°Ëϲµç×ÓÊé > ÎÄѧÃûÖøµç×ÓÊé > bcornwell.sharpescompany >

µÚ42²¿·Ö

bcornwell.sharpescompany-µÚ42²¿·Ö

С˵£º bcornwell.sharpescompany ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡Colonel¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Here£¡'
¡¡
¡¡'Go£»¡¡sir£¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡General¡¡wishes¡¡you¡¡God¡¡speed¡£'
¡¡
¡¡'I'd¡¡rather¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡me¡¡a¡¡case¡¡of¡¡his¡¡claret¡£'¡¡The¡¡Colonel¡¡slapped¡¡Knowles's¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡'Off¡¡you¡¡go¡£'
¡¡
¡¡Knowles¡¡could¡¡not¡¡draw¡¡his¡¡sabre¡£¡¡He¡¡needed¡¡both¡¡hands¡¡to¡¡cling¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡hill£»¡¡to¡¡pull¡¡himself¡¡up¡¡while¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡found¡¡desperate¡¡footholds¡£¡¡His¡¡Captaincy¡¡was¡¡heavy¡¡on¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡He¡¡hurried£»¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡his¡¡men¡¡because¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡Sharpe¡¡would¡¡lead£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡imagined£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡climbed£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡heavy¡¡musket¡¡balls¡¡plummeting¡¡down¡¡to¡¡crush¡¡in¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡skull¡£¡¡His¡¡men¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡noisy£¡¡¡The¡¡ladders¡¡scraped¡¡on¡¡rock£»¡¡on¡¡tree¡­trunks£»¡¡the¡¡musket¡¡stocks¡¡banged¡¡on¡¡stone£»¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡clattered¡¡pebbles¡¡loose£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡was¡¡silent£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡shadow¡¡unrelieved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡flames¡£¡¡Knowles¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡Teresa£»¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡hoping£»¡¡against¡¡all¡¡the¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡massive¡¡walls£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡her¡¡first¡£¡¡He¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡for¡¡Sharpe¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Faster£¡'¡¡The¡¡shout¡¡was¡¡from¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Sergeants£»¡¡and¡¡Knowles£»¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡elsewhere£»¡¡snapped¡¡his¡¡head¡¡back¡¡and¡¡stared¡¡up¡£¡¡High¡¡above¡¡him£»¡¡falling£»¡¡falling£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡carcass¡£¡¡The¡¡fire¡¡roared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡it¡¡tumbled¡¡end¡¡over¡¡end£»¡¡shedding¡¡sparks£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡watched£»¡¡fascinated£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡plunged¡¡into¡¡a¡¡thorn¡¡tree¡¡that¡¡grew¡¡close¡¡by¡£¡¡The¡¡tree¡¡flared¡¡into¡¡flame¡¡and¡¡the¡¡first¡¡muskets¡¡banged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡wall¡£¡¡They¡¡seemed¡¡far¡¡away¡£
¡¡
¡¡'e¡¡on£¡'
¡¡
¡¡More¡¡fireballs¡¡and¡¡carcasses¡¡fell¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ramparts£»¡¡some¡¡lodged¡¡in¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡space¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wall's¡¡foot£»¡¡others¡¡fell¡¡in¡¡streaming¡¡shreds¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡down¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡slope¡¡and¡¡took¡¡men¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡screaming¡¡as¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡captured¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡Knowles¡¡climbed¡¡on¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡pressed¡¡behind¡£¡¡'Faster£¡¡¡Faster£¡'
¡¡
¡¡A¡¡cannon¡¡crashed¡¡out¡¡its¡¡load¡¡from¡¡the¡¡San¡¡Pedro¡¡bastion¡¡and¡¡canister¡¡whipped¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡crackled¡¡on¡¡stone¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡a¡¡shout¡¡of¡¡despair£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡a¡¡man¡¡had¡¡gone£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡worry¡¡about¡¡casualties£»¡¡just¡¡to¡¡scramble¡¡upwards£»¡¡the¡¡going¡¡easier¡¡as¡¡they¡¡neared¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¡and¡¡Knowles¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡excitement¡¡of¡¡battle¡¡that¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡him¡¡past¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡into¡¡action¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Keep¡¡going£¡'¡¡The¡¡Colonel£»¡¡surprisingly¡¡agile¡¡for¡¡his¡¡years£»¡¡overtook¡¡him¡¡and¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡space¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wall's¡¡base¡¡first¡£¡¡He¡¡leaned¡¡down¡¡and¡¡helped¡¡Knowles¡¡up¡£¡¡'Get¡¡the¡¡ladders£¡'
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡musket¡¡balls¡¡smacked¡¡down£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡shot¡¡was¡¡an¡¡awkward¡¡one¡¡for¡¡the¡¡defenders£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡lean¡¡right¡¡over¡¡the¡¡battlements¡¡and¡¡shoot¡¡straight¡¡down£»¡¡almost¡¡at¡¡random£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡flaring¡¡light¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡The¡¡cannons¡¡were¡¡far¡¡more¡¡dangerous£»¡¡shooting¡¡from¡¡the¡¡San¡¡Pedro¡¡and¡¡from¡¡a¡¡smaller¡¡bastion¡¡to¡¡Knowles's¡¡right£»¡¡a¡¡bastion¡¡jutting¡¡from¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡wall¡£¡¡Canister¡¡scraped¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡promising¡¡death¡¡to¡¡men¡¡on¡¡ladders£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ignored¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Here£¡'¡¡The¡¡first¡¡ladder¡¡loomed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡slope¡¡and¡¡Knowles¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡pulled¡¡it¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡more¡¡men¡¡were¡¡manhandling¡¡it£»¡¡swinging¡¡it¡¡upwards£»¡¡until¡¡it¡¡thumped¡¡against¡¡the¡¡battlements¡£¡¡The¡¡Colonel¡¡waved¡¡them¡¡on¡£¡¡'Good¡¡lads£¡¡¡The¡¡first¡¡one¡¡over¡¡gets¡¡the¡¡best¡¡whore¡¡in¡¡Badajoz£¡'
¡¡
¡¡They¡¡cheered¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Colonel¡¡dropped£»¡¡felled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡bullet¡¡from¡¡above£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡hardly¡¡noticed¡£¡¡'Me¡¡first£¡¡¡Me¡¡first£¡'¡¡Knowles¡¡pushed¡¡through£»¡¡boyish¡¡in¡¡his¡¡excitement¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Sharpe¡¡would¡¡lead£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡must¡¡he£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡scrambled¡¡up¡¡the¡¡rungs£»¡¡wondering¡¡what¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡pumped¡¡automatically¡¡and¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡with¡¡sudden¡¡horror£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡even¡¡drawn¡¡his¡¡sabre¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡up£»¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡defenders¡¡pushing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡and¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡sideways¡£¡¡He¡¡shouted¡¡a¡¡warning£»¡¡let¡¡go£»¡¡and¡¡thumped¡¡down¡¡into¡¡a¡¡press¡¡of¡¡men¡£¡¡Miraculously¡¡not¡¡a¡¡single¡¡bayonet¡¡touched¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡picked¡¡himself¡¡up¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Are¡¡you¡¡hurt£»¡¡sir£¿'¡¡A¡¡Sergeant¡¡looked¡¡worriedly¡¡at¡¡him¡£
¡¡
¡¡'No£¡¡¡Get¡¡it¡¡up£¡'¡¡The¡¡ladder¡¡was¡¡not¡¡broken¡£¡¡Another¡¡canister¡¡splintered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡swung¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡again¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡Knowles¡¡was¡¡not¡¡near¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡be¡¡first¡¡and¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡as¡¡his¡¡men¡¡began¡¡climbing¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡was¡¡shot¡¡from¡¡above£»¡¡thrown¡¡clear¡¡by¡¡the¡¡second¡¡man£»¡¡more¡¡pushed¡¡behind£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡ladder¡¡with¡¡its¡¡human¡¡cargo¡¡disintegrated¡¡in¡¡splinters¡¡and¡¡flesh¡¡as¡¡a¡¡barrel¡­full¡¡of¡¡grapeshot£»¡¡fired¡¡from¡¡the¡¡San¡¡Pedro¡¡bastion£»¡¡found¡¡a¡¡full¡¡target¡£¡¡Stones¡¡were¡¡being¡¡hurled¡¡from¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡parapets¡¡that¡¡crashed¡¡into¡¡knots¡¡of¡¡men¡¡and¡¡bounced¡¡down¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡face¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡Knowles's¡¡pany¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡halved¡¡in¡¡strength£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡frustrations¡¡of¡¡defeat¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡frantically¡¡for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡ladder¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡gone£»¡¡back¡¡down¡¡the¡¡slope£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡there¡¡were¡¡voices¡¡shouting¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡'Back£¡¡¡Back£¡'¡¡He¡¡recognized¡¡his¡¡Major's¡¡voice£»¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡jumped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡and¡¡left¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡broken¡¡ladders¡¡and¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡attack¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡triumphant¡¡shouts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Any¡¡news¡¡from¡¡the¡¡casde£¿'
¡¡
¡¡'No£»¡¡my¡¡Lord¡£'¡¡The¡¡Generals¡¡fidgeted¡£¡¡In¡¡front¡¡of¡¡them¡¡the¡¡south¡­east¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡Badajoz¡¡flickered¡¡with¡¡bright¡¡fire¡£¡¡The¡¡two¡¡soaring¡¡bastions£»¡¡scarred¡¡by¡¡the¡¡unconquered¡¡breaches£»¡¡framed¡¡the¡¡flames£»¡¡fed¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡smoke¡¡boiled¡¡scarlet¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡and¡¡seemingly¡¡far¡¡away£»¡¡more¡¡fire¡¡glowed¡¡above¡¡the¡¡silhouetted¡¡castle¡¡and¡¡Wellington£»¡¡cloaked¡¡and¡¡gloved£»¡¡tugged¡¡nervously¡¡at¡¡his¡¡reins¡£¡¡'Picton¡¡won't¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡y'know¡£¡¡He¡¡won't¡£¡¡'
¡¡
¡¡An¡¡aide¡­de¡­camp¡¡leaned¡¡closer¡£¡¡'My¡¡Lord£¿'¡¡'Nothing¡£¡¡Nothing¡£'¡¡He¡¡was¡¡irritable£»¡¡helpless¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡was¡¡happening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡great¡¡pit¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡ahead¡£¡¡His¡¡men¡¡were¡¡marching¡¡into¡¡it¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡get¡¡out¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡appalled¡£¡¡The¡¡walls¡¡were¡¡three¡¡times¡¡bigger¡¡than¡¡Ciudad¡¡Rodrigo£»¡¡the¡¡fight¡¡unimaginably¡¡worse£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡Kemmis£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Fourth¡¡Division£»¡¡pushed¡¡in¡¡by¡¡his¡¡side¡£
¡¡
¡¡'My¡¡Lord£¿'
¡¡
¡¡'General£¿'
¡¡
¡¡'Do¡¡we¡¡reinforce£»¡¡sir£¿'¡¡Kemmis¡¡was¡¡hatless£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡smeared¡¡with¡¡dirt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡firing¡¡a¡¡musket¡¡himself¡£¡¡'Do¡¡we¡¡send¡¡in¡¡more¡¡men£¿¡¨
¡¡
¡¡Wellington¡¡hated¡¡sieges¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡be¡¡patient¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡enticing¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡into¡¡a¡¡trap£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡siege¡¡was¡¡not¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¡Inevitably¡¡this¡¡moment¡¡had¡¡to¡¡e£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡troops¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ordered¡¡into¡¡the¡¡one£»¡¡small£»¡¡deadly¡¡point£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡escaping¡¡it¡¡unless¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡was¡¡simply¡¡starved¡¡into¡¡submission¡¡and¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡that¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡have¡¡this¡¡city¡£
¡¡
¡¡Sharpe£¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡second¡¡the¡¡General¡¡was¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡damn¡¡Sharpe£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡assured¡¡him¡¡the¡¡breaches¡¡were¡¡practical¡£¡¡But¡¡Wellington¡¡suppressed¡¡the¡¡thought¡£¡¡The¡¡Rifleman¡¡had¡¡said¡¡what¡¡Wellington¡¡had¡¡wanted¡¡him¡¡to¡¡say¡¡and¡¡even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not£»¡¡then¡¡Wellington¡¡would¡¡still¡¡have¡¡sent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡troops¡£¡¡Sharpe£¡¡¡If¡¡Wellington¡¡had¡¡one¡¡thousand¡¡Sharpes¡¡then¡¡the¡¡city¡¡might¡¡be¡¡his¡£¡¡He¡¡listened¡¡gloomily¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sounds¡¡of¡¡battle¡£¡¡The¡¡French¡¡cheers¡¡were¡¡loud¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡they¡¡were¡¡beating¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡withdraw¡¡now¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡and¡¡wounded¡¡to¡¡be¡¡recovered¡¡under¡¡a¡¡flag¡¡of¡¡truce£»¡¡or¡¡he¡¡could¡¡send¡¡in¡¡more¡¡men¡¡and¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡battle¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡city£¡¡¡Otherwise¡¡there¡¡could¡¡be¡¡no¡¡march¡¡on¡¡Spain¡¡this¡¡summer£»¡¡no¡¡advance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Pyrenees£»¡¡and¡¡Napoleon¡¡would¡¡be¡¡given¡¡another¡¡year¡¡of¡¡power¡£¡¡'Send¡¡them¡¡in£¡¡¨
¡¡
¡¡Feed¡¡the¡¡monster£»¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡grinding¡¡his¡¡army£»¡¡his¡¡fine¡¡army£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡monster¡¡must¡¡be¡¡fed¡¡until¡¡it¡¡gave¡¡up¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡make¡¡up¡¡the¡¡shattered¡¡battalions£»¡¡the¡¡reinforcements¡¡would¡¡e£»¡¡but¡¡without¡¡Badajoz¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡victory¡£¡¡Damn¡¡the¡¡Engineers¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡miners¡¡in¡¡Britain£»¡¡hundreds¡¡in¡¡Cornwall¡¡alone£»¡¡but¡¡none¡¡with¡¡the¡¡army£»¡¡no¡¡Corps¡¡of¡¡Sappers¡¡who¡¡could¡¡have¡¡tunneled¡¡under¡¡the¡¡bastions£»¡¡packed¡¡the¡¡cavern¡¡with¡¡powder£»¡¡and¡¡blown¡¡the¡¡French¡¡to¡¡kingdom¡¡e¡£¡¡He¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡wondering¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡slaughtered¡¡the¡¡garrison¡¡at¡¡Ciudad¡¡Rodrigo£»¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡lined¡¡them¡¡up¡¡in¡¡tens¡¡and¡¡shot¡¡them£»¡¡then¡¡left¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡to¡¡rot¡¡in¡¡the¡¡town¡¡ditch¡¡so¡¡that¡¡any¡¡Frenchmen¡¡who¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡contest¡¡another¡¡breach¡¡could¡¡only¡¡expect¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡vengeance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡English¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡ordered¡¡it£»¡¡any¡¡more¡¡than¡¡he¡¡would¡¡order¡¡it¡¡here¡¡if¡¡they¡¡won¡¡this¡¡night¡£¡¡If¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡irritably¡¡towards¡¡his¡¡aides¡£¡¡His¡¡face¡¡was¡¡long¡¡and¡¡harsh¡­shadowed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡torchlight¡¡cast¡¡from¡¡Lord¡¡March's¡¡hand¡£¡¡'Any¡¡news¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Fifth£¿'
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡answering¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡low£»¡¡anxious¡¡not¡¡to¡¡add¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bad¡¡news¡£¡¡'They¡¡should¡¡be¡¡attacking¡¡now£»¡¡my¡¡Lord£»¡¡General¡¡Leith¡¡sends¡¡his¡¡apologies¡£¡¡'
¡¡
¡¡'God¡¡damn¡¡his¡¡apologies¡£¡¡Why¡¡can't¡¡he¡¡be¡¡on¡¡time£¿'¡¡His¡¡horse¡¡shied£»¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡a¡¡spent¡¡musket¡¡bullet£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡General¡¡soothed¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡expect¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡escalades¡£¡¡Leith¡¡was¡¡late¡¡and¡¡the¡¡garrison¡¡at¡¡San¡¡Vincente¡¡would¡¡be¡¡warned£»¡¡while¡¡Picton¡¡was¡¡hoping¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡if¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡could¡¡lay¡¡his¡¡long¡¡ladders¡¡against¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡wall¡£¡¡Victory£»¡¡he¡¡knew£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡carved¡¡here£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡south¡­east¡¡corner£»¡¡where¡¡flame¡¡and¡¡smoke¡¡churned¡¡over¡¡the¡¡ghastly¡¡ditch¡£¡¡Distantly£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡reminder¡¡of¡¡another¡¡world¡¡echoing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡hell£»¡¡the¡¡Cathedral¡¡bell¡¡tolled¡¡eleven£»¡¡and¡¡Wellington¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡blackness¡¡and¡¡then¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡flames¡£¡¡'One¡¡more¡¡hour£»¡¡gentlemen£»¡¡one¡¡more¡¡hour¡£'¡¡And¡¡then¡¡what£»¡¡he¡¡wondered£¿¡¡Failure£¿¡¡Hell¡¡was¡¡no¡¡place¡¡for¡¡miracles¡£
¡¡
¡¡On¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡the¡¡French¡¡gunners¡¡slackened¡¡their¡¡fire¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡drowned¡¡the¡¡ditch¡¡in¡¡death¡¡and¡¡now¡¡they¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡the¡¡screams¡¡and¡¡moans¡¡that¡¡came¡¡from¡¡below¡£¡¡The¡¡attacks¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡stopped£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡gunners¡¡stretched£»¡¡soaked¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡with¡¡water¡¡splashed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡buckets¡¡used¡¡to¡¡wet¡¡the¡¡sponges£»¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡as¡¡fresh¡¡ammunition¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡the¡¡ramp¡£¡¡They¡¡did¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡much¡¡more¡¡effort¡¡from¡¡the¡¡British¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡men¡¡had¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡breaches£»¡¡one¡¡was¡¡even¡¡impaled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sabre¡¡blades£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hopeless¡¡effort¡£¡¡Poor¡¡bastards£¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡joy¡¡any¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡shouting¡¡insults¡£¡¡A¡¡sergeant£»¡¡leather¡­skinned¡¡and¡¡hard£»¡¡leaned¡¡on¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡wheel¡¡and¡¡flinched¡£¡¡'Christ£¡¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡they'd¡¡stop¡¡screaming¡£'
¡¡
¡¡A¡¡few¡¡men¡¡had¡¡lit¡¡surreptitious¡¡cigars¡¡that¡¡they¡¡hid¡¡from¡¡their¡¡officers¡¡by¡¡leaning¡¡deep¡¡into¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡embrasures¡£¡¡One¡¡man¡¡wriggled¡¡forward£»¡¡past¡¡the¡¡acrid¡¡muzzle£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡could¡¡peer¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ditch¡£¡¡The¡¡Sergeant¡¡called¡¡wearily¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡'e¡¡back£¡¡¡Those¡¡Rifle¡¡bastards¡¡will¡¡get¡¡you¡£'
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡man¡¡stayed¡£¡¡He¡¡peered¡¡down£»¡¡far¡¡down£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡writhing¡¡horror¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ditch¡£¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡himself¡¡back¡£¡¡'If¡¡they¡¡get¡¡in¡¡they'll¡¡bloody¡¡slaughter¡¡us£¡'
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡Sergeant¡¡laughed¡£¡¡'They¡¡won't¡¡get¡¡in£»¡¡lad£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡chance¡£¡¡In¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡you'll¡¡be¡¡tucked¡¡in¡¡bed¡¡with¡¡that¡¡horrid¡¡thing¡¡you¡¡call¡¡a¡¡w

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ