The train made its way out of Singapore station rattling and swaying from side to side. People hung out of windows waving and calling to friends and relatives. Several of the carriages were filled with British soldiers fresh out from England.
Sergeant Brown rose from his seat and bellowed, "Right you lot, listen in. You are all going up country to Malaya. We will be passing through bandit country and there is a possibility the train could be ambushed. Each of you will be issued with 50 rounds of ammo. We will be travelling for about 48 hours and you will be doing guard duty during that time."
A moan went round the carriage. The ammunition was handed out and checked by each soldier. Those who had been unlucky enough to pull guard were given the times they would be on duty. "You are to patrol the length of the train," said the sergeant. "Keep alert at all times".
"That’s what we want lots of lerts", one of the soldiers said. Everyone laughed.
"Funny man eh? Well you now have double duty son. And if you don’t keep alert (no one laughed) you might just get shot perhaps you'll find that funny too? Report any suspicious incidents to me. At the rear of the train there is a cage full of CT's. Make sure you visit the cage at least once during your stag."
"What's CTs sarge?" asked Paul Grant.
"CTs my son for your edification and enlightenment are communist terrorists. Nasty little men who like nothing better than carving up wankers like you. And the rank is sergeant. Got it?"
"Yes sergeant." Paul sank back into his seat thoughtfully. He had no idea what Malaya would be like and less still about terrorists communist or otherwise. He knew there was a war on. Not that it was called a war. The British called it an emergency. To others it was the forgotten war. Forgotten by everyone except those who had lost sons in the so-called emergency.
The train rattled onwards. Houses became far between until they were replaced by thick jungle dotted here and there with attap huts. The heat was oppressive. Fans whirred over head but did little to break up the stifling air. The train shuddered as the brakes were applied. It stopped at a small station. Men and boys surrounded the train offering food and drink from trays and trolleys. Some carried baskets on their heads with exotic fruits and sweetmeats.
"Have you got any cash?" Paul asked Chalky his mate.
"A bob that's all. You'll not get much with that".
"Give me it." Paul leaned out of the window and called to one of the boys. "How much are the drinks son?"
"Fifteen cents sahib".
"Give me one please".
The small Indian boy glanced suspiciously at the coin. "This not Malay money sahib."
"It's English money. Which is better", replied Paul, "Now give us the drink." The boy slipped the money into his pocket and passed over a bottle. A whistle blew. The train shuddered, took a deep breath and swayed and rumbled on its way. The jungle got thicker and greener with every passing mile. Stops became less frequent. The heat built up as midday approached and the men grumbled brushing off flies that drank their sweat. Their jungle greens were stained with patches of perspiration.
Paul his rifle slung over his shoulder passed along the train. Brown, black and yellow faces stared at him, some with interest, others with open hostility. He was halfway through his guard duty. God it was boring. He made his way towards the rear of the train where the captured CTs were held. He entered the last carriage. There was a cage housing the prisoners. They glared at him with contempt. Some rattled the bars of the cage as if to break through and get at him. They screamed and shouted abuse. Gobbits of split shot between the bars landing on his jacket. He jumped back shocked. Never had he seen such hate. Hands grabbed for him and he pulled back. He retreated to the quiet and safety of the corridor. He was shaking.
Paul made his way back along the corridor brushing passed several Indians squatting on their bundles. The men in the white dhoties and the women wearing beautiful coloured saris. He stopped in one carriage and sat down in a vacant seat. Opposite was a young Indian girl in a red sari. She was holding a red handbag and on her feet she wore matching red shoes. Paul studied her face. There was something strange about this girl. She smiled at him. He smiled back. Encouraged she reached out placing her hand gently on his. "You like Indian girls sahib?"
"You are not wrong. Especially ones as beautiful as you."
She smiled again gently pressing his hand. "You been Malaya long.time?"
"No. Just arrived. I hope everyone is as friendly as you."
"Handsome boy like you find girl easy. No problem."
Paul blushed. "Plenty of time for that I guess."
"When you have finished your chat lad I would like a word." Sergeant Brown stood a yard away glowering.
"Right sergeant."
Brown pointed to a vacant seat. "Sit there lad and listen. You lad are on guard duty you understand?"
"Yes sergeant."
"You are not playing at being soldiers. This is for real. You are on active service. Get it? Neglect of duty is a serious offence and can mean a court martial. Am I making myself clear?"
For the second time that day Paul felt himself turning red. He felt like a schoolboy caught smoking behind the bike sheds. "I just stopped to talk to the girl sergeant. I didn't think there was any harm in it."
"I see," Brown sighed. "The CTs use young girls as decoys to get info from lovesick kids like you. Also that young lady ain't no lady. She my son is a guy pretending to be a lady. So unless you are queer I saved you from further embarrassment."
Paul's face was burning. No wonder he had felt strange about the girl.
"Ok lad get back on guard and do the job properly. This time least said the better. But next time I will come down on you like a ton of bricks".
"Yes sergeant." Paul picked up his rifle and looking neither to left or right walked along the carriage.
Nursing a beer sergeant Brown sat thinking. We all have to learn he thought. Young kids fresh out from Blighty what did they know of soldiering. He sighed again and drank his beer.
"Kuala Lumpur next stop sahib," The conductor informed Brown.
"Thanks mate."
At KL a large group of soldiers left the train and went on their way by truck to join their new units. Sergeant Brown handed out meal chits to the nine who were left. "Okay you lot it is 8 o' clock the train departs at midnight. These chits entitled you to a meal at the NAAFI club, which is just opposite the station entrance. You are to be back here at 1145 sharp. Don’t be late. "And", he paused, "Don't be drunk". "Right, off you go". The squaddies made a wild dash for the station exit with loud whoops.
Sgt "Topper" Brown walked out of the exit of the station to be greeted by several trishaw wallahs. "Hello John. You want trishaw? Very cheap very good. Another joined in, "You want woman John?" Young girl. Very nice. Short time only five-dollar. Quick John I take now. Get in trishaw. Topper waved them away and hailed a taxi. He relaxed in the back of the taxi and drew a deep breath. Where you want to go John? Bar or you want woman?"
"Take me to the Tokyo bar."
The taxi accelerated narrowly missing one of the trishaws. The trishaw man sitting on his bicycle seat waved a fist and shouted an obscenity in Chinese. Bubbles of thought went through Topper's head. The truth was he did need a woman. He had been divorced for just over two years. His wife never could stick army life. Too much moving, too much hassle and not enough money. They had parted amicably and Topper carried on with the career he loved.
His thoughts were interrupted as the taxi drew to a halt outside the Tokyo bar. "How much"? He asked.
"Only five dollar John. Very cheap"
"Here take three and I'm still being robbed"
"No John not robbed very fair price".
"Take three or nothing"
The taxi driver grinned showing a mouthful of gold teeth, "Okay I take. You rob me tonight I catch next time."
Bet he sleeps with his head in a safe thought Topper smiling. He entered the bar pushing past a group of squaddies blocking the door. The lights within the bar were subdued; the music issuing from concealed speakers was slow and sensuous. Young men sat at plastic topped tables drinking glasses of tiger beer their faces alight as young girls draped themselves around the tables smiling and nodding to every word the men said.
"Hello sergeant, long time no see short time buckshee" The girl put her arms around Topper.
"Yeah I'll bet. Short time maybe. Buckshee some hope. Get me a beer Molly please".
"Ok. You take seat I bring plenty quick".
Topper sat at one of the empty tables and the beer appeared like magic.
"Where you been sergeant? I not see for long time".
"I've been posted Molly. I'm on my way up country. I'm passing through and my train leaves at midnight. So I have no time to waste".
Molly's hand slid along his thigh. "We not waste. I make you feel plenty good. So good you not want to leave eh?"
He felt an urgent need as her hand gently massaged his thigh. "How about right now?"
"You so horny already. Ok we go my room. I give you good time. But not buckshee," she giggled.
In her room Molly quickly undressed revealing a slim, small-breasted body. Her stomach was flat but wrinkled with stretch marks left by the baby she had had after her first sexual encounter with a soldier. The soldier had long gone unaware that he was a father. She loved the baby. He was now three years old and her mother looked after it while Molly did what was necessary to make money to keep him.
Topper lay on the bed. She was really beautiful he thought. Her long black hair way down her shoulders, light brown skin, small but firm breasts and legs you dream about. She was small and delicate and so gentle. She lay beside him gently caressing his body. He made love to her frantically releasing his frustrations as he pounded into her. He lay back and looked at the ceiling. Molly stroked his stomach. "You look sad. You not like?"
"I like. I was thinking of my wife."
"She not love you any more?"
"I don't know. I just don't know. If only," he stopped and sighed.
"I know. I felt same when boy leave me with baby. He say he love me more if we have jig a jig. We have jig a jig. He love me for few weeks then he leave. Now I have baby. Baby got no daddy. I so sad. But I love baby. He so beautiful my baby."
Topper stroked her long black hair. "Poor Molly".
"I not poor. You give me money I rich," she laughed.
They held each other close lost in thought. Slowly they made love again. This time there was less urgency. It was sensuous. Their loneliness and yearning for love seemed to flow together into a pool of passion. No longer was it a soldier with a prostitute. Their lovemaking took on a deeper meaning. A healing process. A bringing together of two people sharing the same thoughts, the same problems.
The soldiers settled into their seats as the train moved out of KL station. They travelled along at a sedate pace. The train swaying and rolling on the uneven track. Many of the soldiers were dozing off in their seats, heads nodding to the rhythm of the train's wheels. The train started to slow as the brakes were applied. Topper glanced out of the window looking at his watch it was 1.30 a.m. The train shuddered to a halt. Sergeant brown raised the window to get a better view. All was confusion. Whistles were blowing. Shards of light broke the darkness as powerful torches were brought to bear on the obstacle that was blocking the track. A large tree had been felled across the track. Topper felt for his weapon, cocked it and applied the safety catch.
"Okay you lot. On your feet! Move your bodies. Load your weapons with ten rounds. Now! "You Grant and White come with me. Corporal Dent take charge of this lot. Make sure they all have their safety catches on. We want no accidents. Stay here and wait for orders."
The corporal quickly checked the weapons of the young soldiers. Tired pale faces looked at him. "What's happening Corp?" Why have we stopped?"
"God knows. Be prepared for anything. Check all your weapons and sit quiet. Sgt Brown will soon let us know what's going on.
The door of the carriage opened and an officer entered. "What is going on Corporal"?
"I'm not sure Sir, replied Corporal Dent, "There's a tree across the line. The sergeant and a couple of men have gone to check it out. Could be an ambush sir."
"Make sure you keep these men on their toes corporal I'm going to join the sergeant." The officer left as quickly as he had arrived.
Major Johnson made his way forward to where Sergeant Brown and the two soldiers stood inspecting the tree. The driver and the footman were jabbering on and pointing to the tree. "They are wanting to know if our lads can shift it sir", Brown said.
"I don't see why not?" As the major spoke there was a flash of light from the jungle. Bullets pinged from the engine. Everyone dropped to the floor.
"Take cover behind the tree. Cock your weapons. Watch for the flash of the weapons before firing," said Brown. "I'm going to move forward to see if I can get a clear shot. He looked at the major for confirmation. The major nodded. Topper crawled under the tree got to his feet and started to zig zag across the uneven ground towards the CTs position. He had covered about a fifty yards when a burst of gunfire erupted from the foliage. He heard the bullets clipping the leaves and then incredible pain shook his body. He fell to the ground losing consciousness.
Paul and Chalky returned the fire aiming for the flashes of light. Jumping to his feet Paul ran towards where the sergeant lay. He dropped beside the inert body pumping a round into the chamber of his rifle. There was a movement within the trees. He got off two rounds. There was a scream and a figure dropped. He rapidly fired several more shots. Picking up Sergeant Brown he hoisted him on to his shoulders. More gunfire came from the trees. Half running, half walking, he made his way back to the train. Bullets painted an outline around the two figures. Paul waited for the bullet that would surely end it. His breathing came faster. He was bent double under the weight of the Sergeant. His legs were leaden. He was close to collapse drained by the heat and exertion. Somehow he made it to the train. He gently laid Brown's body beneath the shelter of the engine. He rolled the body over. A bullet had gone through the sergeant's shoulder and out the back. Blood was pouring out of the wound. Hastily Paul pressed his folded jungle hat over the injured shoulder to stem the blood.
The other soldiers had now joined the major and lay behind the tree rapidly returning fire. Gunfire from the terrorists tailed off and fell silent. "Everyone stay under cover and hold fire," ordered the major. There was silence. Insects whirred. Sweat ran down the pale faces of the soldiers. "Watch and shoot if you see any movement."
The major crossed to where Sergeant Brown lay. "How is he?" he asked Paul.
"The bullet went through his shoulder sir. He should be all right once we get him to hospital."
Brown groaned in pain as he came to. "I'm not too bad sir. Make sure the lads stay under cover. One wounded is enough." He passed out.
They waited in silence for an hour before the major decided it was safe to move the tree. The obstruction was quickly removed and everyone boarded the train. Sergeant Brown had been moved to the safety of the carriage and a wound dressing applied to his shoulder. He lay stretched between two seats uncomplaining.
The major sat on a seat opposite the wounded man, "I have signalled ahead to the next stop sergeant. An ambulance will meet us and take you to hospital once we arrive. How are you feeling?"
"I'll live Sir," Brown gritted his teeth as pain poured through his shoulder.
"Good man." The major turned to Paul. "That was a very brave action young man. I shall want your details for my report".
The sergeant held out his hand. "Thanks son. I won't forget what you did."
Paul felt the strength within the hand. "I hope you will be all right sergeant."
"Don't worry son. I'll be right as rain in a few weeks. Oh and watch out for those young girls eh". Topper winked.
The rest of the journey passed without event. They waited while Sergeant Brown was whisked of to the military hospital by ambulance before continuing their journey. Paul and Chalky were dropped of at Alor Star in Kedah. Outside the station stood a 3 tonner. "This way lads. Next stop Nami camp." A large ginger haired Scotsman greeted them.
. .
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