bcornwell.sharpstiger-第15部分

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it　was　still　important　to　let　the　army　know　that　the　Colonel　had　been　captured。　McCandless　was　not　a　vain　man；　but　he　knew　his　own　value；　and　he　had　left　some　careful　instructions　that　might　retrieve　some　of　the　damage　of　his　capture。　Those　instructions　offered　a　chance　for　the　army　to　rescue　McCandless；　and　that　dangerous　expedient　was　now　the　Scotsman's　only　hope　of　passing　on　Appah　Rao's　message。　'Go！'　McCandless　roared　as　loudly　as　he　could。
　The　Havildar　was　caught　between　his　duty　to　his　men　and　his　duty　to　obey　McCandless's　orders。　He　hesitated；　and　two　of　the　pursuers　swerved　aside　to　pounce　on　him。　That　made　up　his　mind。　He　clapped　his　spurs　back；　charged　the　pursuers；　touched　the　rein　at　the　last　moment　and　swung　his　sabre　as　he　went　past　the　two　men。　The　blade　sliced　across　the　nape　of　the　nearer　man's　neck　and　then　the　Havildar　curved　away　northwards；　galloping　free　while　the　rest　of　the　enemy　gathered　about　the　survivors　for　the　kill。
　McCandless　threw　down　his　pistol　and　carbine；　drew　his　heavy　claymore　and　walked　towards　the　melee。　He　never　reached　it；　for　an　enemy　officer　detached　himself　from　the　clash　of　sabres　and　turned　his　horse　to　meet　the　Scotsman。　The　Mysorean　officer　sheathed　his　sabre；　then　mutely　held　out　his　right　hand　for　McCandless's　blade。　Behind　him　the　sabres　and　lances　worked　briefly；　then　the　small　fight　was　over　and　McCandless　knew　that　his　escort；　all　but　the　Havildar；　was　dead。　He　looked　at　the　horseman　above　him。　'This　sword；'　he　said　bitterly；　'belonged　to　my　father　and　to　his　father。'　He　spoke　in　English。　'This　sword；'　McCandless　said；　'was　carried　for　Charles　Stuart　at　Culloden。'The　officer　said　nothing；　just　held　his　hand　out；　his　eyes　steady　on　McCandless。　The　Scotsman　slowly　reversed　his　blade；　then　held　the　hilt　upwards。　The　Mysorean　officer　took　it　and　seemed　surprised　by　the　claymore's　weight。　'What　were　you　doing　here？'　the　officer　asked　in　Kanarese。
　'Do　you　speak　English？'　McCandless　asked　in　that　tongue；　determined　to　hide　his　knowledge　of　India's　languages。
　The　officer　shrugged。　He　looked　at　the　old　claymore　then　slid　it　into　his　sash。　His　men；　their　horses　white　with　sweat；　gathered　excitedly　to　stare　at　the　captured　heathen。　They　saw　an　old　man　and　some　wondered　if　they　had　captured　the　enemy's　General；　but　the　captive　seemed　to　speak　no　language　any　of　them　knew　and　so　his　identity　would　have　to　wait。　He　was　given　one　of　his　dead　escort's　horses　and　then；　as　the　sun　climbed　towards　its　daily　furnace　heat；　McCandless　was　taken　west　towards　the　Tippoo's　stronghold。
　While　behind　him　the　vultures　circled　and　at　last；　sure　that　nothing　lived　where　the　dust　and　flies　had　settled　on　the　newly　made　corpses；　flew　down　for　dieir　feast。
　
　It　took　two　days　to　convene　the　court　martial。　The　army　could　not　spare　the　time　in　its　march　for　the　business　to　be　done　immediately　and　so　Captain　Morris　had　to　wait　until　the　great　ponderous　horde　was　given　a　half…day's　rest　to　allow　the　straggling　herds　to　catch　up　with　the　main　armies。　Only　then　was　there　time　to　assemble　the　officers　and　have　Private　Sharpe　brought　into　Major　Shee's　tent　which　had　one　of　its　sides　brailed　up　to　make　more　space。　Captain　Morris　laid　the　charge　and　Sergeant　Hakeswill　and　Ensign　Hicks　gave　evidence。
　Major　John　Shee　was　irritable。　The　Major　was　irritable　at　the　best　of　times；　but　the　need　to　stay　at　least　apparently　sober　had　only　shortened　his　already　short　Irish　temper。　He　did　not；　in　truth；　enjoy　manding　the　33rd。　Major　Shee　suspected；　when　he　was　sober　enough　to　suspect　anything；that　he　did　the　job　badly　and　that　suspicion　had　given　rise　to　a　haunting　fear　of　mutiny；　and　mutiny；　to　Major　Shee's　befuddled　mind；　was　signalled　by　any　sign　of　disrespect　for　established　authority。　Private　Sharpe　was　plainly　a　man　who　brimmed　over　with　such　disrespect　and　the　offence　with　which　he　was　charged　was　plain　and　the　remedy　just　as　obvious；　but　the　court　proceedings　were　delayed　because　Lieutenant　Lawford；　who　should　have　spoken　for　Sharpe；　was　not　present。　'Then　where　the　devil　is　he？'　Shee　demanded。
　Captain　Fillmore；　mander　of　the　fourth　pany；　spoke　for　Lawford。　'He　was　summoned　to　General　Harris's　tent；　sir。'
　Shee　frowned　at　Fillmore。　'He　knew　he　was　supposed　to　be　here？'
　'Indeed；　sir。　But　the　General　insisted。'
　'And　we're　just　supposed　to　twiddle　our　thumbs　while　he　takes　tea　with　the　General？'　Shee　demanded。
　Captain　Fillmore　glanced　through　the　tent's　open　side　as　if　he　hoped　to　see　Lawford　hurrying　towards　the　court　martial；　but　there　were　only　sentries　to　be　seen。　'Lieutenant　Lawford　did　ask　me　to　assure　the　court；　sir；　that　Private　Sharpe　is　a　most　reliable　man；'　Fillmore　said；　fearing　that　he　was　not　doing　a　very　good　job　of　defending　the　unfortunate　prisoner。　'The　Lieutenant　would　have　spoken　most　forcibly　for　the　prisoner's　character；　sir；　and　begged　the　court　to　grant　him　the　benefit　of　any　doubt。'
　'Doubt？'　Shee　snapped。　〃What　doubt　is　diere？　He　struck　a　sergeant；　he　was　seen　doing　it　by　two　officers；　and　you　think　there's　doubt？　It's　an　open…and…shut　case！　That's　what　it　is；　open　and　shut！'
　Fillmore　shrugged。　'Ensign　Fitzgerald　would　also　like　to　say　something。'
　Shee　glared　at　Fitzgerald。　'Not　much　to　say；　Ensign；　I　trust？'
　'Whatever　it　might　take；　sir；　to　prevent　a　miscarriage　ofjustice。'　Fitzgerald；　young　and　confident；　stood　and　smiled　at　his　manding　officer　and　fellow　Irishman。　'I　doubt　we've　a　better　soldier　in　the　regiment；　sir；　and　I　suspect　Private　Sharpe　was　given　provocation。'
　'Captain　Morris　says　not；'　Shee　insisted；　'and　so　does　Ensign　Hicks。'
　'I　cannot　contradict　the　Captain；　sir；'　Fitzgerald　said　blandly；　'but　I　was　drinking　with　Timothy　Hicks　earlier　that　evening；　sir；　and　if　his　eyes　weren't　crossed　by　midnight　then　he　must　possess　a　belly　like　a　Flanders　cauldron。'
　Shee　looked　dangerously　belligerent。　'Are　you　accusing　a　fellow　officer　of　being　under　the　influence　of　liquor？'
　Fitzgerald　reckoned　that　most　of　the　33rd's　mess　was　ever　under　the　influence　of　arrack；　rum　or　brandy；　but　he　also　knew　better　than　to　say　as　much。　'I'm　just　agreeing　with　Captain　Fillmore；　sir；　that　we　should　give　Private　Sharpe　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。'
　'Doubt？'　Shee　spat。　'There　is　no　doubt！　Open　and　shut！'　He　gestured　at　Sharpe　who　stood　hatless　in　front　of　his　escort。　Flies　crawled　on　Sharpe's　face；　but　he　was　not　allowed　to　brush　them　away。　Shee　seemed　to　shudder　at　the　thought　of　Sharpe's　villainy。　'He　struck　a　sergeant　in　full　view　of　two　officers；　and　you　think　there's　doubt　about　what　happened？'
　'I　do；　sir；'　Fitzgerald　declared　forcibly。　'Indeed　I　do。'
　Sergeant　Hakeswill's　face　twitched。　He　watched　Fitzgerald　with　loathing。　Major　Shee　stared　at　Fitzgerald　for　a　few　seconds；　then　shook　his　head　as　though　questioning　the　Ensign's　sanity。
　Captain　Fillmore　tried　one　last　time。　Fillmore　doubted　the　evidence　of　Morris　and　Hicks；　and　he　had　never　trusted　Hakeswill；　but　he　knew　Shee　could　never　be　persuaded　to　take　the　word　of　a　private　against　that　of　two　officers　and　a　sergeant。　'Might　I　beg　the　court；'　Fillmore　said　respectfully；　'to　suspend　judgment　until　Lieutenant　Lawford　can　speak　for　the　prisoner？''What　can　Lawford　say；　in　the　name　of　God？'　Shee　demanded。　There　was　a　flask　of　arrack　waiting　in　his　baggage　and　he　wanted　to　get　these　proceedings　over　and　done。　He　had　a　brief；　muttered　conversation　with　his　two　fellow　judges；　both　of　them　field　officers　from　other　regiments；　then　glared　at　the　prisoner。　'You're　a　damned　villain；　Sharpe；　and　the　army　has　no　need　of　villains。　If　you　can't　respect　audiority；　then　don't　expect　authority　to　respect　you。　Two　thousand　lashes。'　He　ignored　the　shudder　of　astonishment　and　horror　that　some　of　the　onlookers　gave　and　looked　instead　at　the　Sergeant　Major。　'How　soon　can　it　be　done？'
　'This　afternoon's　as　good　a　time　as　any；　sir；'　Bywaters　answered　stolidly。　He　had　expected　a　flogging　verdict；　though　not　as　severe　as　this；　and　he　had　already　made　the　necessary　arrangements。
　Shee　nodded。　'Parade　the　battalion　in　two　hours。　These　proceedings　are　over。'　He　gave　Sharpe　one　foul　glance；　then　pushed　his　chair　back。　He　would　need　some　arrack；　Shee　thought；　if　he　was　to　sit　his　horse　in　the　sun　through　two　thousand　lashes。　Maybe　he　should　have　only　given　one　thousand；　for　a　thousand　lashes　were　as　liable　to　kill　as　two；　but　it　was　too　late　now；　the　verdict　was　given；　and　Shee's　only　hope　of　respite　from　the　dreadful　heat　was　his　hope　that　the　prisoner　would　die　long　before　the　awful　punishment　was　finished。
　Sharpe　was　kept　under　guard。　His　sentinels　were　not　men　from　his　own　battalion；　but　six　men　from　the　King's　iath　who　did　not　know　him　and　who　could　therefore　be　trusted　not　to　connive　in　his　escape。　They　kept　him　in　a　makeshift　pen　behind　Shee's　tent　and　no　one　spoke　to　Sharpe　there　until　Sergeant　Green　arrived。　'I'm　sorry　about　this；　Sharpie；'　Green　said；　stepping　over　the　ammunition　boxes　that　formed　the　crude　walls　of　the　pen。
　Sharpe　was　sitting　with　his　back　against　the　boxes。　He　shrugged。　'I've　been　whipped　before；　Sergeant。''Not　in　the　army；　lad；　not　in　the　army。　Here。'　Green　held　out　a　canteen。　'It's　rum。'
　Sharpe　uncorked　the　canteen　and　drank　a　good　slug　of　the　liquor。　'I　didn't　do　nothing　anyway；'　he　said　sullenly。
　'Maybe；　maybe　not；'　Green　said；　'but　the　more　you　drink　the　less　you'll　feel。　Finish　it；　lad。'
　'Tomkins　says　you　don't　feel　a　damn　thing　after　the　first　thirty；'　Sharpe　said。
　'I　hope　he's　right；　lad；　I　hope　he's　right；　but　you　drink　that　rum　anyway。'　Green　took　off　his　shako　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　bald　head　with　a　scrap　of　rag。
　Sharpe　tipped　the　canteen　again。　'And　where　was　Mister　Lawford？'　he　asked　bitterly。
　'You　heard；　son。　He　was　called　off　to　see　the　General。'　Green　hesitated。　'But　what　could　he　have　said　anyway？'　he　added。
　Sharpe　leaned　his　head　against　the　box…built　wall。　'He　could　have　said　that　Morris　is　a　lying　bastard　and　that　Hicks　will　say　anything　to　please　him。'
　'No；　he　couldn't　say　that；　lad；　and　you　know　it。'　Green　filled　a　clay　pipe　with　tobacco　and　lit　it　with　his　tinderbox。　He　sat　on　the　ground　opposite　Sharpe　and　saw　the　fear　in　the　younger　man's　eyes。　Sharpe　was　doing　his　best　to　hide　it；　but　it　was　plainly　there　and　so　it　should　be；　for　only　a　foo