Darkest Hour

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.'

'I'm sorry, Lieutenant,' said Barclay, 'but he's being handed over to the police and that's all there is to it. Whatever his merits as a soldier, we cannot have rapists among our number.'

'That's bollocks, sir, and you know it. Throughout its history, the British Army has been littered with thieves, murderers and ne'er-do-wells.' He glared pointedly at

Blackstone. 'And, as I've said, I don't believe this baloney for one minute. Let me have him back today, and if we all come through unscathed, I'll prove his innocence afterwards.'

'He's a rapist, sir,' said Blackstone. 'You have a moral obligation to hand him over to the authorities and deal with this in the proper manner.'

'I want Tanner with me today,' said Peploe. 'And, what's more, if you insist on continuing with this farce, sir,' he said directly to his commanding officer, 'I will be left with no choice but to resign my commission immediately.'

Barclay was appalled. 'You can't do that!'

'I can, sir, and I will. I don't want to be part of a regiment that treats its men so monstrously, or to serve under a man who is prepared to believe the word of a young girl about whom we know nothing over a soldier who has repeatedly proven himself courageous, dependable and utterly loyal, a man who has already been decorated for valour in the face of the enemy and whose experience will be an invaluable asset today. I was a farmer before the war, sir. I had no need to join up, but I did so because I believe we have a moral duty to fight and defeat Nazism. I certainly did not join to find myself fighting my biggest battles with those on my own side. Now, I don't wish to add another false allegation, but let me say this: I believe there are certain elements within this company who are far bigger trouble-makers than Tanner will ever be. This nonsense has the ring of a personal vendetta about it, one that needs to be stamped on hard.' He looked straight at Blackstone.

Barclay followed his gaze. 'What the devil are you saying, man?'

'Quite enough. As I say, I prefer hard facts before I make any accusation.'

Barclay bit his lip and knotted his hands. 'Rape's a serious allegation, though. I've got to be seen to do the right thing.'

'In that case, sir, I resign.' He began to unbutton his webbing.

'Sir, you can't just ignore a charge like this,' insisted Blackstone.

Barclay groaned and stood up. 'All right, Peploe!' he exclaimed. 'I'll release him. For now.'

'And I want him to have his stripes back, sir. In Britain, a man is innocent until proven guilty. So far, Tanner's guilt has not been established.'