bcornwell.sharpstiger-第29部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　then　he　felt　a　spider　soft　touch　as　the　Tippoo　fingered　a　strip　of　hanging　skin。
　Then　a　sudden　pain　like　the　blow　of　a　red…hot　poker　slammed　through　Sharpe。　He　almost　cried　aloud；　but　instead　he　stiffened　and　flinched。　The　Tippoo　had　thrust　the　tiger　hilt　of　his　sword　against　the　deepest　wound　to　see　Sharpe's　reaction。　He　ordered　Sharpe　to　turn　around　and　peered　up　to　see　whether　there　were　any　tears　showing。　Tears　were　pricking　at　Sharpe's　eyes；　but　none　spilt　onto　his　cheeks。
　The　Tippoo　nodded　approval　and　stepped　back。　'So　tell　me　about　them；'　he　ordered　Gudin。
　'Ordinary　deserters；'　Gudin　said　in　French　to　the　interpreter。　'That　one'　…　he　indicated　Sharpe　…　'is　a　tough　soldier　who'd　probably　be　a　credit　to　any　army。　The　other　one's　just　a　clerk。'
　Lawford　tried　not　to　show　his　disapproval　of　the　judgement。　The　Tippoo　glanced　at　him；　saw　nothing　to　interest　him；　and　looked　at　Mary　instead。　'The　woman？'　he　asked　Gudin。
　'She's　with　the　tall　one；'　Gudin　said；　again　indicating　Sharpe；　then　waited　as　the　interpreter　turned　his　answer　into　Persian。
　The　Tippoo　gave　Mary　a　brief　inspection。　She　was　slouching；　trying　to　accentuate　her　drab；　bruised　and　dirty　appearance；　but　when　she　saw　his　pensive　gaze　she　became　flustered　and　tried　to　make　a　curtsey。　The　Tippoo　seemed　amused　by　the　gesture；　then　looked　back　to　Gudin。　'So　what　do　they　know　of　the　British　plans？'　he　asked；　gesturing　at　Lawford　and　Sharpe。
　'Nothing。'
　'They　say　they　know　nothing；'　the　Tippoo　corrected　Gudin。　'And　they're　not　spies？'
　Gudin　shrugged。　'How　can　one　tell？　But　I　think　not。'
　'I　think　we　can　tell；'　the　Tippoo　said。　'And　I　think　we　candiscover　what　kind　of　soldiers　they　are　too。'　He　turned　and　rapped　some　orders　to　an　aide；　who　bowed；　then　ran　out　of　the　courtyard。
　The　aide　returned　with　a　pair　of　hunting　muskets。　The　long…barrelled　weapons　were　like　no　guns　Sharpe　had　ever　seen；　for　their　stocks　were　crusted　with　jewels　and　inlaid　with　a　delicate　ivory　filigree。　The　jewelled　butts　had　an　extravagant　flair　at　their　shoulder　pieces　and　the　two　guns'　trigger　guards　were　rimmed　with　small　rubies。　The　dogheads　that　held　the　flints　had　been　fashioned　into　tiger　heads　with　diamonds　for　the　tigers'　eyes。　The　Tippoo　took　the　guns；　made　sure　their　flints　were　properly　seated　within　the　tiger　jaws；　then　tossed　one　gun　to　Lawford　and　the　other　to　Sharpe。　The　aide　then　placed　a　pot　filled　with　black　powder　on　the　ground　and　beside　it　a　pair　of　musket　balls　that　Sharpe　could　have　sworn　were　made　of　silver。　'Load　the　guns；'　the　interpreter　said。
　A　British　soldier；　like　any　other；　learned　to　load　with　a　paper　cartridge；　but　there　was　no　mystery　about　using　naked　powder　and　ball。　Plainly　the　Tippoo　wished　to　see　how　proficient　the　two　men　were　and；　while　Lawford　hesitated；　Sharpe　stooped　to　the　pot　and　took　out　a　handful　of　powder。　He　straightened　up　and　let　the　black　powder　trickle　down　the　gun's　chased　barrel。　The　powder　was　extraordinarily　fine　and　a　fair　bit　blew　away　on　the　small　wind；　but　he　had　enough　to　spare　and；　once　the　charge　was　safe　inside　the　barrel；　he　stooped　again；　picked　up　the　bullet；　shoved　it　into　the　muzzle　and　scraped　the　ramrod　out　of　its　three　golden　hoops。　He　twirled　the　ramrod；　let　it　slide　through　his　hand　onto　the　bullet　and　then　slammed　the　missile　hard　down　onto　the　powder　charge。　The　Tippoo　had　provided　no　wadding；　but　Sharpe　guessed　it　did　not　matter。　He　pulled　the　ramrod　out；　reversed　it　and　let　it　fall　into　the　precious　loops　beneath　the　long　barrel。　Then　he　stooped　again；　took　a　pinch　of　powder；　primed　the　gun；　closed　the　frizzen　and　stood　toattention　with　the　gun's　jewelled　butt　grounded　beside　him。　'Sir！'　he　said；　signifying　he　was　done。
　Lawford　was　still　trying　to　trickle　powder　into　the　muzzle。　The　Lieutenant　was　just　as　proficient　at　loading　a　gun　as　Sharpe；　but　being　an　officer　he　was　never　required　to　do　it　quickly；　for　that　was　the　one　indispensable　skill　of　a　private　soldier。　Lawford　only　loaded　guns　while　hunting；　but　in　the　army　he　had　a　servant　who　loaded　his　pistols　and　never　in　his　life　had　he　needed　to　be　quick　with　a　gun　and　now　he　demonstrated　a　lamentable　slowness。　'He　was　a　clerk；　sir；'　Sharpe　explained　to　Gudin。　He　paused　to　lick　the　powder　residue　off　his　fingers。　'He　never　needed　to　fight；　like。'
　The　interpreter　translated　the　words　for　the　Tippoo　who　waited　patiently　as　Lawford　finished　loading　the　musket。　The　Tippoo；　like　his　entourage；　was　amused　at　the　Englishman's　slowness；　but　Sharpe's　explanation　that　Lawford　had　been　a　clerk　seemed　to　convince　them。　Lawford　at　last　finished　and；　very　self…consciously；　stood　to　attention。
　'You　can　evidentiy　load；'　the　Tippoo　said　to　Sharpe；　'but　can　you　shoot？'
　'Aye；　sir；'　Sharpe　answered　the　interpreter。
　The　Tippoo　pointed　over　Sharpe's　shoulder。　'Then　shoot　him。'
　Sharpe　and　Lawford　both　turned　to　see　an　elderly　British　officer　being　escorted　through　the　courtyard's　gate。　The　man　was　weak　and　pale；　and　he　stumbled　as　the　bright　sunlight　struck　his　eyes。　He　cuffed　with　a　manacled　hand　at　his　face；　then　looked　up　and　recognized　Lawford。　For　a　second　an　expression　of　disbelief　crossed　his　face；　then　he　managed　to　hide　whatever　emotion　he　was　feeling。　The　officer　was　white…haired　and　dressed　in　a　kilt　and　red　jacket；　both　garments　stained　with　dust　and　damp；　and　Sharpe；　horrified　to　see　a　British　officer　so　dishevelled　and　humiliated；　presumed　this　had　to　be　Colonel　McCandless。
　'You　can't　shoot。　。　。'　Lawford　began。'Shut　up；　Bill；'　Sharpe　said　and　brought　the　musket　up　to　his　shoulder　and　swung　its　muzzle　to　face　the　horrified　Scots　officer。
　'Wait！'　Gudin　shouted；　then　spoke　urgently　to　the　Tippoo。
　The　Tippoo　laughed　away　Gudin's　protest。　Instead　he　had　his　interpreter　ask　Sharpe　what　he　thought　about　British　officers。
　'Scum；　sir；'　Sharpe　said　loudly　enough　for　Colonel　McCandless　to　hear。　'Goddamn　bloody　scum；　sir。　Think　they're　better　than　us　because　the　bastards　can　read　and　were　born　with　a　bit　of　money；　but　there　ain't　one　I　couldn't　beat　in　a　fight。'
　'You　are　willing　to　shoot　that　one？'　the　interpreter　asked。
　Td　pay　for　the　chance；'　Sharpe　said　vengefully。　Lawford　hissed　at　him；　but　Sharpe　ignored　the　warning。　'Pay　for　it；'　he　said　again。
　'His　Majesty　would　like　you　to　do　it　very　close；'　the　interpreter　said。　'He　wants　you　to　blow　the　man's　head　off。'
　'It'll　be　a　bloody　pleasure；'　Sharpe　said　enthusiastically。　He　cocked　the　gun　as　he　walked　towards　the　man　he　presumed　he　had　been　sent　to　save。　He　stared　at　McCandless　as　he　approached　and　there　was　nothing　but　brute　pleasure　on　Sharpe's　hard　face。　'Stuck…up　Scotch　bastard；'　Sharpe　spat　at　him。　He　looked　at　the　two　guards　who　still　flanked　the　Colonel。　'Move　out　the　way；　you　stupid　sods；　else　you'll　be　smothered　in　the　bastard's　blood。'　The　two　men　stared　blankly　at　him；　but　neither　moved　and　Sharpe　guessed　that　neither　man　spoke　any　English。　Doctor　Venkatesh；　who　had　been　trying　to　hide　in　the　gateway's　shadows；　shook　his　head　in　horror　at　what　was　about　to　happen。
　Sharpe　raised　the　musket　so　that　its　muzzle　was　no　more　than　six　inches　from　McCandless's　face。　'Any　message　for　General　Harris？'　he　asked　softly。
　McCandless　again　hid　his　reaction；　other　than　sparing　one　glance　at　Lawford。　Then　he　looked　back　to　Sharpe　and　spatat　him。　'Attack　anywhere　but　from　the　west；'　the　Scotsman　said　quietly；　and　then；　much　louder；　'May　God　forgive　you。'
　'Bugger　God；'　Sharpe　said；　then　pulled　the　trigger。　The　flint　fell；　it　snapped　its　spark　on　the　frizzen　and　nothing　else　happened。　McCandless's　face　jerked　back　as　the　flint　sparked；　then　an　expression　of　pure　relief　crossed　his　face。　Sharpe　hesitated　a　second；　then　drove　the　gun's　muzzle　into　the　Colonel's　belly。　The　blow　looked　hard；　but　he　checked　it　at　the　last　moment。　McCandless　still　doubled　over；　gasping；　and　Sharpe　raised　the　jewelled　butt　to　bring　it　hard　down　on　the　officer's　grey　head。
　'Stop！'　Gudin　shouted。
　Sharpe　paused　and　turned。　'I　thought　you　wanted　the　bugger　dead。'
　The　Tippoo　laughed。　'We　need　him　alive　for　a　while。　But　you　passed　your　test。'　He　turned　and　spoke　to　Gudin；　and　Gudin　answered　vigorously。　It　seemed　to　Sharpe　mat　they　were　discussing　his　fate；　and　he　prayed　he　would　be　spared　a　painful　initiation　into　one　of　the　Tippoo's　cushoons。　Another　Indian　officer；　a　tall　man　in　a　silk　tunic　decorated　with　the　Tippoo's　tiger　stripes；　was　talking　to　Mary　while　Sharpe　still　stood　above　the　crouching　McCandless。
　'Did　Harris　send　you？〃　McCandless　asked　softly。
　'Yes；'　Sharpe　hissed；　not　looking　at　the　Colonel。　Mary　was　shaking　her　head。　She　glanced　at　Sharpe；　then　looked　back　to　the　tall　Indian。
　'Beware　the　west；'　McCandless　whispered。　'Nothing　else。'　The　Scotsman　groaned；　pretending　to　be　in　much　more　pain　than　he　was。　He　retched　dryly；　tried　to　stand　and　instead　toppled　over。　'You're　a　traitor；'　he　said　loudly　enough　for　Gudin　to　hear　him；　'and　you'll　die　a　traitor's　death。'
　Sharpe　spat　on　McCandless。　'e　here；　Sharpe！'　Gudin；　disapproval　plain　in　his　voice；　ordered　him。
　Sharpe　marched　back　to　Lawford's　side　where　one　of　theTippoo's　attendants　took　back　the　two　muskets。　The　Tippoo　gestured　at　McCandless's　guards；　evidently　signifying　that　the　Scotsman　was　to　be　returned　to　his　cell。　The　Tippoo　then　gave　Sharpe　an　approving　nod　before　turning　and　leading　his　entourage　out　of　the　courtyard。　The　tall　Indian　in　the　silk　tiger　stripes　beckoned　to　Mary。
　Tm　to　go　with　him；　love；'　she　explained　to　Sharpe。
　'I　thought　you　were　staying　with　me！'　Sharpe　protested。
　'I'm　to　earn　my　keep；'　she　said。　'I'm　to　teach　his　little　sons　English。　And　sweep　and　wash；　of　course；'　she　added　bitterly。
　Colonel　Gudin　intervened。　'She　will　join　you　later；'　he　told　Sharpe。　'But　for　now　you　are　both；　how　do　you　say　it？　On　test？'
　'Probation；　sir？'　Lawford　offered。
　'Exactly；'　Gudin　said。　'And　soldiers　on　probation　are　not　permitted　wives。　Don't　worry；　Sharpe。　I'm　sure　your　woman　will　be　safe　in　General　Rao's　house。　Now　go；　Mademoiselle。'
　Mary　stood　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　Sharpe's　cheek。　'I'll　be　all　right；　love；'　she　whispered；　'and　so　will　you。'
　'Look　after　yourself；　lass；'　Sharpe　said；　and　watched　her　follow　the　tall　Indian　officer　out　of　the　courtyard。
　Gudin　gestured　towards　the　archway。　'We