BCornwell.Sharps Tiger英文原版小说小说

Sharpe'sTigerisforMuirSutherlandandMalcolmCraddock,withmanythanksCHAPTER1Itwasfunny,RichardSharpethought,thattherewerenovulturesinEngland.Nonethathehadseen,anyway.Uglythingstheywere.Ratswithwings.Hethoughtaboutvulturesalot,andhehadalotoftimetothinkbecausehewasasoldier,aprivate,andsothearmyinsistedondoingalotofhisthinkingforhim.Thearmydecidedwhenhewokeup,whenheslept,whenheate,whenhemarched,andwhenhewastositaboutdoingnothingandthatwaswhathedidmostofthetime-nothing.Hurryupanddonothing,thatwasthearmy'swayofdoingthings,andhewasfedupwithit.Hewasboredandthinkingofrunning.HimandMary.Runaway.Desert.Hewasthinkingaboutitnow,anditwasanoddthingtoworryaboutrightnowbecausethearmywasabouttogiveRichardSharpehisfirstproperbattle.Hehadbeeninonefight,butthatwasfiveyearsagoandithadbeenamessy,confusedbusinessinfog,andnoonehadknownwhythe33rdRegimentwasinFlandersorwhattheyweresupposedtobedoingthere,andintheendtheyhaddonenothingexceptfiresomeshotsatthemist-shroudedFrenchandthewholethinghadbeenoveralmostbeforeyoungRichardSharpehadknownithadbegun.Hehadseenacoupleofmenkilled.HerememberedSergeantHawthorne'sdeathbestbecausetheSergeanthadbeenhitbyamusketballthatdrovearibcleanoutofhisredcoat.Therewashardlyadropofbloodtobeseen,justthewhiteribstickingoutofthefadedredcloth.'Youcouldhangyourhatonthat,'Hawthornehadsaidinatoneofwonder,thenhehadsobbed,andafterthathehadchokedupbloodandcollapsed.Sharpehadgoneonloadingandfiring,andthen,justashewasbeginningtoenjoyhimself,thebattalionhadmarchedawayandsailedbacktoEngland.Somebatde.NowhewasinIndia.HedidnotknowwhyhewasinvadingMysoreandhordidheparticularlycare.KingGeorgeIIIwantedRichardSharpetobeinIndia,soinIndiaRichardSharpewas,butRichardSharpehadnowbecomeboredwiththeKing'sservice.Hewasyoungandhereckonedlifehadmoretoofferthanhurryingupanddoingnothing.Therewasmoneytobemade.Hewasnotsurehowtomakemoney,exceptbythieving,buthedidknowthathewasboredandthathecoulddobetterthanstayonthebottomofthedungheap.Thatwaswherehewas,hekepttellinghimself,thebottomofadungheapandeveryoneknewwhatwaspiledontopofadungheap.Bettertorun,hetoldhimself.Allthatwasneededtogetaheadintheworldwasabitofsenseandtheabilitytokickabastardfasterthanthebastardcouldkickyou,andRichardSharpereckonedhehadthosetalentsrightenough.ThoughwheretoruninIndia?HalfthenativesseemedtobeinBritishpayandthosewouldturnyouinforahandfuloftinpice,andthepicewasonlyworthafarthing,andtheotherIndianswereallfightingagainsttheBritish,orreadyingtofightthem,andifherantothemhewouldjustbeforcedtoserveintheirarmies.Hewouldfetchmorepayinanativearmy,probablyfarmorethanthetuppenceadaySharpegotnowafterstoppages,butwhychangeoneuniformforanother?No,hewouldhavetoruntosomeplacewherethearmywouldneverfindhim,orelseitwouldbethefiringsquadonsomehotmorning.Ablastofmusketshots,ascrapeintheredearthforagrave,andnextdaytheratswithwingswouldbeyankingthegutsoutofyourbellylikeabunchofblackbirdstuggingwormsoutofalawn.Thatwaswhyhewasthinkingaboutvultures.Hewasthinkingthathewantedtorun,butthathedidnotwanttofeedthevultures.Donotgetcaught.Rulenumberoneinthearmy,andtheonlyrulethatmattered.Becauseifyougotcaughtthebastardswouldflogyoutodeathorelsereorganizeyourribswithmusketballs,andeitherwaythevulturesgotfat.Thevultureswerealwaysthere,sometimescirclingonlongwingsthattiltedtothesuddenwindsofthewarmupperairandsometimesstandinghunchedonbranches.Theyfedondeathandamarchingarmygavethemaglutton'sdiet,andnow,inthislastyearoftheeighteenthcentury,twoalliedarmieswerecrossingthishotfertileplaininsouthernIndia.OnewasaBritisharmyandtheotherbelongedtoaBritishally,theNizamofHyderabad,andbotharmiesprovidedafeastofvulturefodder.Horsesdied,oxendied,camelsdied,eventwooftheelephantsthathadseemedsoindestructiblehaddied,andthenthepeopledied.Thetwinarmieshadatailtentimeslongerthanthemselves:agreatsprawlofcampfollowers,merchants,herders,whores,wives,andchildren,andamongallofthosepeople,asitdidamongthearmiesthemselves,theplaguesranriot.Mendiedwithbloodydysentery,orshakingwithafeverorchokingontheirownvomit.Theydiedstrugglingforbreathordrenchedinsweatorravinglikemadthingsorwithskinsblisteredraw.Men,womenandchildrenalldied,andwhethertheywereburiedorburneditdidnotmatterbecause,intheend,thevulturesfedonthemanyway,fortherewasneverenoughtimenorsufficienttimbertomakeaproperfuneralpyreandsothevultureswouldripthehalf-cookedfleshoffthescorchedbones,andifthebodieswereburiedthennoamountofstonesheapedonthesoilwouldstopthescavengingbeastsfromdigginguptheswollen,rottingfleshandthevultures'hookedbeakstookwhattheravenousteethleftbehind.AndthishotMarchdaypromisedfoodinabundanceandthevulturesseemedtosenseitfor,astheearlyafternoonpassed,moreandmorebirdsjoinedthespiringcolumnofwingsthatcircledabovethemarchingmen.Thebirdsdidnotflaptheirwings,butsimplysoaredinthewarmairastheyglided,tilted,slidandwaited,alwayswaited,asiftheyknewthatdeath'ssucculencewouldfilltheirgulletssoonenough.'Uglybastardbirds,'Sharpesaid,'justratswithwings,'butnooneinthe33rd'sLightCompanyansweredhim.Noonehadthebreathtoanswerhim.Theairwaschokingfromthedustkickedupbythemenaheadsothattherearwardranksstumbledthroughawarm,grittymixthatparchedtheirthroatsandstungtheireyes.Mostofthemenwerenotevenawareofthevultures,whileothersweresowearythattheyhadnotevennoticedthetroopofcavalrythathadsuddenlyappearedahalf-miletothenorth.Thehorsementrottedbesideagroveoftreesthatwerebrightwithredblossom,thenacceleratedaway.Theirdrawnsabresflashedreflectedsunlightastheywheeledawayfromtheinfantrymen,butthen,asinexplicablyastheyhadhurriedandswervedaway,theysuddenlystopped.Sharpenoticedthem.Britishcavalry,theywere.Thefancyboyscometoseehowpropersoldiersfought.Ahead,fromthelowriseoflandwhereasecondgroupofhorsemenwassilhouettedagainstthefurnacewhitenessofthesky,agunfired.Thecrackofthecannonwasimmense,abillowofsoundthatpunchedhollowandmalignantacrosstheplain.Thegun'ssmokebillowedwhiteastheheavyballthrashedintosomebushes,toreleavesandblossomstotatters,struckdustfromthebakedground,thenranonineverdecreasingbouncestolodgeagainstagnarledfallentreefromwhichapaleshowerofdecayingwoodspurted.Theshothadmissedthered-coatedinfantrybyagoodtwohundredpaces,butthesoundofthecannonwokeuptheweary.Jesus!'avoiceintherearfilesaid.'Whatwasthat?''Ableedingcamelfarted,whatthehelldoyouthinkitwas?'acorporalanswered.'Itwasabloodyawfulshot,'Sharpesaid.'Mymothercouldlayagunbetterthanthat.''Ididn'tthinkyouhadamother,'PrivateGarrardsaid.'Everyone'sgotamother,Tom.''NotSergeantHakeswill,'Garrardsaid,thenspatamixofdustandspittle.Thecolumnofmenhadmomentarilyhalted,notbecauseofanyorders,butratherbecausethecannonshothadunnervedtheofficerleadingthefrontcompanywhowasnolongersureexactlywherehewassupposedtoleadthebattalion.'Hakeswillwasn'tbornofamother,'Garrardsaidvehemently.Hetookoffhisshakoandusedhissleevetowipethedustandsweatfromhisface.Thewoollensleeveleftafainttraceofreddyeonhisforehead.'Hakeswillwasspawnedofthedevil,'Garrardsaid,jammingtheshakobackonhiswhite-powderedhair.SharpewonderedwhetherTomGarrardwouldrunwithhim.Twomenmightsurvivebetterthanone.AndwhataboutMary?Wouldshecome?HethoughtaboutMaryalot,whenhewasnotthinkingabouteverythingelse,exceptthatMarywasinextricablytwistedintoeverythingelse.Itwasconfusing.ShewasSergeantBickerstaff'swidowandshewashalfIndianandhalfEnglishandshewastwenty-two,whichwasthesameageasSharpe,oratleasthethoughtitwasthesameage.Itcouldbethathewastwenty-one,ortwenty-three;hewasnotreallysureonaccountofnoteverhavinghadamothertotellhim.Ofcoursehedidhaveamother,everyonehadamother,butnoteveryonehadaCatLanewhoreforamotherwhodisappearedjustafterhersonwasborn.Thechildhadbeennamedforthewealthypatronofthefoundlinghomethathadraisedhim,butthenaminghadnotbroughtRichardSharpeanypatronage,onlybroughthimtothereekingbottomofthearmy'sdungheap.Still,Sharpereckoned,hecouldhaveafuture,andMaryspokeoneortwoIndianlanguageswhichcouldbeusefulifheandTomdidrun.ThecavalryofftoSharpe'srightspurredintoatrotagainanddisappearedbeyondthered-blossomedtrees,leavingonlyadriftingcloudofdustbehind.Twogalloperguns,lightsix-poundercannons,followedthem,bouncingdangerouslyontheunevengroundbehindtheirteamsofhorses.Everyothercannoninthearmywasdrawnbyoxen,butthegallopergunshadhorseteamsthatwerethreetimesasfastastheploddingdraughtcattle.Theloneenemycannonfiredagain,itsbrutalsoundpunchingthewarmairwithanalmostpalpableimpact.Sharpecouldseemoreenemygunsontheridge,buttheyweresmallerthanthegunthathadjustfiredandSharpepresumedtheydidnothavethelongrangeofthebiggercannon.Thenhesawatraceofgreyintheair,aflickerlikeaverticalpencilstrokedrawnagainstthepaleblueskyandheknewthatthebiggun'sshotmustbecomingstraighttowardshim,andheknewtoothattherewasnowindtocarrytheheavyballgentlyaside,andallthatherealizedinthesecondorsothattheballwasintheair,tooshortatimetoreact,onlytorecognizedeath'sapproach,butthentheballslammedintothegroundadozenpacesshortofhimandbouncedonupoverhisheadtorunharmlesslyintoafieldofsugarcane.'Ireckonthebastardshavegotyourmotherlayingthegunnow,Dick,'Garrardsaid.'Notalkingnow!'SergeantHakeswill'svoicescreechedsuddenly.'Saveyourgodlessbreath.Wasthatyoutalking,Garrard?''Notme,Sarge.Ain'tgotthebreath.''Youain'tgotthebreath?'SergeantHakeswillcamehurryingdownthecompany'sranksandthrusthisfaceuptowardsGarrard.'Youain'tgotthebreath?Thatmeansyou'redead,PrivateGarrard!Dead!NousetoKingorcountryifyou'sdead,butyouneverwasanybleedinguseanyway.'TheSergeant'smalevolenteyesflickedtoSharpe.'Wasityoutalking,Sharpie?''Notme,Sarge.'Youain'tgotorderstotalk.IftheKingwantedyoutohaveaconversationI'dhavetoldyouso.Sayssointhescriptures.Givemeyourfirelock,Sharpie.Quicknow!'SharpehandedhismuskettotheSergeant.ItwasHakes-will'sarrivalinthecompanythathadpersuadedSharpethatitwastimetorunfromthearmy.Hehadbeenboredanyway,butHakeswillhadaddedinjusticetoboredom.NotthatSharpecaredaboutinjustice,foronlytherichhadjusticeinthisworld,butHakeswill'sinjusticewastouchedwithsuchmalevolencethattherewashardlyamanintheLightCompanynotreadytorebel,andallthatkeptthemfrommutinywastheknowledgethatHakeswillunderstoodtheirdesire,wanteditandwantedtopunishthemforit.Hewasagreatmanforprovokinginsolenceandthenpunishingit.Hewasalwaystwostepsaheadofyou,waitingroundacornerwithabludgeon.Hewasadevil,wasHakeswill,adevilinasmartredcoatdecoratedwithasergeant'sbadges.YettolookatHakeswillwastoseetheperfectsoldier.Itwastruethathisoddlylumpyfacetwitchedeveryfewsecondsasthoughanevilspiritwastwistingandjerkingjustbeneathhissun-reddenedskin,buthiseyeswereblue,hishairwaspowderedaswhiteasthesnowthatneverfellonthisland,andhisuniformwasassmartasthoughhestoodguardatWindsorCastle.HeperformeddrilllikeaPrussian,eachmovementsocrispandcleanthatitwasapleasuretowatch,butthenthefacewouldtwitchandhisoddlychildlikeeyeswouldflickerasidewaysglanceandyoucouldseethedevilpeeringout.BackwhenhehadbeenarecruitingsergeantHakeswillhadtakencarenottoletthedevilshow,andthatwaswhenSharpehadfirstmethim,butnow,whentheSergeantnolongerneededtogullandtrickyoungfoolsintotheranks,Hakeswilldidnotcarewhosawhismalignancy.SharpestoodmotionlessastheSergeantuntiedthescrapofragthatSharpeusedtoprotecthismusket'slockfromtheinsidiousreddust.Hakeswillpeeredatthelock,foundnothingwrong,thenturnedawayfromSharpesothatthesuncouldfallfullontheweapon.Hepeeredagain,cockedthegun,dry-firedit,thenseemedtoloseinterestinthemusketasagroupofofficersspurredtheirhorsestowardstheheadofthestalledcolumn.'Company!'Hakeswillshouted.'Company!'Shun!'Themenshuffledtheirfeettogetherandstraightenedasthethreeofficersgallopedpast.Hakeswillhadstiffenedintoagrotesquepose;hisrightboottuckedbehindhisleft,hislegsstraight,hisheadandshouldersthrownback,hisbellythrustforwardandhisbentelbowsstrainingtomeetintheconcavityatthesmallofhisback.NoneoftheothercompaniesoftheKing's33rdRegimenthadbeenstoodtoattentioninhonourofthepassingofficers,butHakeswill'sgestureofrespectwasneverthelessignored.TheneglecthadnoeffectontheSergeantwho,whenthetrioofofficershadgonepast,shoutedatthecompanytostandeasyandthenpeeredagainatSharpe'smusket.'You'llnotfind'owtwrongwithit,Sarge,'Sharpesaid.Hakeswill,stillstandingatattention,didanelaborateaboutturn,hisrightbootthumpingdowntotheground.'DidIhearmegiveyoupermissiontospeak,Sharpie?''No,Sarge.''No,Sarge.No,youdidnot.Floggingoffencethat,Sharpie.'Hakeswill'srightcheektwitchedwiththeinvoluntaryspasmthatdisfiguredhisfaceeveryfewsecondsandthevehementevilofthefacewassuddenlysointensethatthewholeLightCompanymomentarilyhelditsbreathinexpectationofSharpe'sarrest,butthenthethumpingdischargeoftheenemycannonrolledacrossthecountrysideandtheheavyballsplashedandbouncedandtoreitswaythroughabright-greenpatchofgrowingrice,andtheviolenceoftheharmlessmissileservedtodistractHakeswillwhoturnedtowatchastheballrolledtoastop.'Poorbloodyshooting,'Hakeswillsaidscathingly.'Heathenscan'tlayguns,Idaresay.Ormaybethey'retoyingwithus.Toying!'Thethoughtmadehimlaugh.Itwasnot,Sharpesuspected,theanticipationofexcitementthathadbroughtSergeantObadiahHakeswilltothisstateofnearjoviality,butratherthethoughtthatabattlewouldcausecasualtiesandmisery,andmiserywastheSergeant'sdelight.Helikedtoseemencowedandfrightened,forthatmadethembiddable,andSergeantHakeswillwasalwaysathishappiestwhenhewasincontrolofunhappymen.Thethreeofficershadstoppedtheirhorsesattheheadofthecolumnandnowusedtelescopestoinspectthedistantridgewhichwascloudedbyaraggedfringeofsmokeleftfromthelastdischargeoftheenemycannon.'That'sourColonel,boys,'Hakeswillannouncedtothe33rd'sLightCompany,'ColonelArthurWellesleyhimself,Godblesshimforagentleman,whichheisandyouain't.He'scometoseeyoufight,somakesureyoudo.FightliketheEnglishmenyouare.''I'maScot,'asourvoicespokefromtherearrank.'Iheardthat!Whosaidthat?'Hakeswillglaredatthecompany,hisfacetwitchinguncontrollably.InalessblithemoodtheSergeantwouldhaveferretedoutthespeakerandpunishedhim,buttheexcitementofpendingbattlepersuadedhimtolettheoffencepass.'AScot!'hesaidderisivelyinstead.'WhatisthefinestthingaScotsmaneversaw?Answermethat!'Noonedid.'ThehighroadtoEngland,that'swhat.Sayssointhescriptures,soitmustbetrue.'HeheftedSharpe'smusketashelookeddownthewaitingranks.Ishallbewatchingyou,'hesnarled.'Youain'tnoneofyoubeeninaproperfightbefore,notaproperfight,butontheothersideofthatbleedinghillthere'sahordeofblack-facedheathenswhatcan'twaittolaytheirfilthyhandsonyourwomenfolk,soifsomuchasoneofyouturnshisbackI'llhavetheskinoffthelotofyou!Barebonesandblood,that'swhatyou'llbe.Butyoudoesyourdutyandobeysyourordersandyoucan'tgowrong.Andwhogivestheorders?'TheSergeantwaitedforananswerandeventuallyPrivateMallinsonofferedone.'Theofficers,Sergeant.''Theofficers!Theofficers!'Hakeswillspathisdisgustattheanswer.'Officersareheretoshowuswhatwearefightingfor.Gentlemen,theyare.Propergentlemen!Menofpropertyandbreeding,notbrokenpotboysandscarlet-coatedpickpocketslikewhatyouare.Sergeantsgivetheorders.Sergeantsiswhatthearmyis.Rememberthat,lads!You'reabouttogointobattleagainstheathensandifyouignoremethenyou'llbedeadmen!'Thefacetwitchedgrotesquely,itsjawwrenchedsuddenlysideways,andSharpe,watchingtheSergeant'sface,wonderedifitwasnervousnessthathadmadeHakeswillsovoluble.'Butkeepsyoureyesonme,lads,'Hakeswillwenton,'andyou'llberightastrivets.Andyouknowwhy?'HecriedthelastwordoutinahighdramatictoneashestalkeddowntheLightCompany'sfrontrank.'Youknowwhy?'heaskedagain,nowsoundinglikesomedissentingpreacherrantinginahedgerow.'BecauseIcannotdie,boys,Icannotdie!'Hewassuddenlyintense,hisvoicehoarseandfulloffervourashespoke.ItwasaspeechthatalltheLightCompanyhadheardmanytimesbefore,butitwasremarkableforallthat,thoughSergeantGreen,whowasoutrankedbyHakeswill,turnedawayindisgust.HakeswilljeeredatGreen,thentuggedatthetightconstrictionoftheleatherstockthatcircledhisneck,pullingitdownsothatanolddarkscarwasvisibleathisthroat.'Thehangman'snoose,boys!'hecried.'That'swhatmarkedmethere,thehangman'snoose!Seeit?Seeit?ButIamalive,boys,aliveandontwofeetinsteadofbeingburiedunderthesod,proofasneverwasthatyouneedsnotdie!'Hisfacetwitchedagainashereleasedthestock.'MarkedbyGod,'hefinished,hisvoicegruffwithemotion,'that'swhatIam,markedbyGod!''Madasahare,'TomGarrardmuttered.'Didyouspeak,Sharpie!'HakeswillwhippedaroundtostareatSharpe,butSharpewassopalpablystillandstaringmutelyaheadthathisinnocencewasindisputable.HakeswillpacedbackdowntheLightCompany.'Ihavewatchedmendie,bettermenthananyofyoupiecesofscum,propermen,butGodhassparedme!SoyoudowhatIsays,boys,orelseyou'llbecarrion.'HeabruptlythrustthemusketbackintoSharpe'shands.'Cleanweapon,Sharpie.Welldone,lad.'HepacedsmartlyawayandSharpe,tohissurprise,sawthatthescrapofraghadbeenneatlyretiedaboutthelock.ThecomplimenttoSharpehadastonishedalltheLightCompany.'He'sinararegoodmood,'Garrardsaid.Iheardthat,PrivateGarrard!'Hakeswillshoutedoverhisshoulder.'Gotearsinthebackofmehead,Ihave.Silencenow.Don'twantnoheathenhordethinkingyou'refrit!You'rewhitemen,remember,bleachedinthecleansingbloodofthebleedinglamb,sonobleedingtalkingintheranks!Niceandquiet,likethembleedingnunswhatneveruttersasoundonaccountofhavinghadtheirpapisttonguescutout.'Hesuddenlycrashedtoattentiononceagainandsalutedbybringinghisspear-tippedhalberdacrosshisbody.'Companyallpresent,sir!'heshoutedinavoicethatmusthavebeenaudibleontheenemy-heldridge.'Allpresentandquiet,sir!Havetheirbackswhippedbloodyelse,sir.'LieutenantWilliamLawfordcurbedhishorseandnoddedatSergeantHakeswill.LawfordwastheLightCompany'ssecondofficer,juniortoCaptainMorrisandseniortothebraceofyoungensigns,buthewasnewlyarrivedinthebattalionandwasasfrightenedofHakeswillaswerethemenintheranks.'Themencantalk,Sergeant,'Lawfordobservedmildly.'Theothercompaniesaren'tsilent.''No,sir.Mustsavetheirbreath,sir.Toobleedinghottotalk,sir,andbesides,theygotheathenstokill,sir,mustn'twastebreathonchit-chat,notwhenthereareblack-facedheathenstokill,sir.Sayssointhescriptures,sir.''Ifyousayso,Sergeant,'Lawfordsaid,unwillingtoprovokeaconfrontation,thenhefoundhehadnothingelsetosayandso,awkwardlyawareofthescrutinyoftheLightCompany'sseventy-sixmen,hestaredattheenemy-heldridge.ButhewasalsoconsciousofhavingignominiouslysurrenderedtothewillofSergeantHakeswillandsoheslowlycolouredashegazedtowardsthewest.Lawfordwaspopular,butthoughttobeweak,thoughSharpewasnotsosureofthatjudgement.HethoughttheLieutenantwasstillfindinghiswayamongthestrangeandsometimesfrighteninghumancurrentsthatmadeupthe33rd,andthatintimeLawfordwouldproveatoughandresilientofficer.Fornow,though,WilliamLawfordwastwenty-fouryearsoldandhadonlyrecentlypurchasedhislieutenancy,andthatmadehimunsureofhisauthority.EnsignFitzgerald,whowasonlyeighteen,strolledbackfromthecolumn'shead.Hewaswhistlingashewalkedandslashingwithadrawnsabreattallweeds.'Offinamoment,sir,'hecalledupcheerfullytoLawford,thenseemedtobecomeawareoftheLightCompany'sominoussilence.'Notfrightened,areyou?'heasked.'Savingtheirbreath,MisterFitzgerald,sir,'Hakeswillsnapped.'They'vegotbreathenoughtosingadozensongsandstillbeattheenemy,'Fitzgeraldsaidscornfully.'Ain'tthatso,lads?''We'llbeatthebastards,sir,'TomGarrardsaid.'Thenletmehearyousing,'Fitzgeralddemanded.'Can'tbearsilence.We'llhaveaquiettimeinourtombs,lads,sowemightaswellmakeanoisenow.'Fitzgeraldhadafinetenorvoicethatheusedtostartthesongaboutthemilkmaidandtherector,andbythetimetheLightCompanyhadreachedtheversethattoldhowthenakedrector,blindfoldedbythemilkmaidandthinkinghewasabouttohavehisheart'sdesire,wasbeingsteeredtowardsBessiethecow,thewholecompanywasbawlingthesongenthusiastically.Theyneverdidreachtheend.CaptainMorris,theLightCompany'scommandingofficer,rodebackfromtheheadofthebattalionandinterruptedthesinging.'Half-companies!'heshoutedatHakeswill.'Half-companiesitis,sir!Atonce,sir.LightCompany!Stopyourbleedingnoise!Youheardtheofficer!'Hakeswillbellowed.'SergeantGreen!Takechargeoftheafterranks.MisterFitzgerald!I'lltroubleyoutotakeyourproperplaceontheleft,sir.Forwardranks!Shoulderfirelocks!Twentypaces,forward,march!Smartlynow!Smartly!'Hakeswill'sfaceshudderedasthefronttenranksofthecompanymarchedtwentypacesandhalted,leavingtheothernineranksbehind.Allalongthebattalioncolumnthecompaniesweresimilarlydividing,theirdrillascrispasthoughtheywerebackontheirYorkshireparadeground.Aquarter-mileofftothe33rd'sleftanothersixbattalionsweregoingthroughthesamemanoeuvre,andperformingitwithjustasmuchprecision.ThosesixbattalionswereallnativesoldiersintheserviceoftheEastIndiaCompany,thoughtheyworeredcoatsjustliketheKing'smen.ThesixsepoybattalionsshookouttheircoloursandSharpe,seeingthebrightflags,lookedaheadtowherethe33rd'stwogreatregimentalbannerswerebeingloosedfromtheirleathertubestothefierceIndiansun.Thefirst,theKing'sColour,wasaBritishflagonwhichtheregiment'sbattlehonourswereembroidered,whilethesecondwastheRegimentalColourandhadthe33rd'sbadgedisplayedonascarletfield,thesamescarletasthemen'sjacketfacings.Thetasselledsilkbannersblazed,andthesightofthempromptedasuddencannonadefromtheridge.Tillnowtherehadonlybeentheoneheavygunfiring,butabruptlysixothercannonjoinedthefight.Thenewgunsweresmallerandtheirroundshotfellwellshortofthesevenbattalions.MajorShee,theIrishmanwhocommandedthe33rdwhileitsColonel,ArthurWellesley,hadcontrolofthewholebrigade,canteredhishorseback,spokebrieflytoMorris,thenwheeledawaytowardstheheadofthecolumn.'We'regoingtopushthebastardsofftheridge!'MorrisshoutedattheLightCompany,thenbenthisheadtolightacigarwithatinderbox.'Anybastardthatturnstail,Sergeant,'Morriswentonwhenhiscigarwasproperlyalight,'willbeshot.Youhearme?''Loudandclear,sir!'Hakeswillshouted.'Shot,sir!Shotlikethecowardheis.'Heturnedandscowledatthetwohalf-companies.'Shot!Andyournamespostedinyourchurchporchathomeasthecowardsyouare.SofightlikeEnglishmen!''Scotsmen,'avoicegrowledbehindSharpe,buttoosoftlyforHakeswilltohear.'Irish,'anothermansaid.'Weain'tnoneofuscowards,'Garrardsaidmoreloudly.SergeantGreen,adecentman,hushedhim.'Quiet,lads.Iknowyou'lldoyourduty.'Thefrontofthecolumnwasmarchingnow,buttherearmostcompanieswerekeptwaitingsothatthebattalioncouldadvancewithwideintervalsbetweenitstwentyhalf-companies.Sharpeguessedthatthescatteredformationwasintendedtoreduceanycasualtiescausedbytheenemy'sbombardmentwhich,becauseitwasstillbeingfiredatextremerange,wasdoingnodamage.Behindhim,alongwaybehind,therestofthealliedarmieswerewaitingfortheridgetobecleared.Thatmasslookedlikeaformidablehorde,butSharpeknewthatmostofwhathesawwasthetwoarmies'civiliantail:thechaosofmerchants,wives,sutlersandherdsmenwhokeptthefightingsoldiersaliveandwhosesupplieswouldmakethesiegeoftheenemy'scapitalpossible.Itneededmorethansixthousandoxenjusttocarrythecannonballsforthebigsiegeguns,andallthoseoxenha