The Cadet Corporal Read Online Free PDF

Andrews wailed.
    By then Graham was back with him. The boy’s answer came as such a relief he felt like laughing. It was on the tip of his tongue to jeer and deride the boy’s fears but he managed to restrain himself. In a flash of insight he remembered a similar episode the previous year. It also made him very aware that all of his cadets were only 13 years old. He stepped close to Andrews.
    Very quietly he said, “I’m here. You can calm down. You are quite safe.”
    To Graham’s relief Andrews stopped his loud wails and stood sniffling and sobbing. Graham now spoke softly so that the other cadets could not hear. “It’s alright. What are you scared of?”
    â€œI don’t know! The dark?” Andrews sobbed. Then he went on, “Snakes, spiders, th...things.”
    â€œWhat things?” Graham asked.
    â€œD..d...d...drop.. drop bears and b.. bunyips,” Andrews sobbed.
    In a flash Graham realised that the older cadets had been practising on the credulity of the new recruits. He shook his head with relief. “Have you ever been camping before?” he asked.
    â€œN..no,” Andrews replied. He was now calming down.
    â€œSo you have never been in the bush at night?”
    â€œNo, and I’m scared,” Andrews replied, his voice low but full of real terror.
    â€œOK, I understand that,” Graham said. “Now, think about this. There are no such things as drop bears or bunyips.”
    â€œThey said there are,” Andrews replied, “And Yowies.”
    â€œWho said?” Graham asked.
    â€œFour Platoon guys,” Andrews replied.
    At that Graham swore softly. ‘Bloody Pigsy Pike and Co!’ he thought. He said, “They are just having you on. Look, if these things really existed wouldn’t you have learned about them at a school? Wouldn’t there be some in the zoo?”
    Andrews was silent for a while. Then he sniffled and said, “What about the Yowie Men? They have been seen.”
    â€œOnly by truck drivers who have taken too many pills!” Graham replied sarcastically.
    â€œPigsy said he’s seen ‘em around here before,” Andrews replied.
    â€œHe is just saying that to scare you,” Graham answered. “Look, if there was real danger do you really think the officers would send us out to walk around? It would be more than their jobs are worth.”
    That seemed to sink in. Andrews was silent for a while. Then he said quietly, “What about snakes and spiders?”
    â€œI don’t know about spiders but there are sure to be snakes,” Graham replied. “Just remember what the OC said; the snakes will hear us coming and get out of the way. It is when we run and startle them they strike, but only in self-defence.”
    â€œI’m scared of snakes,” Andrews persisted.
    â€œSo am I!” Graham replied with feeling. “And I’ve been bitten by one.”
    â€œYou have not!”
    â€œI have so!” Graham replied. “By a King Brown, when I was eleven. You ask Roger. He was there. And I’m still alive.”
    Then another idea came to Graham. From where he stood he could clearly see the lights of the army camp. As he stood looking the headlights of a car went past along the highway. “Look, see that car? It is on the Flinders Highway. If you get bitten we will have you in a car in a few minutes and it is only twenty minutes or half an hour to the hospital at Charters Towers.”
    By this time Andrews had calmed down. Graham said, “Have a drink, then stay with me. And we won’t mention this to anyone.”
    â€œBut I’m still scared,” Andrews replied, but he began taking out his waterbottle.
    â€œOf course! That’s normal. We all are. But this is one of those real challenges life throws at you. If you back out you escape the fear for a few minutes but then you will despise yourself for being a coward. Worse still, other