Free The Cadet Sergeant Major by Christopher Cummings Page B

to watch the rear.
    â€œWe will have a break. Make sure you all have a big drink,” he instructed.
    Peter still had his waterbottle in his hand so he unscrewed the cap and took a long drink. He had just returned his waterbottle to its cover when he detected movement through the trees out to his left. It was a section of First Years and they seemed to be heading directly towards them.
    â€œHere comes a section. Hide, quickly!” he hissed. He lay flat in the washout with his head between two rocks. To his surprise Kate squeezed in beside him and pressed against him. Peter looked around but could not see the other two. That was a relief. He was very conscious of Kate’s touch and realized he could smell her. ‘I hope I don’t smell,’ he thought, very aware that he had been sweating a lot.
    Peter looked at Kate and noted with wonderment that her eyes seemed to have a dreamy look to them and that her lips were slightly parted. Her head was only a few centimetres from his and she was looking directly at him. In a sort of trance he studied her. Those lips! So soft and kissable! ‘Nice teeth too,’ he noted. He felt confusion and something like panic well up in him. ‘Does she want me to kiss her?’ he wondered. But he was too frightened to do anything in case he had mistaken her signals; in case it was just his rapidly mounting desire.
    The approaching section now drew his attention. It was Anne Hopewell’s and she was obviously having trouble with them. By the grumbling they must have taken a wrong bearing and now had to walk extra distance to get back on course. Most of the cadets were plodding along with heads down while Anne and the lead cadet were concentrating on the compass.
    â€œThey haven’t seen us,” Peter whispered to Kate, his eyes noting the delicate shape of her ear. “I don’t think they will find us.”
    Peter watched the First Years closely as they trudged past twenty paces away. He was enjoying both the mild thrill of the fieldcraft; and the more intense sensation created by Kate’s closeness.
    The First Year section straggled past, the cadets muttering and grumbling. They went down into the creek, up the far bank and headed off across the flat beyond.
    Peter watched until they were out of sight. “OK. Let’s go,” he said. He stood and helped Kate up. Once again he was thrilled by the touch of her hand and he continued to hold it longer than he needed to. She didn’t seem to mind.
    â€œHssst!” Parnell hissed. He pointed back down the creek and slid back into cover. They all crouched amongst the rocks again.
    A cadet had come into view moving up the creek. For a moment Peter thought he must be from Barbara’s section. Then he noted the yellow epaulets. It was CUO Coralie Bates of 4 Platoon. She was followed by three of her cadets.
    Peter stood up, making them jump with fright. He grinned. “This is our gully, find your own,” he said. He walked down to join them. They had a quiet laugh and exchanged stories for a few minutes. This allowed Peter to regain his composure. CUO Bates then led her group on along the creek. Peter made his group have another drink, very conscious that Kate was continually meeting his eyes and smiling. It made him all hot and confused and he began getting aroused again. Feeling a little flustered and stressed he turned and led them on up the creek.
    About two hundred metres further on the group came to the head of the gully. This got smaller until it was just a rill on the flat ridge top. There was no option but to walk from tree to tree. The group crossed the vehicle track that led from Sandy Ridge to the gravel scrape near the Canning. The area was dry, open bush with visibility for several hundred metres. The tree trunks were all too thin to provide effective cover.
    Peter halted to assess the best option. CUO Bates’ group could be seen in the distance. They were just walking