bcornwell.sharpstiger-第14节

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will　said　when　he　reached　their　side。　'Got　a　message　for　you；　I　have。'　He　touched　his　hat　to　Mary。　'Not　you；　Ma'am；'　he　said　as　she　stood　to　acpany　Sharpe。　'This　is　men's　business；　Mrs　Bickerstaff。　Soldiers'　business。　No　business　for　bibbis。　e　on；　Sharpie！　Ain't　got　all　night！　Look　lively　now！'　He　strode　away；　thumping　the　ground　with　the　butt　of　his　halberd　as　he　threaded　his　way　between　the　fires。　'Got　news　for　you；　Sharpie；'　he　called　over　his　shoulder；　'good　news；　lad；　good　news。'
　'I　can　marry？'　Sharpe　asked　eagerly。
　Hakeswill　threw　a　sly　glance　over　his　shoulder　as　he　led　Sharpe　towards　the　picketed　lines　of　officers'　horses。　'Now　why　would　a　lad　like　you　want　to　marry？　Why　throw　all　your　spunk　away　on　one　bibbi；　eh？　And　that　one　used　goods；　too？　Another　man's　leavings；　that's　all　Mary　Bickerstaff　is。　You　should　spread　it　about；　boy。　Enjoy　yourself　when　you're　still　young。'　Hakeswill　pushed　his　way　between　the　horses　to　reach　the　dark　space　between　the　two　picketed　lines　where　he　turned　and　faced　Sharpe。　'Good　news；　Sharpe。　You　can't　marry。　Permission　is　refused。　You　want　to　know　why；　boy？'
　Sharpe　felt　his　hopes　crumbling。　At　that　moment　he　hated　Hakeswill　more　than　ever；　but　his　pride　forced　him　not　to　show　that　hate；　nor　his　disappointment。　'Why？'　he　asked。
　'I'll　tell　you　why；　Sharpie；'　Hakeswill　said。　'And　stand　still；　boy！　When　a　sergeant　condescends　to　talk　to　you；　you　standstill！　'Tenshun！　That's　better；　lad。　Bit　of　respect；　like　what　is　proper　to　show　to　a　sergeant。'　His　face　twitched　as　he　grinned。　'You　want　to　know　why；　boy？　Because　I　don't　want　you　to　marry　her；　Sharpie；　that　is　why。　I　don't　want　little　Mrs　Bickerstaff　married　to　anyone。　Not　to　you；　not　to　me；　not　even　to　the　King　of　England　himself；　God　bless　him。'　He　was　circling　Sharpe　as　he　talked。　'And　do　you　know　why；　boy？'　He　stopped　in　front　of　Sharpe　and　pushed　his　face　up　towards　the　younger　man。　'Because　that　Mrs　Bickerstaff　is　a　bibbi；　Sharpie；　with　possibilities。　Possibibbibilities！'　He　giggled　at　his　joke。　'Got　a　future；　she　has。'　He　grinned　again；　and　the　grin　was　suddenly　twisted　as　his　face　shuddered　with　its　distorting　rictus。　'You　familiar　with　Naig？　Nasty　Naig？　Answer　me；　boy'
　'I've　heard　of　him；'　Sharpe　said。
　'Fat　bugger；　Sharpie；　he　is。　Fat　and　rich。　Rides　a　helephant；　he　does；　and　he's　got　a　dozen　green　tents。　One　of　the　army's　followers；　Sharpie；　and　rich　as　a　rich　man　can　be。　Richer　than　you'll　ever　be；　Sharpie；　and　you　know　why？　'Cos　Nasty　Naig　provides　the　officers　with　their　women；　that's　why。　And　I'm　not　talking　about　those　rancid　slags　the　other　heathens　hires　out　to　you　nasty　mon　soldiers；　I'm　talking　about　the　desirable　women；　Sharpie。　Desirable。'　He　lingered　on　the　word。　'Nasty's　got　a　whole　herd　of　expensive　whores；　Sharpie；　he　does；　all　riding　in　those　closed　wagons　with　the　coloured　curtains。　Full　of　officers'　meat；　those　wagons　are；　fat　ones；　skinny　ones；　dark　ones；　light　ones；　dirty　ones；　clean　ones；　tall　ones；　short　ones；　all　sorts　of　ones；　and　all　of　'em　are　prettier　than　you　could　ever　dream　of；　but　there　ain't　one　of　them　as　pretty　as　little　Mrs　Bickerstaff；　and　there　ain't　one　who　looks　as　white　as　pretty　little　Mary　does；　and　if　mere's　one　thing　an　English　officer　abroad　wants　once　in　a　while；　Sharpie；　it's　a　spot　of　the　white　meat。　That's　the　itch　Morris　has　got；　Sharpie；　got　it　bad；　but　he　ain't　no　different　from　the　others。　They　get　bored　with　the　dark　meat；　Sharpie。　Andthe　Indian　officers！　Naig　tells　me　they'll　pay　a　month's　wages　for　a　white。　You　following　me；　Sharpie？　You　and　me　marching　in　step；　are　we？'
　Sharpe　said　nothing。　It　had　taken　all　his　self　discipline　not　to　hit　the　Sergeant；　and　Hakeswill　knew　it　and　mocked　him　for　it。　'Go　on；　Sharpie！　Hit　me！'　Hakeswill　taunted　him；　and　when　Sharpe　did　not　move；　the　Sergeant　laughed。　'You　ain't　got　the　guts；　have　you？'
　'I'II　find　a　place　and　time；'　Sharpe　said　angrily。
　'Place　and　time！　Listen　to　him！'　Hakeswill　chuckled；　then　began　pacing　around　Sharpe　once　again。　'We've　made　a　deal；　Nasty　and　me。　Like　brothers；　we　are；　me　and　him；　just　like　brothers。　We　understand　each　other；　see；　and　Nasty's　right　keen　on　your　little　Mary。　Profit　there；　you　see；　boy。　And　I'll　get　a　cut　of　it。'
　'Mary　stays　with　me；　Sarge；'　Sharpe　said　stubbornly；　'married　or　not。'
　'Oh；　Sharpie；　dear　me。　You　don't　understand；　do　you？　You　didn't　hear　me；　boy；　did　you？　Nasty　and　me；　we've　made　a　bargain。　Drunk　to　it；　we　did；　and　not　in　arrack；　neither；　but　in　proper　gentlemen's　brandy。　I　give　him　little　Mrs　Bickerstaff　and　he　gives　me　half　the　money　she　earns。　He'll　cheat　me；　of　course　he'll　cheat　me；　but　she'll　make　so　much　that　it　won't　signify。　She　won't　have　a　choice；　Sharpie。　She'll　get　snatched　on　the　march　and　given　to　one　of　Nasty's　men。　One　of　the　ugly　buggers。　She'll　be　raped　wicked　for　a　week；　whipped　every　night；　and　at　the　end　of　it；　Sharpie；　she'll　do　whatever　she's　told。　That's　the　way　the　business　works；　Sharpie；　says　so　in　the　scriptures；　and　how　are　you　going　to　stop　it？　Answer　me　that；　boy。　Are　you　going　to　pay　me　more　than　Nasty　will？'　Hakeswill　stopped　in　front　of　Sharpe　where　he　waited　for　an　answer　and；　when　none　came；　he　shook　his　head　derisively。　'You're　a　boy　playing　in　men's　games；　Sharpie；　and　you're　going　to　lose　unless　you're　a　man。　Are　you　man　enough　to　fight　me　here？　Put　me　down？　Claim　Iwas　kicked　by　a　horse　in　the　night？　You　can　try；　Sharpie；　but　you're　not　man　enough；　are　you？'
　'Hit　you；　Sergeant；'　Sharpe　said；　'and　be　put　on　a　flogging　charge？　I'm　not　daft。'
　Hakeswill　made　an　elaborate　charade　of　looking　right　and　left。　'Ain't　no　one　here　but　you　and　me；　Sharpie。　Nice　and　private！'
　Sharpe　resisted　the　urge　to　lash　out　at　his　persecutor。　'I'm　not　daft；'　he　said　again；　stubbornly　remaining　at　attention。
　'But　you　are；　boy。　Daft　as　a　bucket。　Don't　you　understand？　I'm　offering　you　the　soldier's　way　out！　Forget　the　bloody　officers；　you　daft　boy。　You　and　me；　Sharpie；　we're　soldiers；　and　soldiers　settle　their　arguments　by　fighting。　Says　so　in　the　scriptures；　don't　it？　So　beat　me　now；　lad；　beat　me　here　and　now；　beat　me　in　a　square　fight　and　I　warrant　you　can　keep　Mrs　Bickerstaff　all　to　your　little　self。'　He　paused；　grinning　up　into　Sharpe's　face。　'That's　a　promise；　Sharpie。　Fight　me　now；　fair　and　honest；　and　our　argument's　over。　But　you're　not　man　enough；　are　you？　You're　just　a　boy。'
　'I'm　not　falling　for　your　tricks；　Sergeant；'　Sharpe　said。
　'There　ain't　no　trick；　boy；'　Hakeswill　said　hoarsely。　He　stepped　two　paces　away　from　Sharpe；　reversed　his　halberd　and　thrust　its　steel　point　hard　into　the　turf。　T　can　beat　you；　Sharpie；　that's　what　I'm　reckoning。　I've　been　around　a　bit。　Know　how　to　fight。　You　might　be　taller　than　me；　and　you　might　be　stronger；　but　you　ain't　as　quick　as　me　and　you　ain't　half　as　dirty。　I'm　going　to　pound　the　bloody　guts　out　of　you；　and　when　I've　finished　with　you　I'll　take　little　Mary　down　to　Nasty's　tents　and　earn　my　money。　But　not　if　you　beat　me；　boy。　You　beat　me；　and　on　a　soldier's　honour；　I'll　persuade　Captain　Morris　to　let　you　marry。　You've　got　my　word　on　it；　boy。　A　soldier's　honour。'　He　waited　for　an　answer。　'You　ain't　a　soldier；'　he　said　scornfully　when　Sharpe　still　kept　quiet。　'You　ain't　got　the　guts！'　He　stepped　up　to　Sharpe　and　slapped　him　hard　across　the　face。　'Nothing　but　a　lily；　ain't　you？Lieutenant　Lawford's　lily…boy。　Maybe　that's　why　you　ain't　got　the　guts　to　fight　for　your　Mary！'
　The　last　insult　provoked　Sharpe　to　hit　Hakeswill。　He　did　it　hard　and　fast。　He　slammed　a　low　blow　into　Hakeswill's　belly　that　folded　the　Sergeant　over；　then　cut　his　other　hand　hard　up　into　the　Sergeant's　face　to　split　open　Hakeswill's　nose　and　jerk　his　head　back　up。　Sharpe　brought　up　his　knee；　missed　the　Sergeant's　crotch；　but　his　left　hand　had　hold　of　Hakeswill's　clubbed　hair　now　and　he　was　just　feeling　with　his　right　fingers　for　the　squealing　Sergeant's　eyeballs　when　a　voice　was　suddenly　shouting　close　behind　him。
　'Guard！'　the　voice　called。　'Guard！'
　'Jesus！'　Sharpe　let　go　of　his　enemy；　turned　and　saw　Captain　Morris　standing　just　beyond　the　picketed　horses。　Ensign　Hicks　was　with　him。
　Hakeswill　had　sunk　onto　the　ground；　but　now　hauled　himself　upright　on　the　staff　of　his　halberd。　'Assaulted　me；　sir；　he　did！'　The　Sergeant　could　scarcely　speak　for　the　pain　in　his　belly。　'He　went　mad；　sir！　Just　mad；　sir！'
　'Don't　worry；　Sergeant；　Hicks　and　I　both　saw　it；'　Morris　said。　'Came　to　check　on　the　horses；　ain't　that　right；　Hicks？'
　'Yes；　sir；'　Hicks　said。　He　was　a　small　young　man；　very　officious；　who　would　never　contradict　a　superior。　If　Morris　claimed　the　clouds　were　made　of　cheese　Hicks　would　just　stand　to　attention；　twitch　his　nose；　and　swear　blind　he　could　smell　Cheddar。　'Plain　case　of　assault；　sir；'　the　Ensign　said。　'Unprovoked　assault。'
　'Guard！'　Morris　shouted。　'Here！　Now！'
　Blood　was　pouring　down　Hakeswill's　face；　but　the　Sergeant　managed　a　grin。　'Got　you；　Sharpie；'　he　said　softly；　'got　you。　Flogging　offence；　that。'
　'You　bastard；'　Sharpe　said　softly；　and　wondered　if　he　should　run。　He　wondered　if　he　would　stand　any　chance　of　making　it　safely　away　if　he　just　sprinted　into　the　dark；　but　Ensign　Hicks　had　drawn　his　pistol　and　the　sound　of　thehammer　being　cocked　stilled　Sharpe's　tiny　impulse　to　flee。
　A　panting　Serg