Sharpe's Peril Page #5

First mistake.

Not my usual aide-de-camp.

But a damned Frenchman

on temporary attachment.

Papers in order.

But I thought it a rum go over

all the same.

Cavalryman, you see?

Never trust a damned Frenchman.

Go on, sir.

The devil had my sepoys

load his wagons.

Then once the job was done,

damn my eyes if the major didn't

mount up the cavalry

and turn them upon us.

Entire garrison slaughtered

to a man.

Only I was spared.

Who was he?

I've told you.

Damn Frenchman.

Major Joubert,

the 3rd Native Cavalry.

But we agreed, sir, you were

confused upon the point.

Joubert is the fiance

to the young lady

who has been tending you in your

infirmity.

I think I might remember the name of

the devil

who staked me out under the sun to

die, sir.

Joubert.

Major Philippe Joubert.

Ma'am.

Non.

Philippe is dead. The general is

mistaken. You said yourself.

Perhaps.

Yet we did not find him.

It's not possible.

You think I would marry such a man?

What the hell was in those chests

that was so important anyway?

Opium, Pat.

Grown under licence from the Company

and destined for China.

Same as they were raising

in this village.

Colonel Sharpe is right, gentlemen.

The Company has these last years

imported from China

ever greater quantities of tea.

Tea must be bought with something.

It helped them to balance the books.

By selling China the one thing she

craves.

You have not one whit of proof to

support so scandalous an allegation.

I expect he does.

I had occasion myself to examine the

writer's office.

There are some certain ledgers

and accounting books missing.

The contents of which I intend

upon my return to England,

and to the everlasting shame of His

Majesty's government,

to make known.

It would seem this Joubert, then,

sir,

has resolved to enter into the trade

himself.

Not just him, Mr Beauclere.

The half squadron of cavalry that

came to Kalimgong

was of the 3rd Native Horse.

It's Dragomirov.

Stealing the harvest.

And blame it on this rebel Chitu.

If such a man even exists.

There's something out there, sir.

Moving.

In those trees and bushes.

Skirmish order.

Halt! Who goes there?

Sharpe.

Advance and be recognised.

What was it? A tiger? What?

Yeah, a tiger, all right.

But only a littl'un.

The lass say owt?

Men on horses, sir.

Bandits?

Or "bad men" she says.

And one of them, their "chief" she

called him, was white.

Why did Dragomirov let us carry on

to the hill station?

Happen he'd no notion then.

The fort had already fallen.

To Joubert.

Nor reason to care over much.

For we should have taken such

slaughter

to be the work of Chitu and his

bandits.

More, sir, we should have returned

to the lines

bearing tales which served to

further his deception.

Only, Joubert made a mistake.

He left alive a witness to his

treachery.

If in ignorance, then, we presented

no threat,

we must assume that when Dragomirov

is reunited with Joubert,

the truth will out.

Aye.

We leave at first light.

HORSES WALKING:

DRAGOMIROV:

They have been and gone.

I hope, Major Joubert, that your

taste for the dramatic flourish

is not about to cost us dear.

Monsieur.

If Simmerson died

before Sharpe's column got here,

all is well.

If he survived, however, to tell of

your perfidy...

The bridge is gone.

I'd say the rains have washed it

away.

Colour Wormwood, take picket.

Sing out if any bugger comes.

Sir.

Pat.

Unhitch the wagons,

turn the animals loose.

I understand Mr Nash is upon

fashioning a pavilion

very like your own for the Prince

Regent, Your Highness.

In Brighton.

Brighton?

A small town by the sea. In Sussex.

When complete, I fancy it will be

the gayest place under heaven.

Your Highness,

I must ask you to dismount.

Dismount? Why?

We bear enough provision for

ourselves, ma'am.

The animals must be turned loose here

and left to themselves.

I will not abandon my Chetak.

We've no choice, ma'am.

From here we go on foot.

Only those things essential to our

journey may be carried.

Food, water, ammunition.

Keep that rope nice and tight now,

Singh.

Nice and tight.

Only those things essential

to our journey, Mr Watkin.

Maybe you did not hear.

But these things are essential,

Colonel Sharpe.

Indeed?

This is essential?

And that, and these?

They are liturgical accoutrements,

sir.

Necessary to furnish

my new mission at Banutola.

Once we've reached safe ground,

you can make arrangements to have

your equipment retrieved.

But, Colonel...

THEY SPEAK IN A NATIVE TONGUE

Where is she going?

It's my looking glass.

With Colonel Sharpe's haste

to have us abandon all our

belongings, she forgot it.

We've no time for this, ma'am.

I know.

I told her so, Mr Harper, I told

her, but...

she insists.

I looked for you at Kalimgong,

Colonel.

But I only found fresh graves and

the garrison missing.

The fort was attacked

and a company entire put to the

sword.

Did none survive?

None.

MARIE-ANGELIQUE:
Philippe.

Non.

(WHISPERS)

But I think one perhaps.

And by your lie, I must assume

he has told you of his misfortune.

Leaving the commanding officer alive

was an unnecessary cruelty

on my associate's behalf.

Major Joubert.

I cannot allow your companions to

reach the lines

in receipt of such intelligence

against me.

Are you gonna kill 'em? In any

enterprise there is always spoilage.

But as gentlemen, can we not come to

some reasonable agreement?

You and I?

There is no need for you to suffer

along with the rest.

Nor indeed the good major's fianced

bride.

THEY SPEAK FRENCH

If it is a matter of scruple,

I have always found gold

the sovereign thing on earth for a

troubled conscience.

There's not enough gold in the world

to buy your life back.

My life?

Well, we shall have our time.

Perhaps sooner than you think.

Quick.

Quick, get him across.

Colonel, sahib.

Come on, lass.

GUNSHO Major! Get up, sir.

Get up.

I want them alive!

Come on, Richard. Up you come.

Come on.

Richard!

Where the hell are you going?

Can't leave her to 'em, Pat.

You go across that river,

you're a dead man.

What good are you to her then?

Damn it to hell!

Stand by, you bastard!

Colonel Sharpe.

Come on, lass. It's time

we were gone from this place.

Fire!

I wish you an uncomfortable night.

Argh!

Take cover!

Defend the camp!

I must beg of you a service,

Colonel.

Will you stay with the column?

At least as far as Kalimgong.

And you, madam, are a spoiled,

wilful, petulant

and selfish young fool.

Count Vladimir Alexei Dragomirov.

What's this man's father to you?

He killed my wife!

It's Dragomirov

stealing the opium harvest.

And blaming it on this rebel Chitu.

I want them alive!

Richard!

If you go across that river,

you're a dead man.

GUNFIRE:

Fall back.

Fall back, damn it!

They're retreating!

CHEERING:

You'll have to take 'em on, Pat.

Me? Hold on a minute.

No argument.

Dragomirov will be looking for

another place to cross.

You keep to Tredinnick's map.

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