bcornwell.sharpstiger-第62部分

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　side　of　the　breach；　but　the　Tippoo's　soldiers　were　fighting　back　hard；　and　the　Tippoo　himself　led　the　defenders　north　of　the　breach。　The　Tippoo　had　cursed　Gudin　for　blowing　the　mine　too　early　and　thus　wasting　its　terrible　destructive　power；　but　now　he　tried　to　revive　the　defence　by　his　personal　example。　He　stood　in　the　front　rank　of　his　soldiers　while　behind　him　a　succession　of　aides　loaded　jewel…encrusted　hunting　rifles。　One　by　one　the　rifles　were　given　to　the　Tippoo　who　aimed　and　fired；　aimed　and　fired；　and　redcoat　after　redcoat　was　struck　down。　Whenever　an　enemy　tried　to　rush　along　the　ramparts；　the　Tippoo　would　drop　that　man；　then　pass　the　gun　back；　take　another；　step　forward　through　the　powder　smoke　and　fire　again。　Musket　balls　hissed　about　him。　Two　of　his　aides　were　wounded　and　a　score　of　soldiers　fighting　at　the　Tippoo's　side　were　killed　or　maimed；　but　the　Tippoo's　life　seemed　charmed。　He　stepped　in　blood；　but　none　of　it　was　his　and　it　seemed　as　though　he　could　not　die；　but　only　kill；　and　so　he　did；　cold…bloodedly；deliberately；　exultantly　defending　his　city　and　his　dream　against　the　barbarians　who　had　e　to　snatch　his　tiger　throne。
　The　fight　on　the　walls　intensified　as　more　men　came　to　the　threatened　ramparts。　The　men　in　red　came　from　the　river　and　the　men　in　tiger　stripes　came　from　other　parts　of　the　city　wall；　and　both　came　to　kill　on　top　of　the　wall：　a　narrow　place；　scarce　five　paces　wide；　lifted　in　the　sky。
　Where　the　vultures　flew；　scenting　death。
　Sharpe　scooped　up　three　fallen　muskets　from　the　end　of　the　alley　where　they　had　been　blown　by　the　explosion。　He　checked　that　his　new　guns　were　undamaged；　loaded　the　two　which　were　empty；　then　went　back　to　Lawford。　'You　stay　with　the　Colonel；　sir；'　he　suggested；　'and　put　your　coat　right　side　out。　Lads　will　be　here　soon。　And　when　they're　here；　sir；　you　might　like　to　find　Lali。'
　Lawford　coloured。　'Lali？'
　'Look　after　her；　sir。　I　promised　the　lass　she'd　e　to　no　harm。'
　'You　did？'　Lawford　asked　with　a　trace　of　indignation。　He　was　wondering　just　how　well　Sharpe　knew　the　girl；　then　he　decided　it　was　better　not　to　ask。　'Of　course　I'll　look　after　her；'　Lawford　said；　still　blushing；　then　he　noted　that　Sharpe；　despite　his　own　advice；　had　still　not　donned　his　red　coat。　'Where　are　you　going？'　the　Lieutenant　asked。
　'Got　a　job　to　do；　sir；'　Sharpe　answered　vaguely。　'And；　sir？　Can　I　thank　you；　sir？　I　couldn't　have　done　any　of　this　without　you。'　Sharpe　was　not　used　to　offering　such　heartfelt　pliments　and　he　spoke　awkwardly。　'You're　a　brave　bugger；　sir；　you　really　are。'
　Lawford　felt　absurdly　pleased。　He　knew　he　should　have　stopped　Sharpe　from　leaving；　for　this　was　no　time　for　a　man　to　be　roaming　Seringapatam's　streets；　but　Sharpe　was　already　gone。　Lawford　turned　his　coat　the　right　side　out　and　pushedhis　arms　through　the　sleeves。　Gudin；　beside　him；　waved　away　a　fly　and　wondered　why　the　dust　and　smoke　did　not　keep　the　pests　away。　'What　will　they　do　with　me；　Lieutenant？'　he　asked　Lawford。
　'They'll　treat　you　well；　sir；　I'm　sure。　They'll　probably　send　you　back　to　France。'
　'I'd　like　that；'　Gudin　said　and　suddenly　realized　that　was　all　he　really　did　want。　'Your　Private　Sharpe　。　。　。'　he　said。
　'Sergeant　Sharpe　now；　sir。'
　'Your　Sergeant　Sharpe；　then。　He's　a　good　man；　Lieutenant。'
　'Yes；　sir；'　Lawford　said；　'he　is。'
　'If　he　lives；　he'll　go　far。'
　'If　he　lives；　sir；　yes。'　And　if　the　army　lets　him　live；　Lawford　thought。
　'Look　after　him；　Lieutenant；'　Gudin　said。　'An　army　isn't　made　of　its　officers；　you　know；　though　we　officers　like　to　think　it　is。　An　army　is　no　better　than　its　men；　and　when　you　find　good　men；　you　must　look　after　them。　That's　an　officer's　job。'
　'Yes；　sir；'　Lawford　said　dutifully。　The　first　fugitives　from　the　walls　were　visible　at　the　end　of　the　alley　now；　men　in　dust…smeared　tiger　tunics　who　staggered　or　limped　away　from　the　fighting。　The　noise　of　that　fight　was　the　continuous　staccato　of　musket　fire；　shouts　and　screams；　and　it　could　not　be　long　before　the　first　murderous　attackers　broke　into　the　streets。　Lawford　wondered　if　he　should　have　demanded　Gudin's　sword；　then　worried　about　having　allowed　Sharpe　to　go　off　on　his　own。
　Sharpe　lived　so　far。　He　had　thought　about　putting　on　his　red　coat；　then　decided　there　was　no　point　in　making　himself　conspicuous；　even　though　the　coat　was　now　so　filthy　that　it　hardly　looked　like　a　uniform　any　more；　and　so　he　left　the　turned　jacket　knotted　about　his　neck　and；　with　two　muskets　slung　on　each　shoulder；　ran　northwards　through　the　city。　The　crackle　of　muskets　was　constant；　but　above　that　crisp　soundhe　could　also　hear　the　roar　of　maddened　men　going　into　a　brutal　fight。　In　a　few　minutes　that　fight　would　spread　into　the　city　and　Sharpe　planned　to　use　those　minutes　well。　He　ran　through　the　small　square　where　the　rocket　carts　were　still　parked　and　then　hurried　past　the　Inner　Palace　where　a　tiger…striped　guard；　thinking　that　Sharpe　was　a　deserter　from　the　Tippoo's　European　troops；　shouted　a　challenge　at　him；　but　by　the　time　the　guard　had　cocked　his　musket　Sharpe　had　already　disappeared　into　the　labyrinth　of　alleys　and　yards　that　lay　to　the　north　of　the　palace。
　He　pushed　through　a　crowd　of　fearful　women；　passed　the　cheetah　cages　and　so　went　back　to　the　dungeons。　The　bodies　of　the　three　jettis　were　crawling　with　flies　and　beyond　them　the　outer　gate　of　the　dungeons　still　swung　open。　Sharpe　ran　through　the　gate　and　jumped　down　the　stairs　to　where　his　tiger　lay　dead。
　'Sharpie！'　Hakeswill　came　to　the　bars。　'You　came　back；　lad！　I　knew　you　would。　So　what's　happening；　lad？　No！　Don't　do　that！'　Hakeswill　had　seen　Sharpe　take　a　musket　from　his　shoulder。　'I　like　you；　boy；　always　have！　I　might　have　seemed　a　bit　hard　on　you　at　times；　but　only　for　your　own　good；　Sharpie。　You're　a　good　boy；　you　are。　You're　a　proper　soldier。　No！'　Sharpe　had　aimed　the　musket。
　Sharpe　turned　the　muzzle　away　from　Hakeswill　and　aimed　it　at　the　padlock。　He　did　not　want　to　waste　time　with　the　picklock　so　he　simply　held　the　musket　against　the　ancient　loop　of　the　padlock　and　pulled　the　trigger。　The　iron　loop　sheared　and　the　lock　fell　from　the　hasp。　Sharpe　dragged　the　cell　door　open。　'I've　e　to　get　you；　Obadiah；'　he　said。
　'Knew　you　would；　Sharpie；　knew　you　would。'　Hakeswill's　face　twitched。　'Knew　you　wouldn't　leave　your　sergeant　to　rot。'
　'So　e　on　out；'　Sharpe　said。
　Hakeswill　hung　back。　'No　hard　feelings；　lad？'
　T'm　not　a　lad；　Obadiah。　I'm　a　sergeant　like　you　are。　I'vegot　Colonel　Wellesley's　promise；　I　have。　I'm　a　sergeant　now；　just　like　you。'
　'So　you　are；　so　you　are；　and　so　you　should　be。'　Hakeswill's　face　twitched　again。　'I　said　as　much　to　Mister　Morris；　didn't　I？　That　Sharpie；　I　said；　he's　a　sergeant　in　the　making　if　ever　I　did　see　one。　A　good　lad；　I　told　him。　Got　my　eye　on　him；　sir。　That's　what　I　told　Mister　Morris。'
　Sharpe　smiled。　'So　e　on　out　here；　Obadiah。'
　Hakeswill　backed　all　the　way　to　the　cell's　rear　wall。　'Better　to　stay　here；　Sharpie；'　he　said。　'You　know　what　the　lads　are　like　when　their　blood's　boiling。　Might　get　hurt　out　there。　Best　to　stay　put　a　while；　let　the　lads　settle　it　first；　eh？'
　Sharpe　crossed　the　cell　in　two　strides　and　gripped　Hakeswill's　collar。　'You　e　with　me；　you　bastard；'　he　said；　tugging　the　whimpering　Sergeant　forward。　'I　should　kill　you　here；　you　scum；　but　you　don't　deserve　a　soldier's　death；　Obadiah。　You're　too　rotten　for　a　bullet。'
　'No；　Sharpie；　no！'　Hakeswill　screamed　as　Sharpe　dragged　him　out　of　the　cell；　across　the　tiger's　carcass　and　up　the　stone　steps。　'I　ain't　done　nothing　to　you！'
　'Nothing！'　Sharpe　turned　furiously　on　Hakeswill。　〃You　had　me　flogged；　you　bastard；　and　then　you　betrayed　us！'
　'I　never　did！　Cross　my　heart　and　hope　to　die；　Sharpie！'
　Sharpe　spun　Hakeswill　up　against　the　bars　of　the　dungeon's　outer　cage；　slamming　him　against　the　iron　rods；　then　punched　the　Sergeant　in　the　chest。　'You're　going　to　die；　Obadiah；　I　promise。　Because　you　did　betray　us。'
　'I　didn't　do　nothing；'　Hakeswill　said　through　his　laboured　breathing。　'On　my　mother's　dying　breath；　Sharpie；　I　didn't。　The　flogging；　yes。　I　did　do　that　to　you；　and　I　was　wrong！'　He　tried　to　fall　to　his　knees；　but　Sharpe　dragged　him　upright。　'I　didn't　betray　you；　Sharpie。　I　wouldn't　do　that　to　another　Englishman。'
　'You'll　still　be　telling　lies　when　you　go　dirough　the　gates　of　hell；　Obadiah；'　Sharpe　said　as　he　grabbed　the　Sergeant'scollar　again。　'Now　e　on；　you　bastard。'　He　pulled　Hakeswill　through　the　dungeon's　outer　gate；　across　the　courtyard　and　into　the　alley　which　led　south　towards　the　palace。　A　squad　of　tiger…striped　soldiers　ran　past　the　mouth　of　the　alley；　going　to　the　western　walls；　but　none　took　any　notice　of　Sharpe。　The　guard　on　the　northern　palace　gate　did　notice　him　and　levelled　his　musket；　but　Sharpe　snarled　the　magic　words　at　the　man；　'Gudin！　Colonel　Gudin；'　and　such　was　the　confidence　in　Sharpe's　voice　that　the　guard　lowered　the　musket　and　stepped　aside。
　'Where　are　you　taking　me；　Sharpie？'　Hakeswill　panted。
　'You'll　find　out。'
　Two　more　guards　were　stationed　at　the　inner　courtyard　gate　and　they　too　pointed　their　muskets；　but　Sharpe　shouted　at　them　and　once　again　Gudin's　name　was　a　talisman　sufficient　to　allay　their　suspicions。　Besides；　Sharpe　had　a　red…coated　prisoner；　and　the　two　nervous　guards　mistook　him　for　one　of　Gudin's　men　and　so　let　him　pass。
　Sharpe　lifted　the　gate's　latch　and　dragged　it　open。　The　six　tigers；　already　disturbed　by　the　terrible　noises　that　had　been　battering　about　the　city；　leapt　towards　the　opening　gate　and　their　six　chains　cracked　taut。　Hakeswill　saw　the　animals　and　screamed。　'No；　Sharpie！　No！　Mother！'
　Sharpe　dragged　the　struggling　Hakeswill　into　the　courtyard。　'You　reckon　you　can't　die；　Obadiah？　I　reckon　different。　So　when　you　get　to　hell；　you　bastard；　tell　them　it　was　Sergeant　Sharpe　who　sent　you。'
　'No；　Sharpie！　No！'　This　last　word　was　a　yelp　of　despair　as　Sharpe　pulled　Hakeswill　into　the　centre　of　the　courtyard　and　there　spun　him　around　at　arm's　length。　'No！'　the　Sergeant　wailed　as　Sharpe　spun　him　faster；　then　Sharpe　suddenly　let　go　of　Hakeswill's　collar。　The　Sergeant　was　unbalanced　and　out　of　control。　He　staggered　and　flailed　his　arms；　but　nothing　could　stop　his　momentum。　'No！'　he　screamed　a　last　time　as　he　fell　and　slid　across　the　sand　to　where　three　tigers　waited。
　'Goodby