Sharpe's Peril Page #2

OK.

I'll fetch us kit.

We're bedding down here.

Yeah.

Who's them strangers walking

Bo Peep, then, Colour?

No business of yours, Quilter.

See the prisoner is fed and watered.

He won't have none.

Nevertheless it must be offered.

King's Regulations are very clear on

this point. So look alive.

Run your vittels.

Do you want 'em or don't you?

Tis a matter of indifference to me.

But I must fetch 'em here

and here as I am bid, no matter.

Corp,

it isn't worth taking on.

When we get back to the lines,

Colour will speak on your part.

That being done,

seems to me you'll either hang or

you won't. And there's an end on it.

What a comfort you are.

What's your name, then, Corporal?

Barabbas.

Bloody hell. I thought Dick were bad.

Barabbas?

A Bible name, in't it?

I had it off a priest at the

Scottish Mission.

Oh, aye, foundling.

No shame in that.

Half the world were got without

ceremony.

Not always the worst half either.

Deserve it, did he,

the officer you killed?

I've known many that have.

But robbery, mind...

regimental stores.

I'd sooner an honest murderer

than a man as thieves off his mates.

But I expect you'll tell me you're

neither.

I've never met a guilty man.

Colonel Sharpe.

Mr Harper.

You honour our table.

Thank you, Major.

Now, if I may, Reverend Watkin.

Ensign Beauclere you know.

My wife, of course. Miss Bonnet...

And I are already acquainted.

Oh, of course.

Well, we wait only upon...

Ah, there he is.

Good evening, Subedar.

My apologies, I was detained...

Argh!

SHOUTING:

Take cover!

King's men to me! 69th to me!

Colour Wormwood, defend the camp!

Chitu's men?

Like as not.

What's the bill, Mr Beauclere?

Her Highness and the commonality

are all accounted for, sir.

Of Company troops, four are numbered

dead, including the surgeon.

Six are wounded,

of which two, including Subedar

Pillai, are like to die.

And your own section?

Not a man come to harm, sir.

Colour Wormwood confides they gave

good account of themselves.

Though I confess,

with all that befell...

I'm hard pressed to order events.

The fire and the fighting.

The horses an' all.

Your first action?

Yes, sir.

You did well.

I would hope so, sir.

I was, you see, born to a soldier.

Indeed?

Perhaps you met him. You will have

heard of him almost certainly.

He was the man brevetted major

at Vittoria

for capturing Marshal Jourdan's

baton.

I don't believe I know him.

You would have taken to him, sir.

For he was very brave.

Much admired by his men.

"Was", Mr Beauclere?

He fell, sir,

at Roncesvalles.

When I was a boy.

And there was I thinking

it was you and me

that came across the marshal's baton

at Vittoria,

abandoned in the baggage train along

with King Joe's royal Jakes pot.

'Appen your memory is off, Pat?

A common effect

of advancing years, I understand.

I posted pickets but...

..their throats were cut.

I should have done more.

You did all that could be expected.

I must beg of you a service,

Colonel.

Will you stay with the column?

At least as far as Kalimgong.

It's a lot to ask, I know, but...

it's only two days march.

Besides,

I should rest a lot easier,

knowing...

..a senior officer were among us.

You have Major Tredinnick.

An engineer, Colonel,

he is not a soldier.

Subedar Pillai is correct, Colonel.

Better by far, the men have someone

of both rank and martial reputation

to look to at such a time.

You may depend on my support.

In every particular.

I'm grateful. Gentlemen.

Colour Wormwood.

Make ready the column to move out.

Mr Beauclere?

Whatever instruction you receive off

Colonel Sharpe,

you may take

as if the order were my own.

If you say so, sir.

Within the hour! Colour Wormwood.

What could I say?

Huh?

Do you hear me complaining?

Just so far as this hill station.

Two days,

then we're away.

So, who is he, then, Paddy?

Your Colonel Sharpe?

That would be "Mr Harper"

or "Sergeant Major Harper",

when addressing me, Private Croop.

Who is he, though? He put Colour

Wormwood in a brown study.

You'd know, Dan, you'd know.

For of all studies, I swear, there's

none as brown as yours.

He's no proper officer,

that much is plain.

He's more of an officer than you'll

ever meet, Croop.

He don't talk like no officer.

He may not have

the holiday and lady terms

that some of your peacocks so easily

command,

but when your back

is against the wall,

he's the one man you want beside

you.

How is the Subedar?

Very weak, ma'am.

He has lost much blood.

Though he suffers me to touch him,

he will take of me no water.

Even this I am only able to do

when he sleeps.

Dustoor hai. It's the custom,

a stricture of his birth.

But if he does not let me help him,

he will die.

Perhaps, but...

Subedar Pillai would sooner death

than to break his caste.

Colour Wormwood.

Volunteers for a forage party.

Your section will serve.

Begging your pardon, sir,

but that's coolie work.

Can't have King's men cutting corn,

not while Company troops are sat on

their arses.

Company troops are needed here,

Colour.

To protect the column.

And if the bandits should return,

sir?

Company troops made a pretty poor

show of it last evening.

And Mr Beauclere is only a lad.

A mount of pluck is worth a ton of

sh*t and that lad has got pluck.

So would you

with a name to live up to.

'Appen his father

were a brevet major.

Captured Marshal Jourdan's

baton at Vittoria.

Begging your pardon, again, sir,

but I wouldn't put much money

into that tale.

There's only one Beauclere I know of

at Vittoria.

And he was no brevet major.

Bewrayed his breeches at the first

volley and turned tail.

Provosts found him after the battle,

at an inn, drunk as a judge

and in such a condition,

put a rope to his neck.

You are mistaken, Colour Wormwood.

There was another Captain Beauclere

upon the field that day.

Indeed, sir.

And was there?

I do not know the particulars of

this other fellow,

but I assure you

it was my father who captured

Jourdan's baton.

Aye.

Stay with the column, then,

if that is your will.

Thank you, sir.

Something you wanted of us,

Mr Beauclere?

It's Miss Bonnet, sir.

She's taken a horse.

I tried to stop her, sir, but...

she said she would only be some

short while.

What the hell

do you think you're about?

I wanted to ride.

I can see that. Perhaps you've

forgot.

But only last night we were attacked

by Chitu's bandits.

They will be far behind us by now.

I wouldn't be so sure.

If I can track you, so can they.

I will return presently.

Now, Madam!

At once!

God knows I didn't look for this

duty.

But for better or worse,

I'm responsible for your safety.

Unhand me.

You are rude, sir.

You are rude and ignorant

and an uncouth brute!

And you, madam, are a spoiled,

wilful,

petulant and selfish young fool.

Selfish?

If you will not take thoughts of your

own well-being,

then at least consider

your fellow travellers.

I'm seeing the column safe to

Kalimgong.

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