Sharpe's Peril Page #3

We aren't chasing you

up and down the country.

Now, get on your mount

and follow me back!

Or will you have me carry you?

You would not dare.

I was done with my ride anyway.

Do your duty now, boy.

You flow like the River Liffey.

Argh.

Sir. Major sahib.

GUNSHO SHOUTING:

We're being attacked,

Your Highness.

SHOUTING:

Can you fight?

SCREAMING:

Stay here and keep out of sight.

I'll do no such thing.

For once in your life, do as you're

damn well told!

Fall back! Fall back!

King's men and Company to me!

I told you to stay put!

I could use a rifle.

Not a bloody chance.

We need every man we can get.

TRUMPE Count Dragomirov.

Colonel Sharpe.

By God,

I were never so glad to see a

cavalryman.

May I impose then upon your

hospitality for some short while?

At least until our mounts are

rested,

and we may continue the pursuit?

Aye. And welcome.

Colour Wormwood will see you

provisioned.

I must take count of our losses.

Colour Wormwood!

Sir.

I want that prisoner secured now.

This instant.

You heard him. Take him away.

Oh, I see the hand of God is upon

you still...

Corporal Hakeswill.

What did you call him?

Corporal Hakeswill.

The luckiest soldier I ever met.

Hakeswill?

God all bloody mighty.

Take it easy, please!

Please!

Hakeswill?

Enough now! Come on!

Hakeswill, where did you get your

name, then, eh?

HARPER:
Stand off, Richard.

Barabbas?

A fine gesture is that.

Stand off, please!

Hakeswill! Hakeswill!

And you give him a rifle?

What's the matter, you bastard?

Cat got your tongue?

I'm talking to you.

Where did you get your name?

From a man like you.

Aye. Recoat was he?

Sergeant? I know he was.

Obadiah.

Ah! I thought as much.

Thief. Murderer. Rapist.

That were your father, Barabbas.

Well, I'll not leave it to a court

martial and the provosts.

I'll make an end of you here and now.

What's this man's father to you?

He killed my wife.

Killed her.

And left our daughter motherless.

Now be content.

For all that, sir,

this is not right.

Look to your business, Major.

If any man...

comes between me and that bastard,

I'll kill 'em.

Out of the way, Pat.

I can't let you do it.

Stand aside, damn you!

You'll have to put me down first.

I regret I cannot spare

any of my men to your escort.

But you may depend,

with my squadron in pursuit,

these devils will trouble you no

further.

So, from here,

where will you go?

Kalimgong.

The Company garrison.

You should be safe there.

You should step down from the wagon,

Miss Bonnet.

Take the air a while.

How is he?

He's failing.

I do not know how much longer he can

last without proper care.

I'm sure you're doing

all that can be done.

We shall make Kalimgong tomorrow.

The Subedar shall have a surgeon.

And you, your Major Joubert.

I am obliged to you for your action

during the attack.

Obliged?

I am reluctant to be in your debt.

Having been the daughter of a

soldier,

I care little for the profession.

Then upon one thing at least, we are

in agreement.

As for any obligation,

I did my duty, ma'am.

Nothing more.

Have you not had enough excitement

for one day?

He's bad blood, Pat.

And that's an end on it.

God knows, Richard, I've never taken

another man's side against you

and I'm not gonna start now,

but you are wrong.

Am I though?

In this, yeah, you are.

Just keep him from my view.

One more day, Pat.

One more day and then I'm rid of 'em.

Miss Bonnet, Hakeswill,

the whole damn lot.

Whoa.

Why do we delay?

Is there difficulty?

Merely a precautionary measure,

ma'am.

Mr Harper and myself will reconnoitre

the way ahead. Reconnoitre?

But...this is a Company hill

station, is it not?

Aye, ma'am. And as such,

I would expect to see some men.

At least upon the battlements.

Major Tredinnick, you have command.

Yes, sir.

Wormwood, bring your section.

Skirmish order.

Skirmish order, lads.

Secure the fort.

You heard the colonel, gentlemen.

Look to it.

Safe bloody harbour is this.

That Chitu bastard

must have some strength

to take a fort fully garrisoned.

An escalade maybe.

Under cover of dark.

Could have been

over the walls and among them

before the alarm were raised.

Here, sir, we've got a live 'un.

Christ God almighty.

Simmerson.

Do you know him, sir?

Aye, Croop.

GROANING:

I know him.

HARPER:
Deever.

Sir.

There's an infirmary

under the north rampart.

Take the wounded there.

Sir.

Water. Water.

I must have water.

Give him some.

Not too much now.

Just enough to wet his lips

or else he'll split his guts.

God bless you, sir, God bless you.

Praise God, sweet Jesus, for mercy.

Mercy.

Do you know, Simmerson?

Do you not know me?

Aye, sir.

Thou art my redeemer, sir.

Dick Sharpe, Sir Henry.

Richard Sharpe.

The sweetest name in all the world,

sir.

Come press your cheek

against my lips, sir.

That I may kiss my blessed saviour.

The sun...

We must save the harvest.

He's raving.

It might be a kindness

to ease his suffering, sir.

I served once in a company

almost wiped out by his orders.

He's a stupid, malicious bastard.

Aye.

For he's my stupid, malicious

bastard.

If anybody has earned the right to do

for him, it's me.

And I say he lives.

Oh, no.

No, no, no, no, no. It won't do.

Am I to understand that gentlemen

and ladies are to billet together?

It is too much.

For shame, Mr Watkins, can not you

show some fellow feeling?

Miss Bonnet has suffered

a great shock.

What shock?

She's come here to meet her fiance.

And as to our quarters,

well, surely, between us

we can improve on our situation.

Why here even, a broom.

Might almost have been waiting upon

us for use.

Perhaps, Reverend, fetch me some

water

and see if there is some scrubbing

soap to be had.

Colour Wormwood.

The garrison must be put in the

earth.

Will you organise a burial party?

These hereabout lying dead is

Company troops, Mr Harper.

What of it?

You'll find the heathen

is most particular

about his funeral observances.

Is that a fact?

You see...

some is for burning,

some for setting adrift

along this holy river.

Whilst yet more has a fancy to have

their insides pecked out by birds.

It is a...

confusion.

Yet their wishes must be considered,

lest we...affront the living.

Just seem them in the ground,

will you, Wormwood?

And leave the rest to the Almighty,

hmm?

You heard him, lads.

Get on with it.

To soldier I signed up for,

I'm not a bloody grave digger.

It's my fancy we'll dig a church

yard full

before that long-legged jackanape is

done with us.

Just make sure it ain't our own

we're digging, Danny.

Oh, I means to, I means to.

The raiders have left us little of

use, Colonel.

No food.

And the well is spoiled

with the dead.

I had thought among the flotsam

to find some hint of the garrison's

fate.

A bandit attack.

I doubt the writer would have had

time to make note of such

before being himself overcome.

Yet someone has been here before me.

Unless these bandits are men of

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