At Some Disputed Barricade_ A Novel - Anne Perry [136]
Colonel Hook sent for Joseph. It was late. As August moved into September, the nights were drawing in. Summer was fading.
“The court-martial is going ahead,” Hook said gravely. “The preliminaries are tomorrow, the real stuff the day after.”
Joseph had expected it. It was unrealistic to hope for anything different. All the arguments and pleas had been made and rejected. The desperate state of the battle had been argued, as had the morale of the army, the possible effect of such a trial and the verdict on the entire Western Front, and therefore on the war as a whole.
“Rubbish!” Faulkner had dismissed it. “We are winning the battle of Passchendaele,” he had insisted. “The discipline of the entire army depends upon never, in any circumstances, being seen to allow mutiny and murder. If disgruntled men who think they know better than their officers can take the law into their own hands and commit murder and get away with it, then no officer will be safe from now on. It is impossible that you can be so stupid as not to see that. If we do not serve justice both when we wish to, and when we do not, then we serve nothing. The essence of justice is that personal feelings do not enter into it. Either it is impartial, or it is meaningless.”
Alone with Hook, he was at a loss to know why he had called him to tell him no more than they already knew.
The briefest of smiles touched Hook’s face. “I know you are already aware of that, Reavley. What you don’t know is that it has been requested from London that you represent the accused men.”
“Of course I shall be there,” Joseph said quickly. “But it would be far better if their defense did not call me. Much of what I know I cannot testify to. Let Morel tell them about finding Geddes and bringing him back, and anything he said about Northrup and his father. He knows it all as well as I do.”
Hook pushed his hand through his hair. “I have no intention of letting you testify, Reavley. I know perfectly well that you know who helped them escape. I have a damn good idea myself. I am not calling you as a witness. You are to defend them.”
“What?” Joseph was horrified.
“You are to defend them,” Hook repeated.
“Me? I have no experience—and no natural ability,” Joseph protested. “I don’t know the first thing about military law. They need an expert. In fact they need the best there is.”
“No,” Hook said wearily. “They need a man who believes in them, and doesn’t know when to give up. They need a man who knows what it is to fight, and what our losses have been.” The briefest flicker of amusement touched his eyes. “I would also prefer it if you were not called to testify. I’m sure you’d lie in your teeth rather than implicate…whoever it was who helped them escape.” His gaze did not waver. “Even if it was a civilian, such as the V.A.D., for example, and not subject to military law, only ordinary imprisonment. They were not worried about betrayal of anyone. Morel in particular thought you would lie, possibly hating doing it, but lie nevertheless.”
“I must remember to thank him,” Joseph said drily. “That doesn’t alter the fact that I have no experience. Faulkner would make mincemeat of me.”
“I don’t think so,” Hook told him. “But regardless of that, it is you they have chosen, and I agree with them. And London is satisfied.”
“That’s hardly enough!” Joseph exclaimed, desperation rising inside him, and a hard, stomach-twisting fear. He would fail! He would let them all down!
Hook did not flinch. “They’re facing the firing squad, Reavley. They’ve a right to ask for whomever they wish. I’m assigning you, so you’d better go and prepare. You’ve got tonight and probably most of tomorrow. You’ve seen courts-martial before. You know the drill. There’ll be people there to keep you straight on the law. If you’re still on speaking terms with God, you’d better ask Him for a little help.