Caine Mutiny, The - Herman Wouk [230]
“Lieutenant Keefer, were you aboard the Caine throughout the period when Captain Queeg was in command?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever observe evidence of insanity in him?”
Keefer hesitated, wetted his lips, and looked toward Maryk, who was gnawing a knuckle and staring out of the window at the sunlit trees. “I don’t-I can’t answer that question intelligently, not being a psychiatrist.”
Challee said sternly, “Mr. Keefer, if you saw a man rolling on the deck and foaming at the mouth, or rushing up and down passageways screaming that a tiger was after him, would you venture to say that that man was temporarily deranged?”
“I would.”
“Did Commander Queeg ever exhibit such behavior?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
“Did you ever think he might be insane?”
“Objection,” said Greenwald, rising. “Witness isn’t an expert. Matters of opinion are not admissible evidence.”
“Question is withdrawn,” said Challee with a slight smile, and Blakely ordered it stricken from the record.
When Greenwald sat, Maryk slid the pad under his eyes, with a crimson scrawl all over the pigs: Why, why, WHY?? Greenwald printed rapidly on a fresh sheet, Implicating Keefer harms you. Two disgruntled bastards instead of one heroic exec. Take an even strain.
“Mr. Keefer,” said the judge advocate, “at any time prior to 18 December were you informed that Maryk suspected Queeg of being mentally ill?”
“Yes.”
“Describe how you learned this fact.”
“At Ulithi, about two weeks before the typhoon, Maryk showed me a medical log he’d kept on Queeg’s behavior. He asked me to come with him to the New Jersey to report the situation to Admiral Halsey.”
“What was your reaction to the medical log?”
“I was dumfounded to learn that Maryk had kept it.”
“Did you consent to go with him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?„
“Well, I was stunned. And I-that is, he was my superior officer and also my close friend. I didn’t consider refusing.”
“Did you believe that the log justified the relief of Queeg?”
“No. When we arrived aboard the New Jersey, I told him as forcibly as I could that in my opinion the log would not justify the action, and that both of us would be liable to a charge of combining to make a mutiny.”
“What was his response?”
“He followed my advice. We returned to the Caine and no further reference was made by either of us to the log or to Queeg’s mental condition.”
“Did you inform the captain of Maryk’s log?”
“I did not.”
“Why not?”
“It would have been disloyal and contrary to the best interests of the ship to stir up my captain against my executive officer. Maryk had evidently abandoned his intention to pursue the matter. I considered the matter closed.”
“Were you surprised, two weeks later, when he relieved the captain?”
“I was flabbergasted.”
“Were you pleased, Mr. Keefer?”
Keefer squirmed in his chair, peered at the fierce face of Blakely, and said, “I’ve said that Maryk was my close friend. I was badly disturbed. I anticipated that at best he would be involved in grave difficulties, and I thought all of us might also be. I thought it was a terrible situation. I was very far from pleased.”
“No further questions.” Challee nodded at Greenwald.
The defense counsel rose. “No questions.” All seven members of the court turned to look at Greenwald. Blakely, his eyebrows at maximum altitude, said, “Does the defense intend to recall the witness at a later time?”
“No, sir.”
“No cross-examination?”
“No, sir.”
“Court stenographer will affirmatively note,” said Blakely, “that the accused did not desire to cross-examine Lieutenant Keefer. The court will question the witness. ... Mr. Keefer, the court desires that you describe any factual occurrences you observed which might have led a prudent and experienced officer to conclude that Captain Queeg might be mentally ill.”
“Sir, as I’ve said, I’m not a psychiatrist.”