bcornwell.sharpescompany-第16章

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　'Indeed；　sir。'　Collett　rapped　the　words　out　with　an　alacrity　that　made　Sharpe　wonder　if　Collett's　role　in　life　was　to　agree　with　everything　the　Colonel　said。　Windham　put　the　portrait　back　on　the　table。　He　had　been　holding　it；　cradling　it　between　his　hands。
　
　'What　was　that　business　about　this　morning；　Sharpe？'
　
　'A　private　argument；　sir。　It's　been　dealt　with。'　He　felt　a　stab　of　satisfaction　at　the　memory　of　punching　Hakeswill。
　
　Windham　was　not　satisfied。　'What　was　the　argument　about？'
　
　'The　girl　was　insulted；　sir。'
　
　'I　see。'　The　expression　was　one　of　profound　disapproval。　'Local　girl？'
　
　'Spanish；　sir。　'
　
　'Following　the　troops；　no　doubt。　I　want　the　women　cleared　out；　Sharpe。　Proper　wives　can　stay；　of　course；　but　there　are　too　many　whores。　Looks　bad。　Clear　them　out！'
　
　'I'm　sorry；　sir？'
　
　'The　whores；　Sharpe。　You're　to　clear　them　out。　'　Windham　nodded　as　if；　the　mand　being　given；　the　deed　was　as　well　as　done。　Sharpe　saw　him　glance；　very　quickly；　at　the　portrait　of　the　stern　Jessica　and　the　Rifleman　suspected　that　Mrs。　Windham's　keen　interest　in　the　Battalion　extended；　by　letter；　to　its　moral　welfare。
　
　'Where　do　I　clear　them　to；　sir？'
　
　'What　do　you　mean？'
　
　'The　next　battalion；　sir？〃
　
　Collett　stiffened；　but　Windham　did　not　take　offence。　'I　take　your　point；　Sharpe；　but　I　want　them　discouraged。　Understand？　I　shall　make　an　example　of　men　caught　brawling　over　women。'
　
　'Yes；　sir。'　The　Colonel　obviously　intended　being　busy。
　
　'Number　two；　Sharpe。　Battalion's　wives　are　to　parade　for　inspection　each　Sunday。　Ten　of　the　forenoon。　You　parade　them；　I'll　inspect　them。'
　
　'A　wives'　inspection；　sir。　Yes；　sir。'　Sharpe　kept　his　thoughts　to　himself。　Such　a　parade　was　not　unusual　in　England；　but　it　was　rare　in　Spain。　Officially　the　wives　were　subject　to　army　discipline；　though　very　few　of　them　accepted　the　fact；　and　Sharpe　suspected　that　the　ing　Sundays　would　be　amusing；　if　nothing　else。　But　why　him？　Why　not　one　of　the　Majors；　or　even　the　Sergeant　Major？
　
　'Ten　o'clock；　Sharpe。　And　I　don't　want　any　unmarried　women　on　parade。　Tell　'em　that。　I'll　demand　papers。　I　want　no　one　like　that　girl　this　morning！'
　
　'That　was　my　wife；　sir。'　Sharpe　had　no　idea　why　he　said　it；　unless　it　was　to　puncture　Windham's　air　of　certainty；　and　it　worked。　The　Colonel's　mouth　dropped；　he　looked　to　Collett　for　help；　received　none；　and　stared　back　at　Sharpe。
　
　'What？'
　
　'My　wife；　sir。　Mrs。　Sharpe。'
　
　'Good　God。'　The　Colonel　leafed　through　papers　that　were　beside　his　own　wife's　portrait。　'There's　no　note　here　of　your　marriage。'
　
　'It　was　private；　sir。'
　
　'When？　Who　gave　permission？〃
　
　'Sixteen　months　ago；　sir。　'　He　smiled　at　the　Colonel。　'We　have　a　daughter；　nearly　eight　months　old。　'
　
　He　could　see　the　Colonel　adding　up　the　figures；　receiving　the　wrong　answer；　and　the　discrepancy　effectually　stopped　any　more　questioning。　Windham　was　embarrassed。　'Owe　you　an　apology；　Sharpe。　No　offence；　I　trust。'
　
　'None；　sir。'　Sharpe　smiled　seraphically。
　
　'Lives　with　the　Battalion；　does　she？　Mrs。　Sharpe？'
　
　'No；　sir。　In　Spain。　She　has　employment　there。'
　
　'Employment！'　Windham　looked　suspicious。　'What　does　she　do？'
　
　'Kills　Frenchmen；　sir。　She's　a　Partisan；　known　as　〃La　Aguja〃。　The　needle。'
　
　'Good　God　alive！'　Windham　gave　up。　He　had　heard　about　Sharpe　from　Lawford　and　from　a　dozen　other　people；　and　he　had　construed　the　information　as　a　kind　of　warning。　Sharpe；　he　had　been　told；　was　an　independent　man；　effective　in　battle；　but　liable　to　use　irregular　means　to　succeed。　He　had　e　up　from　the　ranks；　the　Colonel　knew；　which　had　to　be　a　liability。　Windham　had　never　known　a　man　from　the　ranks　to　make　a　successful　officer。　Either　the　power　went　to　their　heads；　or　the　drink　did；　and；　whichever　it　was；　the　men　usually　resented　them。　They　were　good　for　one　thing　though；　administration。　They　knew　the　system　backwards；　far　better　than　other　officers；　and　they　made　the　best　drill…masters　in　the　army。　It　was　true　that　Lawford　had　said　Sharpe　was　an　exception；　but　Windham　was　fifteen　years　older　than　Lawford　and　reckoned　he　knew　the　army　better。　He　conceded　that　Sharpe's　record　was　magnificent；　but　it　was　also　undeniably　true　that　the　man　had　been　given　unmon　freedom；　and　freedom；　Windham　knew；　was　a　damned　dangerous　thing。　It　could　give　a　man　ideas　well　above　his　station；　but　he　still　found　himself　reluctant　to　cut　him　down；　even　though　that　was　his　duty。　Windham　liked　to　jump　his　fences　straight；　yet　here　he　was；　dithering　like　an　old　woman　on　a　tubed　nag　searching　for　a　gap　in　the　hedge！　〃I've　been　lucky；　Sharpe。'
　
　'Lucky；　sir？'
　
　'In　my　establishment。'
　
　'Yes；　sir。'　Sharpe　felt　like　a　man　who　has　known　execution　was　ing；　but　did　not　believe　it；　and　now　the　barrels　of　the　firing　squad　were　being　leveled。
　
　'Eleven　Captains；　it's　too　much！'
　
　'Yes；　sir。　'
　
　Windham　glanced　at　Collett；　but　the　Major　had　his　eyes　down；　being　no　help　at　all。　Damn　it　then！　Straight　at　the　fence！　'Rymer　has　to　have　the　pany；　Sharpe。　He's　purchased　it；　used　his　own　money。　You　can　see　his　rights；　I'm　sure。'
　
　Sharpe　said　nothing。　He　kept　his　face　expressionless。　He　had　expected　this；　but　it　did　not　lessen　the　bitterness。　So　Rymer　got　the　prize　because　Rymer　had　the　money？　The　fact　that　Sharpe　had　captured　an　Eagle；　had　been　described　by　Wellington　as　the　finest　leader　of　Light　troops　in　the　army；　counted　for　nothing。　Such　things　were　meaningless　matched　against　the　purchase　system。　If　Napoleon　Bonaparte　had　joined　the　British　Army；　instead　of　the　French；　he　would　count　himself　lucky　if　he　had　achieved　a　Captaincy　by　now　instead　of　being　Emperor　of　half　the　world！　Damn　Rymer；　and　damn　Windham；　and　damn　the　whole　army！　Sharpe　felt　like　walking　away；　and　shaking　the　whole　unfair　system　from　his　back。　There　was　a　sudden；　harsh　rattle　of　rain　on　the　window。　Windham　cocked　his　head；　just　as　the　foxhounds　at　his　feet　had　done。　'Rain！'　The　Colonel　turned　to　Collett。　'My　blankets　are　airing；　Jack。　Can　I　trouble　you　to　rouse　my　servant…〃
　
　Collett　obligingly　left　and　Windham　leaned　back。　'I'm　sorry；　Sharpe。'
　
　'Yes；　sir。　And　the　gazette？'
　
　'Refused。'　So　there　it　was。　The　firing　squad　pulled　their　triggers　and　Lieutenant　Richard　Sharpe　gave　a　mocking；　sardonic　laugh　that　made　Windham　frown。　A　Lieutenant　again！
　
　'So　what　am　I　to　do；　sir？'　Sharpe　let　the　bitterness　edge　his　voice。　'Am　I　to　report　to　Captain　Rymer？'
　
　'No；　Mr。　Sharpe；　you　are　not。　Captain　Rymer　would　find　your　presence　an　embarrassment；　I'm　sure　you　can　understand　that。　He　must　be　given　time　to　settle　in。　I'll　keep　you　busy。'
　
　'I　forgot；　sir。　I'm　in　charge　of　the　women　now。'
　
　'Don't　be　impertinent；　Sharpe！'　Windham　snapped　forward；　startling　the　dogs。　
　
　'You　don't　understand；　do　you？'
　
　'There　are　rules；　orders；　regulations；　Sharpe；　by　which　our　lives　are　conducted。　If　we　ignore　those　rules；　burdensome　though　they　may　be；　then　we　open　the　gates　to　anarchy　and　tyranny；　the　very　things　against　which　we　fight！　Do　you　understand？'
　
　'Yes；　sir。　'　Sharpe　knew　it　would　be　pointless　to　mention　that　the　rules；　orders；　and　regulations　were　made　by　the　privileged　to　protect　the　privileged。　It　had　always　been　so；　and　always　would。　The　only　thing　for　him　to　do　now　was　to　get　out　with　his　shreds　of　dignity　intact　and　then　get　stinking　drunk。　Show　fellow　Lieutenant　Price　how　a　real　expert　fell　over。
　
　Windham　leaned　back。　'We're　going　to　Badajoz。'
　
　'Yes；　sir。'
　
　'You're　senior　Lieutenant。　'
　
　'Yes；　sir。'　Sharpe's　replies　were　listless。
　
　'There'll　be　vacancies；　man！　If　we　attack。'　That　was　true；　and　Sharpe　nodded。
　
　'Yes；　sir。'
　
　'You　can　exchange。'　Windham　looked　expectantly　at　Sharpe。
　
　'No；　sir。'　There　were　always　officers　who　found　their　Regiments　going　to　unpopular　places　such　as　the　Fever　Islands　and　who　would　offer　to　exchange　with　another　officer　in　a　battalion　closer　to　the　gaming　tables　and　far　from　weird　diseases。　Usually　they　would　offer　a　cash　bribe　to　facilitate　the　exchange；　but　Sharpe　dared　not　leave　Spain；　not　while　Teresa　and　Antonia　were　shut　up　in　Badajoz。　He　listened　to　the　rain　on　the　window　and　thought　of　the　girl　riding。　'I'll　stay；　sir。'
　
　'Good！'　Windham　sounded　far　from　pleased。　'There's　plenty　of　work。　The　mule　train　needs　tidying　up；　I've　seen　that　already；　and；　God　knows；　we'll　be　swamped　with　pickaxes　and　spades。　They　all　need　counting　'
　
　'In　charge　of　mules；　pick…axes；　and　women；　sir？'
　
　Windham's　eyes　met　the　challenge。　'Yes；　Mr。　Sharpe；　if　you　insist。　'
　
　'A　suitable　job；　sir；　for　an　ageing　Lieutenant。'
　
　'It　might；　Lieutenant；　engender　humility。'
　
　'Yes；　sir。'　An　important　quality　to　a　soldier；　humility；　and　Sharpe　gave　another　sardonic　laugh。　Humility　had　not　captured　the　gun　at　Ciudad　Rodrigo；　nor　hacked　a　path　through　Fuentes　de　Onoro's　tight　streets；　nor　fetched　the　gold　from　Spain；　nor　taken　an　Eagle　from　the　enemy；　nor　rescued　a　General；　nor　brought　a　group　of　starving　Riflemen　out　of　a　rout　nor　killed　the　Sultan　Tippoo；　and　Sharpe's　sardonic　laugh　became　real。　He　was　being　arrogant　to　himself；　and　perhaps　Windham　was　right。　He　needed　humility。　He　would　now　be　parading　wives　and　counting　shovels；　neither　of　which　activity　called　for　much　initiative　or　leadership；　and　mules　were　notoriously　chary　of　quick；　confident　decisions；　and　humility　was　best。　He　would　be　humble。　'Sir？'
　
　'Yes？'
　
　'A　request。　'
　
　'Go　on；　man。　'
　
　'I　want　to　lead　a　Forlorn　Hope　at　Badajoz；　sir。　I'd　like　you　to　forward　my　name　now。　I　know　it's　early；　but　I　would　be　grateful　if　you　would　do　so。'
　
　Windham　stared　at　him。　'You're　unbalanced；　man。'
　
　Sharpe　shook　his　head。　He　was　not　going　to　explain　that　he　wanted　a　promotion　that　no　man　could　take　from　him；　and　that　he　wanted　to　test　himself　in　a　breach　because　he　had　never　done　it。　And　if　he　died；　as　he　surely　would；　and　never　saw　his　daughter？　Then　she　would　know　that　her　father　had　died　trying　to　reach　her；　leading　an　attack；　and　she　could　be　proud。　'I　want　it；　sir。'
　
　'You　don't　need　it；　Sharpe。　There　will　be　promotion　at　Badajoz。'
　
　'Will　you　forward　my　name；　sir？'
　
　Windham　stood　up。　'Think　about　it；　Sharpe；　think　about　it。'　He　gestured　towards　the　door。　'Report　to　Major　Collett　in　the　morning。'　The　interview　had　been　far　worse　than　he　had　feared　and　the　Colonel　shook　his　head。　'You　don't　need　it；　Sharpe；　you　don't。　Now　good　day　to　you。'
　
　Sharpe　did　not　notice　the　rain。　He　stood　and　stared　across　the　valley　at　the　fortress。　He　thought　of　Teresa　closing　on　the　huge　walls；　and　knew　that　he　must　go　into　the　breach；　whatever　happened。　The　restitution　of　his　rank；　and　hopefully　the　mand　of　his　pany；　demanded　it；　but；　most　of　all；　because　he　was　a　soldier；　it　was　pride。
　
　The　meek；　he　had　been　told；　would　inherit　the　earth；　but　only　when　the　last　soldier　left　it　to　them　in　his　will。
　
　CHAPTER　11
　
　'Sergeant　Hakeswill；　sir！　Reporting　to　Lieutenant　Sharpe；　sir；　as　ordered；　sir！'　The　right　boot　crashed　into　the　attention；　the　arm　quivered　at　the　salute；　the　face　twitched；　but　was　full　of　amusement。
　
　Sharpe　returned　the　salute。　It　had　been　more　than　three　wee