At Some Disputed Barricade_ A Novel - Anne Perry [143]
“Corporal Teague, one of the reasons we fight this war is because we believe in the rule of law, not of barbarism. We appreciate that you have been tested to the extreme by seeing the deaths of your comrades, some of them perhaps unnecessary deaths, but you will apologize to the court for your disrespect, and then answer Captain Reavley’s questions, should he have any for you.”
Teague controlled himself with an effort. “Sorry, sir.” His voice was strangled. He turned attentively to Joseph, his expression changing to one of utmost respect.
Joseph stood up, an overwhelming sense of belonging surging through him, and a passionate will to succeed.
The tension in the room was teetering, willing Joseph to defeat Faulkner, but the law was even more tightly around the accused men now than before Teague had spoken. But Joseph’s mind was racing with fear for Judith. Did everyone know it was she who had rescued the prisoners, just as surely as they all knew Northrup was a fool?
They would not execute Judith, but they’d send her to prison. Even after all she had done here, the years of hardship and danger, pushing herself to exhaustion, living in hunger and filth. Would prison finally destroy her? Would bitterness at the injustice of it break her spirit?
“Corporal Teague,” he began. What could he ask this man who so fiercely wanted to help?
“Yes, sir.” Teague stood smartly to attention.
“You guarded these men during their imprisonment?”
“Yes, sir.” There was disappointment in Teague’s face. He had been hoping for something brilliant.
An idea flashed in Joseph’s mind, partial, a hope only. “Did you hear them talking to one another at all?”
Teague hesitated. “Yes, sir.” His eyes were wide, tentative. He wanted to be led.
It must be done with exquisite care. Joseph breathed in and out slowly, steadying himself. “Were they always aware of you overhearing them?”
“Er…no, sir.”
Good. He dared not smile, not give the slightest encouragement. “Did you ever hear them say that they had intended to kill Major Northrup?”
“No, sir.” The disappointment was back again in Teague’s face, deeper.
Faulkner gave an exaggerated sigh of exasperation.
The silence prickled in the room.
Joseph plunged on. “Did you ever hear them say that they had wished he would listen to advice from men who were familiar with the battlefield? With horses, for example? Or the peculiar nature of the clay mud here?” Faulkner objected, but Joseph ignored him. “Or when it was more dangerous,” he said clearly, “or less, to go over into no-man’s-land to try to recover wounded or dead? Or even the lie of poison gas. Or sniper fire, visibility, any of the things the rest of us have learned by experience over the years.”
Teague was following him now. “Yes, sir,” he said cautiously. “Yes, I did hear them say as it would’ve been better if he would’ve listened, but no one could make him. ’E were dead stubborn….” He blushed. “Sorry, sir. But ’e were a very proud, unbending sort of man. The ignorant ones often are.”
There were several gasps in the room, followed by a moment’s silence.
“Why did they want him to take advice, Corporal?” Joseph needed him to nail it home.
Teague blinked. “’Cos we were getting hurt bad, or killed,” he said with incomprehension at Joseph’s stupidity. “No man sees his mates getting killed for nothing an’ stands by with his fingers up his arse…sir.”
“You mean the army is built on loyalty to the men beside you, whose lives depend upon you and yours upon them, even more than upon obedience to discipline?” Joseph made it doubly clear.
“Yes, sir, I do mean that,” Teague agreed. “Being obedient isn’t enough. When you’re out there with Jerry firing everything he’s got at you, you got to be right as well.”
“Yes,” Joseph agreed. “Yes, I know. I’ve carried the bodies home.”
“Yes, sir. I know you have. And a lot o’ the ones still alive.”
Joseph thanked Teague and resumed his seat at the defense table.
Faulkner knew well enough to remain silent. His face was pale, the freckles standing out.
Hardesty asked Teague again if