The Generals
Page 32
Tadeusz Haller: Not at all. Naturally, I suggest that the presidium follows the recommendations of the Joint Commission. The statement can be put like this:
This extra-ordinary court martial hereby sentences Corporal Erwin Velder to death. Further, the same Velder forfeits his rank and his national citizenship. He is dismissed from the armed forces and forfeits his right to decorations.
Sentence: The accused has been found guilty of the crimes he has been accused of, except charge number one hundred and two, concerning rape. The sentence will be carried out within twenty-four hours by firing squad, without military honours. Here is the draft.
Colonel Orbal: Uhuh. That’s good.
Tadeusz Haller: Unfortunately I must return at once to the Ministry. Good-day, gentlemen.
Colonel Orbal: He was in a hell of a hurry.
Lieutenant Brown: Can the internal part of the proceedings now be considered concluded?
Major von Peters: Yes, there’s nothing much to discuss. You can call in …
Commander Kampenmann: One moment. I consider that a good deal can and should be discussed. I consider all this doubtful, the whole proceedings, and not least the sentences that have been suggested. We mustn’t forget that in matters of verdicts and sentences this concerns recommendations which we are quite within our rights to change or reject. Anyhow it is our duty to study the material with the greatest care.
Colonel Orbal: But, my dear Kampenmann …
Commander Kampenmann: A number of points are, in my view, utterly absurd. Look at this, for instance. Velder is sentenced to imprisonment because he has had intimate relations with his own wife, but is found not guilty when he knocks a woman unconscious and rapes her. A number of offences should fall under statute of limitation. I’m not at all certain that Velder should be executed at all. At this stage, the man is an invalid and practically a mental case. And also his defence has been appallingly carried out. That summing-up yesterday was scandalous and …
Colonel Pigafetta: Captain Endicott dealt with it strictly according to his instructions.
Commander Kampenmann: Under any circumstances, I wish to have time to …
Major von Peters: Put a stop to this now, Mateo.
Colonel Orbal: One moment, Kampenmann, don’t overdo it now. Let’s vote on the matter. Personally I’m inclined to accept these recommendations without any more talk, to confirm the sentences, or whatever it’s called. What do you say, Carl?
Major von Peters: Yes, naturally.
Colonel Orbal: And you, Pigafetta?
Colonel Pigafetta: As the Chairman of the Presidium has the casting vote in the event of equal numbers, it doesn’t really matter what I say. I abstain.
Colonel Orbal: And Kampenmann reserves judgement?
Commander Kampenmann: Yes, unquestionably. And …
Major von Peters: That makes two votes to one and one abstention. The matter’s clear.
Commander Kampenmann: I demand that my reservation is put on record.
Colonel Orbal: That can probably be done. What’s all that noise, anyhow? What kind of idiot is it ringing in the middle of a session?
Colonel Pigafetta: One moment, it’s probably for me … Yes, this is Colonel Pigafetta … yes … I see … excellent, Niblack … I’m sorry, gentlemen, it was an urgent matter.
Major von Peters: Huh.
Lieutenant Brown: Is the extra-ordinary court martial prepared to proceed to the open section of the session?
Colonel Orbal: Oh, yes. Call in the parties.
Lieutenant Brown: Will the parties please take their places.
Colonel Orbal: Dreadfully close and awful day. It’s thundering too.
Major von Peters: Is that meant to be the general public? What the hell do your men mean by blundering in in that way, Pigafetta, with their arms, too?
Colonel Pigafetta: That isn’t thunder you can hear, Orbal. That’s the Air Force bombing the Chief of State’s palace. Three minutes early, incidentally.
Colonel Orbal: What? What?
Major von Peters: What the hell’s going on, anyhow? Has General Winckelman …
Colonel Pigafetta: General Winckelman was arrested ten minutes ago. The government buildings are surrounded and all Army units have orders to stay in their positions.
Colonel Orbal: Have you gone out of your mind, Pigafetta? Take this madman pointing that thing at me away.
Colonel Pigafetta: Until further notice, you are under arrest, gentlemen. Endicott, take care of Colonel Orbal and Major von Peters. Brown, get the rest of the guard to clear the place. That’s it. Kampenmann and Schmidt, would you mind staying in your places. Answer the ’phone, Brown.
Lieutenant Brown: Yes, sir. This is Lieutenant Brown … yes … the colonel is here … one moment …
Colonel Pigafetta: Oh, yes. Really … excellent … I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.
Commander Kampenmann: What really has happened?
Colonel Pigafetta: General Oswald is in all probability dead. That was Justice Haller on the ’phone. He sent his regards, by the way.
Commander Kampenmann: Then you and Haller …
Colonel Pigafetta: Yes. We must have order in the country. Justice Haller has taken over the post as Prime Minister. He’s forming a government this afternoon.
Commander Kampenmann: And the new Chief of State is called General Pigafetta then?
Colonel Pigafetta: I am not vain. For you two, the situation at the moment is just a trifle sensitive, if I may put it that way. Negotiations are now in progress with the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, who is at the chancery. Presumably they will come to some agreement. As you will understand, I have no wish to sink the only frigates and minesweepers we possess. But until agreement with the admiral is clear, I must ask you to stay here in this room.
Commander Kampenmann: I understand.
Colonel Pigafetta: Excellent. Otherwise I agree with you entirely on your protests against the treatment of Velder. At least, on some points.
Lieutenant Brown: Excuse me, sir. What shall I do with the accused.
Colonel Pigafetta: Take him down into the basement and shoot him.
Velder: Thank you, sir.
Colonel Pigafetta: I must leave now, gentlemen. Naturally, there’s a guard in the hall and the telephone is connected to the exchange at Air Force Staff Headquarters. But we must hope that you won’t have to stay here for more than half an hour or so. Good-day to you.
* * *
Commander Kampenmann: Did he really say thank you?
Captain Schmidt: I think so. Of course, he hears very badly. Perhaps he heard his name mentioned, but misunderstood what he said.
Commander Kampenmann: Why did you let Bratianu do the final summing-up?
Captain Schmidt: To some extent to protect my … well, let’s say that my view of the case was to some extent changed during the course of the session.
Commander Kampenmann: How did you come to be in the forces at all?
Captain Schmidt: Well, my father was a naval officer … it just happened, really. And you?
Commander Kampenmann: I don’t know, really. Perhaps because I like the sea. On the other hand, there are merchant ships.
Captain Schmidt: The tape-recorder is still switched on.
Commander Kampenmann: Better switch it off.