bcornwell.sharpstiger-第42部分

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is　one's　tame　as　a　cat；　Sharpe。'
　'I'll　let　you　stroke　it；　sir。　Wild　horses　wouldn't　get　me　near　a　beast　like　that。'
　The　tiger　liked　being　scratched。　It　closed　its　yeEow　eyes　and　for　a　few　seconds　Sharpe　could　almost　persuade　himself　the　big　beast　was　purring；　then　it　yawned　hugely；　displaying　a　massive　mouth　with　old　worn　teeth；　and　when　it　had　yawned　it　stretched　out　its　long　forepaws　and；　from　its　furry　pads；　two　sets　of　long；　hooked　claws　emerged。　'That's　how　it　kills；'　Gudin　said；　gesturing　at　the　claws　as　he　backed　away。　'Holds　you　down　with　its　teeth；　then　slits　your　belly　open　with　the　claws。　Not　this　one；　though。　He's　just　an　old　soft　pet。　Flea…bitten　too。'　Gudin　picked　a　flea　off　his　hand；　then　turned　as　a　doorway　to　the　courtyard　was　opened　and　a　procession　of　palace　attendants　filed　into　the　sunlight。　It　was　led　by　two　robed　men　who　carried　staffs　tipped　with　silver　tiger　heads。　They　served　as　chamberlains；　mustering　the　heroes　into　line　and　pushing　the　coward　to　one　side；　and　behind　them　came　two　extraordinary　men。
　Sharpe　gaped　at　them。　They　were　both　huge；　tall　and　muscled　like　prizefighters。　Their　dark　skin；　naked　to　their　waists；　was　oiled　to　a　glistening　shine；　while　their　long　black　hair　had　been　twisted　round　and　round　their　heads　and　then　tied　with　white　ribbons。　They　had　bristling　black　beards　and　wide　moustaches　that　had　been　stiffened　into　points　with　wax。　'Jettis；'　Gudin　whispered　to　Sharpe。'God　almighty！'　Sharpe　said　in　wonderment　as　he　watched　the　man's　head　being　wrung　like　a　chicken。　He　had　never　seen　such　a　thing；　nor　dreamed　it　was　even　possible。　Behind　him　Colonel　Gudin　made　a　small　noise　of　disapproval；　but　Sharpe　had　been　impressed。　It　was　a　quicker　death　than　being　flogged；　and　quicker　too　than　most　hangings　where　the　prisoners　were　left　to　dangle　and　dance　as　the　rope　choked　them。　The　Tippoo　applauded　thcjettf　s　display；　rewarded　him；　then　ordered　the　dead　man　to　be　dragged　away。
　Then；　one　by　one；　the　night's　heroes　were　led　up　to　the　tiger…striped　canopy　and　to　the　short　plump　man　who　stood　in　its　shade。　Each　soldier　knelt　as　he　was　named；　and　each　time　the　Tippoo　leaned　down　and　used　both　hands　to　lift　the　man　up　before　talking　to　him　and　presenting　the　hero　with　a　large　medallion。　The　medallions　looked　as　if　they　were　gold；　but　Sharpe　guessed　they　had　to　be　made　of　polished　brass；　for　surely　no　one　would　give　away　that　much　gold！　Each　of　the　men　kissed　the　gift；　then　shuffled　backwards　to　his　place　in　the　line。
　At　last　it　was　Sharpe's　turn。　'You　know　what　to　do；'　Gudin　said　encouragingly。
　Sharpe　did。　He　disliked　going　on　his　knees　to　any　man；　let　alone　this　plump　little　monarch　who　was　his　country's　enemy；　but　there　was　no　future　in　unnecessary　defiance　and　so　he　obediently　went　down　on　one　knee。　The　yellow…white　stone　in　the　dagger's　hilt　glinted　at　him；　and　Sharpe　could　have　sworn　it　was　a　real　diamond。　A　huge　diamond。　Then　the　Tippoo　smiled；　leaned　forward　and　raised　Sharpe　by　putting　his　hands　under　his　armpits。　He　was　surprisingly　strong。
　Gudin　had　e　forward　with　Sharpe　and　now　spoke　to　the　Tippoo's　interpreter　in　French；　and　the　interpreter　translated　into　Persian；　which　left　Sharpe　none　the　wiser。　So　far　as　he　was　concerned　the　events　of　the　previous　night　had　been　a　shambles；　but　it　was　evident　that　Gudin　was　telling　atale　of　high　heroics　for　the　Tippoo　kept　giving　Sharpe　appreciative　glances。　Sharpe　stared　back　in　fascination。　The　Tippoo　had　grey　eyes；　a　dark　skin　and　a　finely　trimmed　black　moustache。　At　a　distance　he　looked　plump；　even　soft；　but　closer　there　was　a　grimness　to　his　face　which　persuaded　Sharpe　that　Colonel　Gudin　had　been　right　when　he　claimed　that　this　man　was　a　fine　soldier。　Sharpe　towered　over　the　Tippoo　so　much　that　if　he　looked　straight　ahead　he　found　himself　gazing　at　the　huge　stone　in　the　Tippoo's　plume。　It　did　not　look　like　glass。　It　looked　like　one　giant　ruby；　the　size　of　a　piece　of　grapeshot。　It　was　held　in　a　delicate　gold　clasp；　and　had　to　be　worth　a　bloody　fortune。　Sharpe　remembered　his　promise　to　give　Mary　a　proper　ruby　on　the　day　he　married　her；　and　he　almost　grinned　at　the　thought　of　stealing　the　Tippoo's　stone。　Then　he　forgot　the　stone　as　the　Tippoo　asked　some　questions；　but　Sharpe　was　not　required　to　answer　for　Colonel　Gudin　did　all　his　speaking　for　him。　Once　the　questions　were　answered　the　Tippoo　looked　up　into　Sharpe's　eyes　and　spoke　directly　to　him。　'He　says；'　Gudin　translated　the　interpreter's　words；　'that　you　have　proved　yourself　a　worthy　soldier　of　Mysore。　He　is　proud　to　have　you　in　his　forces；　and　he　looks　forward　to　the　day　when；　with　the　infidel　beaten　back　from　the　city；　you　can　bee　a　full　and　proper　member　of　his　army。'
　'Does　that　mean　I'll　have　to　be　circumvented；　sir？'　Sharpe　asked。
　'It　means　you　are　extraordinarily　grateful　to　His　Majesty；　as　I　shall　now　tell　him；'　Gudin　said　and　duly　did　so；　and　when　that　statement　had　been　translated；　the　Tippoo　smiled　and　turned　to　an　attendant；　took　the　last　of　the　medallions　from　its　silk…lined　basket；　and　reached　up　to　put　it　round　Sharpe's　neck。　Sharpe　stooped　to　make　it　easier；　and　blushed　as　the　Tippoo's　face　came　close。　He　could　smell　a　pungent　perfume　on　the　monarch；　then　Sharpe　stepped　back　and；　just　like　the　other　soldiers；　he　lifted　the　medallion　to　his　lips。　Healmost　swore　as　he　did　so；　for　the　thing　was　not　made　of　brass　at　all；　but　of　heavy　gold。
　'Back　away；'　Gudin　muttered。
　Sharpe　bowed　to　the　Tippoo　and　backed　clumsily　to　his　place　in　the　line。　The　Tippoo　spoke　again；　though　this　time　no　one　bothered　to　translate　for　Sharpe；　and　then　the　small　ceremony　was　over　and　the　Tippoo　turned　and　went　back　into　his　palace。
　'You　are　now　officially　a　hero　of　Mysore；'　Gudin　said　drily；　'one　of　the　Tippoo's　beloved　tigers。'
　'Don't　deserve　to　be；　sir；'　Sharpe　said；　peering　at　the　medallion。　One　side　was　patterned　with　an　intricate　design；　while　the　other　showed　a　tiger's　face；　though　the　face　seemed　to　be　cunningly　constructed　from　the　whorls　of　an　intricate　script。　'Does　it　say　something；　sir？'　he　asked　Gudin。
　'It　says；　Sharpe；　〃Assad　Allah　al…ghalib〃；　which　is　Arabic　and　it　means　〃The　Lion　of　God　is　victorious。〃'
　'Lion；　not　tiger？'
　'It's　a　verse　from　the　Koran；　Sharpe；　the　Muslim　Bible；　and　I　suspect　the　holy　book　does　not　mention　tigers。　It　can't；　otherwise　I'm　sure　the　Tippoo　would　use　the　quotation。'
　'Funny；　isn't　it？'　Sharpe　said；　peering　at　the　heavy　gold　medallion。
　'What　is？'
　'The　British　beast　is　the　lion；　sir。'　Sharpe　chuckled；　then　hefted　the　gold　in　his　hand。　'Is　he　a　rich　bugger；　the　Tippoo？'
　'As　rich　as　can　be；'　Gudin　said　drily。
　'And　those　are　real　stones？　That　ruby　in　his　hat　and　the　diamond　in　his　dagger？'
　'Both　worth　a　king's　ransom；　Sharpe；　but　be　careful。　The　diamond　is　called　the　Moonstone　and　is　supposed　to　bring　ill　luck　to　anyone　who　steals　it。'
　'I　wasn't　thinking　of　thieving　it；　sir；'　Sharpe　said；　though　he　had　been　thinking　exactly　that。　'But　what　about　this？'　He　lifted　the　heavy　medallion　again。　'Do　I　get　to　keep　it？''Of　course　you　do。　Though　I　might　say　you　only　received　it　because　I　somewhat　exaggerated　your　exploits。'
　Sharpe　unlooped　the　medallion。　'You　can　have　it；　sir。'　He　pushed　the　heavy　gold　towards　the　Frenchman。　'Really；　sir！　Go　on。'
　Gudin　backed　away　and　held　up　his　hands　in　horror。　'If　the　Tippoo　discovered　you　had　given　it　away；　Sharpe；　he　would　never　forgive　you！　Never！　That's　a　badge　of　honour。　You　must　wear　it　always。'　The　Colonel　pulled　out　a　Breguet　watch　and　clicked　open　its　lid。　'I　have　duties；　Sharpe；　and　that　reminds　me。　Your　woman　will　be　waiting　for　you　in　the　small　temple　beside　Appah　Rao's　house。　You　know　where　that　is？'
　'No；　sir。'
　'Go　to　the　north　side　of　the　big　Hindu　temple；'　the　Colonel　said；　'and　keep　walking。　You　will　e　almost　to　the　city　wall。　Turn　left　there　and　you　will　see　the　temple　on　your　left。　It　has　one　of　those　cows　over　the　gate。'
　'Why　do　they　put　cows　over　the　gates；　sir？'
　'For　the　same　reason　we　put　images　of　a　tortured　man　in　our　churches。　Religion。　You　ask　too　many　questions；　Sharpe。'　The　Colonel　smiled。　'Your　woman　will　meet　you　there；　but　remember；　Corporal；　guard　duty　at　sundown！'　With　those　words　Gudin　strode　away　and　Sharpe；　with　one　final　glance　at　the　somnolent　tiger；　followed。
　It　was　not　hard　to　find　the　small　temple　that　lay　opposite　an　old　gateway　that　led　through　the　western　defences。　It　was　these　walls　that　McCandless　had　warned　against；　but　Sharpe；　staring　at　them　from　the　temple　entrance；　could　see　nothing　strange　about　them。　A　long　ramp　ran　up　to　the　firestep　and　a　pair　of　soldiers　were　struggling　to　push　a　handcart　loaded　with　rockets　to　the　ramparts　where　a　dozen　great　guns　stood　unattended　in　their　embrasures；　but　he　could　see　nothing　sinister；　no　trap　to　destroy　an　army。　One　of　the　Tippoo's　sun…blazoned　flags　flew　on　a　tall　staff　above　the　gatehouseitself；　flanked　by　two　smaller　green　flags　that　showed　a　silver　device。　The　wind　lifted　one　of　the　flags　and　Sharpe　saw　it　was　the　same　calligraphic　tiger　head　that　was　engraved　on　his　medal。　He　grinned。　That　was　something　to　show　Mary。
　He　went　into　the　temple；　but　Mary　had　not　yet　arrived。　Sharpe　found　a　patch　of　shade　in　a　niche　to　one　side　of　the　open　courtyard　from　where　he　watched　a　stark…naked　man　with　a　white　stripe　painted　across　his　bald　pate　who　was　sitting　cross…legged　in　front　of　an　idol　that　had　a　man's　body；　a　monkey's　head　and　was　painted　red；　green　and　yellow。　Another　god；　this　one　with　seven　cobra　heads；　stood　in　a　niche　that　was　littered　with　fading　flowers。　The　cross…legged　man　did　not　move；　Sharpe　could　swear　he　did　not　even　blink；　not　even　when　two　other　worshippers　came　to　the　temple。　One　was　a　tall　slim　woman　in　a　pale…green　sari　with　a　small　diamond　glinting　in　the　side　of　her　nose。　Her　panion　was　a　tall　man　dressed　in　the　Tippoo's　tiger…striped　tunic　with　a　musket　slung　on　one　shoulder　and　a　silver…hilted　sword　hanging　at　his　side。　He　was　a　fine…looking　man；　a　fitting　panion　for　the　elegant　woman　who　crossed　to　a　third　idol；　this　one　a　seated　goddess　with　four　sets　of　arms。　The　woman　touched　her　joined　hands　to　her　forehead；　bowed　low；　then　reached　forward　and　rang　a　tiny　handbell　to　attract　the　goddess's　attention。　It　was　only　then　that　Sharpe　recognized　her。　'Mar