The Stone Frigate

by Kate Armstrong

  “Don’t tell me. It’s best if you don’t.” I wanted to know and I did not want to know. She stared at me in silence.

  “Geoff Hampstead,” she blurted out.

  “Pardon?” I couldn’t believe my ears.

  “The fourth year is Geoff Hampstead.”

  “The CWC?” I asked.

  “I know!” she said. “That’s what makes it so awful.”

  “Holy fuck.”

  “I know. Right?”

  I doubled over to catch my breath.

  “You’re scaring me. What do you think?”

  “I think he’s a good guy?” I said.

  Her shoulders relaxed and a smile spread across her face. “What would you do?”

  “I don’t know. I really don’t know,” I said. “We can talk again later. In the meantime, be careful. I mean it. Don’t tell anyone else. Please.”

  I took her teacup and started cleaning up. She left soon afterward, and minutes later I grabbed my jacket and ran across the square.

  “What the fuck?” Jake exclaimed. “Are you certain?”

  “Yes.”

  “I mean certain. Do you believe her?”

  “Of course. I am so fucking angry with Hampstead that I don’t know what to do. Motherfucker!” Of all people, it had to be him, the very person who had turned us in to the commandant. Anyone else and I would have left it alone.

  Jake slumped down onto his bed in a defeated posture while I paced the room.

  “I promised Jane that I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

  “Yeah, but you promised before you knew who it was.”

  “I know. So stupid. I could puke right now.”

  “The women’s change room at the pool?” He leapt to his feet. “Let’s go down there tonight at three a.m. and catch them!”

  “No way! We’re not Buddy Biffing Floyd.”

  “Well, what do you suggest, then?” he said angrily.

  I sat down on the bed, doubled over, and stared at my feet. RMC was something I had to get through. Where was the profit in developing righteousness and convictions that would make it even harder?

  Jake sat quietly beside me until I finally spoke again. “I think I might have a way to deal with it and basically keep my promise to Jane — except for having talked it over with you,” I said.

  I told him my plan. On the way home, after midnight, I stayed as far as possible from the outdoor lights, following the edge of the square, with my scarf pulled up over my face. I crawled into bed and stole six hours of fitful sleep before my alarm rang to get up for class.

  The next evening, at exactly 9:45 p.m., I made my way across the square. I climbed the stairs to the third floor of Fort LaSalle Dormitory, rounded the corner to the Wing HQ hallway and paused. Back at the door of the CWC. The last time I had stood before this door, I was facing charges for drunk and disorderly and conduct unbecoming an officer. I could turn back. Jake was the only person who knew anything about my plan.

  I could tell by the look on Geoff’s face when he opened the door that he didn’t know that I knew. “Well, hello, Kate,” he said with a friendly smile. A wave of shame washed through me.

  “May I speak with you in private?” I asked, my voice tight.

  Inside, I gave him the letter I’d written and he read it. “Kate, is there nothing I can say to change your mind?” he asked.

  “No. I’m sorry. Like it says, I need you to take the letter to General Pratt so that he can read it for himself. And within one week, I want to meet with him in person. If he hasn’t called for me by then, I’ll take my copy to him directly.”

  Geoff started pacing. “I told her not to tell anyone. Of all people, she chose you,” he said.

  “I’m sorry. Truly. I didn’t want to know about this. It has been extremely upsetting for me. I don’t want to break my promise to Jane, but this approach is the best solution I could think of under the circumstances.”

  “So, now you’ll have revenge upon me?” he said, glaring at me.

  “I’m living under the persistent risk of being kicked out for less. That’s a huge double standard,” I said. “I don’t care what the commandant does about it, but I think he should know.”

  “You can leave now. I’ll take your letter to General Pratt tomorrow. I expect you will hear from him shortly,” he said stiffly, opening his door.

  33

  SECRETS

  The summons to General Pratt’s office came a few days later. There was no tea service this time. We sat in the same spots as we had during my last visit.

  “What’s this all about, Miss Armstrong?” General Pratt asked, tapping a cigarette on the table and lighting it.

  “Sir, I needed you to know.” My voice was quivering.

  “It’s a good letter. It seems well considered,” he said. “I understand what might lead you to handle it this way. Would you please read the letter aloud to me? I want to hear the story in your own voice.”

  “Of course, sir.” I shakily read the letter, which explained how I came to know about Geoff and Jane and called Geoff’s behaviour a breach of trust. My chest was so tight that I felt winded as I forced out the words on the page. By the time I finished, a light film of sweat had cooled my upper lip.

  “Is it true?” General Pratt asked.

  “To the best of my knowledge, sir.”

  “I believe you. Geoff came to my office yesterday morning and admitted the whole thing. What I want to know is this: Is it true that you have no attachment to the outcome of this revelation? It’s strictly in my hands to deal with the matter?”

  “Of course, sir. It’s not for me to decide what’s appropriate under the circumstances.”

  “Okay. So I’ll do nothing. Pretend it never happened,” he said.

  My jaw dropped. I was speechless.

  “Oh, so you do care.”

  “Sir, I won’t deny that I brought this issue to your attention because of the charges brought against us by Geoff this fall.”

  “So you want revenge,” he said tersely.

  “No, sir. I want fairness of treatment. I’m serving out the final days of my suspended sentence for a lesser charge than the CWC who turned me in. And he’s having sex on college grounds with a first-year cadet he’s not allowed to date under any and all circumstances. It still makes me question his integrity and the validity of the dating rules.”

  “It questions the validity of the CWC appointment. We can start there,” he said. “The rule needs addressing, there is no doubt.”

  “A few of my good friends aspired to be CWC and have been following the rules and doing all the right things. Geoff Hampstead was appointed to the position in preference over them.”

  “You know that I appointed Mr. Hampstead, right?”

  I closed my eyes. How could I have been so stupid? I looked back at the general, who wore a knowing smile. “I guess I didn’t think it through, sir.”

  “I appreciate the choices you’ve made so far in this process and your good sense to allow me the latitude to handle the situation however I feel is best. I believe it was a wise decision to allow Mr. Hampstead the opportunity to disclose his failings to me, and we can’t forget that Miss Quigley is a part of this breach, as well.”

  “Yes, sir. I feel terrible for not keeping her secret. Does she really need to be implicated?”

  He chuckled. “That would present a challenge, would it not, to accuse the CWC of a clandestine — to use your word — relationship and not have the partner exposed? Miss Quigley is a very beautiful and fairly intelligent cadet, and she must accept the consequences of her choices. There is no protecting her from them. She ensured that by disclosing the relationship to you.”

  “Yes, sir,” I said, swallowing hard.

  “We have a potential scandal in which you’re going to suffer alongside Jane and Geoff,” he said.

  “Yes, sir. I’ve considered that my life could become a torment when word gets out that I’m associated with this.”

  “If
word gets out.” He looked me directly in the eye.

  “What do you mean, sir?”

  “Have you told anyone?”

  “Yes, sir. I talked it over with Jake on the night that Jane told me.”

  “Let’s hope he’s better at keeping secrets than you,” he said dryly. He lit another cigarette and exhaled a plume of smoke. “If you leave it with me, I may be able to handle the whole matter without implicating you. Your part is to never discuss it with anyone. Get Jake’s promise of confidence and don’t say anything more about it.”

  “Yes, sir. But won’t Jane or Geoff tell people, sir?”

  “If my idea plays out as planned, it won’t make sense to involve you, but I am getting ahead of myself. At this point, all you have to do is keep quiet. Okay?”

  “Yes, sir,” I said, hugely relieved. “Truth be told, I wish she’d never told me. I wish I was never any part of it.”

  “Well, that ship has sailed,” he said. “I’m seeking another agreement from you today, as well. Would you be willing to grant me the grace to deal with this matter after West Point Weekend?”

  “Sir?” I said. United States Military Academy West Point and RMC had an annual sports exchange weekend dating back to 1923, which had started with a hockey competition and expanded to include many sports. In early February, RMC would be hosted at West Point this year.

  “As you know, Geoff Hampstead, besides representing RMC as the cadet wing commander for the weekend at West Point, is the star goalie of our hockey team. We can avert international attention from our scandal by holding off until we get back from New York. I would hate to cast a shadow over the weekend, wouldn’t you?”

  “Yes, sir. Whatever you think is best.”

  “How much time do you have left to serve?” he asked.

  “About a week, sir.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

  The last week of my suspended sentence passed without incident. Richie and I went out for beers, though he didn’t know why I was so very happy until I drunkenly let the details of the suspended sentence slip on the way home.

  34

  KING EDWARD

  College spirits ran high after the game. Goalie Geoff Hampstead had stopped a record fifty shots on net and led RMC to a 3–2 win against West Point. Hampstead was a hero.

  A meeting of the cadet wing was called for Monday after class. I nodded to the statue of Pax as I passed her on my way into Currie Hall, which was filled to the rafters. The fourth-year class filled the upper balcony, standing room only, and the remainder of the wing packed into chairs on the main-floor level.

  Hundreds of voices buzzed. No one knew what this gathering was about.

  “WING!” shouted a voice from the back of the hall. A final wave of shuffling echoed from the ceiling, and then silence fell. General Pratt, Colonel Gilmore, and CWC Geoff Hampstead marched up the aisle dressed in formal uniforms.

  Geoff was wearing his dress scarlet uniform, complete with the royal-purple belt adorned with gold-trimmed curtain tassels unique to the cadet wing commander position.

  “At ease,” Gilmore breathed into the microphone. A wave of clapping started toward the back of the room and picked up momentum. Soon everyone stood cheering for Hampstead.

  General Pratt stepped forward and stared out across the sea of cadets. He did not speak for a few moments. The clapping died down and everyone took their seats.

  “You’re wondering why we’re here. Sports are cancelled. Dinner is delayed. Even the walking wounded have been dragged along for the announcement,” he said, making fun of a few people at the back in slings or holding crutches. “Such an occasion for gathering is rare in the history of college life. I hope that many years will pass before such a necessity presents itself again, if ever.”

  He had our full attention now.

  “We’re into our third year of having lady cadets at the college, and certain challenges face us during their integration that have never been faced within the cadet wing. Male or female, the foundational structure of college life is designed to produce future officers of the Canadian Armed Forces with deeply ingrained values: truth, duty, valour.” He paused and glanced meaningfully around the room. “And don’t get caught,” he added. A few brave cadets chuckled at this.

  “I’m talking about truth, duty, valour, about doing the right thing when it is the last thing you want to do.” He swept his arm toward Hampstead, inviting him to the podium. “Cadet Wing Commander Geoff Hampstead has an announcement to make today. Mark this moment as a touchstone, the very definition of courage.” General Pratt stepped aside.

  Geoff leaned toward the microphone and spoke calmly. “I stand before you today as the cadet wing commander and as a humble cadet. From my earliest moments as a recruit, I dreamt of becoming CWC, even though I doubted my ability to fulfill the duties of the post.” There were a few knowing nods and laughs around the room. He bowed his head for a moment, as if trying to compose himself. “I’ve reached that crossroads,” he said. “I have broken the very rules that I am intended to model as CWC, by falling in love with a first-year lady cadet.”

  A dull roar rumbled through the hall, and Hampstead raised his voice over the din. “To that end, I am resigning my position as CWC and surrendering my bars forthwith.” He stepped back, undid the ornate belt that was the symbol of his power, and placed it in Colonel Gilmore’s outstretched hands.

  The roar became angry and rattled the windows of the hall. Bile rose in my throat. Holy shit. He’s pulling a King Edward.

  Colonel Gilmore restored order to the hall with a single word. “Room.”

  Geoff stood with his head held high. Colonel Gilmore spoke into the microphone. “With the resignation of Fourth Year Hampstead, the cadet wing requires a new CWC. It gives me great honour to announce the appointment of Fourth Year James Tolbert, of Seven Squadron, as cadet wing commander.”

  My heart lifted. Perhaps it was all worth it after all. Jimmy rose from his seat in the front row, and General Pratt presented him with the CWC belt. Jimmy put it on and turned nervously to face the cadet wing.

  “May I introduce Cadet Wing Commander James Tolbert,” Colonel Gilmore said. “You may cheer.” But we were already roaring.

  On the way out of Currie Hall, Meg spoke to me in a low voice. “I wonder if he was having sex on college grounds?”

  A voice interjected from behind us. “To answer your question, there is a lot of fucking going on at the college.” I swivelled around abruptly and nearly tripped on the stairs. Brad Boulter joined us and we kept moving.

  “How would you know? You’ve never dated a cadet, have you?” I asked him.

  “I’m not talking cadets with cadets. I’m talking civilian girlfriends.” He smiled slyly.

  “Are you serious? Cadets bring girlfriends to the college for sex?”

  We squeezed through the main doors of the Mackenzie Building with the throng of cadets leaving the assembly and stepped out of the flow to continue our conversation on the edge of the parade square.

  “Everyone has been so busy watching you girls and trying to catch you doing something, we’re basically doing whatever we want. During cadet parties and balls, every male cadet is trying to get his girlfriend back to his room for sex, and lots are succeeding,” he said.

  “Seriously!” I said. “I had no idea that was going on.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess being in the Frigate, it would be harder to sneak girls to your room after walking two hundred and twenty yards across the parade square in full view. So maybe it was happening more on our side of the square.”

  “Holy crap,” I said.

  “You must have known?”

  “All I know is that every time I try to get away with anything, I get busted.”

  “Based on the rumours, you’re getting away with lots.”

  “Now what?” I asked.

  Brad flushed and shuffled his feet. “Never mind.”

  “That can of worms is open. There’s no gett
ing away now,” Meg said, rapping Brad on his shoulder.

  “Fine. There’s a rumour that if you want to get lucky, all you have to do is knock on Kate’s door at two a.m.”

  “What the fuck? That’s a load of crap!” I said.

  “Has anyone ever knocked?” he asked.

  “Not one person. Ever … wait. Oh my god. There have been random guys who came to visit me during evening hours and flirted with me. Nothing ever happened. I wonder if that was why?” The familiar heat of anger burned in my belly. “Do you repeat the rumour?”

  “To answer that question, I’ll say that I didn’t start the rumour.”

  “Did you ever try to stop it?”

  Brad blurted out his staccato laugh. “No! Who do you take me for?”

  “The real question is, who do you take me for?”

  “That’s easy. You’re the most unmilitary person I know.” He beamed at me like he’d just paid me the greatest of compliments.

  Back in the Frigate a few hours later, the rumour mill literally came through my door.

  “Did you hear? Jane Quigley is Hampstead’s girlfriend,” Meg said. “She got thirty days on charge. Neither of them got kicked out.”

  “What? They charged her?”

  “Apparently the charge parade took place in General Pratt’s office right after the CWC resignation announcement.”

  “Oh my god. Poor Jane.”

  “You know her well, don’t you?” Meg asked. “I can’t believe Geoff would be so stupid. It’s only a matter of months until they could have dated after he graduated. They should have waited.”

  “Ha. Like Eddie and me?”

  “I think they got caught. He blatantly broke the rules, went to such an extent to hide it, and then grabbed a conscience? Doesn’t that seem weird to you?”

  “Beyond weird,” I said, nodding sagely.

  “And what guy gives up being CWC for a two-month-old relationship? It doesn’t add up. There’s more to this story. Aren’t you choked?”

  “Me? Why?”

  “Hampstead turned you in, and then he pulled off this stunt.”

  “I’m just glad he didn’t get away with it.” Prick.