He’d gone AWOL in the afternoon, when after setting up camp at Kelso, the troops had been granted a meal break. He’d simply slunk away and hitched a ride into town with an obliging farmer, Willie having promised he’d do his best to cover for him. It was risky certainly, but Kasey was determined to see his girl.

‘I know all about the ban,’ Betty said. ‘I read it in the paper, but I still couldn’t believe it. You weren’t involved in that fight at the station, were you?’

‘Nope. I don’t know anyone from our company who was. I can’t answer for the rest of the guys, but I’m guessing they’re using the 96th as a smokescreen so white troops won’t get the blame.’

He kissed her, and as she returned the kiss they started undressing each other, slowly at first, but with increasing urgency.

‘What’ll we do, Kasey, what’ll we do?’ she whispered as, with a creak of bedsprings they lowered themselves onto the small single bunk.

‘I’ll find a way,’ he murmured, ‘don’t you worry, I’ll find a way.’

Since their trip to Magnetic Island, this was the third time they’d availed themselves of the little upstairs bedroom. Kasey and Betty were as hopelessly and recklessly in love as two young people could be.

‘What’ll happen if you’re caught?’ she whispered later as they lay in each other’s arms, skin slick with sweat, bodies still entwined.

‘I don’t know,’ he said, ‘and I don’t care.’ He was only partly lying. He did know, or at least he had a pretty good idea; time in the stockade was downright nasty, everyone knew that. But he didn’t care. This moment was worth whatever they threw at him.

He made it safely back to camp, hitching a ride halfway there in a US military supply truck, the two soldiers asking no questions despite the fact they were white. They were privates, both from the northern states, neither particularly fussed by the colour of a man’s skin, and besides, they couldn’t care less about orders that didn’t apply to them.

The rest of the way, Kasey walked, sneaking undetected into camp just before nightfall. He was lucky to get away with it, he knew that, just as he knew he’d take the risk again as soon as he got the chance.

Betty was not the only person bemoaning the ban of the 96th Battalion’s black troops, and surprisingly enough not the only white woman.

‘So the men won’t even be allowed to come into town for tuition?’ Amelia was aghast.

‘I’m afraid not,’ Samuel said.