Free We Were Beautiful Once by Joseph Carvalko Page A

quiet.  The courtroom remained still.  The afternoon sun shone through the windows, casting a beam of light in the center of the well.  Four to five seconds ticked off the clock above the jury box.  Lindquist uncharacteristically cut in, “Mr. Sheer, is there more you would like to tell us?”
    Sheer’s eyes opened wide.  “What’s that?”
    â€œIs there more you’d like to say?”
    â€œYeah, we were scattered to the four corners.  Some in the ravines.”
    â€œIs there more, sir?”
    â€œYes.  Marched my men into a situation, that I not been...  had I not — .”
    Lindquist motioned to the clerk, “Let’s take five minutes.”
    ***
    When Lindquist again assumed the bench Harry continued where he had left off— as if he started a tape recorder that had been paused.  “Somehow, I got separated.  Then the lights went out.  No idea where I was or what happened; hands were tied, pants were like cardboard, stiff frozen blood, crotch was numb.  I was later told... ”
    Harris jumped up.  “Objection. The witness is about to offer hearsay testimony.”
    â€œI will allow it.  Proceed, Mr. Sheer.”
    â€œThey told me copters came, scooped up the wounded.  Two days later, the copters returned, bagged the dead...  like cakes of ice.  That night, I guess the Chinese were pullin’ us out of cricks, puttin’ us in groups, marchin’ us in circles, movin’ us all night.  You could see the men against the snow, so travelin’ in the daytime was dangerous.  At daybreak, they’d put us in another ravine, kept us there all day.”
    â€œYou reached a permanent destination, correct?” Nick asked.
    â€œYeah, came upon this camp, looked like a little city.”
    â€œDid they tell you what camp you were in?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œDid you ever see Roger Girardin after that?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œIt is possible he was captured like you, right?”
    Harris jumped up again. “Objection.  Speculation.”
    â€œSustained.”
    â€œMr. Sheer when you were repatriated in August 1953, is it not true that you discovered you’d been listed MIA?”
    â€œYes, that’s right.  My parents did not know I was a POW, even though it seemed I was on a Red Cross list.”
    Nick turned and read the judge’s unusually weary face.  “Your Honor, no further questions for Mr. Sheer.”
    Lindquist rubbed a lump on his neck.  “Mr. Harris proceed.”
    Harris stood up to cross-examine.  “Mr. Sheer you never laid eyes on Girardin again, did you?”
    â€œNo sir,” responded Sheer emphatically.
    â€œIt is your testimony, sir, that you never spoke to anyone who saw Roger Girardin after that skirmish?”
    â€œYes, sir.”  
    â€œTell me, sir, did you speak with the plaintiff’s Counsel before you testified here today?”
    â€œYeah,” he said, feeling that somehow he’d violated the law.
    â€œIsn’t it true that Mr. Castalano discussed how you were going to testify, what you’d remember, how’d you say it?”
    â€œYes, for about an hour.”
    â€œIsn’t true that your speaking with Mr. Castalano is the reason you can so vividly recall what happened thirty years ago?”  
    Someone in the crowd groaned.  Lindquist instantly raised his head.  The crowd drew back, warned.
    â€œNo, sir!”
    â€œNo further questions,” Harris sneered, turning from the lectern.
    Lindquist adjusted his glasses and looked at Nick.
    â€œNo follow up, your Honor.”
    The judge turned to Sheer.  “Sir, thank you, you are free t’ go.”
    When Sheer was halfway across the well, Nick rose from his chair.  “Your Honor, I’d like to call my next witness.”
    Lindquist rubbed his cheek, the corner of his nostril, checked the clock