bcornwell.sharpstiger-第26部分

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　They　walked　south　towards　the　gleam　of　water。　All　three　were　tired；　and　Sharpe　was　plainly　weakened　by　the　loss　of　blood；　but　anticipation　gave　them　all　a　nervous　energy。　They　skirted　the　nearest　village；　watched　by　cows　with　pendulous　folds　of　skin　hanging　beneath　their　necks；　then　they　walked　through　groves　of　cocoa　trees　as　the　sun　climbed。　They　saw　no　one。　A　deer　skittered　away　from　their　path　in　the　late　morning　and　an　hour　later　an　excited　troupe　of　small　monkeys　scampered　beside　diem。　At　midday　they　rested　in　the　small　shade　offered　by　a　grove　of　bamboos；　then　pressed　on　again　beneath　the　baking　sun。　By　early　afternoon　the　river　was　in　sight　and　Lawford　suggested　they　should　rest　on　its　bank。　Mary's　eye　had　swollen　and　blackened；　giving　her　the　grotesque　look　she　believed　would　protect　her。
　T　could　do　with　a　rest　now；'　Sharpe　admitted。　The　pain　was　terrible　and　every　step　was　now　an　agony。　'And　I　need　to　wet　the　bandages。'
　'Wet　them？'　Lawford　asked。
　'That's　what　that　bastard　Micklewhite　said。　Said　to　keep　the　bandages　damp　or　else　the　stripes　won't　heal。'
　'We'll　wet　them　at　the　river；'　Lawford　promised。
　But　they　never　reached　the　river　bank。　They　were　walking　beside　some　beech　trees　when　a　shout　sounded　behind　them　and　Sharpe　turned　to　see　horsemen　ing　from　the　west。They　were　fine…looking　men　in　tiger…striped　tunics　and　with　spiring　brass　helmets　who　couched　their　lances　and　galloped　hard　towards　the　three　fugitives。　Sharpe's　heart　pounded。　He　stepped　ahead　of　his　panions　and　held　up　a　hand　to　show　they　meant　no　harm；　but　the　leading　lancer　only　grinned　in　reply　and　lowered　his　lance　point　as　he　pricked　back　his　spurs。
　Sharpe　shook　his　head　and　waved；　then　realized　the　man　intended　to　skewer　the　spear　into　his　belly。　'Bastard！'　Sharpe　shouted；　and　dropped　his　pack　and　put　both　hands　on　his　musket　as　though　it　was　a　quarterstaff。　Mary　screamed　in　terror。
　'No！'　Lawford　shouted　at　the　galloping　lancers。　'No！'
　The　lancer　thrust　his　blade　at　Sharpe　who　knocked　the　spear　point　aside　with　the　muzzle　of　the　gun；　then　swung　the　gun　fast　back　so　that　its　butt　smacked　hard　onto　the　horse's　head。　The　beast　whinnied　and　reared；　throwing　its　rider　backwards。　The　other　lancers　laughed；　then　sawed　their　reins　to　swerve　past　the　fallen　man。　Mary　was　shouting　at　them　in　a　language　Sharpe　did　not　understand；　Lawford　was　waving　his　hands　desperately；　but　the　lancers　bored　on　in；　concentrating　on　Sharpe　who　stepped　backwards　from　their　wicked…looking　spear　points。　He　slashed　a　second　lance　aside；　then　a　third　man　rammed　his　spurs　back　and　attempted　to　drive　his　spear　hard　into　Sharpe's　belly。　Sharpe　half　managed　to　edge　away　from　the　blow　and；　instead　of　skewering　his　stomach；　the　lance　sliced　through　the　skin　of　his　waist；　through　his　coat　and　into　the　tree　behind　him。　The　lancer　left　his　spear　buried　in　the　beech　and　wheeled　his　horse　away。　Sharpe　was　pinned　to　the　bark；　his　back　a　sheet　of　agony　where　it　was　forced　against　the　tree。　He　tugged　at　the　lance；　but　his　loss　of　blood　had　made　him　far　too　weak　and　the　weapon　would　not　budge；　and　then　another　lancer　spurred　towards　him　with　his　spear　point　aimed　at　Sharpe's　eyes。　Mary　shouted　frantically。
　The　spear　point　paused　an　inch　from　Sharpe's　left　eyeball。The　lancer　looked　at　Mary；　grimaced　at　her　filthy　state；　then　said　something。
　Mary　answered。
　The　lancer；　who　was　evidently　an　officer；　looked　back　to　Sharpe　and　seemed　to　be　debating　whether　to　kill　or　to　spare　him。　Finally　he　grinned；　leaned　down　and　grasped　the　spear　pinning　Sharpe　to　the　tree。　He　dragged　it　free。
　Sharpe　swore　foully；　then　collapsed　at　the　foot　of　the　tree。
　There　were　a　score　of　horsemen　and　they　all　now　gathered　around　the　fugitives。　Two　of　them　held　their　razor…sharp　lances　at　Lawford's　neck　while　the　officer　spoke　to　Mary。　She　answered　defiantly；　and　to　Sharpe；　who　was　struggling　to　stand；　it　seemed　that　the　conversation　went　on　for　a　long　time。　Nor　did　the　lancers　seem　friendly。　They　were　magnificent…looking　men　and　Sharpe；　despite　his　pain；　noted　how　well　they　maintained　their　weapons。　There　was　no　rust　on　the　lance　heads；　and　the　shafts　were　oiled　smooth。　Mary　argued　with　the　officer；　and　he　seemed　indifferent　to　her　pleading；　but　at　last　she　must　have　made　her　point　for　she　turned　and　looked　at　Lawford。　'He　wants　to　know　if　you're　willing　to　serve　in　the　Tippoo's　forces；'　she　told　the　Lieutenant。
　The　lance　tips　were　tickling　Lawford's　neck；　and　as　a　recruiting　device　they　worked　wonders。　The　Lieutenant　nodded　eagerly。　'Absolutely！'　he　said。　Just　what　we　want！　Volunteers！　Tell　him　we're　ready　to　serve！　Both　of　us！　Long　live　the　Tippoo！'
　The　officer　did　not　need　the　enthusiastic　reply　translated。　He　smiled　and　ordered　his　lancers　to　take　their　weapons　from　the　redcoat's　neck。
　And　thus　Sharpe　joined　the　enemy's　army。
　
　CHAPTER　5
　
　Sharpe　was　near　to　exhausted　despair　by　the　time　he　reached　the　city。　The　lancers　had　driven　the　three　fugitives　westwards　at　an　unrelenting　pace；　but　had　offered　none　of　them　a　saddle；　and　so　the　three　had　walked　and　by　the　time　he　stumbled　through　the　ford　that　took　them　south　across　the　Cauvery　to　the　island　on　which　Seringapatam　was　built　Sharpe's　back　burned　like　a　sheet　of　fire。　The　city　itself　still　lay　a　mile　to　the　west；　but　the　whole　island　had　been　ringed　with　new　earthworks　inside　which　thousands　of　refugees　were　gathered。　The　refugees　had　brought　their　livestock；　obedient　to　the　Tippoo's　orders　that　all　food　stocks　should　be　denied　to　the　slowly　advancing　British　army。　A　half…mile　from　the　city　wall　a　second　earthwork　had　been　thrown　up　to　protect　a　sprawling　encampment　of　thatched；　mud…brick　barracks　in　which　thousands　of　the　Tippoo's　infantry　and　cavalry　lived。　None　of　the　troops　was　idle。　Some　were　drilling；　others　were　heightening　the　mud　wall　around　the　encampment　and　still　more　were　firing　their　muskets　at　targets　of　straw　men　propped　against　the　city's　stone　wall。　The　straw　men　were　all　dressed　in　makeshift　red　coats　and　Lawford　watched　aghast　as　the　muskets　knocked　the　targets　over　or　else　exploded　great　chunks　from　their　straw…stuffed　torsos。　The　soldiers'　families　lived　inside　the　encampment　and　the　women　and　children　flocked　to　see　the　two　white　men　pass。　They　assumed　Sharpe　and　Lawford　were　prisoners　and　some　jeered　as　they　went　by　and　others　laughed　when　Sharpe　staggered　in　pain。'Keep　going；　Sharpe；'　Lawford　said　encouragingly。
　'Gall　me　Dick；　for　Christ's　sake；'　Sharpe　snapped。
　'Keep　going；　Dick；'　Lawford　managed　to　say；　albeit　angrily　for　having　been　reproved　by　the　Private。
　'Not　far　now；'　Mary　said　in　Sharpe's　ear。　She　was　helping　Sharpe　walk；　though　at　times；　when　the　jeering　became　raucous；　she　clung　to　Sharpe　for　support。　Ahead　of　them　were　the　city　walls　and　Lawford；　seeing　them；　wondered　how　anyone　could　hope　to　blast　through　such　massive　works。　The　great　ramparts　were　limewashed　so　that　they　seemed　to　shine　in　the　sun；　and　Lawford　could　see　cannon　muzzles　showing　in　every　embrasure。　Cavaliers；　jutting　out　like　small　square　bastions；　had　been　built　everywhere　along　the　face　of　the　wall　so　that　yet　more　guns　could　be　brought　to　bear　on　any　attacker。　Above　the　walls；　on　which　the　Tippoo's　flags　stirred　in　the　small　warm　wind；　the　twin　white　minarets　of　the　city's　mosque　towered　in　the　sunlight。　Beyond　the　minarets　Law…ford　could　see　the　intricate　tower　of　a　Hindu　temple；　its　stone　layers　elaborately　carved　and　gorgeously　painted；　while　just　north　of　the　temple　there　shone　the　gleaming　green　tiles　of　what　Lawford　supposed　was　the　Tippoo's　palace。　The　city　was　all　much　bigger　and　grander　than　Lawford　had　expected；　while　the　white…painted　wall　was　higher　and　stronger　than　he　had　ever　feared。　He　had　expected　a　mud　wall；　but　as　he　drew　closer　to　the　ramparts　he　could　see　that　these　eastern　walls　were　made　from　massive　stone　blocks　that　would　need　to　be　chipped　away　by　the　siege　guns　if　a　breach　were　ever　to　be　made。　In　places；　where　the　wall　had　been　damaged　by　previous　sieges；　there　were　patches　where　the　stone　had　been　repaired　by　brickwork；　but　nowhere　did　the　wall　look　weak。　It　was　true　that　the　city　had　not　had　time　to　build　itself　a　modern　European　type　of　defence　with　star…shaped　walls　and　outlying　forts　and　awkward　bastions　and　confusing　ravelins；　but　even　so　the　place　looked　dauntingly　strong；　and　even　now　vast　ant…like　gangs　of　labourers；　some　of　them　naked　in　theheat；　were　carrying　baskets　of　deep…red　earth　on　their　backs　and　piling　the　soil　to　heighten　the　glacis　that　lay　directly　in　front　of　the　lime…washed　walls。　The　growing　earthen　glacis；　that　was　separated　from　the　walls　by　a　ditch　that　could　be　flooded　with　river　water；　was　designed　to　deflect　the　besiegers'　shots　up　and　over　the　ramparts。　Lawford　consoled　himself　that　Lord　Cornwallis　had　managed　to　smash　into　this　formidable　city　seven　years　before；　but　the　heightening　of　the　glacis　demonstrated　that　the　Tippoo　had　learned　from　that　defeat　and　suggested　that　General　Harris　would　not　find　it　nearly　so　easy。
　The　lancers　ducked　their　spired　helmets　as　they　clattered　through　the　tunnel　of　the　city's　Bangalore　Gate　and　so　led　the　fugitives　into　the　stinking　tangle　of　crowded　streets。　The　spears　forged　the　lancers'　path；　driving　civilians　aside　and　forcing　wagons　and　handcarts　into　hasty　retreats　up　any　convenient　alley。　Even　the　sacred　cows　that　wandered　freely　inside　the　city　were　forced　aside；　though　the　lancers　did　it　gently；　not　wanting　to　offend　the　sensibilities　of　the　Hindus。　They　passed　the　mosque；　then　turned　down　a　street　lined　with　shops；　their　open　fronts　thickly　hung　with　cloth；　silk；　silver　jewellery；　vegetables；　shoes　and　hides。　In　one　alley　Law…ford　caught　a　glimpse　of　bloodsoaked　men　butchering　two　camels　and　the　sight　almost　made　him　gag。　A　naked　child　hurled　a　bloody　camel's　tail　at　the　two　white　men；　and　soon　a　horde　of　tattered；　chanting　children　were　dodging　through　the　lancers'　horses　to　mock　the　prisoners　and　pelt　them　with　animal　dung。　Sharpe　cursed　them；　Lawford　hunched　low　as　he　walked；　and　the　children　only　ran　away　when　two　European　soldiers；　both　dressed　in　bluejackets；　chased　them　away。　'Prisonniers？'　one　of　the　two　men　called　cheerfully。
　'Non；　monsieur；'　Lawford　answered　in　his　best　schoolboy　French。　'Nous　som