Winter at the Barracks was bitterly cold, the icy breeze off the ocean and wild gnashes of strong winds sent down from the mountains slashed through everyone’s bones. The only relief they found other than under their blankets in bed was in the Rec. room from the constant warmth of the ever-glowing fireplace.
The kitchen in the function room generated enough warmth to keep them happy while they ate. One day at lunch there was a squealing commotion generating from the back of the kitchen. Everyone immediately stopped eating, looked up and toward the direction of the sound.
“Whatever is making such a racket?” Peggy questioned no one in particular.
Reacting on natural instinct, everyone stood up to investigate. One step into the kitchen and they were all presented with a crazy scene of catch; Chef was trying her utmost to catch two young pigs very silently. “Come here. Please don’t squeal everyone will hear you.” Chef begged. Now Chef was a large framed woman, short, gray-haired with brown eyes and rosy cheeks; most presumed they were rosy from the heat given off in the kitchen. Chef was also extremely unfit and smoked way too much, and this resulted in a heaving action whenever she had to exert herself. Chef was exerting herself in this instance, she sweated and heaved profusely. The pigs; young, afraid and very fast scurried between the tables, chairs, and shelves. The scene everyone that entered the kitchen now witnessed brought about a roar of laughter, what everyone forgot to ask was. “Since when were there pigs at Silversands?”
Cecil with his long, lanky legs chased one pig into a corner, and overweight Frank chased the other pig to the opposite corner. Now the men stood in front of their cornered pigs debating as to how they would capture them; it was a stand-off. Chef leaned against a table on both elbows wheezing and unable to offer any advice or instruction.
Harvey at that moment walked in the kitchen wondering what all the fuss and commotion was. His perfect brows creased quizzically summing up the situation. His wide laughing smile wrinkled his China-blue eyes, and the ladies forgot to watch the pigs but gazed on him instead. “A little help here,” Frank shouted, and the ladies reluctantly returned their attention to the pigs.
Cpt. Vogel and Lt. Mrs. Simpson also joined the kitchen circus. Everyone stood to attention and saluted.
“No time for that now.” Cpt. Vogel said advancing into the kitchen.
Cpt. Vogel, Harvey, Burt, and Jan rallied up behind Cecil and Frank equally, Harvey and Jan managed to catch the pig that Cecil had cornered. But holding onto the pig was a different story as it squealed, kicked and wrestled in Harvey’s arms and then decided to pee on him just for good measure. Chef, as quickly as she was able ushered Harvey and the pig to the pig pen, securing the lock tightly and hurrying back hoping the second pig had been captured. To her dismay, the pig had eluded Cpt. Vogel, Frank and Burt and played an intriguing game of hide and seek with the men. Harvey and Jan joined in, and with such odds against the poor pig, he indeed was caught in a corner. Chef scolded the pig all the way to the pen.
While the ladies got their breath back from their hysterical laughter the men retreated to wash their faces and hands in the bathrooms; Harvey went to take a shower in his room.
When all had calmed down, Chef was summoned to Lt. Mrs. Simpson’s office and had to please explain as to why and how two pigs were suddenly residents at the Silversands Barracks.
Chef returned to the function room looking very sullen and guilty. The verdict of the lecture she received from Lt. Mrs. Simpson was that the pigs were allowed to stay, provided of course a repeat performance of today was not tolerated. And they were not to be eaten under any circumstances at which the men moaned. The third criteria of the pig’s fate were that their upkeep had to come out of Chef’s rations and anyone else willing to help; everyone naturally offered.
***
Later that afternoon Burt offered a tour of the Hangklip Radar Station to the ladies. Peggy, Audrey, Dorothy, and Maisy jumped at the idea. They were only on duty again the following day, and so sleep was not at this time a priority.
They all changed into their sweat pants, sweaters, scarves, trainers and woolen hats to hold off as much as the cold wind as possible.
They reached the start to the steep uphill of six hundred meters to the Hangklip Radar Station without much conversation. The brittle wind kept their heads low and their chins tucked into their chests with their arms folded around their bodies. The ladies walked closely together, and Frank had the decency to hold back his witty comments at Audrey, even if it was with great difficulty.
The men by far used to this walk by now knew where to step to make the climb as easy as possible. The ladies at times climbed like monkeys on all fours pulling themselves up the hill. They came to a section where they were required to step or make a small jump from one boulder to another. Burt the first to make the step offered his hand to help the ladies make the jump. For Peggy, Audrey, and Dorothy it was easy enough but not for poor Maisy; Burt had to practically pull her onto the higher boulder. Maisy was awfully embarrassed and while Peggy consoled her Burt put his arms around both ladies convincing them that the rest of the way was not that bad. Now that Burt had left with Peggy and Maisy, Carolyn insisted the Harvey help her make the jump. Carolyn’s legs went up to her armpits, and that little jump was a normal stride in her walk, but Harvey was too much of a gentleman to point out the obvious. Harvey groaned looking up at Burt and Carolyn linked her arm into his crooked elbow as if she needed assistance.
They finally reached the Hangklip Radar Station. It was situated high up against the mountain and hence a great degree colder than Silversands. The wind howled through the brushes of Fynbos and swirled in the corners of the buildings. The ladies were in a great hurry to enter the Tech-hut and get out of the miserable elements outside.
Lieutenants Herbert, Walter, and Claude got the fright of their lives when the door flung open, and a bunch of women entered. It had to be the first time women had ever been in the Hangklip Radar Station.
The Tech-hut was small and very hot with the tiny fire constantly alight. One or two dim lights reflected the haze of cigarette smoke that filtered the air in the room. Ashtrays overflowed with dead ash and cigarette butts, killing any hope of a fine fresh air smell.
“I need to use the bathroom. Where is it?” Audrey requested no-one in particular.
“The bathroom is an outhouse about fifty meters that way,” Claude said emphasizing the word outhouse and pointing to the north end of the building.
Audrey groaned at the fact that she had to go out in the cold again when Frank offered “I will hold your hand and stand guard at the door if you’d prefer.”
“I’d prefer not, thank you.” Audrey huffed and bit back the razor sharp slice of cold air that wanted to take her breath away the minute she left the room.
Peggy chuckled quietly but not realizing that Harvey was standing close behind her and heard her. “They have a real tug-of-war friendship,” Harvey said softly to the back of Peggy’s head.
Peggy turned her head to face Harvey smiled and nodded. His China-blue eyes bore into her, and Peggy was unable to tear away from them until Carolyn interfered. Peggy immediately flustered turned her attention back to the Tech-hut.
There was not much to do or to learn from the Hangklip Radar Station that they did not already know; except how to get it stinking of stale smoke, so they left after only visiting for an hour. The ladies were slightly disappointed, for all the effort it took to get there the reward was no greater than a last silly place.
The way down the six hundred meter hill was trickier than going up. Their bodies were inclined to slide down rather than walk. Harvey led the way and after it became evident that the women were going to incur an injury of some sort Harvey offered Peggy, who happened to be behind him, to hold onto his shoulder as a form of reassurance.
Peggy was about to decline when Carolyn uttered her gratitude, making her way between everyone to get to him. Peggy instantly put her hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, Harvey; this is very thoughtful of you.” Peggy’s hand rested on Harvey’s solid shoulder and his upper arm muscles. The touch sent Peggy’s mind reeling as it tingled with pleasure.
Each lady found a male shoulder except poor Frank, who was caught up in the rear alone.