Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-07
The Game Mutiny
By Herman Wouk

| ''No." Bird was losing his self
possessed look.
How long have you been il
the Navy?"
Five month-no. six, I guess
] now"
| Have you had any dealings
with ships captains before this
case?"
NO"
''On what do you base your esti-
mate OF the stresses of com
mand?"
We'll, my general Knowledge
do you think command re-
quires a highly gifted, exceptional
person."
We'll, no"
1T doesnt?"
Not highly gifted, no. AIDE
quate responses, fairly good in
telllgence. and sufficient training
and experience, but"
rs that enough equipment for,
say, skilled psychiatrist?"
We'll; not exactly-that is, it's
a different field"
In other words, it takes more
ability to be a psychiatrist than
the captain of a naval vessel?"
The lawyer looked toward Blakely
1t takeS-that is, different
abilities are required. You're max
ing the invidious comparison, not
H.
Doctor, you have admitted
Comdr. Queeg is sick. The only
remaining question is, how sick.
You don't think he's sick enough
to be disabled for command. I
suggest that since evidently YOU
don't know much about the re-
qulrements of command you may
be wrong in your conclusion"
I repudiate your suggestion. E"
Bird looked like an insulted boy
His voice quivered. you've de-
liberately substituted the word
sick. which is loose, a polarized
word, for the correct"
Pardon me, what kind of
word?"
"Polarized-loaded, invidious-I
never said sick. My grasp of the
requirements of command is ade-
quate or I would have disquaIi-
fled myself from serving on the
board"
! Maybe you should have"
Challee Objects.
Challee shouted, The witness is
being badgered."
Il withdraw my last statement,
NO mole questions. GreenWald
STROBE to his seat.
Its 3 O'clock" said Blakely
rs the defense ready to present
its case?"
Il have only two witnesses, sir, 4"
said Greenwald. 1.-The first is the
accused.
Maryk told the story of the
morning of December ID. 1t was
a repetition of Willie Keith's ver-
sion. Greenwald said, Now. Lieu
tenant. After the typhoon was
over. did Capt. Queeg make any
effort to regain commando"
Yes, on the morning Of the
10Th. We'd just sighted the feet
and were joining up to return to
Ulithi."
Described what happened"
well. was in the charthouse
writing up despatch to report
the relief. The captain came in
and looked over my shoulder. He
said DO you mind coming to nv
cabin and having a talk before
you send that?' said I didn't
mind. I went below and we
talked. 1t was the same thing
again at first, about how I'd be
tried for mutiny. He said You've
applied for transfer to the regu-
~S~A ANAFS' 4OO hllOW ILLS means
the end of all that, don't you?'
Then he went into long thing
about how he loved the Nayv
and had no other interest in life,
and even if he was cleared this
would ruin his record. I said I
felt sorry for him, and I really
did And he pointed out that he
was bound to get relieved in a
few weeks anyway, so I wasn't ac-
comprising anything. Finally he
came out with his proposal. He
said he'd forget the whole thing
and meyer report me. He would re-
sumo command. and the whole
matter would be forgotten and
written of-just an incident of
bad nerves during the typhoon "
What did you say to the pro-
posal?"
We'll. I was amazed. I said
l'Captain. the whole shin knous