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hole.”
    â€œAnd they used the shovel to dump more on me!” Carnes cried, anger and humiliation evident in his voice.
    â€œWho were they?” Lt Standish asked.
    â€œDon’t know Miss.”
    â€œHow many?”
    â€œTwo of them,” Carnes replied. “They had horrible faces and big shaggy heads and were huge.”
    A suspicion formed in Graham’s mind and he asked, “Was it Halyday and Andrews?”
    Carnes sobbed. “N...no. They had just arrived and were doing a pee when the Yowie Men ran out of the gully,” Carnes said.
    â€œHalyday and Andrews might know something,” Lt Standish said. “CSM, you and Sgt Grenfell go and question them while I clean up here.”
    â€œFour Platoon I reckon,” Graham insisted.
    Stephen agreed. “I thought I heard ‘Porno’s’ voice.”
    Lt Standish gestured. “Get some proof and don’t make accusations Cpl Kirk. Go on CSM. Cpl Bell, you keep people away. Cpl Kirk, you stay here to help me.”
    Graham didn’t want to stay but had no choice. Lt Standish sent him to collect a jerry can of water. “And don’t say anything to any cadet,” she added as he walked away.
    4 Platoon area was closest but Graham went instead to HQ and got a jerry can from the row beside the vehicle track. He lugged the jerry can back, puffing and perspiring with effort. When he arrived back he saw that Lt Standish was standing well away from the latrine, with her back to a naked Carnes who was busy washing himself using the washbasin and soap kept at the toilet for hygiene. In the starlight Graham could just see Carnes’ pale skin. The boy had his back to them and was still sobbing.
    â€œPut the jerry can next to Cadet Carnes please Cpl Kirk, then go to his platoon and get his section commander to bring his kitbag,” Lt Standish ordered.
    â€œYes Ma’am,” Graham replied.
    â€œWhat section are you in Cadet Carnes?” Lt Standish asked.
    â€œThree Section, Cpl Brown, Miss,” Carnes replied, misery in every syllable.
    â€œThen we can’t get your platoon sergeant here,” Lt Standish commented.
    As 1 Platoon sergeant was a girl, Sheila Sherry, Graham could only quietly chuckle as he strode across to where 1 Platoon was camped. He felt sorry for Carnes but thought his reaction a bit overdone. ‘The mongrels would regret it if they tried to do that to me,’ he told himself. With that came the thought that maybe he had better be careful when and where he went to the toilet. He was uncomfortably aware that he had no friends in 4 Platoon.
    Five minutes later Graham walked back with Cpl Brown, who carried Carnes’ kitbag. As they arrived at the latrine Graham saw that Carnes, still naked, was now crouched in a shivering ball behind a tree. “There are prickles Miss!” Carnes moaned.
    â€œWon’t be long now,” Lt Standish told him.
    As she did the headlights of the two Land Rovers appeared out at the Canning Road. “Here comes the OC. Cpl Kirk, go and find the CSM and have him report to Capt Conkey. Cpl Brown, you stay here and keep watch for Cadet Carnes.”
    By the time the two Land Rovers had parked at the officer’s fire Graham saw that his mission was wasted. CSM Cleland was already walking that way. Curious to know what Halyday and Andrews might have said Graham continued on. Lt Standish walked beside him and they arrived at the fire just after the CSM had informed Capt Conkey of the outrage. While he was doing this the other officers and the four CUOs all climbed out of the vehicles and joined the group around the fire.
    In the firelight Graham saw Capt Conkey’s lips press together and his eyes harden. When the outline of the story had been given he asked, “Do we know who did it?”
    CSM Cleland answered. “No sir. Sgt Grenfell and I have questioned Cadets Halyday and Andrews but they either don’t know, or