The Negotiator

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Back in the office Harriet and I sat facing each other in armchairs. Harriet looked abashed ‘I suppose that little blabbermouth told you everything?’ she said her face as pink as a freshly spanked arse. ‘I didn’t want anyone to know about my title because I didn’t want to be treated differently. I wanted to succeed on my own merit, Jack. Who my father was, and my family name can be a burden as well as a blessing. As for the s*x thing, it was just a phase we went through, that’s all. Lots of young women at university experiment with sex.’

I knew she and Sam had slept together the night before Harriet had flown home. There was no point embarrassing the poor woman by telling her I knew.

Homosexuality was punishable by immediate discharge for women in the ranks. Officers would be required to resign their commissions immediately without fuss or fanfare. I thought this unjust. Homosexuality had been legal in the civilian community since the sixties. Why should soldiers be treated differently? I always thought it unfair. I didn’t give a toss what consenting adults did in private, it was none of my business and none of the Army’s business either. As long as they performed their duties, they could bugger baboons with beer bottles for all I cared, as long as I didn’t have to watch.

‘Harriet’ I said, your secret is safe with me. I would never reveal it to anyone.’

‘Not even to get back on operations?’ She asked.

I’d been champing at the bit to get back into the field since the bandages came off the skin grafts on my feet. Harriet had deemed me unfit and I was confined to the office, carpet slippers on my feet, doing analysis work.

I tried to reassure her ‘I have the greatest respect for you Harriet’ I told her ‘you’re the best boss I’ve ever had. You are bright, perceptive and professional, yet you have no problem listening to those under you and valuing their opinions. That’s a scarce quality in the army, too many egos can’t take it.’

She looked relieved. ‘Thank you, Jack’ she whispered, ‘you don’t know how much that means to me.’ There was a tear in the corner of her eye.

The Brigadier sent for Harriet and me, he seemed very pleased indeed and waved us into chairs. ‘I don’t know how you did it Sergeant Major, but the hospital fees I paid were returned to me and I believe Major Balance got hers, too? Harriet nodded her acknowledgement grinning.

I smiled at him, ‘I negotiated a discount with the hospital on our behalf sir, the kind gentlemen in Whitehall paid the rest. They both threw their heads back and laughed.

Then he changed the subject. He talked about an award. He’d had in mind to put me forward for the George Cross. It could be done in secret he said like they do for the SAS. I was moved by his generosity and told him so, but the medal would be a burden to me. I could never wear it anyway nor tell anyone I had it without compromising my job and possibly, by association, my colleagues too.

He pressed me on the matter ‘No sir’ I told him, it may have been the presence of Harriet sitting so close to me, her subtle perfume tantalising my senses but I felt quite emotional. I told him how I really felt. I don’t reveal my feeling very often, but I felt it needed saying.

‘It’s the lads, sir’ I said ‘the ordinary soldiers, who go out on the streets day after day, week after week not able to recognise the enemy because they wear no uniform. Those young blokes from the Council estates like Wythenshawe in Manchester or Bestwood in Nottingham. The lads from Toxteth in Liverpool, the Glaswegians and hundreds of places like those. Those young lads, some barely eighteen, who patrol the streets day after relentless day being spat upon, shot at, having petrol bombs and nail bombs thrown at them. Those blokes who have to carry a yellow card with them with strict rules about when they can retaliate. Some of them have held fire when they should have shot and paid the price for doing so. The lads that are being killed and wounded on the streets of British towns and cities. They are the real heroes, sir. They who have done multiple tours and carry on every day uncomplaining simply doing what they see as their job, trying to keep the peace. They are the ones who deserve the medals, sir.’

The Brigadier looked down at his desk I could tell he was moved ‘Very well Sergeant Major, I can’t force an award on you of course if you feel that strongly it shall be you wish.’

We left shortly afterwards, and Harriet was silent for a long time as she drove us back. Finally, she spoke ‘that was quite a speech Jack, I never knew you were so passionate, or so eloquent.’ Then she smiled. ‘I’ll get you back to operations as soon as I think you are ready, OK.’