he did such a thing, but simply because it does not appear possible that anyone else could’ve. It is an accident of exclusion and not something we understand or can trace back to any behavior of Corporal Tallis. Do you know of any other reason why we should think him guilty?”
“No.”
“Had he any hatred toward any of the men on the patrol that was ambushed?”
Rawlins was startled. “Good God, no!”
“Did he even know who they were? Is he given that information?”
“No! We deal with them when they come back, not before they go,” Rawlins said bitterly. “I don’t know what the hell you’re trying to suggest, but it is rubbish.”
“That is exactly what I am trying to suggest,” Narraway answered. “There is some major element to this that we have not yet grasped.”
“If you are looking for sense in war, then you are even younger and more naïve than I thought,” Rawlins said wearily. “If you outlive the disease, it will cure itself.”
Narraway could think of nothing to say to that. He thanked Rawlins and sat down.
It was still early, but Busby asked permission to delay calling Major Strafford until the following day, as he had a great deal of evidence to give. There might be a way, with some consideration, of shortening it without impairing the course of justice. Latimer agreed, and they adjourned by half-past four.
Narraway walked out into the waning afternoon. He felt dazed, and he ached as if he had been in a physical fight. He had only this evening in which to come up with any witness to call for a defense when Strafford was finished testifying as to his investigation.
Tallis himself was no help. He still insisted that he had no idea who could have helped Dhuleep Singh escape, only that it hadn’t been him.
Unless he could find that missing piece tonight, Narraway had nothing left except to challenge the witnesses Strafford’s questioning produced. He could imagine howsuccessful that was likely to be. No one was going to admit to mistakes or go back on what they had first said. Continual repeating of it would have made it indelible in their minds, even if it had originally been tentative. Uncertainty would be wiped out by saying over and over again “I saw” or “I was there.” Even if doubt came, who would admit it now, with the Court looking on and the whole regiment watching?
He was walking across the open space beyond the rooms where the trial was held. The sky in the east was darkening, and little whispers of wind were stirring up eddies in the dust. Children were shouting in the distance, playing a game of some sort. A group of women stood close together, heads bent as they talked. Someone laughed: a soft, startlingly agreeable sound.
“Narraway!” a voice called out abruptly from behind him.
He turned and saw Strafford a dozen yards away, moving quickly, his boots sending up spurts of dust.
“Yes, sir?” Narraway answered obediently. This was a confrontation he would dearly like to avoid, but Strafford outranked him and so he had no escape.
Strafford reached him and stopped. He looked awkward,but the muscles were tight in his jaw, and clearly he was not going to be put off.
“I intend to call the witnesses tomorrow who can rule out every man in Cawnpore, apart from Tallis,” he said without preamble. “Don’t drag this out any longer than you have to. You can question each one as much as you like, and I appreciate that you have to make it look as if you are attempting to defend the man. But you’re new here—relatively new to India, for that matter. These men have been through hell. Every one of them has lost people he served with, people who’ve stood side by side with him in the face of the enemy.” He swallowed. “Maybe you don’t know what that means yet …”
Narraway stiffened. “I’m not a lawyer, sir, I’m a soldier,” he said sharply. “I’ve fought in the line just like anyone else. I’ve seen men die—and worse than that, I’ve
“No.”
“Had he any hatred toward any of the men on the patrol that was ambushed?”
Rawlins was startled. “Good God, no!”
“Did he even know who they were? Is he given that information?”
“No! We deal with them when they come back, not before they go,” Rawlins said bitterly. “I don’t know what the hell you’re trying to suggest, but it is rubbish.”
“That is exactly what I am trying to suggest,” Narraway answered. “There is some major element to this that we have not yet grasped.”
“If you are looking for sense in war, then you are even younger and more naïve than I thought,” Rawlins said wearily. “If you outlive the disease, it will cure itself.”
Narraway could think of nothing to say to that. He thanked Rawlins and sat down.
It was still early, but Busby asked permission to delay calling Major Strafford until the following day, as he had a great deal of evidence to give. There might be a way, with some consideration, of shortening it without impairing the course of justice. Latimer agreed, and they adjourned by half-past four.
Narraway walked out into the waning afternoon. He felt dazed, and he ached as if he had been in a physical fight. He had only this evening in which to come up with any witness to call for a defense when Strafford was finished testifying as to his investigation.
Tallis himself was no help. He still insisted that he had no idea who could have helped Dhuleep Singh escape, only that it hadn’t been him.
Unless he could find that missing piece tonight, Narraway had nothing left except to challenge the witnesses Strafford’s questioning produced. He could imagine howsuccessful that was likely to be. No one was going to admit to mistakes or go back on what they had first said. Continual repeating of it would have made it indelible in their minds, even if it had originally been tentative. Uncertainty would be wiped out by saying over and over again “I saw” or “I was there.” Even if doubt came, who would admit it now, with the Court looking on and the whole regiment watching?
He was walking across the open space beyond the rooms where the trial was held. The sky in the east was darkening, and little whispers of wind were stirring up eddies in the dust. Children were shouting in the distance, playing a game of some sort. A group of women stood close together, heads bent as they talked. Someone laughed: a soft, startlingly agreeable sound.
“Narraway!” a voice called out abruptly from behind him.
He turned and saw Strafford a dozen yards away, moving quickly, his boots sending up spurts of dust.
“Yes, sir?” Narraway answered obediently. This was a confrontation he would dearly like to avoid, but Strafford outranked him and so he had no escape.
Strafford reached him and stopped. He looked awkward,but the muscles were tight in his jaw, and clearly he was not going to be put off.
“I intend to call the witnesses tomorrow who can rule out every man in Cawnpore, apart from Tallis,” he said without preamble. “Don’t drag this out any longer than you have to. You can question each one as much as you like, and I appreciate that you have to make it look as if you are attempting to defend the man. But you’re new here—relatively new to India, for that matter. These men have been through hell. Every one of them has lost people he served with, people who’ve stood side by side with him in the face of the enemy.” He swallowed. “Maybe you don’t know what that means yet …”
Narraway stiffened. “I’m not a lawyer, sir, I’m a soldier,” he said sharply. “I’ve fought in the line just like anyone else. I’ve seen men die—and worse than that, I’ve
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