bcornwell.sharpstiger-第34部分

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　'There　they　are！'　Gudin　said；　and；　sure　enough；　just　beside　the　cistern　beneath　the　two　palm　trees　across　the　river；　were　a　pair　of　red　coats。　The　men　were　examining　the　city　walls　through　telescopes。　Their　horses　were　picketed　behind　them。
　Sharpe　knelt　in　a　gun　embrasure。　He　instinctively　felt　that　the　range　was　much　too　long　for　any　firearm；　but　he　had　heard　about　the　miracle　of　rifles　and　he　was　curious　to　see　if　the　rumours　were　true。　'You　take　the　one　on　the　left；　Bill；'　he　said；　'and　fire　just　after　me。'　He　glanced　at　Gudin　and　saw　that　the　Colonel　had　moved　a　few　feet　down　the　cavalier　to　watch　the　effect　of　the　shots　from　a　place　where　the　rifles'　smoke　would　not　obscure　his　glass。　'And　aim　well；　Bill；'　Sharpe　said　in　a　low　voice。　'They're　probably　only　bloody　cavalrymen；　so　who　cares　if　we　plug　them　with　a　pair　of　bloody　goolies。'　He　crouched　behind　the　rifle　and　aligned　its　well…defined　sights　that　were　so　much　more　impressive　than　the　rudimentary　stub　that　served　a　musket　as　a　foresight。　A　man　could　stand　fifty　feet　in　front　of　a　well…aimed　musket　and　still　stand　a　better　than　evens　chance　of　walking　away　unscathed；　but　the　delicacy　of　the　rifle's　sights　seemed　to　confirm　what　everyone　had　told　Sharpe。　This　was　a　long…range　killer。
　He　settled　himself　firmly；　keeping　the　sights　lined　on　the　distant　man；　then　gently　raised　the　barrel　so　that　the　rifle's　muzzle　obscured　his　target　but　would　give　the　ball　the　needed　trajectory。　There　was　no　wind　to　speak　of；　so　he　had　no　need　to　offset　his　aim。　He　had　never　fired　a　rifle；　but　it　was　just　mon　sense　really。　Nor　was　he　unduly　worried　about　killing　one　of　his　own　side。　It　was　a　sad　necessity；　something　that　needed　to　be　done　if　he　was　to　earn　Gudin's　trust　andthus　the　freedom　that　might　let　him　escape　from　the　city。　He　took　a　breath；　half　let　it　out；　then　pulled　the　trigger。　The　gun　banged　into　his　shoulder；　its　recoil　much　harder　than　an　ordinary　musket's　blow。　Lawford　fired　a　half…second　later；　the　smoke　of　his　gun　joining　the　dense　cloud　pumped　out　by　Sharpe's　rifle。
　'The　clerk　wins！'　Gudin　exclaimed　in　astonishment。　He　lowered　his　spyglass。　'Yours　went　six　inches　past　the　man's　head；　Sharpe；　but　I　think　you　killed　your　man；　Lawford。　Well　done！　Well　done　indeed！'
　Lawford　reddened；　but　said　nothing。　He　looked　very　troubled　and　Gudin　put　his　evident　confusion　down　to　a　natural　shyness。　'Is　that　the　first　man　you've　ever　killed？'　he　asked　gently。
　'Yes；　sir；'　Lawford　said；　truthfully　enough。
　'You　deserve　to　be　better　than　a　clerk。　Well　done。　Well　done　both　of　you。'　He　took　the　rifles　from　them　and　laughed　at　Sharpe's　rueful　expression。　'You　expected　to　do　better；　Sharpe？'
　'Yes；　sir。'
　'You　will。　Six　inches　off　at　that　distance　is　very　good　shooting。　Very　good　indeed。'　Gudin　turned　to　watch　as　the　uninjured　redcoat　dragged　his　panion　back　towards　the　horses。　'I　think；　maybe；'　Gudin　went　on；　'that　you　have　a　natural　talent；　Lawford。　I　congratulate　you。'　The　Colonel　fished　in　his　pouch　and　brought　out　a　handful　of　coins。　'An　advance　on　your　arrears　of　pay。　Well　done！　Off　you　go；　now！'
　Sharpe　glanced　behind　him；　hoping　to　see　what　devilment　the　western　walls　held；　but　he　could　see　nothing　strange　there　and　so　he　turned　and　followed　Lawford　down　the　ramp。　Lawford　was　shaking。　'I　didn't　mean　to　kill　him！'　the　Lieutenant　said　when　he　was　out　of　Gudin's　earshot。
　I　did；'　Sharpe　muttered。
　'God；　what　have　I　done？　I　was　aiming　left！'
　Don't　be　a　bloody　fool；'　Sharpe　said；　'what　you've　doneis　earned　our　freedom。　You　did　bloody　well。'　He　dragged　Lawford　into　a　tavern。　The　Tippoo　might　be　a　Muslim；　and　the　Muslims　might　preach　an　extraordinary　hatred　of　alcohol；　but　most　of　the　city　was　Hindu　and　the　Tippoo　was　sensible　enough　to　keep　the　taverns　open。　This　one；　close　to　Gudin's　barracks；　was　a　big　room；　open　to　the　street；　with　a　dozen　tables　where　old　men　played　chess　and　young　men　boasted　of　the　slaughter　they　would　inflict　on　the　besiegers。　The　tavern…keeper；　a　big　woman　with　hard　eyes；　sold　a　variety　of　strange　drinks：　wine　and　arrack　mostly；　but　she　also　kept　a　weird…tasting　beer。　Sharpe　could　still　hardly　speak　a　word　of　the　local　language；　but　he　pointed　to　the　arrack　barrel　and　held　up　two　fingers。　Now　that　he　and　Lawford　were　dressed　in　the　tiger…striped　tunics　and　carried　muskets　they　attracted　little　attention　in　the　city　and　no　hostility。　'Here。'　He　put　the　arrack　in　front　of　Lawford。　'Drink　that。'
　Lawford　drank　it　in　one　go。　'That　was　the　first　man　I've　killed；'　he　said；　blinking　from　the　harshness　of　the　liquor。
　'Worry　you？'
　'Of　course　it　does！　He　was　British！'
　'Can't　skin　a　cat　without　making　a　bloody　mess；'　Sharpe　said　fortingly。
　'Jesus！'　Lawford　said　angrily。
　Sharpe　poured　half　his　liquor　into　Lawford's　glass；　then　beckoned　to　one　of　the　serving　girls　who　circled　the　tables　refilling　glasses。　'You　had　to　do　it；'　he　said。
　'If　I'd　have　missed　like　you；'　Lawford　said　ruefully；　'Gudin　would　have　been　just　as　impressed。　That　was　a　fine　shot　of　yours。'
　'I　was　aiming　to　kill　the　bugger。'
　'You　were？'　Lawford　was　shocked。
　'Jesus　Christ；　Bill！　We　have　to　convince　these　buggers！'　Sharpe　smiled　as　the　girl　poured　more　liquor；　then　he　tipped　a　handful　of　small　brass　coins　into　a　wooden　bowl　on　the　table。　Another　bowl　held　a　strange　spice　which　the　otherdrinkers　nibbled　between　sips；　but　Sharpe　found　the　stuff　too　pungent。　Once　the　girl　was　gone　he　looked　at　the　troubled　Lieutenant。　'Did　you　think　this　was　going　to　be　easy？'
　Lawford　was　silent　for　a　few　seconds；　then　gave　a　shrug。　'In　truth　I　thought　it　would　be　impossible。'
　'So　why　did　you　e？'
　Lawford　cradled　the　glass　in　both　hands　and　stared　at　Sharpe　as　if　weighing　up　whether　or　not　to　answer。　'To　get　away　from　Morris；'　he　finally　confessed；　'and　for　the　excitement。'　He　seemed　embarrassed　to　admit　as　much。
　'Morris　is　a　bastard；'　Sharpe　said　feelingly。
　Lawford　frowned　at　the　criticism。　'He's　bored；'　he　said　chidingly；　then　he　steered　the　conversation　away　from　the　danger　area　of　criticizing　a　superior　officer。　'And　I　also　came　because　I　owe　gratitude　to　my　uncle。'
　'And　because　it　would　get　you　noticed？'
　Lawford　looked　up　with　some　surprise　on　his　face；　then　he　nodded。　'That　too。'
　'Same　as　me　then；'　Sharpe　said。　'Exact　same　as　me。　Except　till　the　General　said　you　was　ing　with　me　I　had　half　a　mind　to　run　proper。'
　Lawford　was　shocked　by　the　admission。　'You　really　wanted　to　desert？'
　'For　Christ's　sake！　What　do　you　think　it's　like　in　the　ranks　if　you've　got　an　officer　like　Morris　and　a　sergeant　like　Hakeswill？　Those　bastards　think　we're　just　bleeding　cattle；　but　we're　not。　Most　of　us　want　to　do　a　decent　job。　Not　too　decent；　maybe。　We　want　a　bit　of　money　and　a　bibbi　from　time　to　time；　but　we　don't　actually　enjoy　being　flogged。　And　we　can　fight　like　the　bloody　devil。　If　you　bastard　lot　started　trusting　us　instead　of　treating　us　like　the　enemy；　you'd　be　bloody　amazed　what　we　could　do。'
　Lawford　said　nothing。〃You've　got　some　good　men　in　the　pany；'　Sharpe　insisted。　'Tom　Garrard　is　a　better　soldier　than　half　the　officers
　in　the　battalion；　but　you　don't　even　notice　him。　If　a　man　can't　read　and　doesn't　speak　like　a　bleeding　choirboy　you　think　he　can't　be　trusted。'
　'The　army's　changing；'　Lawford　said　defensively。
　'Like　hell　it　is。　Why　do　you　make　us　powder　our　hair　like　bleeding　women？　Or　wear　that　bloody　stock？'
　'Change　takes　time；'　Lawford　said　weakly。
　'Too　much　bloody　time/　Sharpe　said　fervently；　then　leaned　against　the　wall　and　eyed　the　girls　who　were　cooking　at　the　tavern's　far　end。　Were　they　whores；　he　wondered？　Hickson　and　Blake　had　told　him　they　knew　where　the　best　whores　were；　then　he　remembered　Mary　and　suddenly　felt　guilty。　He　had　not　seen　her　once　since　their　arrival　in　Seringapatam；　but　nor　had　he　thought　that　much　about　her。　In　truth　he　was　having　too　good　a　time　here；　the　food　was　good；　the　liquor　cheap　and　the　pany　acceptable；　and　to　that　was　added　the　heady　spice　of　danger。　'After　that　brilliant　piece　of　sharpshooting；'　he　encouraged　Lawford；　'we're　going　to　be　all　right。　We'll　have　a　chance　to　get　out　of　here。'
　'What　about　Mrs　Bickerstaff　？'　Lawford　asked。
　'I　was　just　thinking　of　her。　And　maybe　you　were　right。　Maybe　I　shouldn't　have　brought　her。　Couldn't　leave　her　with　the　army　though；　could　I？　Not　with　Hakeswill　planning　to　sell　her　to　a　kin。'
　'A　kin？'
　'A　pimp。'
　'He　really　planned　that？'　Lawford　asked。
　'Him　and　Morris。　In　it　together；　they　were。　Bloody　Hakeswill　told　me　as　much；　the　night　he　got　me　to　hit　him。　And　Morris　was　there　with　that　little　bastard　Hicks；　just　waiting　for　me　to　do　it。　I　was　a　bloody　fool　to　fall　for　it；　but　there　it　is。''Can　you　prove　it？'
　'Prove　it！'　Sharpe　asked　derisively。　'Of　course　I　can't　prove　it；　but　it's　true。'　He　blew　out　a　rueful　breath。　'Just　what　am　I　going　to　do　with　Mary？'
　'Take　her　with　you；　of　course；'　Lawford　said　sternly。
　'Might　not　have　a　chance；'　Sharpe　said。
　Lawford　stared　at　him　for　a　few　seconds。　'God；　you're　ruthless；'　he　finally　said。
　'I'm　a　soldier。　It　fits。'　Sharpe　said　it　proudly；　but　he　was　not　proud；　merely　defiant。　What　was　he　to　do　with　Mary？　And　where　was　she？　He　drank　the　rest　of　his　arrack　and　clapped　his　hands　for　more。　'You　want　to　find　a　bibbi　tonight？'　he　asked　Lawford。
　'A　whore？'　Lawford　asked　in　horror。
　'I　don't　suppose　a　respectable　woman　will　help　us　out　much。　Not　unless　you　want　a　spot　of　polite　conversation。'
　Lawford　stared　aghast　at　Sharpe。　'What　we　should　do；'　the　Lieutenant　said　softly；　'is　find　this　man　Ravi　Shekhar。　He　may　have　a　way　of　getting　news　out　of　the　city。'
　'And　how　the　hell　are　we　supposed　to　find　him？'　Sharpe　asked　defiantly。　'We　can't　wander　the　bloody　streets　asking　for　this　fellow　in　English。　No　one　will　know　what　the　heck　we're　doing！　I'll　ask　Mary　to　find　him　when　we　see　her。'　He　grinned。　'Bugger　Shekhar。　How　about　a　bibbi　instead？'
　'Maybe　I'II　read。'
　'Your　choice；'　Sharpe　said　carelessly。
　Lawford　hesitated；　his　face　reddening。　'It's　just　that　I've　seen　men　with　the　pox；'　he　explained。
　'Christ！　You've　seen　men　vomit；　but　it　don't　stop　you　drinking。　Besides；　don't　worry　about　the　pox。　That's　why　God　gave　us　mercury。　The　stuff　worked　for　bloody　Hakeswill；　didn't　it？　Though　God　knows　why。