bcornwell.sharpstiger-第59部分

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was　determined　to　make　certain　that　no　unnecessary　atrocities　soured　its　citizens'　new　allegiance。　He　adjusted　the　silver…gilt　gorget　about　his　neck；　drew　his　sword　an　inch　or　two；　then　let　it　fall　back　into　its　scabbard　before　momentarily　closing　his　eyes　to　say　a　prayer　beseeching　God's　protection　on　his　men。
　The　Forlorn　Hopes；　their　muskets　loaded　and　tipped　with　steel；　crouched　in　the　trenches。　The　officers'　watches　ticked　on；　the　river　ran　gentle　across　its　stones　and　the　silent　city　waited。
　
　'Coat　off；'　Sharpe　said　to　Lawford；　instinctively　lapsing　back　into　the　relationship　that　had　existed　between　them　when　they　had　served　in　Gudin's　battalion。　'No　point　in　showing　a　red　coat　till　we　have　to；'　Sharpe　explained；　turning　his　own　coat　inside　out。　He　did　not　put　it　back　on；　but　knotted　its　sleeves　about　his　neck　so　that　the　claw…torn　jacket　hung　down　against　his　scarred　and　naked　back。　The　two　men　were　crouched　in　a　byre　off　the　alley　that　led　from　the　courtyard。　Colonel　McCandless　had　gone；　led　away　to　Appah　Rao's　house；　and　Sharpe　and　Lawford　were　alone。　'I　don't　even　have　a　gun；'　the　Lieutenant　said　nervously。
　'Soon　remedy　that；'　Sharpe　said　confidently。　'e　on　now。'
　Sharpe　led；　plunging　into　the　intricate　maze　of　small　streets　that　surrounded　the　palace。　A　white　man's　face　was　not　so　unusual　as　to　attract　attention　in　Seringapatam；　for　there　were　plenty　of　Europeans　serving　the　Tippoo；　but　even　so　Sharpe　did　not　fancy　his　chances　in　a　red　coat。　He　did　not　fancy　his　chances　much　at　all；　but　he　would　be　damned　before　he　abandoned　his　fellow　soldiers　to　the　Tippoo's　mine。
　He　hurried　past　a　shuttered　goldsmith's　shop　and　half　glimpsed；　deep　in　its　shadowed　entrance；　an　armed　man　who　was　standing　guard　on　the　property。　'Stay　here；'　he　toldLawford；　then　slung　the　musket　on　his　shoulder　and　doubled　back。　He　pushed　a　wandering　cow　out　of　his　way　and　ducked　into　the　goldsmith's　entrance。　'How　are　you　feeling　today？'　he　said　pleasantly　to　the　man　who；　speaking　no　English；　just　frowned　in　confusion。　He　was　still　frowning　when　Sharpe's　left　fist　buried　itself　in　his　belly。　He　grunted；　but　then　the　right　fist　smacked　him　on　the　bridge　of　his　nose　and　he　was　in　no　state　to　resist　as　Sharpe　stripped　him　of　musket　and　cartridge　box。　For　good　measure　Sharpe　gave　the　man　a　tap　on　the　skull　with　the　butt　end　of　the　musket；　then　went　back　to　the　street。　'One　musket；　sir；　filthy　as　hell；　but　she'll　fire。　Cartridges　too。'
　Lawford　opened　the　musket's　pan　to　check　that　it　was　loaded。　'Just　what　do　you　plan　to　do；　Sharpe？'　the　Lieutenant　asked。
　'Don't　know；　sir。　Won't　know　till　we　get　there。'
　'You're　going　to　the　mine？'
　'Aye；　sir。'
　'There'll　be　guards。'
　'Like　as　not。'
　'And　only　two　of　us。'
　'I　can　count；　sir。'　Sharpe　grinned。　'It's　reading　I　find　hard。　But　my　letters　are　ing　on；　aren't　they？'
　'You're　reading　well；'　Lawford　said。　Probably；　the　Lieutenant　thought；　as　well　as　most　seven…year…olds；　but　it　had　still　been　gratifying　to　see　the　pleasure　Sharpe　took　from　the　process；　even　if　his　only　reading　matter　was　a　crumpled　page　of　the　Revelation　full　of　mysterious　beasts　with　wings　that　covered　their　eyes。　'I'll　get　you　some　more　interesting　books　when　we're　out　of　here；'　Lawford　promised。
　'I'd　like　that；　sir；'　Sharpe　said；　then　ran　across　a　street　junction。　The　fear　of　an　imminent　assault　had　served　to　empty　the　streets　of　their　usual　crowds；　but　the　alleys　were　clogged　with　parked　carts。　Stray　dogs　barked　as　the　two　men　hurried　southwards；　but　there　were　few　people　to　remark　theirpresence。　'There；　sir；　there's　our　bloody　answer；'　Sharpe　said。　He　had　run　from　a　street　into　a　small　square；　and　now　jerked　back　into　the　shadows。　Lawford　peered　about　the　corner　to　see　that　the　small　open　space　was　filled　with　handcarts；　and　that　the　handcarts　were　piled　with　rockets。　'Waiting　to　take　them　up　to　the　wall；　I　dare　say；'　Sharpe　said。　'Got　so　many　up　there　already　they　have　to　store　the　rest　down　here。　What　we　do；　sir；　is　take　one　cart；　go　down　that　next　street　and　have　a　private　Guy　Fawkes　day。'
　'There　are　guards。'
　'Of　course　there　are。'
　'I　mean　on　the　rocket　carts；　Sharpe。'
　'They're　nothing；'　Sharpe　said　scornfully。　'If　those　fellows　were　any　good　they'd　be　up　on　the　walls。　Can't　be　nothing　but　maimed　men　and　grandfathers。　Rubbish。　All　we　have　to　do　is　shout　at　the　buggers。　Are　you　ready？'
　Lawford　looked　into　his　panion's　face。　'You're　enjoying　this；　aren't　you；　Sharpe？'
　'Aye；　sir。　Aren't　you？'
　Tm　scared　as　hell；'　Lawford　admitted。
　Sharpe　smiled。　'You　won't　be　when　we're　through；　sir。　We're　going　to　be　all　right。　You　just　behave　as　though　you　owned　the　bloody　place。　You　officers　are　supposed　to　be　good　at　that；　aren't　you？　So　I'll　grab　a　cart　and　you　shout　at　the　rubbish。　Tell　them　Gudin　sent　us。　e　on；　sir；　time's　wasting。　Just　walk　out　there　as　though　we　owned　the　place。'
　Sharpe　brazenly　walked　into　the　sunlight；　his　musket　slung　on　his　shoulder；　and　Lawford　followed　him。　'You　won't　tell　anyone　that　I　confessed　to　being　scared？'　the　Lieutenant　asked。
　'Of　course　not；　sir。　You　think　I'm　not　scared　myself？　Jesus；　I　almost　fouled　my　breeches　when　that　bloody　tiger　jumped　at　me。　I've　never　seen　a　thing　move　so　bloody　fast。　But　I　wasn't　going　to　show　I　was　scared　in　front　of　bloody　Hakeswill。Hey；　you！　Are　you　in　charge？'　Sharpe　shouted　imperiously　at　a　man　who　squatted　beside　one　of　the　carts。　'Move　your　bloody　self；　I　want　the　cart。'
　The　man　sprang　aside　as　Sharpe　jerked　up　the　handles。　There　must　have　been　fifty　rockets　in　the　cart；　more　than　enough　for　Sharpe's　purpose。　Two　other　men　shouted　protests　at　Sharpe；　but　Lawford　waved　them　down。　'Colonel　Gudin　sent　us。　Understand？'　Lawford　said。　'Colonel　Gudin。　He　sent　us。'　The　Lieutenant　followed　Sharpe　down　the　street　leading　south　from　the　square。　'Those　two　men　are　ing　after　us；'　he　said　nervously。
　'Shout　at　the　buggers；　sir。　You're　an　officer！'
　'Back！'　Lawford　shouted。　'To　your　duties！　Go　on！　Now！　Do　as　I　say；　damn　your　eyes！　Go！'　He　paused；　then　gave　a　delighted　chuckle。　'Good　God；　Sharpe；　it　worked。'
　'Works　with　us；　sir；　should　work　with　them；'　Sharpe　said。　He　turned　a　corner　and　saw　the　towering　sculptures　of　the　big　Hindu　temple。　He　recognized　where　he　was　now　and　he　knew　the　alley　leading　to　the　mine　was　only　a　few　yards　away。　It　would　be　filled　with　guards；　but　Sharpe　now　had　a　whole　arsenal　of　his　own。
　'We　can't　do　anything　if　there　isn't　an　attack；'　Lawford　said。
　'I　know　that；　sir。'
　'So　what　do　we　do　if　there　isn't　an　assault？'
　'Hide；　sir。'
　'Where；　for　God's　sake？'
　'Lali　will　take　us　in；　sir。　You　remember　Lali；　don't　you；　sir？'
　Lawford　blushed　at　the　memory　of　his　introduction　to　Seringapatam's　brothels。　'You　really　believe　she'll　hide　us？'
　'She　thinks　you're　sweet；　sir。'　Sharpe　grinned。　T've　seen　her　a　couple　of　times　since　that　first　night；　sir；　and　she　always　asks　after　you。　I　reckon　you　made　a　conquest　there；　sir。'
　'Good　God；　Sharpe；　you　won't　tell　anyone？''Me；　sir？'　Sharpe　pretended　to　be　shocked。　'Not　a　word；　sir。'
　Then；　very　suddenly；　and　far　off；　muffled　by　distance　so　that　it　was　thin　and　wavering；　a　trumpet　sounded。
　And　every　gun　in　creation　seemed　to　fire　at　once。
　
　Baird　clambered　up　the　trench　wall；　climbed　over　the　sandbags　and　turned　to　face　his　men。　'Now；　my　brave　fellows；'　he　shouted　in　his　broad　Scottish　accent；　waving　his　sword　towards　the　city；　'follow　me　and　prove　yourselves　worthy　of　the　name　British　soldiers！'
　The　Forlorn　Hopes　were　already　on　their　way。　The　moment　Baird　had　climbed　out　of　the　trench　the　seventy…six　men　of　the　two　Hopes　had　scrambled　over　the　lip　and　began　running。　They　splashed　through　the　Little　Cauvery；　then　sprinted　towards　the　larger　river。　The　air　about　them　churned　with　noise。　Every　siege　gun　had　fired　at　almost　the　same　instant　and　the　breach　was　a　boiling　mass　of　dust；　while　the　huge　sound　of　the　guns　was　echoing　back　from　the　walls。　The　banners　of　Britain　streamed　as　the　leading　men　ran　into　the　South　Cauvery。　The　first　bullets　plucked　at　the　water；　throwing　up　small　fountains；　but　the　Forlorn　Hopes　did　not　notice　the　firing。　They　were　screaming　their　challenge　and　racing　each　other　to　be　first　up　the　breach。
　'Fire！'　the　Tippoo　shouted；　and　the　walls　of　the　city　were　rimmed　with　flame　and　smoke　as　a　thousand　muskets　poured　lead　down　into　the　South　Cauvery　and　out　towards　the　trenches。　Rockets　hissed　off　the　walls；　their　trails　twisting　madly　as　they　tangled　in　the　hot　air。　The　trumpet　was　still　sounding。　The　musketry　of　the　defenders　was　unending　as　men　simply　dropped　their　empty　guns；　snatched　up　loaded　ones　and　fired　into　the　smoke　cloud　that　edged　the　city。　The　sound　of　their　guns　was　like　a　giant　fire　crackling；　the　river　was　foaming　with　bullets　and　a　handful　of　redcoats　and　sepoys　were　jerking　and　thrashing　as　they　drowned　or　bled　to　death。'e　on！'　Sergeant　Graham　roared　as　he　stumbled　over　the　remains　of　the　mud　wall　that　had　penned　in　the　water　behind　the　glacis。　A　foot　of　muddy　water　still　lay　in　the　old　ditch；　but　Graham　ran　through　it　as　though　he　had　wings。　A　bullet　plucked　at　the　flag　in　his　left　hand。　'e　on；　you　bastards！'　he　shouted。　He　was　on　the　lower　slope　of　the　breach　now；　and　his　whole　world　was　nothing　but　noise　and　smoke　and　whipsawing　bullets。　It　was　a　tiny　place；　that　world；　a　hell　of　dust　and　fire　above　a　rubble　slope。　He　could　see　no　enemy；　for　those　above　him　were　hidden　by　their　own　musket　smoke；　but　then　the　defenders　on　the　inner　wall；　who　could　stare　straight　down　the　throat　of　the　breach　in　the　outer　wall；　saw　the　redcoats　clambering　up　the　ramp　and　opened　fire。　A　man　behind　Graham　collapsed　backwards　with　blood　gurgling　from　his　throat。　Another　pitched　forward　with　a　shattered　knee。
　Graham　reached　the　breach's　summit。　His　real　goal　was　the　wall　to　his　left；　but　the　summit　of　the　breach　felt　like　triumph　enough　and　he　rammed　the　flagstaff　deep　into　the　stones　and　dust。　'Lieutenant　Graham　now！'　he　shouted　exult…ingly；　and　a　bullet　immediately　snatched　him　off　the　summit　and　hurled　him　back　towards　his　men。
　It　was　just　then　that　the　Tippoo's　own　volunteers　struck。　Sixty　men　swarmed　up　from　behind　the　wall　with　sabres　and　muskets　to　meet　the　two　Forlorn　Hopes　on　the　crest　of　the　rubble　breach。　Thes