Sharpes Havoc   ::   Корнуэлл Бернард

Vicente was less certain. „You can be sure of that?”

„I’ll tell you why I’m sure,” Sharpe said, „the bugger didn’t give me an order. This is the army. You don’t suggest, you order. Do this, do that, but he didn’t. He’s given me orders before, but not today.”

Vicente translated for the benefit of Sergeant Macedo who, with Harper, had been invited to listen to Sharpe’s report. Both sergeants, like Vicente, looked troubled, but they said nothing. „Why,” Vicente asked, „would he not give you an order?”

„Because he wants me to walk off this hilltop of my own accord, because what’s going to happen down there isn’t pretty. Because he was lying.”

„You can’t be sure of that,” Vicente said sternly, sounding more like the lawyer he had been rather than the soldier he now was.

„We can’t be sure of bloody anything,” Sharpe grumbled.

Vicente looked into the east. „The guns have stopped at Amarante. Maybe there is peace?”

„And why would there be peace?” Sharpe asked. „Why did the French come here in the first place?”

„To stop us trading with Britain,” Vicente said.

„So why withdraw now? The trading will start again. They haven’t finished the job and it isn’t like the French to give up so quick.”

Vicente thought for a few seconds. „Perhaps they know they will lose too many men? The further they go into Portugal the more enemies they make and the longer the supply roads they have to protect. Perhaps they are being sensible.”

„They’re bloody Frogs,” Sharpe said, „they don’t know the meaning of the word. And there’s something else. Christopher didn’t show me any bits of paper, did he? No agreement signed and sealed.”

Vicente considered that argument, then nodded to acknowledge its force. „If you like,” he said, „I will go down and ask to see the paper.”

„There isn’t a piece of paper,” Sharpe said, „and none of us are going off this hilltop.”

Vicente paused. „Is that an order, senhor?”

„That is an order,” Sharpe said. „We’re staying.”

„Then we stay,” Vicente said. He clapped Macedo on the shoulder and the two went back to their men so Vicente could tell them what had happened.

Harper sat beside Sharpe. „Are you sure now?”

„Of course I’m not bloody sure, Pat,” Sharpe said testily, „but I think he’s lying.