” Carnes shrieked, fear making his voice crack.
    Graham halted, shocked by the boy’s distress. “It’s me, Cpl Kirk,” he called back.
    Stephen arrived at that moment and turned his torch on. When the beam swept over Carnes Graham sucked in his breath in shock. Carnes had his trousers and underpants around his ankles and Graham could see his buttocks and half his back. He also noticed that Carnes’ clothing and skin appeared to be stained or smeared with something.
    â€œTurn the torch off Steve,” Graham called. “Go and see if there is anyone in the gully.”
    Stephen did so. Graham moved closer to Carnes, who had now stopped screaming. The boy lay in a shuddering huddle, sobbing uncontrollably. CSM Cleland and Sgt Grenfell arrived simultaneously.
    â€œWhat the hell’s going on here? What are you up to Cpl Kirk?” CSM Cleland snapped.
    To be thought one of the troublemakers instantly sparked Graham’s ire but he was