Black Water Read Online Free Page B

an impulse, Farren turned up Garderon Street, walked to Robbie’s house and went up the path. Hesitantly he tapped with the brass knocker and waited, standing up straight, thinking that if Mrs Price answered she might not approve of him slouching. But it was Robbie who appeared – in uniform, apart from boots and cap – to sling the door back as if to show that he lived in a house with no secrets. His forehead, Farren saw, was still bruised.
    ‘Fa- roon ! What brings you to these distant shores?’ Robbie scanned the road, hand over his eyes. ‘Is it because of all this detestable mud that I see? And that you seek a place of plenty cleanliness? Or is that you want to go sailing and need some masterly tips?’
    ‘Nah,’ said Farren, looking nervously down the hallway, wondering what effect this show might have on Mrs Price. ‘I just wanted to know if ya, yer know, wanted to walk up to cadets?’
    Robbie stepped out onto the verandah.
    ‘Yeah, I will.’ He spoke quietly. ‘But my mum’s lying down and I’ll have to see her right, because every time it’s bloody cadets, she gets a stinking headache. You know, because of my dad being missing, and all that other shitty palaver. Wait here.’
    Farren waited, looking at the garden. There was not a weed in sight, every shrub had been trimmed, and all the winter-wet dirt had been recently raked. It was quite restful to look at, Farren thought. Very nice. From inside he could hear low voices, the rattle of a cup, and then Robbie came up the hall, boots and cap in hand.
    ‘All set.’ He sat on the step to pull on his boots, Farren noticing his socks were new and thick. ‘And if she goes to sleep when I’m away, double good and even better, because then she’ll be right as rain when I get home.’
    Captain Gamble walked up the uneven line of cadets, peering into their faces. He was a small, heavy man who Farren sometimes saw walking his cocker spaniels on the beach, two golden dogs with shiny brown collars.
    ‘Boys. A good afternoon.’ A corner of a dangling Union Jack brushed the Captain’s cap. ‘I know the news has not been so bright from the Turkish Peninsula, but we must steel ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead.’ He paused, pinching his moustache. ‘It is indeed a trying time for those who have relatives fighting. And of course, we pray for their ultimate success and safe return.’ Captain Gamble reached the end of the line and turned. ‘But fight we willand win we must. For Australia. For England. And for our place in the world.’
    Farren thought Captain Gamble even looked a bit like his cocker spaniels. He had brown eyes, big ears, and a droopy face.
    ‘Oh, fellows,’ the Captain said. ‘I am as heart-sick as you when I read the casualty lists posted from Gallipoli and the Dardanelles. But we would be in dereliction of our duty if we did not complete our marching and firearm drills. Then perhaps we might have a game of something then a good brisk hike to finish off. Price, Fox, Sparrow, and Schanker, bring out the rifles.’ Captain Gamble saluted, the boys saluted in return, and headed for the strong room.
    ‘His nephew got knocked last week,’ Ollie Sparrow whispered to Farren as Captain Gamble fiddled with the padlock. ‘Reckon that’s why he’s lost the heart for it today. Should be a nice slack old ’arvo, then. No trenchin’ and none ’a that flag-wavin’ bullshit.’
    ‘Hope not,’ said Farren, though he wasn’t thinking of flag drill but of Danny-boy in the war, where Captain Gamble’s nephew got knocked.
    The door was opened, Farren seeing the wooden swords, signal flags, ropes, tents, tarpaulins, and mallets on various shelves. The place smelled like a hardware shop. On the floor lay the two crates of .303 rifles that were without proper bolts, and could not be fired.
    ‘The rifles, boys,’ the Captain said tiredly. ‘Let us have at those good old rifles.’
    On the grassed area behind the hall, the boys played