bcornwell.sharpstiger-第45节

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to　the　Lieutenant's　face；　and　Sharpe　saw　Hakeswill's　look　of　utter　astonishment。　For　a　second　the　world　seemed　to　pause　in　its　turning。　Lawford　appeared　unable　to　move；　while　Hakeswill　was　gaping　with　disbelief　and　seemed　about　to　shout　his　recognition。　Sharpe　was　reaching　to　snatch　a　musket　from　one　of　the　Tippoo's　infantrymen；　but　then　Hakeswill　turned　deliberately　away　and　posed　his　features　as　though　sending　a　silent　message　that　he　would　not　remark　on　Lawford's　presence。　The　twelve　grenadier　prisoners　were　still　a　few　yards　behind　and　Lawford；　suddenly　realizing　that　yet　more　men　of　his　battalion　might　recognize　him；　at　last　turned　away。　He　pulled　Sharpe　with　him。　Sharpe　protested。　'I　want　to　kill　Hakeswill！'
　'e　on！'　Lawford　hurried　down　an　alley。　The　Lieutenanthad　gone　pale。　He　stopped　beside　the　arched　doorway　of　a　small　temple　that　was　surmounted　by　a　carving　of　a　cow　resting　beneath　a　parasol。　Little　flames　sputtered　inside　the　sanctuary。　'Will　he　say　anything？'　Lawford　asked。
　'That　bastard？'　Sharpe　said。　'Anything's　possible。'
　'Surely　not。　He　wouldn't　betray　us；'　Lawford　said；　then　shuddered。　'What　happened；　for　God's　sake？'
　Sharpe　told　him　of　the　night's　events　and　how　close　he　had　e　to　making　a　clean　break　back　to　the　British　lines。　Tt　were　bloody　Hakeswill　that　stopped　me；'　he　plained。
　'He　could　have　misunderstood　you；'　Lawford　said。
　'Not　him。'
　'But　what　happens　if　he　does　betray　us？'　Lawford　asked。
　'Then　we　join　your　uncle　in　the　bloody　cells；'　Sharpe　said　gloomily。　'You　should　have　let　me　shoot　the　bastard　back　at　the　gate。'
　'Don't　be　a　fool！'　Lawford　snapped。　'You're　still　in　the　army；　Sharpe。　So　am　I。'　He　suddenly　shook　his　head。　'God　Almighty！'　he　swore。　'We　need　to　find　Ravi　Shekhar。'
　'Why？'
　'Because　if　we　can't　get　the　news　out；　then　maybe　he　can！'　Lawford　said　angrily。　His　anger　was　at　himself。　He　had　been　so　beguiled　by　exploring　the　existence　of　a　mon　soldier　that　he　had　forgotten　his　duty；　and　that　dereliction　now　filled　him　with　guilt。　'We　have　to　find　him；　Sharpe！'
　'How？　We　can't　ask　in　the　streets　for　him！'
　'Then　find　Mrs　Bickerstaff；'　Lawford　said　urgently。　'Find　her；　Sharpe！'　He　lowered　his　voice。　'And　that's　an　order。'
　'I　outrank　you；'　Sharpe　said。
　Lawford　turned　on　him　furiously。　'What　did　you　say？'
　'I'm　a　corporal　now；　Private。'　Sharpe　grinned。
　'This　is　not　a　joke；　Sharpe！'　Lawford　snapped。　There　was　a　sudden　authority　in　his　voice。　'We're　not　here　to　enjoy　ourselves。　We're　here　to　do　a　job。'
　'We've　done　it　bloody　well　so　far；'　Sharpe　said　defensively。'No；　we　haven't；'　Lawford　said　firmly。　'Because　we　haven't　got　the　news　out；　have　we？　And　until　we　do　that；　Sharpe；　we've　achieved　nothing。　Absolutely　nothing。　So　talk　to　your　woman　and　tell　her　what　we　know　and　get　her　to　find　Shekhar。　That's　an　order；　Private　Sharpe。　So　do　it！'　Lawford　abruptly　turned　and　stalked　away。
　Sharpe　felt　the　forting　weight　of　the　haideri　in　his　tunic　pocket。　He　thought　about　following　Lawford；　then　decided　to　hell　with　it。　Tonight　he　could　afford　the　best　and　life　was　too　short　to　pass　up　that　sort　of　chance。　He　decided　he　would　go　back　to　the　brothel。　He　had　liked　the　place；　a　house　filled　with　curtains；　rugs　and　shaded　oil　lamps　where　two　giggling　girls　had　given　Lawford　and　Sharpe　baths　before　letting　them　go　up　the　stairs　to　the　bedrooms。　A　haideri　would　buy　a　whole　night　in　one　of　those　rooms；　perhaps　with　Lali；　the　tall　girl　who　had　left　Lieutenant　Lawford　exhausted　and　guilt…ridden。
　So　he　went　to　spend　his　gold。
　
　The　33rd　marched　unhappily　back　to　the　encampment。　The　wounded　were　carried　or　limped　back　and　one　man　cried　out　every　time　he　put　his　left　foot　down；　but　otherwise　the　battalion　was　silent。　They　had　been　whipped；　and　the　distant　jeers　of　the　Tippoo's　men　rubbed　salt　into　their　wounds。　A　last　few　rockets　pursued　them；　their　flames　streaking　wildly　askew　across　the　stars。
　The　Grenadier　and　Light　panies　had　taken　the　casualties。　Men　were　missing　and　Wellesley　knew　that　some　of　those　missing　were　dead　and　he　feared　that　others　were　prisoners　or　else　still　lying　wounded　among　the　dark　trees。　The　remaining　eight　panies　of　the　battalion　had　marched　to　support　the　flank　panies；　but　in　the　dark　they　had　crossed　the　aqueduct　too　far　to　the　south　and；　while　Wellesley　had　tried　to　find　his　beleaguered　flank　panies；　Major　Shee　had　stolidly　marched　straight　through　the　tope　and　out　across　the　aqueduct　on　the　far　side　without　encountering　the　enemy　orfiring　a　shot。　The　two　sepoy　battalions　could　easily　have　turned　the　night's　disaster　into　a　victory；　but　they　had　received　no　orders；　though　one　of　the　battalions；　fearing　disaster；　had　fired　a　panicked　volley　that　had　killed　their　own　manding　officer　while；　a　half…mile　to　their　front；　the　33rd　had　floundered　about　in　unsoldierlike　chaos。
　It　was　that　lack　of　professionalism　that　galled　Wellesley。　He　had　failed。　The　northern　stretch　of　the　aqueduct　had　been　efficiently　captured　by　other　battalions；　but　the　33rd　had　blundered。　Wellesley　had　blundered；　and　he　knew　it。　General　Harris　was　sympathetic　enough　when　the　young　Colonel　reported　his　failure；　Harris　murmured　about　the　uncertainty　of　night　attacks　and　how　everything　could　be　put　right　in　the　morning；　but　Wellesley　still　felt　the　failure　keenly。　He　knew　only　too　well　that　experienced　soldiers　like　Baird　despised　him；　believing　that　his　promotion　to　second…in…mand　was　due　solely　to　the　fact　that　his　elder　brother　was　Governor…General　of　the　British　regions　in　India；　and　Wellesley's　shame　had　been　made　worse　because　Major　General　Baird　had　been　waiting　with　Harris　when　WeDesley　arrived　to　report　his　failure　and　the　tall　Scotsman　seemed　to　smirk　as　Wellesley　confessed　to　the　night's　disasters。　'Difficult　things；　night　attacks；'　Harris　said　yet　again　while　Baird　said　nothing　and　Wellesley　smarted　under　the　Scotsman's　telling　silence。
　〃We'll　clear　the　tope　in　the　morning；'　Harris　tried　to　console　Wellesley。
　'My　men　will　do　it；'　Wellesley　promised　quickly。
　'No；　no。　They　won't　be　rested；'　Harris　said。　'Better　if　we　use　fresh　troops。'
　'My　fellows　will　be　quite　ready。'　Baird　spoke　for　the　first　time。　He　smiled　at　Wellesley。　'The　Scotch　Brigade；　I　mean。'
　'I　request　permission　to　mand　the　attack；　sir；'　Wellesley　said　very　stiffly；　ignoring　Baird。　'Whatever　troops　you　use；　sir；　I'll　still　be　duty　officer。''I'm　sure；　I'm　sure；'　Harris　said　vaguely；　neither　granting　nor　denying　Wellesley's　request。　'You　must　get　some　sleep；'　he　said　to　the　young　Colonel；　'so　let　me　wish　you　a　restful　night。'　He　waited　till　Wellesley　was　gone；　then　shook　his　head　mutely。
　'A　whippersnapper；'　Baird　said　loudly　enough　for　the　retreating　Colonel　to　hear　him；　'with　his　nursery　maid's　apron　strings　still　trapped　in　his　sword　belt。'
　'He's　very　efficient；'　Harris　said　mildly。
　'My　mother　was　efficient；　God　rest　her　soul；'　Baird　retorted　vigorously；　'but　you　wouldn't　want　her　running　a　damned　battle。　I　tell　you；　Harris；　if　you　let　him　lead　the　assault　on　the　city　you'll　be　asking　for　trouble。　Give　the　job　to　me；　man；　give　it　to　me。　I've　got　a　score　to　settle　with　the　Tippoo。'
　'So　you　have；'　Harris　agreed；　'so　you　have。'
　'And　let　me　take　the　damned　tope　in　the　morning。　God；　man；　I　could　do　it　with　a　corporal's　guard！'
　'Wellesley　will　still　be　officer　of　the　day　tomorrow　morning；　Baird；'　Harris　said；　then　pulled　off　his　wig　as　a　sign　that　he　wanted　to　go　to　bed。　One　side　of　his　scalp　was　curiously　flattened　where　he　had　been　wounded　at　Bunker　Hill。　He　scratched　at　the　old　injury；　then　yawned。　Til　bid　you　good　night。'
　'You　know　how　to　spell　Wellesley's　name　for　the　despatch；　Harris？'　Baird　asked。　'Three　L's！'
　'Good　night；'　Harris　said　firmly。
　At　dawn　the　Scotch　Brigade　and　two　Indian　battalions　paraded　east　of　the　encampment；　while　a　battery　of　four　twelve…pounder　guns　unlimbered　to　their　south。　As　soon　as　the　sun　was　up　the　four　guns　began　throwing　shells　into　the　tope。　The　missiles　left　filmy　smoke　traces　in　the　air　from　their　burning　fuses；　then　plunged　into　the　trees　where　their　explosions　were　muffled　by　the　thick　foliage。　One　shell　fell　short　and　a　great　gout　of　water　spurted　up　from　the　aqueduct。　Birds　wheeled　above　the　smoking　tope；　squawking　their　pro…tests　at　the　violence　that　had　once　again　disturbed　their　nests。
　Major　General　Baird　waited　in　front　of　the　Scotch　Brigade。　He　itched　to　take　his　countrymen　forward；　but　Harris　insisted　it　was　Wellesley's　privilege。　'He's　officer　of　the　day　till　noon；'　Harris　said。
　'He　ain't　up；'　Baird　said。　'He's　sleeping　it　off。　If　you　wait　for　him　to　wake　up　it'll　be　past　noon　anyway。　Just　let　me　go；　sir。'
　'Give　him　five　minutes；'　Harris　insisted。　'I　sent　an　aide　to　wake　him。'
　Baird　had　intercepted　the　aide　to　make　certain　Wellesley　did　not　wake　in　time；　but　just　before　the　five　minutes　expired　the　young　Colonel　came　racing　across　the　ground　on　his　white　horse。　He　looked　dishevelled；　like　a　man　who　had　made　too　hasty　a　toilet。　'My　sincerest　apologies；　sir；'　he　greeted　Harris。
　'You're　ready；　Wellesley？'
　'Indeed；　sir。'
　'Then　you　know　what　to　do；'　Harris　said　curdy。
　'Look　after　my　Scots　boys！'　Baird　called　to　Wellesley；　and　received；　as　he　expected；　no　answer。
　The　Scots　colours　were　unfurled；　the