Written when Bruce was 72, this is a novelization of a screenplay by Robert Enders based on the successful play by Barry England. 'Novella-ization' would be a better word, in fact, since even in large print the book is only 146 pages long. It tells the story, at second-hand, of young Arthur Drake's induction into the crack Indian cavalry regiment Terry's Horse, and what he finds there. Schoolboy games, meaningless traditions and - when his friend and fellow-inductee Chris Millington is accused of rape - a culture of closed ranks and scapegoating to preserve the 'honour of the regiment'. Arthur's nephew, hearing the story years later, finds it hard to believe, and for a modern reader, without the benefit of the climactic scenes in the play or film, the story comes over as a daft fantasy. Bruce's flat narration does nothing to convince.
There is a trial of sorts in the book, but the investigation is glossed over and the denouement is frankly unbelievable. Arthur's decision to leave the regiment is no tragedy, but downright common sense.
Anal rape, colonial misdemeanours and men behaving badly may have gripped a reader's interest thirty years ago, but today, delivered with Bruce's lack of commitment, the events seem very remote. Not a good exit for a writer who could do much better.
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