But he wasn’t going to get any backup from Rupe either. ‘Seems we’re a labour unit, Kase,’ he said, ‘I’m afraid you’ll just have to learn to live with it.’

Maxwell didn’t make things any easier either, particularly for Kasey, whose good looks and confidence continued to rankle with ‘Chuck’.

‘Hey, you! Pretty nigger! Put your back into it there.’

Kasey slowly straightened up – he’d been digging as hard as was humanely possible – this was the third time today Maxwell had singled him out from the twenty or so men in this particular work detail.

He didn’t turn to face the captain who had arrived out of nowhere and was standing several paces behind him, instead taking a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping away the sweat that streamed down his face and neck. Then returning the handkerchief to his pocket, he resumed digging.

‘I said you!’ Maxwell yelled. ‘You! Pretty nigger!’

Kasey continued to ignore the man and just kept digging.

The black sergeant overseeing the detail stood awaiting orders from his captain while the surrounding men, Willie among them, continued to make a pretence of working, but twenty sets of eyes were darting in Kasey’s direction.

Maxwell, infuriated, strode the several paces forward to Kasey and shoved him in the back so forcefully he fell to the ground. ‘Did you hear me, boy,’ he screamed, ‘I’m talking to you!’

Kasey rose to his feet slowly. ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ he said, ‘I didn’t know you meant me.’ Of course he knew – he was always ‘pretty nigger’ to this bastard. He looked Maxwell directly in the eyes, bold and unwavering. ‘I didn’t realise it was me you were talking to, sir.’

Maxwell drew his Colt semi-automatic pistol from its holster and held it to Kasey’s head. Where he came from, no nigger dared look a white man directly in the eyes, and certainly not the way this pretty nigger was doing right now.

‘I could have you shot for this, boy,’ he said menacingly.

Kasey felt fear, but he didn’t show it. He didn’t even flinch. ‘Have me shot for what, sir?’ he asked innocently.

The surrounding men were making no pretence of work now, and Maxwell, realising he was the full focus of their attention, lowered his weapon. ‘For your insolence, boy,’ he said. ‘The army will not tolerate insolence among the ranks, do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Carry on, Sergeant.’ Maxwell gave a brisk nod to the sergeant who hadn’t moved a muscle. Then he turned heel and marched off.

‘You niggers heard what the captain said,’ First Sergeant Walker ‘Strut’ Stowers roared, ensuring Maxwell was still well within hearing range. ‘Get your lazy black asses back to work.’