Behind Mt. Baldy

by Christopher Cummings

  The Lt Colonel and his staff looked visibly disappointed at this but he moved at once to issue the orders. Commander Simkin turned to Captain Conkey. “Captain, I must require you and your cadets to come with us. I must also insist, nay, demand, that none of you say anything to the media or your friends or families until I authorize it- which may be never.”

  “I must inform their parents that the boys are safe,” Captain Conkey insisted.

  “Yes, you may do that,” Commander Simkin agreed. He turned to Inspector Sharpe. “There have been rumours for days. Half the Press Corps in the country are out there at the turn-off, clamouring to get in. We want to keep this quiet. It is a major diplomatic incident. National Security is involved. Captain, make sure your cadets understand.”

  Roger suddenly felt worried and sick. He was appalled at the authority and power of this grim-faced man. He also had the awful realization that, in discovering the Thigh Bone, he may have started events beyond his control, which he would regret.

  They were kept waiting for ten minutes before four ‘Black Hawks’ came roaring down to land along the Rifle Range. The cadets were led forward and placed aboard the third one. Even though Roger had flown in helicopters before; twice the previous year- when they were rescued from the flooded Mulgrave River in January, and when searching for Willy Williams and his airship in June- he was still excited and anxious.

  The crew strapped them in. Roger was comfortably in the middle. He didn’t enjoy flying but still found it fascinating. As the machine trembled with power and lifted off he uttered a quiet prayer. Below him he glimpsed trees, a small creek, a gravel road, houses, another creek, then the roofs of Atherton. In a minute they were beyond the town and over open farmland. Roger shivered and closed his eyes.

  Five minutes later they were circling Tinaburra Waters. The machine settled on a wide lawn beside the lake and they climbed out. The motel had not yet been taken over but Commander Simkin led them over to it. His aide, Wilkins, arrived at that moment and a discussion began with the manager. Roger was so tired he did not care what happened next. Now he just wanted to lie down and sleep.

  More helicopters roared in, to disgorge soldiers who surrounded the buildings and were placed on guard at doorways. Others were sent to patrol the shores of the lake. The boys were warned not to leave the premises and were led to two downstairs rooms by a policeman, who then stood guard on the veranda. Roger and Graham were given one room and Peter and Stephen the other. Capt Conkey had the next along, sharing with DS Crowe.

  The boys were told to shower and were given fresh uniforms by the soldiers. Roger found the hot shower to be a mixture of bliss and stinging pains. He pulled on the clean clothes and flopped onto one of the beds. Just as he was drifting into sleep food was brought by a friendly woman who gave them a cheerful welcome. Roger sat up and placed one of the trays on a table and wolfed the food down. An army doctor visited them with a couple of medics and their minor ailments were treated. Then they were left alone.

  Captain Conkey checked how they were, then told them to get some sleep until they were needed. Roger needed no encouragement. He stretched out on the very comfortable bed and was soon asleep.

  At 8pm they were woken and taken to a lounge room where Commander Simkin, several other men in suits, Mr Prendergast, Inspector Sharpe, DS Crowe and Captain Conkey were all seated. Peter and Stephen joined them and they were made comfortable in chairs. Coffee and biscuits were provided.

  Once they were settled they were required to tell the whole story and were minutely questioned on every little detail. It was after midnight before they finished and were led back to their rooms. Roger was so exhausted he just threw himself on the bed and was asleep in moments.

  After breakfast next morning they were interviewed again and detailed statements taken. They were allowed to speak briefly to their parents on the telephone, saying only a prepared speech. The morning dragged by. During this time they learned that, on orders from the Kosarian Embassy, the Partisans in the jungle had surrendered (“Much to the disgust of the Colonel and his men who were looking forward to a good little stoush,” explained Inspector Sharpe). Several partisans had asked for political asylum. The rest were to be deported. Diplomatic relations between Australia and Kosaria were ‘very strained’. Mr Stinkibitz had cut short his visit and flown out.

  Several Royal Guards had also been arrested. Most had gone into hiding. Two more KSS men had been taken into custody.

  “What about Hauptman Ritnik sir? Is he alright?” Roger asked.

  “Yes. He is in hospital and will recover fully,” Inspector Sharpe replied.

  “What will happen to the prince and princess Sir?” Peter asked.

  “They are to be flown out of the country and set free.”

  Roger liked that. The thought of them being put in jail or something had been bothering him.

  After lunch the four friends sat on the patio. Roger relaxed and enjoyed the lovely view out over the lake. As he dozed he heard another helicopter land. A few minutes later the boys were called by a plain-clothes policeman.

  “Prince Peter and Princess Mareena wish to speak to you before they leave,” he said.

  They were led down to where Inspector Sharpe, Commander Simkin and Captain Conkey stood with the prince and princess at the front entrance. Prince Peter and Princess Mareena were now in civilian clothes, the prince in a light grey suit and the princess in a lovely emerald green frock.

  The boys lined up, feeling very self conscious. Prince Peter stepped forward and said: “We have now heard the whole story of what you did. I would like to thank you again. You saved my life, and you saved my cousin’s life as well. If you would be so kind I would consider it a favour if you would accept honorary life membership in the Crown Prince’s Life Guard of the Kosarian Royal Guard.”

  He then stepped forward and handed each of them one of the Golden Eagle badges and shook their hands. When he got to Roger he added: “And a special thanks to you for helping to find the er... the object in Count Krapinski’s care.”

  Roger felt very proud, humble and embarrassed. But what happened next overwhelmed him. Princess Mareena stepped forward and kissed him on both cheeks. “As a special thanks for saving the prince and Baron Ritnik,” she said. Then she moved along and also kissed the others.

  The memory of her touch and the smell of her perfume lingered long after the sound of the helicopter died away.

  And the prince did keep his word. The boys not only received their Duke of Edinburgh Award, but also received with it a personal letter from Prince Phillip congratulating them and offering his thanks.

  Months later each of the boys received in the mail a small box. Inside was a handwritten note of thanks from Prince Peter; and a beautiful silver and gold medal on a green and white ribbon. A typed letter signed by Major Ritnik explained it was the Kosarian medal of the White Falcon for sacrifice in the service of the King. As they were foreign medals from a government which did not legally exist the boys could not wear them on their uniforms, but for each they remained a treasured possession; a permanent reminder to Roger of Count Krapinski; and of the meaning of Duty, Loyalty and Honour.

  OTHER TITLES BY C.R. CUMMINGS

  THE CADET CORPORAL

  “You’re a coward Kirk. Yer’ gutless!”

  The jeering insult bit deep. 15 Year old Army Cadet Corporal Graham Kirk turned to face his accuser, the heat of his anger mixing with the chill of fear. He blinked to clear the sweat from his eyes while his mind raced in an attempt to find an easy way out of the crisis which had suddenly erupted. Five paces away stood the bane of his life: Cadet ‘Pigsy’ Pike. Behind Pigsy stood his cronies: Waters, Franks and Moynihan. On the ground lay a cadet they were bullying.

  ‘Am I a coward?’ Graham wonders. He is in his 2nd year in Army Cadets. The previous year he had joined the cadets with a reputation as a trouble maker and in difficult circumstances. Now, right at the start of the 9 day annual field camp, he is confronted with
this crisis.

  Over the days that follow he is to face other challenges and temptations that will test his integrity, courage and loyalty to the limit. Top of the list are the bullies: ‘Pigsy’ and his gang, all soured by jealous resentment because he was promoted and they were not. And there are girls in Graham’s section- and Graham has ‘discovered’ girls and really likes them. But he has been fired with ambition and really wants to be selected for promotion to sergeant the following year. As the cadet unit has 16 corporals but only positions for 7 sergeants and a warrant officer he can see that he has some stiff competition to beat if he is to be chosen.

  The story follows Graham’s trials and tribulations as a section commander. These lead him to a critical personal and leadership challenge which causes him to face up to what sort of person he really is and what he wants to be.

  This is the story of an army cadet camp told in detail. For cadets and ex-cadets it should provide both interest and nostalgia.

  Because it is a story about teenagers, and particularly teenage boys, there are some sexual references and coarse language. This book is written for teenagers and is not suitable for Primary School children.

  THE CADET SERGEANT MAJOR

  ‘Thirty nine girls! And some of them with reputations for being hot,’ thought 16 year old Army Cadet Warrant Officer Graham Kirk as he scanned the company. ‘And some of them very pretty, like Cpl Allison Broadfoot and Cpl Kate O’Brien in HQ.’

  It was Day 1 of the unit’s annual field camp. The cadets had just arrived in the bush and were seated in the shade waiting for their OC. Through Graham’s mind ran the roll book totals: 39 girls and 70 boys. ‘And Capt Conkey doesn’t want any ‘boy-girl’ problems this camp’.

  As Graham looked at them his gaze met a pair of soft brown female eyes that smiled back. They belonged to Cadet Margaret Lake- his sister’s best friend and his devoted admirer. But Margaret was two years younger and was plain and tubby. ‘No, Margaret doesn’t set my blood on fire, not like her corporal, red-haired Barbara Brassington.’ For a few moments Graham admired Barbara.

  ‘Heavens, Barbara is really something!’ he thought. But then he shook his head. ‘No, don’t start thinking like that.’ That got him considering the problem of temptation- something he suffered strongly from as he really liked girls! ‘How do we prevent Fraternisation?’ he wondered.

  Fraternisation- improper relationships- was forbidden by the Cadet Policy Manual. As the Company Sergeant Major one of his main duties was discipline and while he knew that the real supervision was the responsibility of the adult Officers of Cadets he also had a key role to play. ‘And the cadet sergeants are the people I must depend on to help prevent any problems,’ he thought, shifting his gaze to the sergeants standing at the back of their platoons. What bothered him was the feeling that he did not trust them all.

  Graham called the company to attention and handed over to Capt Conkey and the camp began. What follows is the story of an army cadet camp and of how Graham and his friends coped with the unexpected problems that occurred. For cadets and ex-cadets the detail will inform and provide nostalgic flashbacks.

  Because this is a story about teenagers, and particularly teenage relationships, there are some sexual references and coarse language. This book is written for young adults and is not suitable for Primary School children

  THE CADET UNDER-OFFICER

  Graham is 17 and is a Cadet Under-Officer in his army cadet unit. It is September. On the third day of annual camp he encounters 15 year old Elizabeth, who has a briefcase full of incriminating documents and is being hotly pursued by a gang of crooks. Graham knows Elizabeth from school and decides to hide her while he contacts the authorities. But who to trust? And how to do it?

  Complicating matters is the fact that 15 year old Margaret, a corporal in his platoon, is in love with Graham. Jealousy rears its ugly head. Problems multiply and plans go adrift. As the days go by the crooks become ever more desperate and Graham becomes involved in the most challenging adventure of his young life.

  The story is set in the dry savannah country of inland North Queensland in the Charters Towers district. There is fast moving action and authentic detail about army cadets. Buy the book to join in with them as they try to use their training to overcome the mounting problems.