JК
Sharpes Devil :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 193 из 209"My name is Manuel Ferrara, I have the honor to be the alcalde ofValdivia, and these gentlemen are senior and respected citizens of our town. We want no trouble, senor. We are merely merchants who struggle to make a poor living. As you know, our sympathies have always been with the Republic, and we beg that you will treat us with the respect due to civilians who have taken no part in the fighting."
"Shut up," Sharpe said. He pushed past the offended and astonished Mayor to reach Blair. "You bastard."
"Mister Sharpe?" Blair touched a nervous hand to his hat.
"You're supposed to look after British interests, you bugger, not suck Bautista's tits because you're frightened of him!"
"Now, Mister Sharpe, be careful what you say!"
"You shit-faced son of a whore." Sharpe took hold of Blair's right boot and heaved up, chucking the Consul bodily out of his saddle. Blair gave a yelp of astonishment, then collapsed into the mud on the far side of the horse. Sharpe steadied the beast, then mounted it himself. "You!" he said to the Mayor, who was still protesting his undying loyalty to the ideals of liberty and republicanism.
"Me, senor?"
"I told you to shut up. I don't give a fart for your republics. I'm a monarchist. And get off your damned horse. My friend needs it."
"My horse? But this is a valuable beast, senor, and—"
"Get off," Sharpe said, "or I'll blow you off it." He drew one of his two pistols and cocked it.
The Mayor hastily slid off his horse. Harper, grinning, heaved himself into the vacated saddle. "Where's Bautista?" Sharpe asked the Mayor.
"The Captain-General is in the Citadel. But his men don't want to fight."
"But Bautista wants to fight?"
"Yes, senor. But the men think you are devils. They say you can't be killed!" The Mayor crossed himself, then turned fearfully as a shout from the river announced the arrival of Lord Cochrane and his boats.
"All of you!" Sharpe shouted at the Mayor's nervous deputation. "Off your horses! All of you! Now!" He kicked his heels to urge Blair's white horse forward. "What's this flag?" He gestured at the ornate coat of arms.
"The flag of the town of Valdivia, senor," the Mayor answered.
"Hold on to it, Patrick!"
Cochrane jumped ashore, roaring with questions. What was happening? Who were these men? Why had Sharpe tried to race ahead?
"Bautista's holed up in the Citadel," Sharpe explained. "Everyone else in Valdivia wants to surrender, but Bautista doesn't. That means he's waiting for your boats and he'll fire on you.
"Shut up," Sharpe said. He pushed past the offended and astonished Mayor to reach Blair. "You bastard."
"Mister Sharpe?" Blair touched a nervous hand to his hat.
"You're supposed to look after British interests, you bugger, not suck Bautista's tits because you're frightened of him!"
"Now, Mister Sharpe, be careful what you say!"
"You shit-faced son of a whore." Sharpe took hold of Blair's right boot and heaved up, chucking the Consul bodily out of his saddle. Blair gave a yelp of astonishment, then collapsed into the mud on the far side of the horse. Sharpe steadied the beast, then mounted it himself. "You!" he said to the Mayor, who was still protesting his undying loyalty to the ideals of liberty and republicanism.
"Me, senor?"
"I told you to shut up. I don't give a fart for your republics. I'm a monarchist. And get off your damned horse. My friend needs it."
"My horse? But this is a valuable beast, senor, and—"
"Get off," Sharpe said, "or I'll blow you off it." He drew one of his two pistols and cocked it.
The Mayor hastily slid off his horse. Harper, grinning, heaved himself into the vacated saddle. "Where's Bautista?" Sharpe asked the Mayor.
"The Captain-General is in the Citadel. But his men don't want to fight."
"But Bautista wants to fight?"
"Yes, senor. But the men think you are devils. They say you can't be killed!" The Mayor crossed himself, then turned fearfully as a shout from the river announced the arrival of Lord Cochrane and his boats.
"All of you!" Sharpe shouted at the Mayor's nervous deputation. "Off your horses! All of you! Now!" He kicked his heels to urge Blair's white horse forward. "What's this flag?" He gestured at the ornate coat of arms.
"The flag of the town of Valdivia, senor," the Mayor answered.
"Hold on to it, Patrick!"
Cochrane jumped ashore, roaring with questions. What was happening? Who were these men? Why had Sharpe tried to race ahead?
"Bautista's holed up in the Citadel," Sharpe explained. "Everyone else in Valdivia wants to surrender, but Bautista doesn't. That means he's waiting for your boats and he'll fire on you.