bcornwell.sharpstiger-第38部分

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　injured　more　badly　than　he　had　supposed。　He　had　ordered　a　manto　tie　a　handkerchief　round　the　wound　and　hoped　the　pressure　would　staunch　the　blood。　The　thought　of　gangrene　was　nagging　at　him；　but　he　pushed　that　worry　away　to　concentrate　on　keeping　his　men　alive。　'Sergeant　Green？'
　'Sir？'　Green　responded　stoically。
　'Stay　with　the　men　here；　Sergeant；'　Fitzgerald　ordered。　The　Irishman　had　led　a　score　of　the　Light　pany　deep　into　the　tope　and　he　saw　no　point　in　surrendering　the　ground　just　because　Morris　was　nervous。　Besides；　Fitzgerald　was　fairly　sure　that　the　Tippoo's　troops　were　just　as　confused　as　the　British　and　if　Green　stayed　steady　and　used　volley　fire　he　should　be　safe　enough。　'I'Il　bring　the　rest　of　the　pany　back　here；'　Fitzgerald　promised　Sergeant　Green；　then　the　Lieutenant　turned　and　called　back　through　the　trees。　'Where　are　you；　sir？'
　'Here！'　Morris　called　irritably。　'Hurry；　damn　you！'
　'Back　in　a　minute；　Sergeant；'　Fitzgerald　reassured　Green；　and　headed　off　through　the　trees　in　search　of　Morris。
　He　strayed　too　far　north；　and　suddenly　a　rocket　flared　up　from　the　tope's　eastern　edge　to　lodge　with　a　tearing　crash　among　the　tangling　branches　of　a　tall　tree。　For　a　few　seconds　the　trapped　missile　thrashed　wildly；　startling　scared　birds　up　into　the　dark；　then　it　became　firmly　wedged　in　the　crook　of　a　branch。　The　exhaust　poured　an　impotent　torrent　of　fire　and　smoke　to　illuminate　a　whole　patch　of　the　thick　woodland；　and　in　the　sudden　blaze　Hakeswill　saw　the　Lieutenant　stumbling　towards　him。　'Mister　Fitzgerald！'　Hakeswill　called。
　'Sergeant　Hakeswill？'　Fitzgerald　asked。
　'It's　me；　sir。　Right　here；　sir。　This　way；　sir。'
　'Thank　God。'　Fitzgerald　crossed　the　clearing　at　a　run；　his　left　arm　hanging　useless　at　his　side。　'No　one　knows　what　the　hell　they're　doing。　Or　where　they　are。'
　'I　know　what　I'm　doing；　sir；'　Hakeswill　said；　and　as　the　fierce　crackling　fire　in　the　high　leaves　died　away　he　lunged　upwards　with　the　halberd's　spear　point　at　the　Lieutenant'sbelly。　His　face　twitched　as　the　newly　sharpened　blade　ripped　through　the　Lieutenant's　clothes　and　into　his　stomach。　'It　isn't　the　soldierly　thing；　sir；　to　contradict　a　sergeant　in　front　of　his　men；　sir；'　he　said　respectfully。　'You　do　understand　that；　sir；　don't　you；　sir？'　Hakeswill　said；　and　grinned　with　joy　for　the　pleasure　of　the　moment。　The　spear　point　was　deep　in　Fitzgerald's　belly；　so　deep　that　Hakeswill　was　certain　he　had　felt　its　razor…sharp　point　lodge　against　the　man's　backbone。　Fitzgerald　was　on　the　ground　now　and　his　body　was　jerking　like　a　gaffed　and　landed　fish。　His　mouth　was　opening　and　closing；　but　he　seemed　unable　to　speak；　only　to　moan　as　Hakeswill　gave　the　spear　a　savage　twist　in　an　effort　to　free　its　blade。　'We　is　talking　about　proper　respect；　sir；'　Hakeswill　hissed　at　the　Lieutenant。　'Respect！　Sergeants　must　be　supported；　sir；　says　so　in　the　scriptures；　sir。　Don't　worry；　sir；　won't　hurt；　sir。　Just　a　prick；'　and　he　jerked　the　bloodied　blade　free　and　thrust　it　down　again；　this　time　into　the　Lieutenant's　throat。　'Won't　be　showing　me　up　again；　sir；　will　you；　sir？　Not　in　front　of　the　men。　Sorry　about　that；　sir。　And　good　night；　sir。'
　'Fitzgerald！'　Morris　shouted　frantically。　'For　Christ's　sake；　Lieutenant！　Where　the　hell　are　you？'
　'He's　gone　to　hell。'　Hakeswill　chuckled　softly。　He　was　searching　the　Lieutenant's　body　for　coins。　He　dared　not　take　anything　that　might　be　recognized　as　the　Lieutenant's　property；　so　he　left　the　dead　man's　sabre　and　the　gilded　gorget　he　had　worn　about　his　throat；　but　he　did　find　a　handful　of　unidentifiable　small　change　which　he　pushed　into　his　pouch　before　scrambling　a　few　feet　away　to　make　sure　no　one　saw　him　with　his　victim。
　〃Who's　that？'　Morris　called　as　he　heard　Hakeswill　pushing　through　the　undergrowth。
　'Me；　sir！'　Hakeswill　called。　'I'm　looking　for　Lieutenant　Fitzgerald；　sir。'
　'e　here　instead！'　Morris　snapped。Hakeswill　ran　the　last　few　yards　and　dropped　down　between　Morris　and　a　frightened　Ensign　Hicks。　Tm　worried　about　Mister　Fitzgerald；　sir；'　Hakeswill　said。　'Heard　him　up　in　the　bushes；　and　there　was　heathens　there；　sir。　I　know；　sir；　'cos　I　killed　a　couple　of　the　black　bastards。'　He　flinched　as　some　muskets　flamed　and　banged　some　yards　away；　but　he　could　not　tell　who　fired；　or　at　what。
　'You　think　the　bastards　found　Fitzgerald？'　Morris　asked。
　'I　reckon　so；'　Hakeswill　said。　'Poor　little　bastard。　I　tried　to　find　him；　sir；　but　there　was　just　heathens　there。'
　'Jesus。'　Morris　ducked　as　a　volley　of　bullets　flicked　through　the　leaves　overhead。　'What　about　Sergeant　Green？'
　'Probably　skulking；　sir。　Hiding　his　precious　hide；　I　don't　wonder。'
　'We're　all　bloody　skulking；'　Morris　answered　truthfully　enough。
　'Not　me；　sir。　Not　Obadiah　Hakeswill；　sir。　Got　me　halberd　proper　wet；　sir。　Want　to　feel　it；　sir？'　Hakeswill　held　out　the　spear　point。　'Heathen　blood；　sir；　still　warm。'
　Morris　shuddered　at　the　thought　of　touching　the　spear；　but　took　some　fort　in　having　Hakeswill　at　his　side。　The　tope　was　filled　with　shouts　as　a　group　of　the　Tippoo's　troops　charged。　Muskets　hammered。　A　rocket　exploded　nearby；　while　another；　this　one　with　a　solid　shot　in　its　cone；　ripped　through　bushes　and　crashed　into　a　tree。　A　man　screamed；　then　the　scream　was　abruptly　chopped　off。　'Jesus；'　Morris　cursed　uselessly。
　'Maybe　we　should　go　back？'　Ensign　Hicks　suggested。　'Back　across　the　aqueduct？'
　'Can't；　sir；'　Hakeswill　said。　'Buggers　are　behind　us。'
　'You're　sure？'　Morris　asked。
　'Fought　the　black　buggers　there　myself；　sir。　Couldn't　hold　them。　A　whole　tribe　of　the　bastards；　sir。　Did　my　best。　Lost　some　good　men。'　Hakeswill　sniffed　with　pretended　emotion。
　'You're　a　brave　man；　Hakeswill；'　Morris　said　gruffly。'Just　following　your　lead；　sir；'　Hakeswill　said；　then　ducked　as　another　enemy　volley　whipped　overhead。　A　huge　cheer　sounded；　followed　by　the　screaming　roar　of　rockets　as　the　Tippoo's　reinforcements；　sent　from　the　city；　came　shouting　and　fighting　through　the　trees　to　drive　every　last　infidel　from　the　tope。　'Bleeding　hell；'　Hakeswill　said。　'But　not　to　worry！　I　can't　die；　sir！　I　can't　die！'
　Behind　him　there　was　another　cheer　as　the　rest　of　the　33rd　at　last　crossed　the　aqueduct。
　'Forward！'　a　voice　shouted　from　somewhere　behind　the　Light　pany's　scattered　fugitives。　'Forward！'
　'Bloody　hell！'　Morris　snapped。　'Who　the　hell　is　that？'　'33rd！'　the　voice　shouted。　'To　me！　To　me！'　'Stay　where　you　are！'　Morris　called　to　a　few　eager　men；　and　so　they　crouched　in　the　warm　dark　that　was　loud　with　the　ripping　of　bullets　and　filled　by　the　whimpers　of　dying　men　and　bright　with　the　glare　of　rockets　and　foul　with　the　stench　of　blood　that　was　being　spilt　in　a　black　place　where　only　chaos　and　fear　prevailed。
　
　CHAPTER　7
　
　'Sharpe！　Sharpe！'　It　was　Colonel　Gudin　who；　at　nightfall；　burst'into　the　barracks　room。　'e；　quick！　As　you　are；　hurry！'
　'What　about　me；　sir？'　Lawford　asked。　The　Lieutenant　had　been　idly　reading　his　Bible　as　he　lay　on　his　cot。
　'e　on；　Sharpe！'　Gudin　did　not　wait　to　answer　Lawford；　but　just　ran　across　the　barracks'　courtyard　and　out　into　the　street　which　separated　the　European　soldiers'　quarters　from　the　Hindu　temple。　'Quick；　Sharpe！'　the　Frenchman　called　back　as　he　hurried　past　a　pile　of　mud　bricks　that　were　stacked　at　the　street　corner。　Sharpe；　dressed　in　tiger…striped　tunic　and　boots；　but　with　no　hat；　crossbelt；　pouches　or　musket；　ran　after　the　Colonel。　He　leapt　over　a　half…naked　man　who　was　sitting　cross…legged　beside　the　temple　wall；　shoved　a　cow　out　of　his　way；　then　turned　the　corner　and　hurried　after　Gudin　towards　the　Mysore　Gate。　Lawford　had　paused　to　tug　on　his　boots　and　by　the　time　he　reached　the　street　beside　the　temple；　Sharpe　had　already　vanished。
　'Can　you　ride　a　horse？'　Gudin　shouted　at　Sharpe　when　the　two　men　reached　the　gate。
　'I　did　a　couple　of　times；'　Sharpe　said；　not　bothering　to　explain　that　the　beasts　had　been　unsaddled　draught　horses　that　had　ambled　docilely　around　the　inn　yard。
　'Get　on　that　one！'　Gudin　said；　pointing　to　a　small　excited　mare　that　was　being　held　by　an　Indian　infantryman　along　with　Gudin's　own　horse。　'She　belongs　to　Captain　Romet；　sofor　God's　sake　take　care；'　Gudin　shouted　as　he　swung　himself　up　into　the　saddle。　Captain　Romet　was　one　of　Gudin's　two　deputies；　but　as　both　the　junior　French　officers　spent　most　of　their　lives　in　the　city's　most　expensive　brothel；　Sharpe　had　yet　to　meet　either　of　them。　He　climbed　gingerly　onto　the　mare's　back；　then　kicked　back　his　heels　and　clung　desperately　to　the　horse's　mane　as　she　followed　Gudin's　gelding　into　the　gateway。　'The　British　are　attacking　a　wood　just　north　of　Sultanpetah；'　the　Colonel　explained　as　he　pushed　his　horse　through　the　crowded　archway。
　Sharpe　could　hear　the　distant　fight。　Muskets　snapped　and　shells　exploded　dully　to　flicker　red　bursts　of　light　far　to　the　city's　west。　It　was　very　nearly　night　in　the　city。　The　first　house　lamps　had　long　been　lit　and　flaming　torches　smoked　in　the　archway　of　the　Mysore　Gate　through　which　a　stream　of　men　was　hurrying。　Some　were　infantry；　others　carried　rockets。　Gudin　bellowed　at　them　for　passage；　used　his　gelding　to　force　the　slower　rocketmen　aside；　and　then；　once　through　the　gate；　he　sawed　on　his　reins　to　turn　westwards。
　Sharpe　followed；　more　intent　on　staying　on　the　mare　than　watching　the　excitement　that　seethed　around　him。　A　narrow　bridge　led　across　the　South　Cauvery　just　outside　the　gate　and　Gudin　shouted　at　its　guards　to　clear　the　roadway。　Rocketmen　shrank　back　against　the　balustrades　as　Sharpe　and　Gudin　hurried　between　the　bridge's　small　forts　and　then　over　the　shallow；　shrunken　river。　Once　on　the　far　bank　they　galloped　hard　across　a　stretch　of　muddy　grass；　then　splashed　through　anodier　small　branch　of　the　river。　Sharpe　clung　to　the　mare's　neck　as　she　lurched　up　out　of　the　stream。　Rockets　were　flaring　in　the　sky　ahead　which　still　glowed　from　the　last　rays　of　the　invisible　sun。
　'Your　old　friends　are　trying　to　clear　the　tope；'　Gudin　explained；　pointing　at　the　thick　wood　that　showed　black　against　the　eastern　skyline。　He　had　slowed　down；　for　now　they　were　crossing　more　uneven　ground　and　the　Colonel　didnot　want　to　break　a　horse's　leg　by　being　too　reckless。　'I　want　you　to　confuse　them。'
　'Me；　sir？'　Sharpe　slipped　half　out　of　the　saddle；　gripped　the　pommel　desperately　and　somehow　dr