bcornwell.sharpstiger-第33节

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igorously。　It　seemed　to　Sharpe　mat　they　were　discussing　his　fate；　and　he　prayed　he　would　be　spared　a　painful　initiation　into　one　of　the　Tippoo's　cushoons。　Another　Indian　officer；　a　tall　man　in　a　silk　tunic　decorated　with　the　Tippoo's　tiger　stripes；　was　talking　to　Mary　while　Sharpe　still　stood　above　the　crouching　McCandless。
　'Did　Harris　send　you？〃　McCandless　asked　softly。
　'Yes；'　Sharpe　hissed；　not　looking　at　the　Colonel。　Mary　was　shaking　her　head。　She　glanced　at　Sharpe；　then　looked　back　to　the　tall　Indian。
　'Beware　the　west；'　McCandless　whispered。　'Nothing　else。'　The　Scotsman　groaned；　pretending　to　be　in　much　more　pain　than　he　was。　He　retched　dryly；　tried　to　stand　and　instead　toppled　over。　'You're　a　traitor；'　he　said　loudly　enough　for　Gudin　to　hear　him；　'and　you'll　die　a　traitor's　death。'
　Sharpe　spat　on　McCandless。　'e　here；　Sharpe！'　Gudin；　disapproval　plain　in　his　voice；　ordered　him。
　Sharpe　marched　back　to　Lawford's　side　where　one　of　theTippoo's　attendants　took　back　the　two　muskets。　The　Tippoo　gestured　at　McCandless's　guards；　evidently　signifying　that　the　Scotsman　was　to　be　returned　to　his　cell。　The　Tippoo　then　gave　Sharpe　an　approving　nod　before　turning　and　leading　his　entourage　out　of　the　courtyard。　The　tall　Indian　in　the　silk　tiger　stripes　beckoned　to　Mary。
　Tm　to　go　with　him；　love；'　she　explained　to　Sharpe。
　'I　thought　you　were　staying　with　me！'　Sharpe　protested。
　'I'm　to　earn　my　keep；'　she　said。　'I'm　to　teach　his　little　sons　English。　And　sweep　and　wash；　of　course；'　she　added　bitterly。
　Colonel　Gudin　intervened。　'She　will　join　you　later；'　he　told　Sharpe。　'But　for　now　you　are　both；　how　do　you　say　it？　On　test？'
　'Probation；　sir？'　Lawford　offered。
　'Exactly；'　Gudin　said。　'And　soldiers　on　probation　are　not　permitted　wives。　Don't　worry；　Sharpe。　I'm　sure　your　woman　will　be　safe　in　General　Rao's　house。　Now　go；　Mademoiselle。'
　Mary　stood　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　Sharpe's　cheek。　'I'll　be　all　right；　love；'　she　whispered；　'and　so　will　you。'
　'Look　after　yourself；　lass；'　Sharpe　said；　and　watched　her　follow　the　tall　Indian　officer　out　of　the　courtyard。
　Gudin　gestured　towards　the　archway。　'We　must　let　Doctor　Venkatesh　finish　your　back；　Sharpe；　then　give　you　both　new　uniforms　and　muskets。　Wele　to　the　Tippoo　Sultan's　army；　gentlemen。　You　earn　a　haideri　each　every　day。'
　'Good　money！'　Sharpe　said；　impressed。　A　haideri　was　worth　half　a　crown；　far　above　the　miserable　tuppence　a　day　he　received　in　the　British　army。
　'But　doubtless　in　arrears；'　Lawford　said　sarcastically。　He　was　still　angry　at　Sharpe　for　having　tried　to　shoot　McCandless；　and　the　musket's　misfire　had　not　placated　him。
　'The　pay　is　always　in　arrears；'　Gudin　admitted　cheerfully；　'but　in　what　army　is　the　pay　ever　on　time？　Officially　you　earn　a　haideri　a　day；　though　you　will　rarely　receive　it；　but　I　can　promise　you　other　consolations。　Now　e。'　He　summonedDoctor　Venkatesh　who　retrieved　his　basket　and　followed　Gudin　out　of　the　palace。
　Thus　Sharpe　went　to　meet　his　new　rades　and　readied　himself　to　face　a　new　enemy。　His　own　side。
　
　General　David　Baird　did　not　feel　guilty　about　Sharpe　and　Lawford；　for　they　were　soldiers　and　were　paid　to　take　risks；　but　he　did　feel　responsible　for　them。　The　fact　that　neither　the　British　nor　Indian　cavalry　patrols　had　discovered　the　two　men　suggested　that　they　might　well　have　reached　Seringapa…tam；　but　the　more　Baird　thought　about　their　mission　the　less　sanguine　he　was　about　its　successful　pletion。　It　had　seemed　a　good　idea　when　he　had　first　thought　of　it；　but　two　days'　reflection　had　diluted　that　initial　hope　with　a　score　of　reservations。　He　had　always　suspected　that　even　with　the　help　of　Ravi　Shekhar　their　chances　of　rescuing　McCandless　were　woefully　small；　but　at　the　very　least　he　had　hoped　they　might　learn　McCandless's　news　and　succeed　in　bringing　it　out　of　the　city；　but　now　he　feared　that　neither　man　would　even　survive。　At　best；　he　thought；　the　two　men　could　only　hope　to　escape　execution　by　joining　the　Tippoo's　forces；　which　would　mean　that　both　Sharpe　and　Lawford　would　be　in　enemy　uniform　when　the　British　assaulted　the　city。　There　was　litde　Baird　could　do　about　that；　but　he　could　prevent　a　dreadful　miscarriage　of　justice　following　the　city's　fall；　and　so　that　night；　when　the　two　armies'　great　encampment　was　established　just　a　few　days'　march　from　their　goal；　Baird　sought　out　the　lines　of　the　33rd。
　Major　Shee　seemed　alarmed　at　the　General's　sudden　appearance；　but　Baird　soothed　the　Major　and　explained　he　had　a　little　business　with　the　Light　pany。　'Nothing　to　trouble　you；　Major。　Just　an　administrative　matter。　A　triviality。'
　'I'Il　take　you　to　Captain　Morris；　sir；'　Shee　said；　then　clapped　on　his　hat　and　led　the　General　down　the　line　ofofficers'　tents。　'It's　the　end　one；　sir；'　he　said　nervously。　'Do　you　need　me　at　all？'
　'I　wouldn't　waste　your　time；　Shee；　on　trifles；　but　I'm　obliged　for　your　help；　though。'
　Baird　found　a　shirt…sleeved　Captain　Morris　frowning　at　his　paperwork　in　the　pany　of　an　oddly　malevolent…looking　sergeant　who；　at　the　General's　unannounced　arrival；　sprang　to　quivering　attention。　Morris　hastily　placed　his　cocked　hat　over　a　tin　mug　that　Baird　suspected　was　full　of　arrack。　'Captain　Morris？'　the　General　asked。
　'Sir！'　Morris　upset　his　chair　as　he　stood　up；　then　he　plucked　his　red　coat　off　the　floor　where　it　had　fallen　with　the　chair。
　Baird　waved　to　show　that　Morris　need　not　worry　about　donning　a　coat。　'There's　no　need　for　formality；　Captain。　Leave　your　coat　off；　man；　leave　it　off。　It's　desperately　hot；　isn't　it？'
　'Unbearable；　sir；'　Morris　said　nervously。
　'I'm　Baird；'　Baird　introduced　himself。　'I　don't　think　we've　had　the　pleasure？'
　'No；　sir。'　Morris　was　too　nervous　to　introduce　himself　properly。
　'Sit　you　down；　man；'　Baird　said；　trying　to　put　the　Captain　at　his　ease。　'Sit　you　down。　May　I？'　Baird　gestured　at　Morris's　cot；　asking　permission　to　use　it　as　a　chair。　'Thank　you　kindly；'　Baird　said；　then　he　sat；　took　off　his　plumed　hat　and　fanned　his　face　with　its　brim。　'I　think　I've　forgotten　what　cold　weather　is　like。　Do　you　think　it　still　snows　anywhere？　My　God；　but　it　saps　a　man；　this　heat。　Saps　him。　Do　relax；　Sergeant。'
　'Thank　you；　sir。'　Sergeant　Hakeswill's　stiff　posture　unbent　a　fraction。
　Baird　smiled　at　Morris。　'You　lost　two　men　this　week；　Captain；　did　you　not？'
　'Two　men？'　Morris　frowned。　That　bastard　Sharpe　had　run；　taking　his　bibbi　with　him；　but　who　else？　'Oh！'　Morris　said。　'You　mean　Lieutenant　Lawford；　sir？''The　very　fellow。　A　lucky　fellow　too；　eh？　Carrying　the　despatch　to　Madras。　It's　quite　an　honour　for　him。'　Baird　shook　his　head　ruefully。　'Myself；　I'm　not　so　certain　that　little　scrap　the　other　day　was　worth　a　despatch；　but　General　Harris　insisted　and　your　Colonel　chose　Lawford。'　Baird　was　using　the　excuse　the　army　had　invented　to　explain　Lawford's　disappearance。　The　excuse　had　provoked　some　resentment　in　the　33rd　for　Lawford　was　one　of　the　most　junior　of　the　battalion's　lieutenants　and　most　men　who　carried　despatches　could　expect　a　promotion　as　a　reward　for　the　task　which；　in　turn；　was　usually　only　given　to　men　who　had　distinguished　themselves　in　battle。　It　seemed　to　Morris；　as　to　every　other　officer　in　the　battalion；　that　Lawford　had　neither　distinguished　himself　nor　deserved　promotion；　but　Morris　could　hardly　admit　as　much　to　Baird。
　'Very　glad　for　him；'　Morris　managed　to　say。
　'Found　a　replacement；　have　you？'　Baird　asked。
　'Ensign　Fitzgerald；　sir；'　Morris　said。　'Lieutenant　Fitzgerald　now；　sir；　by　brevet；　of　course。'　Morris　managed　to　sound　disapproving。　He　would　have　much　preferred　Ensign　Hicks　to　have　received　the　temporary　promotion；　but　Hicks　did　not　have　the　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　needed　to　purchase　up　from　ensign　to　lieutenant；　whereas　Fitzgerald　did；　and　if　Lawford's　reward　for　carrying　the　despatches　was　a　promotion　to　captain　then　Fitzgerald　must　replace　him。　In　Morris's　opinion　the　newly　breveted　Lieutenant　was　altogether　too　easy　with　the　men；　but　a　money　draft　was　a　money　draft；　and　Fitzgerald　was　the　monied　candidate　and　so　had　been　given　the　temporary　rank。
　'And　the　other　fellow　you　lost？'　Baird　asked；　trying　hard　to　sound　casual。　'The　private？　In　the　book；　is　he？'
　'He's　in　the　book　all　right；　sir。'　The　Sergeant　answered　for　Morris。　'Hakeswill；　sir；'　he　introduced　himself。　'Sergeant　Obadiah　Hakeswill；　sir；　man　and　boy　in　the　army；　sir；　and　at　your　mand；　sir。''What　was　the　rogue's　name？'　Baird　asked　Morris。
　'Sharpe；　sir。'　Hakeswill　again　answered。　'Richard　Sharpe；　sir；　and　as　filthy　horrible　a　little　piece　of　work　as　ever　I　did　see；　sir；　in　all　my　born　days；　sir。'
　'The　book？'　Baird　asked　Morris；　ignoring　Hakeswill's　judgement。
　Morris　frantically　searched　the　mess　on　his　desk　for　the　Punishment　Book；　at　the　back　of　which　were　kept　the　army's　official　forms　for　deserters。　Hakeswill　eventually　found　it；　and；　with　a　crisp　gesture；　handed　it　to　the　General。　'Sir！'
　Baird　leafed　through　the　front　pages；　finally　discovering　the　entry　for　Sharpe's　court　martial。　'Two　thousand　strokes！'　the　Scotsman　said　in　horror。　'It　must　have　been　a　grave　offence？'
　'Struck　a　sergeant；　sir！'　Hakeswill　announced。
　'You；　perhaps？'　Baird　asked　drily；　noting　the　Sergeant's　swollen　and　bruised　nose。
　'Without　any　provocation；　sir；'　Hakeswill　said　earnest