They heard him all right, but his air of command didn’t have its customary effect. They kept drinking and jostling each other and jeering at the mere presence of authority. They really didn’t seem to care.

‘You’re drunk and disorderly,’ Reed yelled, ‘call it a night, all of you! Disband and go to your tents.’

But a voice answered back as loud and clear as Reed’s stentorian tones, a young voice, bold and challenging. ‘You here to take our booze off us, too, are you, Sarge?’

It was Private Kasey Davis at the forefront of the mob, standing defiant and unwavering, confronting his senior officers. And standing right beside him, equally defiant, clearly offering his support, was big Amos Cole.

‘I’m here to talk sense to you, son.’ Reed addressed young Kasey directly, but in registering the two ringleaders were from Company C, he gave a nod to Rupert Barrett that said, Over to you.

Rupe stepped forward. Surely if anyone could get through to Kasey it was him. Come on, Kase, his mind pleaded, it’s me, buddy, it’s Rupe, you’ve got to stop this, you know you do. Listen to me, buddy, please listen to me.

His eyes said it all as he met Kasey’s gaze, but already he could tell Kasey wasn’t getting the message. Kasey’s own eyes, a penetrating green and normally so full of life, were clouded over. Possibly with alcohol, but no, Rupe thought, there’s something else, something much stronger. And then he realised what he could see was dull, murderous revenge.

Oh dear God, he thought, this is what the kid’s been aiming for all the while. He’s been inciting the men to riot – why the hell couldn’t I see that?

‘You’ve got to stop this, Kase,’ he said quietly. His eyes quickly roamed the gathering, then returned to Kasey, willing him to listen. ‘You’ve got to call a halt to all this, you know you do.’

‘It’s too late for that.’ Kasey’s voice was as dead as his eyes.

And behind him, the men kept drinking.

Sergeant Reed and Corporal Barrett reported their findings to their commanding officers.

‘We think there’s trouble brewing, sir,’ Reed said, addressing both Captains Maxwell and O’Brien. ‘Corporal Barrett and I attempted to communicate with the men, but neither of us seemed to get through. The troops have more booze and they refuse to stop drinking.’

At that point he handed the floor over to Corporal Barrett, the ringleaders being from Company C and obviously well known to him.

Rupe also addressed both captains, although he focused principally upon O’Brien, preferring to ignore Chuck Maxwell, despite the man being his own commanding officer.