bcornwell.sharpstiger-第40部分

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ast　sudden　flame　that　licked　across　Hakeswill's　blue…eyed　face。　The　Sergeant　screamed；　dropped　the　halberd　and　clapped　his　hands　to　his　eyes。　To　his　surprise　he　discovered　he　could　still　see　and　that　his　face　was　not　badly　burned；　but　in　his　panic　he　had　stumbled　past　Sharpe　and　so　now　he　turned　back　and；　as　he　did　so；　he　dragged　a　pistol　out　of　his　belt。
　Just　then　a　squad　of　redcoats　burst　into　the　clearing。　The　burning　carcass　of　the　rocket　showed　that　they　were　men　from　the　33rd's　Grenadier　pany　who　were　as　lost　as　every　other　redcoat　on　this　night　of　chaos。　One　of　the　grenadiers　saw　Sharpe　who；　in　his　tiger…striped　tunic；　was　scrambling　to　his　feet。　The　grenadier　raised　his　gun。　'Leave　the　bastard！'　Hakeswill　screamed。　'He's　mine！'
　Then　a　volley　of　musketry　flamed　from　the　trees　and　half　of　the　grenadiers　spun　round　or　were　hurled　backwards。　Blood　hissed　in　the　fiery　remnants　of　the　rocket　as　a　pany　of　tiger…striped　troops　burst　out　of　the　trees。　Colonel　Gudin　and　Sergeant　Rothiere　led　them。　Hakeswill　turned　to　run　at　the　sight　of　the　enemy；　but　one　of　the　Tippoo's　men　lunged　forward　with　a　bayonet…tipped　musket　and　succeeded　in　driving　the　Sergeant　down　to　the　ground　where　he　first　twisted　frantically　aside；　then　screamed　for　mercy。　Gudin　ran　pastthe　fallen　Hakeswill。　'Well　done；　Sharpe；'　Gudin　called。　'Well　done！　Stop　that！　Stop　that！'　These　last　orders　were　to　the　Tippoo's　men　who　had　enthusiastically　begun　to　bayonet　the　surviving　grenadiers。　'We　take　prisoners！'　Gudin　roared。　'Prisoners！'　Rothiere　knocked　a　bayonet　aside　to　stop　the　soldier　from　slaughtering　Hakeswill。
　Sharpe　was　cursing。　He　had　so　nearly　got　clean　away！　If　Hakeswill　had　not　attacked　him　he　might　have　run　another　fifty　yards　through　the　trees；　discarded　the　tiger…striped　tunic　and　discovered　some　of　his　old　friends。　Instead　he　had　bee　a　hero　to　Gudin　who　believed　that　Sharpe　had　lured　all　the　grenadiers　into　the　clearing　where　the　twelve　who　had　survived　the　enthusiastic　attack　were　now　prisoners　along　with　the　twitching　and　cursing　Hakeswill。
　'You　took　a　terrible　risk；　Corporal！'　Gudin　said；　ing　back　to　Sharpe　and　sheathing　his　sword。　'You　could　have　been　shot　by　your　old　friends。　But　it　worked；　eh？　And　now　you　are　a　corporal！'
　'Aye；　sir。　It　worked；'　Sharpe　said；　though　he　took　no　pleasure　in　it。　It　had　all　gone　so　disastrously　wrong；　indeed　the　whole　night　had　gone　disastrously　wrong　for　the　British。　The　Tippoo's　men　were　now　clearing　the　tope　yard　by　yard；　and　chasing　British　survivors　back　across　the　aqueduct。　They　pursued　the　beaten　fugitives　with　jeers；　volleys　of　musket　fire　and　salvoes　of　rockets。　Thirteen　prisoners　had　been　taken；　all　by　Sharpe　and　Gudin；　and　those　unfortunate　men　were　herded　back　towards　the　city　while　the　redcoat　dead　were　looted　for　weapons　and　valuables。
　'I'Il　make　sure　the　Tippoo　hears　of　your　bravery；　Sharpe；'　Gudin　said　as　he　retrieved　his　horse。　'He's　a　brave　man　himself　and　he　admires　it　in　others。　I　don't　doubt　he'll　want　to　reward　you！'
　'Thank　you；　sir；'　Sharpe　said；　though　without　enthusiasm。
　'You're　not　wounded；　are　you？'　Gudin　asked　anxiously；　struck　by　the　forlorn　tone　of　Sharpe's　voice。'Burned　my　hand；　sir；'　Sharpe　said。　He　had　not　realized　it　when　he　snatched　up　the　rocket　tube　to　fend　off　Hakeswill；　but　the　metal　cylinder　had　scorched　his　hand；　though　not　badly。　'Nothing　much；'　he　added。　'I'Il　live。'
　'Of　course　you'll　live；'　Gudin　said；　then　laughed　delightedly。　'Gave　them　a　beating；　didn't　we？'
　'Trounced　'em　proper；　sir。'
　'And　we'll　trounce　them　again；　Sharpe；　when　they　attack　the　city。　They　don't　know　what's　waiting　for　them！'
　'What　is　waiting　for　them；　sir？'　Sharpe　asked。
　'You'll　see。　You'll　see；'　Gudin　said；　then　hauled　himself　up　into　his　saddle。　Sergeant　Rothiere　wanted　to　stay　in　the　tope　to　retrieve　British　muskets；　so　the　Colonel　insisted　that　Sharpe　ride　the　second　horse　back　to　the　city　with　the　disconsolate　prisoners　who　were　under　the　guard　of　a　gleeful　pany　of　the　Tippoo's　troops。
　Hakeswill　looked　up　at　Sharpe　and　spat。　'Bloody　traitor！'
　'Ignore　him；'　Gudin　said。
　'Snake！'　Hakeswill　hissed。　'Piece　of　no…good　shit；　that's　what　you　are；　Sharpie。　Jesus　Christ！'　This　last　imprecation　was　because　one　of　the　escorting　soldiers　had　hit　the　back　of　Hakeswill's　head　with　a　musket　barrel。　'Black　bastard；'　Hakeswill　muttered。
　'I'd　like　to　kick　his　bloody　teeth　in；　sir；'　Sharpe　said　to　Gudin。　'In　fact；　if　you've　no　objection；　sir；　I'll　take　the　bastard　into　the　dark　and　finish　him　off。'
　Gudin　sighed。　'I　do　object；'　the　Colonel　said　mildly；　'because　it's　rather　important　we　treat　prisoners　well；　Sharpe。　I　sometimes　fear　the　Tippoo　doesn't　understand　the　courtesies　of　war；　but　so　far　I've　managed　to　persuade　him　that　if　we　treat　our　prisoners　properly　then　our　enemies　will　treat　theirs　properly　in　return。'
　'Id　still　like　to　kick　the　bastard's　teeth　in；　sir。'
　'I　assure　you　the　Tippoo　might　do　that　without　any　help　from　you；'　Gudin　said　grimly。Sharpe　and　the　Colonel　spurred　ahead　of　the　prisoners　to　cross　the　bridge　back　to　the　city　where　they　dismounted　at　the　Mysore　Gate。　Sharpe　handed　the　mare's　reins　to　Gudin　who　thanked　him　yet　again　and　tossed　him　a　whole　golden　haideri　as　a　reward。　'Go　and　get　drunk；　Sharpe；'　the　Colonel　said；　'you　deserve　it。'
　'Thank　you；　sir。'
　'And　believe　me；　I'll　tell　the　Tippoo。　He　admires　bravery！'
　Lieutenant　Lawford　was　among　the　curious　crowd　who　waited　just　inside　the　gate。　'What　happened？'　he　asked　Sharpe。
　'I　buggered　up；'　Sharpe　said　bitterly。　'I　bloody　well　buggered　it　up。　e　on；　let's　spend　some　money。　Get　drunk。'
　'No；　wait。'　Lawford　had　seen　the　redcoats　ing　through　the　flame　light　of　the　gate　torches　and　he　pulled　away　from　Sharpe　to　watch　as　the　thirteen　prisoners　were　pushed　at　bayonet　point　into　the　city。　The　crowd　began　jeering。
　'e　away！'　Sharpe　insisted　and　he　tugged　at　Lawford's　elbow。
　Lawford　shook　off　the　tug　and　stared　at　the　prisoners；　unable　to　hide　his　chagrin　at　the　sight　of　British　soldiers　being　herded　into　captivity。　Then　he　recognized　Hakeswill　who；　at　the　same　instant；　stared　into　the　Lieutenant's　face；　and　Sharpe　saw　Hakeswill's　look　of　utter　astonishment。　For　a　second　the　world　seemed　to　pause　in　its　turning。　Lawford　appeared　unable　to　move；　while　Hakeswill　was　gaping　with　disbelief　and　seemed　about　to　shout　his　recognition。　Sharpe　was　reaching　to　snatch　a　musket　from　one　of　the　Tippoo's　infantrymen；　but　then　Hakeswill　turned　deliberately　away　and　posed　his　features　as　though　sending　a　silent　message　that　he　would　not　remark　on　Lawford's　presence。　The　twelve　grenadier　prisoners　were　still　a　few　yards　behind　and　Lawford；　suddenly　realizing　that　yet　more　men　of　his　battalion　might　recognize　him；　at　last　turned　away。　He　pulled　Sharpe　with　him。　Sharpe　protested。　'I　want　to　kill　Hakeswill！'
　'e　on！'　Lawford　hurried　down　an　alley。　The　Lieutenanthad　gone　pale。　He　stopped　beside　the　arched　doorway　of　a　small　temple　that　was　surmounted　by　a　carving　of　a　cow　resting　beneath　a　parasol。　Little　flames　sputtered　inside　the　sanctuary。　'Will　he　say　anything？'　Lawford　asked。
　'That　bastard？'　Sharpe　said。　'Anything's　possible。'
　'Surely　not。　He　wouldn't　betray　us；'　Lawford　said；　then　shuddered。　'What　happened；　for　God's　sake？'
　Sharpe　told　him　of　the　night's　events　and　how　close　he　had　e　to　making　a　clean　break　back　to　the　British　lines。　Tt　were　bloody　Hakeswill　that　stopped　me；'　he　plained。
　'He　could　have　misunderstood　you；'　Lawford　said。
　'Not　him。'
　'But　what　happens　if　he　does　betray　us？'　Lawford　asked。
　'Then　we　join　your　uncle　in　the　bloody　cells；'　Sharpe　said　gloomily。　'You　should　have　let　me　shoot　the　bastard　back　at　the　gate。'
　'Don't　be　a　fool！'　Lawford　snapped。　'You're　still　in　the　army；　Sharpe。　So　am　I。'　He　suddenly　shook　his　head。　'God　Almighty！'　he　swore。　'We　need　to　find　Ravi　Shekhar。'
　'Why？'
　'Because　if　we　can't　get　the　news　out；　then　maybe　he　can！'　Lawford　said　angrily。　His　anger　was　at　himself。　He　had　been　so　beguiled　by　exploring　the　existence　of　a　mon　soldier　that　he　had　forgotten　his　duty；　and　that　dereliction　now　filled　him　with　guilt。　'We　have　to　find　him；　Sharpe！'
　'How？　We　can't　ask　in　the　streets　for　him！'
　'Then　find　Mrs　Bickerstaff；'　Lawford　said　urgently。　'Find　her；　Sharpe！'　He　lowered　his　voice。　'And　that's　an　order。'
　'I　outrank　you；'　Sharpe　said。
　Lawford　turned　on　him　furiously。　'What　did　you　say？'
　'I'm　a　corporal　now；　Private。'　Sharpe　grinned。
　'This　is　not　a　joke；　Sharpe！'　Lawford　snapped。　There　was　a　sudden　authority　in　his　voice。　'We're　not　here　to　enjoy　ourselves。　We're　here　to　do　a　job。'
　'We've　done　it　bloody　well　so　far；'　Sharpe　said　defensively。'No；　we　haven't；'　Lawford　said　firmly。　'Because　we　haven't　got　the　news　out；　have　we？　And　until　we　do　that；　Sharpe；　we've　achieved　nothing。　Absolutely　nothing。　So　talk　to　your　woman　and　tell　her　what　we　know　and　get　her　to　find　Shekhar。　That's　an　order；　Private　Sharpe。　So　do　it！'　Lawford　abruptly　turned　and　stalked　away。
　Sharpe　felt　the　forting　weight　of　the　haideri　in　his　tunic　pocket。　He　thought　about　following　Lawford；　then　decided　to　hell　with　it。　Tonight　he　could　afford　the　best　and　life　was　too　short　to　pass　up　that　sort　of　chance。　He　decided　he　would　go　back　to　the　brothel。　He　had　liked　the　place；　a　house　filled　with　curtains；　rugs　and　shaded　oil　lamps　where　two　giggling　girls　had　given　Lawford　and　Sharpe　baths　before　letting　them　go　up　the　stairs　to　the　bedrooms。　A　haideri　would　buy　a　whole　night　in　one　of　those　rooms；　perhaps　with　Lali；　the　tall　girl　who　had　left　Lieutenant　Lawford　exhausted　and　guilt…ridden。
　So　he　went　to　spend　his　gold。
　
　The　33rd　marched　unhappily　back　to　the　encampment。　The　wounded　were　carried　or　limped　back　and　one　man　cried　out　every　time　he　put　his　left　foot　down；　but　otherwise　the　battalion　was　silent。　They　had　been　whipped；　and　the　distant　jeers　of　the　Tippoo's　men　rubbed　salt　into　their　wounds。　A　last　few　rockets　pursued　them；　their　flames　streaking　wildly　askew　across　the　stars。
　The　Grenadier　and　Light　panies　had　taken　the　casualties。　Men　were　missing　and　Wellesley　knew　that　some　of　those　missing　were　dead　and　he　feared　that　others　were　prisoners　or　else　still　lying　wounded　among　the　dark　trees。　The　remaining　eight　panies　of　the　battali