‘The boss of the American Military Police,’ Norma said, referring once again to her husband, ‘you know, what’s-his-name, the one we complained to about the club …’

‘Major Henry,’ Pete supplied the information, ‘he’s the provost marshal for Townsville.’

‘Yeah, that’s him. He saw us straightaway, didn’t leave us hanging around for one sec. And so he should of course, I mean you can’t have women being threatened by huge black rapists, can you?’

‘What was the major’s reaction?’ Now we’re getting to the interesting part, Pete thought.

‘Oh, he was very concerned,’ Norma said, ‘very sympathetic. He told Geoff and me that all due action would be taken, didn’t he, love?’ A quick glance to her husband.

‘He certainly did,’ Geoff once again agreed. ‘He’s a good bloke, the major, has our interests at heart. Understands the locals.’

‘Yeah,’ Norma nodded, ‘just like he did when me and Mabel complained about the club. He understood our concerns then, too.’

‘So what exactly did he say?’

‘He said action will be taken immediately.’ Norma quoted the major virtually word for word, emphasising the parts she considered to be of the greatest importance. ‘He said the Negro soldier would be brought to task, that he’d be easily identifiable because of his size and his injury, and that full military justice would be served, that he’d be punished and we had nothing more to worry about.’ Norma’s smile was triumphant. She was proud of the impact she’d had upon the major. ‘The army will look after everything, that’s what he said.’

Yes, I’ll just bet he did, Pete thought.

‘I believe him, too,’ she added vehemently. ‘I mean, he sorted out that club business, didn’t he? Closed the place down just the very next day. Like Geoff said, the major understands the locals.’

The major certainly does, Pete thought. The major also understands military policy and how to keep people quiet. ‘Well, thanks very much, Mrs Hodgeman, Mr Hodgeman.’ He nodded politely to both as he rose from his chair.

‘You sure you won’t stay for that cuppa?’ Norma asked. She’d made the offer earlier.

‘No thanks, Mrs Hodgeman,’ he gave her a smile, ‘got to get back to work.’ Nothing more to be found here, he thought. ‘I’ll be moving on.’

They waved goodbye to him from the verandah.

‘Nice young bloke, Pete,’ Geoff said as they watched him stride awkwardly but purposefully down the path to the bicycle parked by the front gate. ‘Polite, always was, even as a boy.’

‘Yeah,’ Norma agreed, ‘who’d have thought a kid like that would have done so well for himself. ’Cept for that funny walk you’d hardly know he was a cripple, would you?’