The ninth leg led up a long, gentle and very open ridge to a gate in the fence that ran East-West across the area. Along the way the heat was reflected up from the sand and bare earth so fiercely that Graham found himself parched. He wiped sweat from his face and drained his second last waterbottle. Grumbling became endemic in the section but Roger helped to urge them to keep on trying. Concern about heat exhaustion kept Graham glancing at the others. Lucy worried him the most as she seemed to be very pale. She was still perspiring so he hoped she wasn’t getting sick.
At the next clue Graham found only Stephen’s and Gallagher’s sections. Gwen’s and Peter’s had already moved on. ‘We won’t catch them,’ he thought ruefully. The message was a long one in Trigrams and that discouraged Graham as well. He copied it and sat the section in the shade of a tree, then started them working.
Three more sections arrived: Harriet’s, Bannister’s and Rankin’s. Rankin’s was a real surprise as Graham had not seen them since the start. They seemed to be all fired up and were determined to overtake those ahead of them. That got Graham even more anxious. “Come on people. We are in the running for third if we try,” he urged. “Only check four letters. If it isn’t turning into a word by then change the method.”
To speed things up he set to work on the ‘random’ letters method. By crossing out every second letter he quickly established that that was the method used. “Kirsty, you do this part of it, Roger, you do the next line Halyday, you do the last line. Dianne, you copy it out neatly as we do it,” he ordered.
The teamwork did it and they had the answer in two minutes. Graham checked his watch and noted with dismay it was coming up to 11:00. He knew that the exercise had to be all over by 12:00. ‘There are probably only two or three legs left,’ he thought.
By then Stephen had his section moving. Gallagher’s also stood up and started off at the same time as Graham’s. There was a scramble down into the dry creek and up onto the wide grassy ridge between the two creeks. CUO Grey ended this by yelling at them to stay in section groups. That slowed both Graham and Gallagher because Andrews and Lucy were straggling behind and Gallagher had two cadets trailing as well.
Checkpoint 11 was on the power pole which had been a checkpoint on both the day and night navexes. It was in numbers and at that Graham almost jumped with relief. It could only be from the one page double-digit code sheet or from the numerical place of the letters of the Alphabet. He told Roger to try the code sheet with Dianne while he asked Kirsty to help him. As he had already numbered the letters on one of his notebook pages he was able to read the letters almost as fast as he wrote them down. It was the method and within four minutes he had his section moving, leaving a glum faced Gallagher behind. Graham found himself moving neck and neck with Stephen.
As they moved off, Rankin’s and Bannister’s sections came hurrying up and Graham glimpsed at least two more sections back at the gate on the other ridge. Graham wasn’t sure how many sections were ahead of them but he was feeling a lot better. ‘We are well up in the front half of the company at least,’ he thought.
It was only when they reached a jerry can with a message taped on it at the point where the ridge reached the Scrubby Creek track near 4 Platoon’s bivouac site that he realised there were only two sections ahead of them: Gwen’s and Peter’s. He was unsure which was leading as both were visible clustered up near the officer’s camp on the crest of Sandy Ridge.
It now became a feverish race against Stephen’s section, the two friends exchanging glances and urging their cadets on. It was the Trigram codesheet and Kirsty had it within a minute. By the time she had it written out Rankin’s section had come puffing and sweating up the ridge at the run with Bannister’s hot on their heels. To Graham’s chagrin Stephen’s section suddenly set off. As quickly as they could he got the message finished and shown to Sgt Yeldham. Sgt Yeldham scowled but nodded.
“Come on, run!” Graham cried. He looked back and saw Andrews and Lucy were only walking. Before he could yell again he was surprised to hear Halyday yell at them.
“Oh run please! Look, it is only just up to the officers. Come on, help us. We might come third or second if you do.”
Roger and Kirsty both moved to trot beside Andrews and Lucy to encourage them and the section hurried across the grassy flat. Stephen’s section saw them coming and broke into a run to try to maintain their lead. Both sections arrived at the last clue gasping and sweating but together. Graham saw that Capt Conkey was standing watching with Lt Standish and that spurred him on to a last effort.
It was numbers again and Halyday snatched the codesheet off Dianne and quickly began to read out words and letters. He was right. As they wrote down the message Graham was in a fever of impatience as he could hear Stephen’s section doing the same thing. Rankin’s section came running in then, followed by Bannister’s and Gallagher’s.
In the end it was a frantic dash with the final message to Capt Conkey. Graham beat Stephen by a couple of running paces. Capt Conkey looked at the message and nodded. “Good, third place. Well done Cpl Kirk.”
At that Graham glowed with achievement. He grinned at his cadets and said loudly, “Well done Four Section. Great team effort.”
They smiled back and he led them over to the big tree where Gwen’s and Peter’s sections sat. “Who won?” he asked Peter as they arrived.
“Who do you think? Headquarters of course,” Peter replied.
Gwen poked her tongue and laughed. “Not by much!”
Stephen’s section joined them and the friends sat and yarned. To Graham’s relief Stephen did not seem to resent being beaten and they talked happily. After a while Peter stood up and excused himself. “I just want to check that the radio piquet has worked OK,” he explained. He went over to the CP, which Graham saw was still manned by Carnes and Rundle. A few minutes later Peter came back. “The Hutchie Men have located St Michael’s. They are on their way back now.”
“Where are St Michael’s?” Graham asked.
“At an airfield over beyond the army camp,” Peter replied. Graham had seen the airfield on the map but had never been to it. He knew that 4 Platoon and some members of HQ were setting out after lunch to sneak up and do a recon, ready for a night raid and he was aware that he was very jealous. It was exactly the sort of thing he burned to do.
The other sections straggled in over the next half hour and were seated in the shade. Graham allowed the girls to go to the toilet and emptied the last of his four waterbottles and still felt thirsty. It was now very hot, the temperature in the mid thirties, the tropical sun blazing down from a clear sky.
To almost universal surprise Dimbo’s section was neither lost, not last. They came in second last but made it. The unfortunate last was Cpl Griffin’s section from 4 Platoon. Graham overheard Sgt Grenfell, who had been with them as DS, describe them to CUO Masters as, ‘a real pack of noddies!’ That made Graham feel even better.
When all were present CSM Cleland checked with the sergeants that no-one was missing, then called them to sit to attention. He handed over to Capt Conkey who then presented prizes. Capt Conkey reminded them of the story that the area had once been the stamping ground of a notorious bushranger: Captain Flashlight. “Capt Flashlight,” he said, “used to rob the stage coaches carrying gold from Charters Towers back in the 19th Century. He liked to camp along the banks of the rivers and it is along the rivers where the wildlife lives. Very common along the river are frogs. Four Section did not find the treasure, but they did win the frogs by coming third. Corporal Kirk, come out and collect your prize.”
Graham stood up and walked over to Capt Conkey who was handed a packet of Chocolate Frogs by Lt Maclaren. Feeling both proud and embarrassed Graham shook hands with Capt Conkey and accepted the frogs. He then walked back to sit down, aware that half the company was clapping and the other half sneering or jeering.
Capt Conkey then went on: “All those frogs along the river attract snakes, who love to eat fat, juicy frogs. Second prize is to Five Section, Corporal Copeland.”
Gwen went out to receive a large packet of ‘Jelly Snakes’. That caused Kirsty to say, “Aw! I’d rather have the snakes.”
At that Andrews retorted, “I’ll bet you would!”
Graham blushed with guilty shame but also flared with anger, which he knew was jealousy. “None of that sort of talk Cadet Andrews!” he hissed, hoping the officers hadn’t heard. He also blushed again, knowing he was being a total hypocrite.
First prize was to Peter’s Signal Section. They got a large packet full of gold wrapped chocolate honeycomb ‘Crunchie’ bars. The win was applauded and obviously did not cause any great jealousy or resentment. Capt Conkey then reminded them that were moving after lunch and that 4 Platoon would get orders as soon as the Hutchie Men had returned to report. Graham noted that even Capt Conkey now called them the Hutchie Men. As though on cue four shapeless, shaggy bundles of camouflage came up out of the gully near 2 Platoon’s area.
“Hutchie Men!” Cadet Halyday cried.
The company burst into spontaneous applause. The shaggy camouflaged heaps stopped, then bowed and waved their arms. Capt Conkey let the company cheer for a minute, then called for silence. “Alright Cpl Forman, get the Hutchie Men to fill out a patrol report, and make sure they mark things accurately on the new map enlargement. CSM, take charge of the others and get ready for lunch. Company Orders Group in one hour, that is all. Carry on.”
CSM Cleland ordered the sergeants to move their platoons back to their areas and to get ready for lunch. Graham handed out the Chocolate Frogs but they were almost liquid from the heat so he just packed his in his basic pouch. Lunch was nothing special, just sandwiches and cordial. During it Peter came and sat with Graham, Roger and Stephen. The talk drifted to discussing the exercise that was about to begin. As Graham understood it the junior platoons were to move to a new location and Heatley Cadet Unit was to move forward from the army camp and try to find them and then attempt to infiltrate. At the same time 4 Platoon and some of HQ were to carry out a raid on St Michael’s at the airfield, hitting Heatley on the way home. Peter was going on the raid.
Graham drained his cup and said, “I wish I was going with you.”
“I wish I didn’t have to take Carnes with me,” Peter replied.
“Carnes! Surely he’s not being sent out on something like this?” Graham asked in surprise.
Peter nodded. “Capt Conkey said he was to go. He is a signaller now.”
Graham shook his head. “He should have been sent home.”
“I agree,” Peter replied. “But apparently he can’t be.”
“Why not?”
“I overheard Capt Conkey say that he had contacted the parents and they are on holiday at Hamilton Island and would not cancel their bookings. So there is no-one at home to take Carnes to and the parents won’t come and get him.”
“That’s a bit bloody unfair!” Roger cried.
Peter nodded. “Capt Conkey thought so. He really blew his stack about it when he was explaining the situation to the officers. ‘We aren’t a bloody child minding service!’ he said. He was pretty angry. He then said that the father had told him, the boy must stay and it would make a man of him.”
“Poor bloody kid!” Graham said, shaking his head sadly. As he did he thought of his own parents and those of his friends and he found himself unable to imagine what it might be like to have parents that didn’t care. ‘I am bloody lucky!’ he thought.
The conversation was interrupted by CSM Cleland calling on the company Orders Group to assemble. Peter hurried to finish his meal and left them. Sergeants began to urge the platoons to hurry up as well. “We want to be gone from here before Heatley’s patrols arrive,” Sgt Grenfell said.
After that it was all rush, rush. Gear was packed, waterbottles refilled, kitbags piled beside the vehicles for transport, and ration packs issued.Graham was pleasantly surprised to note that his section worked willingly and were all ready first. Even Halyday and Andrews seemed to cheerfully co-operate. ‘They are developing into a good section,’ Graham thought.
At 1305 CUO Masters came back. He called the section commanders and Sgt Grenfell in, then told Stephen to post two sentries facing down towards the highway. “There shouldn’t be anything to see yet,” CUO Masters added. “The OCs of all units agreed that no-one would move before thirteen hundred.”
When Stephen returned from doing that CUO Masters gave the orders for the move and sent them off to explain it to their cadets. As they were doing that the HQ Group came past. Sgt Gayney was leading them. Graham gave Peter a ‘thumbs up’ and wished him luck. He then noted Carnes, now carrying a radio as well as his pack. ‘Poor bugger! He looks really miserable. I hope he doesn’t break down on them.’
The Hutchie Men moved next, their numbers increased to five by adding the Corporal Storeman, Vince Brookes. They were also carrying their packs, as was 4 Platoon when they set off into the bush towards the highway. Thomo and Krissy Dunstan were sent by the CSM to fill in the latrines. The remaining members of HQ, under command of the CQMS, Staff Sgt Bates, moved to load stores and kit bags onto vehicles. As soon as Thomo and Krissy returned and handed their shovels back to the Q these were loaded. After that was done the vehicles moved off.
CUO Masters stood up and shrugged on his pack. “Time to go. Packs on Two Platoon.”
Excitement now began to grip Graham. He knew he was to lead a patrol that night and his mind was already dwelling on that. The cadets stood in line and adjusted their gear. Sgt Grenfell walked along from the rear counting them, then reported to CUO Masters they were all there. That was a source of some satisfaction as Graham noted two members of 3 Platoon and one from 1 Platoon who were ‘too sick’ to do the march. These were now sitting with a radio at the otherwise deserted HQ location.
2 Platoon was the first to move. As they marched across the Sandy Ridge track and down into the gullies near where the 4 Platoon latrine had been 1 Platoon were only lining up and 3 Platoon were still milling around in their area with Sgt Yeldham shouting angrily.
The platoon moved on a compass course. Their route took them northwards down past the rocky dyke and through the area where the dry gullies came together, then along beside the dry creek to near the Burdekin Plum Tree which had been a check point for both the day navex and the treasure hunt.
Halyday, who was walking in the middle of the section, called out to Graham as they crossed the dry creek and began climbing the slope to the cattle grid near the shed. “If we’d known we could have stayed here this morning.”
“Or at least brought our packs,” Andrews added.
All the way along members of the section had been making little jokes and none had really grumbled, despite the heat. That lifted Graham’s spirits even more and he knew he was really starting to enjoy himself. There were problems however. CUO Masters halted the platoon and walked back to investigate. It transpired that several cadets were having trouble carrying their packs in the heat.
Graham took the opportunity to walk back along his section to check on each one and to get them to drink. “Anyone need a hand?” he asked.
A couple did. Lucy was visibly wilting in the heat so Graham took her pack and hung it on his front. To his surprise Halyday took Dianne’s pack and Roger took Andrews’. CUO Masters came back wearing a second pack as well. “Let’s move it,” he said “Here comes One Platoon and we don’t want them to beat us.” He then got the line moving.
The steep little slope up to the cattle grid really tested Graham and he found he was puffing and perspiring by the time he reached it. However not for anything would Graham have slowed down or admitted he was having difficulties as he could see Capt Conkey and CSM Cleland were standing there. 1 Platoon was now visible only a hundred paces back.
As the platoon stepped carefully across the steel rails of the cattle grid Capt Conkey congratulated CUO Masters on how well the platoon was doing. But then Graham heard Capt Conkey mutter angrily, “What the devil is Three Platoon up to! They shouldn’t be walking along the road like that! Heatley will see them from miles away if they have a patrol in the area.”
Graham glanced over his shoulder and saw what Capt Conkey meant. From the grid he could see well over a kilometre back up the road all the way to Sandy Ridge and 3 Platoon were tramping down the road in clear view.
At the shed twenty metres further on CUO Masters turned left and led the platoon up a rough vehicle track. This ran up a long, open spur. The ground was studded with football sized rocks and almost bare of grass. Only a few scattered ironbarks gave any shade or sign of greenery. As Graham sweated and puffed up the slope he caught sight of their objective 300 metres away: Black Knoll.