bcornwell.sharpescompany-第43章

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e　were　shot；　discipline　was　dead；　the　mob　ruled　Badajoz。
　
　Screams　deafened　the　two　men；　and　they　were　thrown　back　on　to　a　wall　by　a　horde　of　women；　stark　naked；　who；　slobbering　and　spitting；　had　erupted　from　an　unbarred　door。　A　nun　screamed　at　them　from　the　doorway；　but　more　women　came　from　inside　and　Sharpe　knew　a　madhouse　was　emptying　itself　into　the　streets。　There　was　no　point　in　locking　up　the　mad　in　Badajoz　this　night　and　there　were　whoops　from　behind　and　cheers　as　the　soldiers　charged　up　and　into　the　lunatics。　One　pulled　at　the　nun；　while　another　leaped　on　to　a　huge；　naked　woman's　back；　gripped　her　wild；　grey　hair　as　reins；　and　all　the　soldiers　tried　to　ride　a　lunatic。
　
　'There；　sir！'　Harper　pointed。　Above　them　and　ahead　was　the　cathedral　tower；　its　square；　crenellated　outline　obvious　in　the　sky；　and　from　its　arched　openings　the　bells　jangled　a　cacophony　because　drunken　men　were　dangling　on　the　ropes；　signaling　a　victory。
　
　They　stopped　at　the　street's　end；　in　front　of　the　cathedral；　and　to　their　left　was　a　great　plaza；　the　rape　beneath　its　trees　lit　by　a　huge　fire；　and　to　their　right　a　dark　alley。　Sharpe　started　towards　it；　but　his　arm　was　pulled；　and　he　turned　to　see　a　girl；　short　and　weeping；　clinging　to　his　sleeve。　She　had　been　roused　from　a　house；　chased；　and　her　pursuers　came　after　as　she　held　on　to　the　tall　man　whose　face　had　looked　untouched　by　the　madness。　'Senor！　Senor！'
　
　Her　tormentors；　in　the　white　facings　of　the　43rd；　reached　for　the　girl　and　Sharpe　swept　the　sword　at　them；　cutting　one　man's　arm；　and　he　watched　their　bayonets　drop　for　the　attack　and　the　girl　was　hampering　him。　He　swung　again；　being　forced　back　by　British　bayonets；　but　then　Harper　came　between　him　and　his　attackers；　the　seven…barreled　gun　whirled　as　a　club；　and　they　went　back。
　
　'This　way！'　Sharpe　shouted　and；　with　the　girl　still　clinging　to　him；　he　pushed　into　the　alley。　Harper　came　behind；　threatening　the　men　of　the　43rd　with　the　giant　gun　until　they　gave　up　and　went　for　easier　spoils；　and　then　the　Sergeant　turned　after　Sharpe　to　find　the　alley　was　a　dead　end。　Sharpe　swore。
　
　Harper　seized　the　girl；　who　shrank　away；　but　his　touch　was　gentle　and　his　voice　urgent。　'Donde　esta　la　Casa　Moreno？'　It　was　the　limit　of　his　Spanish；　and　the　girl　shook　her　head。　He　tried　again；　letting　his　voice　reassure　her。　'Listen；　Miss。　Casa　Moreno。　prendo？　Donde　esta　la　Casa　Moreno？'
　
　She　spoke　in　fast；　excited　Spanish；　and　pointed　to　the　cathedral。　Sharpe　swore　again　in　exasperation。　'She　doesn't　know。　We'll　go　back。'　He　started　forward；　but　Harper　put　out　a　hand。
　
　'No；　look！'　There　were　steps　leading　to　a　side…door　and　the　Irishman　pushed　Sharpe　towards　it。　'She　means　through　the　cathedral。　It's　a　short　cut！'
　
　The　girl　stumbled　on　her　dress；　but　Harper　caught　her　and　she　clung　to　his　hand　as　he　pushed　open　the　huge；　studded　door。　Sharpe　heard　the　Irishman　draw　in　a　breath。
　
　The　cathedral　had　been　a　refuge；　a　sanctuary；　but　no　longer。　Troops　had　invaded　it；　had　chased　the　women；　caught　them；　and　now；　under　the　myriad　votive　candles；　the　women　were　being　raped。　A　nun；　her　habit　ripped　apart；　was　spread…eagled　on　the　high　altar　while　an　Irishman　of　the　88th；　down　from　the　casde　assault；　tried　vainly　to　climb　up　to　her。　He　was　too　drunk。　The　girl　gasped；　began　to　scream；　but　Harper　held　her　firm。　'Casa　Moreno？　Si？'
　
　She　nodded；　too　appalled　to　speak；　and　led　them　across　the　great　floor　of　the　transept；　between　the　altar　and　the　transcoro；　and　round　the　huge　chandelier　that　had　been　cut　from　its　moorings　and　had　crashed　down　on　to　the　flagstones；　crushing　a　Corporal　from　the　7th　who　still　twitched　under　its　weight。　Dead　lay　on　the　floor　while　the　wounded；　sobbing　in　their　misery；　crawled　towards　the　obscuring　shadows　of　the　nave。　Be　with　us　now　and　in　the　hour　of　our　need。
　
　A　priest；　who　had　tried　to　stop　the　soldiers；　lay　by　the　north　door　and　Sharpe　and　Harper　stepped　over　the　body；　into　the　great　plaza；　and　the　girl　pointed　again；　to　her　right；　and　they　ran　until　she　pulled　Harper　right　again；　into　a　dark　alleyway　seething　with　troops　who　beat　at　shut　doors　and；　in　their　frustration；　fired　shots　at　upper；　barred　windows。　Harper　protected　the　girl；　held　her　close；　as　they　pushed　through　the　men；　Sharpe's　sword　their　passport；　and　then　the　girl　shouted　at　them；　pointed；　and　Sharpe　saw　the　dark　shapes　of　two　trees　and　knew　he　had　arrived。
　
　There　were　cheers　from　the　doorway；　a　creaking；　a　great　crash；　and　a　mass　of　men　in　front　of　them　melted　away　as　they　streamed　into　Moreno's　courtyard。　Barrels　waited　for　them；　thick　barrels；　full　barrels；　and　the　men　fell　on　the　wine；　forgetting　everything　else；　and　in　his　counting　house；　praying　next　to　his　wife　who　had　returned　home　at　midnight；　Rafael　Moreno　prayed　and　hoped　he　had　provided　enough　wine　for　the　soldiers　and　thick　enough　bolts　for　his　counting　house　door。
　
　Hakeswill　cursed。　He　heard　the　motion　below；　the　crashing　of　the　great　doors；　and　he　spat　at　Teresa。　'Hurry！'
　
　A　bullet　splintered　the　shutter　and　buried　itself　in　the　ceiling　and　he　turned；　fearing　Sharpe；　but　it　was　only　a　stray　shot　from　the　street。　The　baby　was　awkward　in　his　arm；　but　it　was　his　best　threat　and　he　did　not　want　to　kill　it　yet。　The　bayonet　was　still　at　Antonia's　throat；　her　crying　reduced　to　heaving；　breathless　sobs；　and　Hakeswill　twitched　the　blade；　ground　his　teeth　as　the　twitching　caught　him；　and　bellowed　again。　'Hurry！'
　
　She　was　still　dressed；　damn　her；　and　he　wanted　this　business　done！　Two　shoes　off；　that　was　all；　and　he　twitched　the　bayonet　again；　drawing　a　trickle　of　blood；　and　he　saw　her　arms　go　up　to　the　fastening　of　her　dress。　'That's　right；　missy；　don't　want　baby　to　die；　do　we？'　He　cackled；　and　the　cackling　became　a　racking　cough；　and　Teresa　watched　the　blade　at　her　child's　throat。　She　dared　not　attack　him；　dared　not；　and　then　the　coughing　stopped　and　the　eyes　opened　again。　'Get　on　with　it；　missy。　We've　got　time　to　make　up；　remember？'
　
　Teresa　slowly　undid　the　knot　at　her　throat；　pretending　to　fumble　with　the　material；　and　she　saw　the　excitement　in　his　face　and　then　he　began　to　swallow　rapidly　so　that　his　Adam's　apple　pulled　at　the　scar。　'Hurry；　missy；　hurry！'　Hakeswill　could　feel　the　excitement。　She　had　humiliated　him；　this　bitch；　and　now　it　was　her　turn。　She　would　die；　and　so　would　her　bastard；　but　he　would　have　his　enjoyment　first　and　he　began　to　work　out　in　his　head　the　problem　of　holding　the　baby　while　he　took　her；　and　then　he　knew　she　was　taking　her　time。　'I'll　slit　its　throat；　missy；　then　yours。　But　if　you　want　this　little　bastard　to　live；　you'd　better　take　them　clothes　off；　and　fast！'
　
　The　door　bulged　under　Harper's　boot；　the　crash　spinning　Hakeswill　round；　and　then　the　bolt　sheared；　the　door　shook　on　its　hinges；　and　Hakeswill　held　the　bayonet　vertically　above　Antonia's　throat。　'Stop！'
　
　Teresa　had　reached　for　the　rifle。　She　froze。　Harper　was　through　the　door　and　his　momentum　drove　him　on　to　the　cot　and　then　he；　too；　was　utterly　motionless　as　he　sprawled；　on　all　fours；　and　stared　at　the　seventeen　inch　bayonet。　Sharpe；　the　girl　behind　him；　stopped　in　the　doorway　and　his　sword；　which　had　been　reaching　towards　Hakeswill；　was　suspended　in　mid　lunge　so　that　its　blood…thickened　tip　quivered　in　the　room's　centre。
　
　Hakeswill　laughed。　'Bit　late；　aren't　you；　Sharpy。　They　called　you　that；　didn't　they；　Sharpy？　Or　Dick。　Lucky　Sharpe。　I　remember。　Clever　little　Sharpy；　but　it　didn't　stop　you　being　flogged；　did　it？'
　
　Sharpe　looked　to　Harper；　Teresa；　then　back　to　Hakeswill。　He　gestured　slowly　at　Knowles's　body。　'Did　you　do　this？'
　
　Hakeswill　cackled　and　his　shoulders　heaved。　'Clever　little　bastard；　aren't　you；　Sharpy？　Of　course　I　bloody　did　it。　The　little　bastard　came　to　protect　your　lady。'　He　sneered　at　Teresa。　'My　lady；　now。'　Her　dress　was　open　at　the　neck　and　Hakeswill　could　see　a　slim　gold　cross　against　her　brown　skin。　He　wanted　her；　he　wanted　that　skin　beneath　his　hands；　and　he　would　have　her！　And　kill　her！　And　Sharpe　could　watch；　because　none　of　them　would　dare　touch　him　while　he　still　threatened　the　baby。
　
　The　girl　behind　Sharpe　moaned　and　Hakeswill's　head　twitched　towards　the　door。　'You　got　a　whore　there；　Sharpy？　You　have！　Bring　her　in！'　The　girl　stepped　over　Knowles's　body　and　into　the　room。　She　moved　slowly；　terrified　of　the　yellow…skinned；　belly…paunched　man　who　held　the　heaving；　sob…racked　baby。　She　went　to　stand　by　Harper；　her　foot　kicking　Hakeswill's　shako　mat　had　fallen　from　the　upset　cot。　The　hat　rolled　to　a　stop；　upended；　by　Harper's　hand。　Hakeswill　watched　her。　'Very　nice。　Pretty　little　missy。'　He　cackled。　'You　like　the　Irishman；　do　you；　dearie？'　She　was　shaking　at　the　sight　of　him；　and　Hakeswill　laughed。　'He's　a　pig。　They　all　are；　the　bloody　Irish；　dirty　great　pigs。　You're　better　off　with　me；　missy。'　The　blue　eyes　went　back　to　Sharpe。　'Shut　the　door；　Sharpy。　Gently　now。'
　
　Sharpe　shut　the　door；　careful　not　to　alarm　the　twitching　man　who　held　his　baby。　He　could　not　see　Antonia's　face；　just　the　great　saw…backed　bayonet　that　was　above　the　bundle　of　bed…clothes。　Hakeswill　laughed　at　him。　'Very　good。　You　can　watch　now；　Sharpy。'　He　looked　at　Harper；　frozen　grotesquely　where　he　had　tripped。　'And　you；　pig。　You　can　watch。　Stand　up。'
　
　Hakeswill　was　not　sure　how　he　would　do　this；　but　he　would　work　something　out　because　he　knew　that；　as　long　as　the　child　was　in　his　power；　then　all　these　people　were　in　it；　too。　He　liked　the　new　girl；　Harper's　girl　by　the　look　of　it；　and　he　could　take　her　with　him；　out　into　the　city；　but　he　would　have　to　kill　Sharpe　and　Harper　first　because　they　knew　he　had　killed
　
　Knowles。　He　shook　his　head。　He　would　kill　them　because　he　hated　them！　He　laughed；　then　saw　that　Harper　had　not　moved。　'I　told　you　to　stand　up；　you　Irish　bastard！　Stand！'
　
　Harper　stood　up；　his　heart　beating　at　the　risk；　and　in　his　hands　he　held　the　shako。　He　had　seen　the　picture　in　the　crown　and　he　had　no　real　idea　who　it　was；　but　he　stood　up；　one　hand　holding　the　hat；　the　other　reaching　inside　it。　He　saw　Hakeswill's　face　show　alarm。　The　bayonet　quivered。　'Give　it　to　me。　'　The　voice　had　bee　whining。　'Give　it　to　me！'
　
　'Put　the　baby　down。'
　
　No　one　else　moved。　Teresa　did　not　understand；　nor　did　Sharpe；　and　Harper　had　only　the　vaguest　idea；　a　hunch；　a　straw　that　was　the　only　thing　to　clutch　in　this　whirling　madness。　Hakeswill　shook；　his　face　jerking　spasmodically。　'Give　it　to　me！'　He　was　sobbing。　'My　Mammy！　My　Mammy！　Give　her　to　me！'
　
　The　Ulster　voice　was　soft；　growling　deep　from　the　massive　chest。　'I　have　my　nails　on　her　eyes；　Hakeswill；　soft　eyes；　soft　eyes；　and　I　will　claw　them　out；　Hakeswill；　claw　them　out；　and　your　Mammy　will　scream。'
　
　'No！　No！　No！'　Hakeswill　was　swaying；　crying；　cringing。　The　baby　was　crying　with　him。　The　yellow　face　looked　at　Harper；　the　voice　was　pleading。　'Don't　do　it。　Don't　do　it。　Not　to　my　Mammy。'
　
　'I　will；　so　I　will；　and　I　will；　unless　you　put　the　baby　down；　you　put　the　baby　down。'　He　spoke　in　a　rhythm；　as　to　a　child；　and　Hakeswill　swayed　with　the　rhythm。　The　head　went　into　violent　twitches　and；　suddenly；　the　fear　was　gone　and　he　looked　at　Harper。
　
　'You　think　I'm　a　fool？'
　
　'Mother's　hurting。'
　
　'No！'　The　madness　was　back；　instantly；　and　Sh