bcornwell.sharpstiger-第46节
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'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 drummer boys sounded the advance； the pipers began their fierce music and the brigade marched into the rising sun。 The sepoys followed。 Rockets streaked up from the tope； but the missiles were no more accurate in the morning than they had been at night。 The four brass field guns fired shell after shell； only stopping when the Scotsmen reached the aqueduct。 Harris and Baird watched as the brigade attacked in a four…deep line that climbed the nearer embankment； dropped out of sight into the aqueduct； briefly reappeared on the farther embankment； then finally disappeared into the trees beyond。 For a few moments there was the disciplined sound of musket volleys； then silence。 The sepoys followed the Scots； spreading left and right to attack the fringes of the battered woodland。Harris waited； then a galloper came from the northern stretch of the aqueduct； which had been captured during the night； to report that the land between the tope and the city was thick with enemy fugitives running back to Seringapatam。 That news was proof that the tope was at last taken and that the whole aqueduct was now in allied hands。 'Time for breakfast；' Harris said happily。 'You'll join me； Baird？'
'I'II hear the butcher's bill first； sir； if you don't mind；' Baird answered； but there was no butcher's bill； for none of the Scots or Indian troops had died。 The Tippoo's men had abandoned the tope once the artillery shells began to fall among the trees and they left behind only the plundered British dead of the previous night。 Lieutenant Fitzgerald was among them； and he was buried with honours。 Killed by an enemy bayonet； the report said。
And now； with the approach ground west of the city in Harris's hands； the siege proper could begin。
It did not prove difficult to find Mary。 Shaipe merely asked Gudin and； after the night's events in the tope； the Colonel was eager to give Sharpe whatever he wanted。 The loss of the tope the following dawn had in no way diminished the Frenchman's delight at the night…time victory； nor the optimism inside the city； for no one had seriously expected the tope to resist for more than a few minutes and the previous night's victory； with its catch of prisoners and its tales of British defeat； had convinced the Tippoo's forces that they would prove more than a match for the enemy armies。
'Your woman； Sharpe？' Gudin teased。 'You bee a corporal and all you want is your woman back？'
'I just want to see her； sir。'
'She's in Appah Rao's household。 I'll have a word with the General； but first you're to go to the palace at midday。'
'Me； sir？' Sharpe felt an instant pang of alarm； fearing that Hakeswill had betrayed him。'To get an award； Sharpe；' Gudin reassured him。 'But don't worry； I'll be there to steal most of your glory。'
'Yes； sir。' Sharpe grinned。 He liked Gudin； and he could not help contrasting the kind and easy…going Frenchman with his own Colonel who always appeared to treat mon soldiers as if they were a nuisance that had to be endured。 Of course Wellesley was sheltered from his ranks by his officers and sergeants； while Gudin had such a small battalion that in truth he was more like a captain than a colonel。 Gudin did have the assistance of a Swiss adjutant and the occasional help of the two French captains when they were not drinking in the city's best brothel； but the battalion had no lieutenants or ensigns； and only three sergeants； which meant that the rank and file had an unprecedented access to their Colonel。 Gudin liked it that way for he had litde else to occupy him。 Officially he was France's adviser to the Tippoo； but the Tippoo rarely sought anyone's advice。 Gudin confessed as much as he walked with Sharpe to the palace at midday。 'Knows it all； does he； sir？' Sharpe asked。
'He's a good soldier； Sharpe。 Very good。 What he really wants is a French army； not a French adviser。'
'What does he want a French army for； sir？'
'To beat you British out of India。'
'But then he'd just be stuck with you French instead；' Sharpe pointed out。
'But he likes the French； Sharpe。 You find that strange？'
'I find everything in India strange； sir。 Haven't had a proper meal since I got here。'
Gudin laughed。 'And a proper meal is what？'
'Bit of beef； sir； with some potatoes and a gravy thick enough to choke a rat。'
Gudin shuddered。 'La cuisine anglaise！'
'Sir？'
'Never mind； Sharpe； never mind。'
A half…dozen men waited to be presented to the Tippoo；all of them soldiers who had somehow distinguished themselves in the defence of the tope the previous night。 There was also one prisoner； a Hindu soldier who had been seen to run away when the attackers had first crossed the aqueduct。 All of them； coward and heroes alike； waited in the courtyard where Sharpe and Lawford had been tested by the Tippoo； though today five of the six tigers had been taken away； leaving only a big old docile male。 Gudin crossed to the beast and tickled its chin； then scratched it between the ears。 'This one's tame as a cat； Sharpe。'
'I'll let you stroke it； sir。 Wild horses wouldn't get me near a beast like that。'
The tiger liked being scratched。 It closed its yeEow eyes and for a few seconds Sharpe could almost persuade himself the big beast was purring； then it yawned hugely； displaying a massive mouth with old worn teeth； and when it had yawned it stretched out its long forepaws and； from its furry pads； two sets of long； hooked claws emerged。 'That's how it kills；' Gudin said； gesturing at the claws as he backed away。 'Holds you down with its teeth； then slits your belly open with the claws。 Not this one； though。 He's just an old soft pet。 Flea…bitten too。' Gudin picked a flea off his hand； then turned as a doorway to the courtyard was opened and a procession of palace attendants filed into the sunlight。 It was led by two robed men who carried staffs tipped with silver tiger heads。 They served as chamberlains； mustering the heroes into line and pushing the coward to one side； and behind them came two extraordinary men。
Sharpe gaped at them。 They were both huge； tall and muscled like prizefighters。 Their dark skin； naked to their waists； was oiled to a glistening shine； while their long black hair had been twisted round and round their heads and then tied with white ribbons。 They had bristling black beards and wide moustaches that had been stiffened into points with wax。 'Jettis；' Gudin whispered to Sharpe。'God almighty！' Sharpe said in wonderment as he watched the man's head being wrung like a chicken。 He had never seen such a thing； nor dreamed it was even possible。 Behind him Colonel Gudin made a small noise of disapproval； but Sharpe had been impressed。 It was a quicker death than being flogged； and quicker too than most hangings where the prisoners were left to dangle and dance as the rope choked them。 The Tippoo applauded thcjettf s display； rewarded him； then ordered the dead man to be dragged away。
Then； one by one； the night's heroes were led up to the tiger…striped canopy and to the short plump man who stood in its shade。 Each soldier knelt as he was named； and each time the Tippoo leaned down and used both hands to lift the man up before talking to him and presenting the hero with a large medallion。 The medallions looked as if they were gold； but Sharpe guessed they had to be made of polished brass； for surely no one would give away that much gold！ Each of the men kissed the gift； then shuffled backwards to his place in the line。
At last it was Sharpe's turn。 'You know what to do；' Gudin said encouragingly。
Sharpe did。 He disliked going on his knees to any man； let alone this plump little monarch who was his country's enemy； but there was no future in unnecessary defiance and so he obediently went down on one knee。 The yellow…white stone in the dagger's hilt glinted at him； and Sharpe could have sworn it was a real diamond。 A huge diamond。 Then the Tippoo smiled； leaned forward and raised Sharpe by putting his hands under his armpits。 He was surprisingly strong。
Gudin had e forward with Sharpe and now spoke to the Tippoo's interpreter in French； and the interpreter translated into Persian； which left Sharpe none the wiser。 So far as he was concerned the events of the previous night had been a shambles； but it was evident that Gudin was telling atale of high heroics for the Tippoo kept giving Sharpe appreciative glances。 Sharpe stared back in fascination。 The Tippoo had grey eyes； a dark skin and a finely trimmed black moustache。 At a distance he looked plump； even soft； but closer there was a grimness to his face which persuaded Sharpe that Colonel Gudin had been right when he claimed that this man was a fine soldier。 Sharpe towered over the Tippoo so much that if he looked straight ahead he found himself gazing at the huge stone in the Tippoo's plume。 It did not look like glass。 It looked like one giant ruby； the size of a piece of grapeshot。 It was held in a delicate gold clasp； and had to be worth a bloody fortune。 Sharpe remembered his promise to give Mary a proper ruby on the day he marrie
