'Er, sir,' said Sykes, 'it's Sergeant Tanner, sir.'
'What about him?' said Peploe, anxiety clouding his face. 'What's happened?'
Sykes explained. 'I thought maybe you could check with the OC what's going on,' he added.
'Absolutely, Corporal,' said Peploe, clapping his damaged tin hat back on his head. 'Come with me. We'll see him right away.'
It was a grim-faced Captain Barclay who informed them that Tanner was under arrest on a charge of rape.
'What absolute rubbish!' said Peploe. 'What proof have you got? I've never heard such poppycock in all my life.'
'Lieutenant!' said Captain Barclay. 'I will not have you speak to me like that. Why on earth would the girl make it up? She's clearly distressed, she has identified Tanner quite specifically and, apart from anything else, we can't have our troops raping and pillaging our allies. I'm merely observing the proper procedures.'
Peploe snorted derisively. 'Let me see him, sir. He's my platoon sergeant. I demand to be allowed to speak to him.'
'I'm not sure that's advisable, sir,' began Blackstone, but Barclay cut him off.
'Yes, all right, Peploe. Blackstone, take Lieutenant Peploe to see Tanner.'
Tanner was sitting on a stool in the scullery at the back of the house. He stood up as Peploe and Sykes entered. 'It's not true, sir. I don't know that girl at all. I've been put on the peg for nothing.'
'I believe you, Tanner, don't worry,' said Peploe. Then, seeing his sleeves, he asked, 'What's happened to your stripes?'
'I've been demoted, sir.'
'But that's monstrous!'
'Sir, Blackstone's behind this. He set me up last night - as much as admitted it - and I'm sure he's paid that girl to make the charge. But it's rubbish, a lie - he wants me out of the way.'
'But why, Tanner? What has he got against you?'
'I won't dance to his tune, sir. He likes being in control. He thinks he runs this company, not the OC, and I reckon that, for the most part, he's right. The OC's putty in his hands. The CSM thinks I undermine his authority and his influence on the others. And he's a coward, sir. He always was and he always will be. He'll want to hold back today, sir, keep a low profile, and avoid too much fighting. I reckon he's worried I'll show him up.'
Peploe was thoughtful for a while. 'Let me talk to the girl, and I'll speak with Captain Barclay again. I mean, for God's sake, when were you supposed to have done this?'
'When I went to look for Captain Barclay last night. Apparently I jumped on her and the three Frenchmen who jumped on me had seen me do it.'
'And who are they?'
Tanner shrugged. 'They were wearing civvies but I never saw their faces.'
'And 'ave you asked whether the OC did want to see you, Sarge?' asked Sykes.
'No - I hadn't thought of that,' Tanner admitted. 'Christ,' he added, running his hands through his dark hair.
It seemed that Captain Barclay had asked to see Tanner the previous evening, but in the house, not the bar. Tanner had never shown up, he told Peploe, another reason why he was inclined to believe the accusation. Blackstone had passed the message to Slater, Slater had passed it to Private Hepworth. Slater told Peploe that he had been quite specific to Hepworth that the OC wanted to see Tanner at Company Headquarters.
'Has Hepworth verified this?' asked Peploe.
'We haven't spoken to him yet,' said Barclay.
'There's no real need to, sir,' added Blackstone. 'Slater knows what he told him. Why would Hepworth tell Tanner any different?'
Peploe eyed Blackstone for a moment, then said, 'And where's the girl? This Mademoiselle Lafoy? I'd like to speak to her.'
Suddenly Barclay seemed flustered. 'Actually,' he said, 'I don't know. She was a refugee. But she made the charge and I acted on it. We took a statement from her and she left.'
'How can you charge Tanner without the key witness?' asked Peploe, his exasperation evident.
Barclay looked at his watch. 'Look, Peploe, we've got to form up shortly. This will have to wait until later.'
'Sir,' said Peploe, 'you cannot detain Tanner on the basis of a statement from an unknown and, frankly, emotionally suspect witness who has since disappeared.'
'Tanner has been placed under arrest, sir,' said Blackstone, 'and the MPs will be here at any moment. The captain is merely following correct military legal procedure in such cases.'
'And I suppose you had nothing to do with any of this, CSM?'
'Me, sir?' said Blackstone. 'No, sir. What makes you think that? Has Tanner been trying to pass the blame on to me?' He shook his head. 'He's unbelievable, that man. And to think I saved his life last night. I wouldn't have bothered if I'd known what he'd done. He's a disgrace to the regiment.'
'Well, I don't believe a word of it,' said Peploe. 'He's my best soldier and I want him in my platoon when we go into battle today.'
