bcornwell.sharpstiger-第67节

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s；　but　he　lit　another　ten　while　the　first　few　fuses　were　fizzing　and　smoking。　Lawford；　seeing　what　Sharpe　was　doing；　had　taken　the　single　page　of　the　Bible　from　his　pocket　and　twisted　it　into　a　spill　that　he　used　to　light　still　more　of　the　missiles。　Then　the　first　rocket　to　be　lit　suddenly　coughed　and　spat　out　a　gout　of　smoke　and　Sharpe　immediately　snatched　up　the　cart's　handles　and　shoved　it　around　the　corner　so　that　themissiles　were　pointing　straight　down　the　alley。　He　crouched　beside　it；　sheltered　from　the　men　in　the　alley　by　the　corner　of　the　building；　and　pulled　his　musket　towards　him。　He　used　the　musket　to　raise　the　cart's　handles　so　that　the　vehicle's　bed；　and　the　rockets　it　contained；　were　horizontal。
　The　first　rocket　shuddered；　then　streaked　away。　The　second　went　an　instant　later；　then　two　more；　and　suddenly　the　whole　cart　was　shaking　and　jerking　as　the　rockets　seethed　away。　A　musket　bullet　hit　the　cart；　another　flicked　dust　from　the　corner　of　the　building；　but　then　there　were　no　more　shots；　just　shouts　of　terror　as　the　missiles　screamed　between　the　alley's　close　walls。　Some　of　the　rockets　had　solid　shot　in　their　nose　cones；　others　had　small　charges　of　black　powder；　and　those　now　began　to　explode。　A　man　screamed。　More　rockets　exploded；　the　sound　of　their　blasts　cramming　the　alley　with　noise　while　the　missiles'　fierce　trails　filled　the　small　street　with　smoke　and　flame。　Sharpe　waited　till　the　last　lit　rocket　flamed　off　the　cart。　'Now's　the　hard　bit；'　he　warned　Lawford。　He　replaced　the　priming　in　his　musket　with　a　pinch　from　a　fresh　cartridge；　then　seized　the　handcart　and　pushed　it　in　front　of　him　down　the　alley。　At　least　thirty　of　the　rockets　had　fired；　and　the　alley　was　now　an　inferno　of　boiling　smoke　amongst　which　a　handful　of　live　rockets　still　ricocheted　or　spun　crazily　while　the　carcasses　of　the　spent　weapons　burned　bright　in　the　gloom。　Sharpe　charged　into　that　chaos；　hoping　that　the　half…loaded　cart　would　serve　as　a　shield　if　any　man　still　lived　in　the　alley。
　Lawford　charged　with　him。　At　least　four　men　were　still　on　their　feet；　while　another　had　found　shelter　in　a　deep　doorway；　but　they　were　all　dazed　by　the　violence　of　the　rockets　and　half　blinded　by　the　thick　smoke。　Sharpe　gave　the　cart　a　huge　push　to　send　it　clattering　towards　them。　One　of　the　jettis　saw　the　cart；　dodged　aside　and　charged　at　Sharpe　with　a　drawn　sabre；　but　Lawford　shot　him　with　his　musket；　taking　the　huge　man　in　the　throat　as　quickly　and　cleanly　as　if　he　had　been　a　pheasant　rising　from　a　brake。　The　cart　struck　two　of　thestanding　men　and　sent　them　reeling。　Sharpe　stamped　on　the　head　of　one　and　kicked　the　other　in　the　crotch。　He　slammed　the　butt　of　the　musket　onto　the　back　of　a　Frenchman's　skull；　then　drove　the　weapon's　muzzle　deep　into　a　jettfs　belly　and；　as　the　man　folded；　he　rammed　the　barrel　into　his　face。　The　jetti　screamed　and　staggered　away；　his　hands　clutched　tight　to　one　eye。　Lawford　had　seized　a　fallen　sword　and　sliced　it　savagely　across　another　jettt　s　neck　and　was　so　inspired　and　elated　by　battle　that　he　did　not　even　feel　any　revulsion　when　the　man's　blood　gushed　out　to　hiss　in　the　burning　remnants　of　a　rocket。　Sergeant　Rothiere　was　on　the　ground　with　one　of　his　legs　broken　by　the　strike　of　a　rocket；　but　he　cocked　his　musket　and　aimed　the　gun　at　Lawford；　then　the　Sergeant　heard　Sharpe　behind　him　and　tried　to　swing　the　musket　round。　Sharpe　was　too　close　and　too　fast。　He　felled　Rothiere　with　a　huge　swing　of　his　gun。　He　felt　the　butt　break　the　Sergeant's　skull。　The　gun　was　still　loaded；　so　he　reversed　it　and　snarled　a　challenge　as　he　peered　through　the　choking　smoke。　He　could　see　no　danger　now；　just　wounded　men；　dead　men　and　flickering　rocket　cases。　The　mine's　trail；　a　snaking　length　of　quick　fuse；　had　somehow　escaped　the　fire　of　the　rockets　and　lay　discarded　beside　the　toppled　barrel　in　which　Rothiere　had　been　keeping　a　lit　linstock。　Sharpe　moved　towards　the　barrel；　then　heard　the　click　of　a　gun　being　cocked。
　'That's　far　enough；　Sharpe。'　It　was　Colonel　Gudin　who　spoke。　He　was　behind　Sharpe。　The　Colonel　had　been　waiting　for　the　Tippoo's　signal　on　the　inner　ramparts　just　beside　the　gatehouse；　but　he　had　jumped　down　onto　a　rooftop　and　then　into　the　alley　and　now　he　aimed　his　pistol　at　Sharpe。　Lawford；　sabre　in　hand；　was　a　half…dozen　paces　away；　too　far　to　help。　Gudin　jerked　the　pistol。　'Put　the　musket　down；　Sharpe。'　Gudin　spoke　calmly。
　Sharpe　had　turned　with　the　musket　at　his　hip。　The　Colonel　was　only　three　or　four　paces　away。　'Put　your　pistol　down；　sir；'　Sharpe　said。A　slight　look　of　regret　crossed　the　Colonel's　face　as　he　straightened　his　arm　to　take　more　careful　aim。　Sharpe　fired　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　small　movement　and　though　he　had　not　aimed　the　musket；　but　fired　it　from　the　hip；　his　bullet　struck　the　Colonel　high　on　his　right　shoulder　so　that　Gudin's　pistol　arm　flew　into　the　air。　'Sorry；　sir；'　Sharpe　said；　and　then　he　ran　to　where　one　of　the　spent　rockets　still　had　weak　flames　burning　from　its　exhaust。　He　carried　the　flaming　carcass　to　the　end　of　the　quick　fuse　and　there　paused　to　listen。　He　could　hear　cannons　firing；　and　knew　they　must　be　the　Tippoo's　guns；　for　no　British　artilleryman　would　dare　fire　now　for　fear　of　hitting　the　assaulting　troops。　He　could　hear　musket　fire；　but　he　could　not　hear　the　massive；　deep…throated　roar　of　men　ing　into　the　breach。　The　Forlorn　Hope　alone　must　be　fighting；　and　that　meant　the　space　between　the　walls　must　still　be　clear　of　British　soldiers。　He　stooped　to　put　the　rocket's　feeble　flames　to　the　waiting　fuse；　but　Lawford　pushed　his　arm　aside。　Sharpe　looked　up　at　the　Lieutenant。　'Sir？'
　'Best　to　leave　the　mine　alone；　I　think；　Sharpe。　Our　men　might　be　too　close。'
　Sharpe　still　held　the　burning　tube。　'Just　you　and　me；　sir；　eh？'
　'You　and　me；　Sharpe？'　Lawford　asked；　puzzled。
　'In　five　minutes；　sir；　when　the　Tippoo　wonders　why　his　fireworks　aren't　going　off？　And　he　sends　a　dozen　men　to　find　out　what's　happening。　You　and　me？　We're　going　to　fight　all　those　buggers　off　alone？'
　Lawford　hesitated。　'I　don't　know；'　he　said　uncertainly。
　'I　do；　sir；'　Sharpe　said；　and　he　pushed　the　burning　rocket　onto　the　fuse　and　immediately　a　quick　and　bitter　fire　began　to　fizzle　and　spark　down　the　powder…impregnated　rope。　Gudin　tried　to　stub　it　out　with　his　foot；　but　Sharpe　unceremoniously　shoved　the　Frenchman　aside。　'Are　you　hurt　bad；　sir？'　he　asked　Gudin。
　'Broken　shoulder；　Sharpe。'　Gudin　looked　close　to　tears；　notbecause　of　his　wound；　but　because　he　had　failed　in　his　duty。　'I've　no　doubt　Doctor　Venkatesh　will　mend　it。　How　did　you　escape？'
　'Killed　a　tiger；　sir；　and　some　more　of　those　jetti　buggers。'
　Gudin　smiled　sadly。　'The　Tippoo　should　have　killed　you　when　he　had　the　chance。'
　'We　all　make　mistakes；　sir；'　Sharpe　said　as　he　watched　the　fire　burn　through　the　stone　barricade　that　had　been　piled　up　in　front　of　the　ancient　archway's　gates。　'I　reckon　we'd　better　get　you　into　cover；　sir；'　he　said；　and　he　pulled　an　unwilling　Gudin　into　a　doorway　where　Lawford　was　already　crouching。　The　smoke　was　thinning　from　the　alley。　A　wounded　jetti　was　crawling　blindly　against　the　farther　wall；　another　was　vomiting　and　Sergeant　Rothiere　was　groaning。　There　was　blood　bubbling　at　the　Sergeant's　nostrils；　and　the　back　of　his　head　was　black　with　gore。
　'I　reckon　you've　just　made　Sergeant；　Sharpe；'　Lawford　said。
　Sharpe　smiled。　'I　reckon　I　have；　sir。'
　'Well　done；　Sergeant　Sharpe。'　Lawford　held　out　a　hand。　'A　good　day's　work。'
　Sharpe　shook　his　officer's　hand。　'But　the　day's　work　ain't　done　yet；　sir。'
　'It　isn't？'　Lawford　asked。　'For　God's　sake；　man；　what　else　are　you　planning？'
　But　Lawford　never　heard　what　Sergeant　Sharpe　answered；　for　at　that　moment　the　mine　blew。
　
　CHAPTER　11
　
　The　Tippoo's　engineers　had　done　their　work　well。　Not　all　the　mine's　force　was　directed　northwards；　but　the　greater　part　of　it　was；　and　that　part　was　devastating。　The　explosion　scoured　the　space　between　the　inner　and　outer　walls；　a　space　that　should　have　been　packed　with　British　soldiers。
　To　Sharpe；　peering　round　the　doorway；　it　at　first　looked　as　though　the　whole　squat　gatehouse　disintegrated；　not　into　rubble　and　dust；　but　into　its　constituent　stones；　for　the　dressed　granite　blocks　all　jarred　slightly　apart　as　the　ancient　building　bulged　from　the　terrible　pressure　of　the　fire　within。　Dust　sprang　from　every　opened　crevice　as　the　big　stones　separated　cleanly　along　their　mortared　joints；　then　Sharpe　lost　sight　of　the　collapsing　gatehouse　because　there　was　suddenly　nothing　but　dust；　smoke；　flame　and　noise。　He　jerked　back　into　shelter　and　covered　his　head　with　his　arms　when　the　noise　boomed　past　him　just　an　instant　after　he　had　seen　the　dust　whip　past　the　doorway　as　the　gasses　escaped　from　the　expanding　fire。
　The　noise　seemed　to　go　on　for　ever。　First　there　was　the　swelling　bang　of　the　powder　exploding；　then　the　grinding　crash　of　stones　cracking　and　tumbling　and　the　whistle　of　shards　whirling　away　across　the　city；　and　then　there　was　a　ringing　in　Sharpe's　ears　and　above　the　ringing；　but　sounding　as　far　away　and　as　thin　as　the　trumpet　that　had　heralded　the　assault；　the　screams　of　men　caught　by　fire　or　blast　or　stone。　After　that　came　the　sound　of　a　wind；　an　unnatural　wind　that　scoured　thatch　off　houses；　threw　down　tiles　and　raised　d