Read Online The Cadet Corporal by Christopher Cummings - Free Book Online

saved by Sgt Grenfell who said, “I told Cpl Kirk to come here CSM. He is with me. He had nothing to do with it.”
    â€œWhat the devil is going on?” CSM Cleland demanded to know.
    â€œI think someone has been playing silly pranks CSM,” Graham replied. “They have frightened the wits out of poor little Cadet Carnes here.”
    CSM Cleland clicked on a powerful torch. The beam transfixed the cringing, huddled form of Carnes. “What’s going on Cadet Carnes? What’s happened to you?”
    Carnes made no reply. He shielded his eyes from the beam and hunched into a tighter ball. In the light Graham had his suspicions confirmed: the stains on Carnes’ skin and clothing were shit. ‘Poor little bugger!’ he thought.
    Seeing Cadet Carnes undressed state CSM Cleland swung his torch beam around, picking out Stephen. “Can you see anything Cpl Bell?”
    â€œNo-one here CSM,” Stephen replied. He walked back to join them.
    Other people now began arriving. CSM Cleland turned his torch on them. Most were just cadets rushing to see the spectacle but Sgt White and Sgt Gayney were among them. “You people go back to your platoons,” CSM Cleland yelled. “Cpl Bell, keep people away.”
    The cadets were shooed away but not before a few had peeked around the Hessian. Reluctantly the cadets withdrew, their voices a babble of speculation and snickering. From over at the 4 Platoon camp a loud, cruel laugh sounded.
    â€˜Pike!’ Graham thought. ‘I’ll bet he was in on this.’
    By now Carnes had calmed down a bit. He still lay in a shivering huddle but his sobs had died to sniffles. CSM Cleland walked over to him. “What happened Cadet Carnes?”
    Graham said, “I’d watch where you step CSM.”
    The smell was now making itself felt. CSM Cleland flicked his torch onto the ground and Graham saw that turds and used toilet paper were scattered and smeared around the ground. He also noted that Carnes had shit smeared all over his right buttock. Sand adhered to it. Worse still there was a large turd inside Carnes’ underpants and trousers.
    â€œWhat happened Cadet Carnes? Who did this to you?” CSM Cleland asked again.
    â€œY..Ya.. Yow... sniff.. Yowie Men,” Carnes sobbed.
    â€œCrap!” CSM Cleland snorted.
    â€˜Not well chosen that word!’ Graham thought.
    CSM Cleland went on, “There are no such thing as Yowies. It was cadets dressed up. Who were they and what did they do?”
    â€œI d..d..don’t...sniff...don’t kn..know...sniff.. wh...who they w...wu..were,” Carnes replied.
    â€œWhat did they do?” CSM Cleland asked.
    â€œThey came up out of the gully (sob) while I was doing....doing a ...a...a poo. They screamed and (sniffle) pushed me into the hole,” he said. At that Carnes burst into tears again.
    Lt Standish joined them. She was a lady teacher in her thirties and Graham thought she was a lovely person. She now confirmed that, as well as demonstrating she could handle a crisis. “What happened CSM?” she asked.
    As CSM Cleland began to tell her what he knew Carnes began to whimper and pull at his clothing. “Go away! I’m not dressed!” Carnes shrieked.
    Cruel laughter sounded from over at 4 Platoon. Graham said, “I’ll bet Pigsy Pike and his scaly mates know something about this.”
    Lt Standish spoke softly to Carnes. “It’s alright David, I’m a mother you know. I’ve got three boys about your age. Don’t worry. Just lie still.” She turned to the CSM. “What’s wrong with him CSM?”
    â€œHe’s all covered in... in.. er.. er.” CSM Cleland stammered. Graham had to sympathise with him as he struggled to find a word he thought suitable to say to a teacher.
    â€œShit you mean?” Lt Standish said.
    â€œEr... yes Ma’am. It’s all over his clothes. They pushed him into the