The Narrow Road to the Deep North

When Kota demanded a head count at the line, nine men were missing. Eight men had appeared by the second count, a half hour later. Back at camp, he ordered that the ninth missing prisoner receive punishment before the POWs. The Goanna does not like the order: The narrative reveals that he has done business with Darky and has sometimes helped him in his thievery.

When the Goanna grows tired of beating Darky, two other guards take over. The men who are forced to watch try to think of their favorite memories. After 10 minutes, the Goanna forces them all to step six paces closer. Now there is no way for them to ignore the beating. Darky begs them for help: “The prisoners were starving, and increasingly their thoughts were of the evening meal” (254). They cannot eat until the beating is over. More men arrive from the Line and soon there are over 300 of them watching the beating.

Dorrigo runs towards them, commanding the beating to stop. A guard pushes him into the front line then ignores him.