Sharpes Havoc   ::   Корнуэлл Бернард

„Back down the hill,” Christopher said carelessly. „You can have it later.” He drew on the cigar and looked at the French bodies among the rocks. „Brigadier Vuillard has been a mite over eager, wouldn’t you say? Cigar?”

„Please yourself.” The Colonel sucked deep. „You’ve done well, Sharpe, proud of you. The 31st Leger”-he jerked his head toward Dulong-”ain’t used to losing. You showed the damn Frogs how an Englishman fights, eh?”

„And how Irishmen fight,” Sharpe said, „and Scots, Welsh and Portuguese.”

„Decent of you to remember the uglier breeds,” Christopher said, „but it’s over now, Sharpe, all over. Time to pack up and go. Frogs are offering you honors of war and all that. March out with your guns shouldered, your colors flying and let bygones be bygones. They ain’t happy, Sharpe, but I persuaded them.”

Sharpe looked at Dulong again and he wondered if there was a look of warning in the Frenchman’s eyes. Dulong had said nothing, but just stood a pace behind Christopher and two paces to the side and Sharpe suspected the Major was distancing himself from Christopher’s errand. Sharpe looked back to Christopher. „You think I’m a damned fool, don’t you?” he retorted.

Christopher ignored the comment. „I don’t think you’ve time to reach Lisbon. Cradock will be gone in a day or two and his army with him. They’re going home, Sharpe. Back to England, so probably the best thing for you to do is wait in Oporto. The French have agreed to repatriate all British citizens and a ship will probably be sailing from there within a week or two and you and your fellows can be aboard.”

„Will you be aboard?” Sharpe asked.

„I very well might, Sharpe, thank you for asking. And if you’ll forgive me for sounding immodest I rather fancy I shall sail home to a hero’s welcome. The man who brought peace to Portugal! There has to be a knighthood in that, don’t you think? Not that I care, of course, but I’m sure Kate will enjoy being Lady Christopher.”

„If you weren’t under a flag of truce,” Sharpe said, „I’d disembowel you here and now. I know what you’ve been doing. Dinner parties with French generals? Bringing them here so they could snap us up? You’re a bloody traitor, Christopher, nothing but a bloody traitor.” The vehemence of his tone brought a small smile to Major Dulong’s grim face.

„Oh dear.” Christopher looked pained. „Oh dear me, dear me.” He stared at a nearby French corpse for a few seconds, then shook his head. „I’ll overlook your impertinence, Sharpe.