Evening star., 1952-10-02
The Coine Mutiny
By Herman Wouk

ground. He misapplied Article
184 to commit mutinous act, but
the articles there in the books.
The toughest charge that could
possibly stick would be conduct to
the prejudice Of good order or
discipline-as I say. though, its
none Of my affair"
Don't forget you're reading the
board of Investigations recon-
mendations. Greenwald. not the
formal charge. I'm drawing up
the formal charge, and as a mat
ter Of fact it is conduct to pre-
judice." He pressed a buzzer. and
lit a cigar with gestures Of short
temper. Lieutenant Commander
Challee came to the doorway.
eyes. sir? Hello, Barney"
"Challee. your friend here seems
to think the case is too easy or
something. He can lick you with
one hand tied behind him. only
he doesn't want to, or words to
that effect"
Captain Breakstone. I'm sorry
I ever got involved" said Green
wald Il just dom, want to de-
fend these Caine people. Captain
Queeg obviously is not crazy. The
psychiatrist's report proves it.
These fools find a paragraph in
Navy RegS that gives them ideas,
and they gang up on skipper
who's mean and stupid-as q lot
of shippers are-and make jack
asses Of themselves, and put q
ship out Of action. I'm a damn
good lawyer and a very expensive
one, and I don't see contributing
my services to get them acquitted.
II you've"
"You're pretty damn cocksure
about getting an acquittal." said
Breakstone. chewing his cigar.
They can be gotten off"
Questioned or. PRINCIPLES.
Lieutenant Greenwald, nobody
can compel you to defend these
BIRDS" said the legal officer. But
you seem to be pretty red. hot on
principles, to hear you talk.
trust you believe in the principle
that the worst criminal is entitled
to the best defense?"
Greenwald looked down at his
fingernails, his boyish mouth
loosely open, his eyes sad. "Are
you going to try all three?" he
asked.
"Maryk first. "WeIl hold OIL
on the Keith and Stilwell cases
till we see what happens. That's
what I'm recommending to the
admiral. anyway. He generally
does what I say"
when will the court martial
start?"
Breakstone looked to his assist
ant. who said. Il think we can get
1t on in two weeks, sir, if Captain
Blakely's available to preside. He
said he'd let me know this after
noon."
When Greenwald went out. his
big hands swinging, Challee said,
He'll take the case. SIR"
Queer buzzard," said the legal
oficer. Looks so futile and apol-
ogetic, but he has q damn high
opinion Of himself"
"He's a good lawyer" said the
assistant. But he won't get Maryk
on"
Willie Keith was on his way to
New York In q plane. He had
asked for leave for only one rea-
son. He was going home to break
with May. 1t was a miserable
errand on which he was embarked.
He could hardly bear to think
about it. In the end he drew the
curtains. pushed back his chair,
closed his eyes, and lost himself
in sickly revolving thoughts Of the
Caine.
In the privacy Of his dark bunk,
Willie had whispered to himself,
the Caine mutiny. the Caine mu-
tiny" savoring the ring Of the
phrase. He had anticipated con-
fronting an array of admirals
across a green-covered table, JUS
tifying his act with quiet poise,
with irrefutable facts. But in San
Francisco when the investigation
at last began while the Caine
rested in dry dock. there were no
admirals and no green table.
There was only a cross-examina :
ton by a little man in a little
office.
AS Willie talked, his irrefutable