bcornwell.sharpstiger-第56部分

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t。　Such　a　jewel　was　a　sign　of　authority　in　the　city　and　Kunwar　Singh　reckoned　he　might　need　it。　He　armed　himself　with　a　pistol　and　a　sword；　then　waited　for　his　picked　squad。
　Mary　came　to　the　courtyard　and　demanded　to　know　whatwas　happening。　There　was　a　strange　stillness　in　the　city；　and　the　tempo　of　the　British　guns；　which　had　been　firing　so　hard　and　fast　for　days；　was　now　muted　and　the　ominous　silence　had　made　Mary　nervous。
　'We　think　the　British　are　ing；'　Kunwar　Singh　told　her；　then　blurted　out　that　she　would　be　safe　for　he　had　been　ordered　to　free　the　British　Colonel　from　the　dungeons　and　bring　him　to　the　house　where　McCandless's　presence　would　protect　the　women。　'If　the　British　even　get　through　the　wall；'　he　added　dubiously。
　'What　about　my　brother？'　Mary　asked。
　Kunwar　Singh　shrugged。　'I　have　no　orders　for　him。'
　'Then　I　shall　e　with　you；'　Mary　declared。
　'You　can't！'　Kunwar　Singh　insisted。　He　was　often　shocked　by　Mary's　defiance；　though　he　also　found　it　appealing。
　'You　can　stop　me；'　she　said；　'by　shooting　me。　Or　you　can　let　me　e。　Make　up　your　mind。'　She　did　not　wait　to　hear　his　answer；　but　hurried　to　her　quarters　where　she　snatched　up　the　pistol　that　Appah　Rao　had　given　her。　Kunwar　Singh　made　no　further　protest。　He　was　confused　by　what　was　happening；　and；　though　he　sensed　that　his　master's　loyalties　were　wavering；　he　still　did　not　know　which　way　they　would　ultimately　fall。
　'I　can't　let　your　brother　e　back　here；'　he　warned　Mary　when　she　came　back　to　the　courtyard。
　'We　can　free　him；'　Mary　insisted；　'and　after　that　he　can　look　after　himself。　He's　good　at　that。'
　The　streets　of　the　city　were　oddly　deserted。　Most　of　the　Tippoo's　soldiers　were　on　the　ramparts；　and　anyone　who　had　no　business　in　the　ing　battle　had　taken　care　to　lock　their　doors　and　stay　hidden。　A　few　men　still　trundled　handcarts　of　ammunition　and　rockets　towards　the　walls；　but　there　were　no　bullock　carts　and　no　open　shops。　A　few　sacred　cows　wandered　the　city　with　sublime　unconcern；　but　otherwise　it　was　like　a　place　of　ghosts　and　it　only　took　Kunwar　Singh's　smallparty　five　minutes　to　reach　the　plex　of　small　courtyards　that　lay　to　the　north　of　the　Inner　Palace。　No　one　questioned　Kunwar　Singh's　right　to　be　in　the　palace　precincts；　for　he　wore　the　Tippoo's　uniform　and　the　jewels　hanging　about　his　neck　were　glittering　proof　of　his　authority。
　The　difficulty；　Kunwar　Singh　had　anticipated；　would　lie　in　persuading　the　guards　to　unlock　the　gate　of　the　dungeon's　outer　cage。　Once　that　gate　was　open　the　rest　should　be　easy；　for　his　men　could　swiftly　overwhelm　the　guards　and　so　find　the　key　to　McCandless's　cell。　Kunwar　Singh　had　decided　that　his　best　course　was　simply　to　pretend　to　an　authority　he　did　not　have　and　claim　to　bear　a　summons　from　the　Tippoo　himself。　Arrogance　went　far　in　Mysore　and　he　would　give　it　a　try。　Otherwise　he　must　order　his　men　to　use　their　muskets　to　blast　the　cage　doors　down　and　he　feared　that　such　a　motion　would　bring　guards　running　from　the　nearby　Inner　Palace。
　But　when　he　reached　the　cells　he　found　there　were　no　guards。　The　space　within　the　outer　cage　and　around　the　stone　steps　was　empty。　A　solther　on　the　inner　wall　above　the　cells　saw　the　small　group　standing　uncertainly　beside　the　dungeon　gate　and　assumed　they　had　e　to　fetch　the　guards。　'They've　already　gone！'　the　man　shouted　down。　'Ordered　to　the　walls。　Gone　to　kill　some　Englishmen。'
　Kunwar　Singh　acknowledged　the　man；　then　rattled　the　gate；　vainly　hoping　that　the　padlock　would　fall　off。　'You　don't　want　to　go　inside；'　the　helpful　man　called　down；　'the　tiger's　on　duty。'
　Kunwar　Singh　instinctively　stepped　back。　The　soldier　above　him　lost　interest　and　went　back　to　his　post　as　Kunwar　Singh　stepped　back　to　the　gate　and　tugged　a　second　time　at　the　huge　padlock。　'Too　big　to　shoot　open；'　he　said。　'That　lock　will　take　five　or　six　bullets；　at　least。'
　'We　can't　get　inside？'　Mary　asked。
　'No。　　Not　without　attracting　the　guards。'　　He　gesturedtowards　the　palace。　The　thought　of　the　tiger　had　made　him　nervous　and　he　was　wondering　whether　he　would　do　better　to　wait　until　the　assault　started　and　then；　under　the　cover　of　its　huge　noise；　try　to　shoot　the　padlock　away　from　the　gate；　then　kill　the　tiger。　Or　else　just　give　up　the　errand。　The　courtyard　stank　of　sewage；　and　the　smell　only　reinforced　Kunwar　Singh's　presentiments　of　failure。
　Then　Mary　stepped　to　the　bars。　'Richard？'　she　called。　'Richard！'
　There　was　a　momentary　pause。　'Lass？'　The　answer　came　at　last。
　Kunwar　Singh's　nervousness　increased。　There　were　a　dozen　soldiers　on　the　inner　wall　immediately　above　him；　and　a　score　of　other　people　were　peering　dirough　windows　or　above　stable　doors。　No　one　was　yet　taking　a　suspicious　interest　in　his　party；　but　it　seemed　likely　that　someone　of　true　authority　would　soon　pass　by　the　dungeons。　'We　should　leave；'　he　hissed　to　Mary。
　'We　can't　get　inside！'　Mary　called　to　Sharpe。
　'Have　you　got　a　gun；　lass？'　Sharpe　called　back。　Mary　could　not　see　him；　for　the　outer　cage　was　far　enough　back　from　the　dungeon　steps　to　hide　the　cells。
　'Yes。'
　'Chuck　it　down　here；　lass。　Chuck　it　as　close　to　the　bottom　of　the　steps　as　you　can。　Make　sure　the　bugger's　not　cocked。'
　Kunwar　Singh　rattled　the　gate　again。　The　sound　of　the　clangorous　iron　prompted　a　growl　from　the　pit　and　a　moment　later　the　tiger　loped　up　the　steps；　stared　blank…eyed　at　Kunwar　Singh；　then　turned　and　went　back　to　the　remnants　of　a　half…carcass　of　goat。　'We　can't　wait！'　Kunwar　Singh　insisted　to　Mary。
　'Throw　us　a　gun；　love！'　Sharpe　shouted。
　Mary　groped　inside　the　folds　of　her　sari　to　find　the　ivory…inlaid　pistol　that　Appah　Rao　had　given　to　her。　She　pushed　it　through　the　bars　and　then；　very　nervously；　she　tried　togauge　how　much　effort　would　be　needed　to　toss　the　gun　into　the　pit；　but　not　too　far　from　the　bottom　of　the　steps。　Kunwar　Singh　hissed　at　her；　but　made　no　move　to　stop　her。
　'Here；　Richard！'　she　called；　and　she　tossed　the　gun　underarm。　It　was　a　clumsy　throw；　and　the　pistol　fell　short　of　the　steps；　but　its　momentum　carried　it　over　the　edge　and　Mary　heard　the　gun　clattering　down　the　stone　stairs。
　Sharpe　cursed；　for　the　pistol　had　lodged　three　steps　up。　'Have　you　got　another　one？'　he　shouted。
　'Give　me　your　pistol；'　Mary　said　to　Kunwar　Singh。
　'No！　We　can't　get　in。'　Kunwar　Singh　was　close　to　panic　now　and　his　six　men　had　been　infected　by　his　fear。　'We　can't　help　them；'　he　insisted。
　'Mary！'　Sharpe　called。
　'I'm　sorry；　Richard。'
　'Not　to　worry；　lass；'　Sharpe　said；　staring　at　the　pistol。　He　did　not　doubt　he　could　pick　the　lock　open；　but　could　he　reach　the　gun　before　the　tiger　reached　him？　And　even　if　he　did；　would　one　small　pistol　ball　stop　eight　feet　of　hungry　tiger。　'Jesus　Christ！'　he　swore。
　'Sharpe！'　McCandless　chided　him。
　'I　was　praying；　sir。　Because　this　is　a　right　bugger…up；　sir；　a　right　bugger…up。'　Sharpe　took　out　the　picklock　and　unfolded　one　of　the　shafts。　He　put　his　hands　through　the　bars　and　grabbed　hold　of　the　padlock；　then　explored　the　big　keyhole　with　the　hooked　shaft。　It　was　a　crude　lock　that　ought　to　be　easy　to　open；　but　the　mechanism　was　not　properly　oiled　and　Sharpe　feared　that　the　picklock　might　snap　rather　than　move　the　levers　aside。　Lawford　and　McCandless　watched　him；　while　from　across　the　corridor　Hakeswill　stared　with　huge　blue　eyes。
　'Go　on；　boy；　good　boy；'　Hakeswill　said。　'Get　us　out　of　here；　boy。'
　'Shut　your　ugly　face；　Obadiah；'　Sharpe　muttered。　He　had　moved　one　lever；　now　only　the　second　remained；　but　it　was　much　staffer　than　the　first。　Sweat　was　pouring　down　Sharpe'sface。　He　was　working　half　blind；　unable　to　pull　the　padlock　to　an　angle　where　he　could　see　the　keyhole。　The　tiger　had　paused　in　its　eating　to　watch　him；　intrigued　by　the　hands　protruding　through　the　bars。　Sharpe　manoeuvred　the　picklock；　felt　the　hook　lodge　against　the　lever　and　gently　pressed。　He　pressed　harder；　and　suddenly　the　hook　scraped　off　the　lever's　edge　and　Sharpe　swore。
　And　just　as　he　swore　the　tiger　twisted　and　sprang。　It　attacked　with　appalling　speed；　a　sudden　unleashing　of　coiled　muscles　that　ended　with　a　swipe　of　one　unsheathed　paw　as　it　tried　to　hook　a　claw　into　the　protruding　hands。　Sharpe　recoiled；　dropping　the　picklock；　and　cursing　as　the　tiger's　slash　missed　him　by　inches。　'Bastard；'　he　swore　at　the　beast；　then　he　stooped　and　reached　through　the　bars　for　the　fallen　picklock　that　lay　a　foot　away。　He　moved　fast；　but　the　tiger　was　faster；　and　this　time　Sharpe　got　a　deep　scratch　on　the　back　of　his　hand。
　'Sergeant　Hakeswill；'　Sharpe　hissed。　'Get　the　beast　over　on　your　side。'
　'Nothing　I　can　do！'　Hakeswill　protested；　his　face　twitching。　The　tiger　was　watching　Sharpe。　It　was　only　two　feet　away　from　him；　its　teeth　were　bared　and　its　claws　unsheathed；　and　there　was　a　glint　in　its　yellow　eyes。　'You　want　to　fight　a　tiger；　Sharpie；'　Hakeswill　said；　'that's　your　business；　not　mine。　Man　doesn't　have　to　fight　pussy　cats；　says　so　in　the　scriptures。'
　'You　say　that　one　more　time；'　McCandless　roared　in　sudden　and　unexpected　fury；　'and　I'll　make　sure　you　never　wear　stripes　again！　Do　you　understand　me；　man？'
　Hakeswill　was　taken　aback　by　the　Colonel's　anger。　'Sir；'　he　said　weakly。
　'So　do　as　Private　Sharpe　says；'　Colonel　McCandless　ordered。　'And　do　it　now。'
　Hakeswill　beat　his　hands　against　the　bars。　The　tiger　turned　its　head　and　Sharpe　immediately　snatched　the　picklock　back　into　the　cell　and　stood　again。　The　tiger　leapt　at　Hakeswill；shaking　the　bars　of　his　cell　with　its　violence；　and　Hakeswill　backed　hurriedly　away。
　'Keep　provoking　it；　man！'　McCandless　ordered　Hakeswill；　and　the　Sergeant　spat　at　the　tiger；　then　threw　a　handful　of　straw　towards　its　face。
　Sharpe　worked　on　the　lock。　He　had　the　hook　against　the　lever　again。　The　tiger；　roused　to　a　petulant　fury；　stood　with　its　paws　against　the　bars　of　Hakeswill's　cell　as　Sharpe　pressed　on　the　lever　and　at　last　felt　it　move。　His　hands　trembled　and　the　hook　grated　as　it　slipped　across　the　lever's　face；　but　he　steadied　himself　and　pressed　harder。　He　was　holding　his　breath；　willing　the　lever　to　unlatch。　Sweat　stung　his　eyes；　then　suddenly　the　lever　clicked　across　and　the　lock　sprang　open　in　his　hands。
　〃That　was　the　easy　part；'　he　said　grimly。　He　folded　the　picklock　and　put　it　back　in　his　pocket。　'Mary！'　he　called。　There　was　no　answer。　'Mary！'　he　s