Sharpes Gold   ::   Корнуэлл Бернард

'You said it would mend.

'Didn't want to worry you, sir. Almost bled to death. He propped Sharpe against a rock. 'Food! Bring that food!"

Sharpe looked up to see a German officer with crinkled eyes and a good smile looking down on him. He had met the man before. Where? He remembered. In the village where Batten had been caught by the provosts. He stuck out his good hand.

'Captain —

'Lossow, sir. At your service!

Sharpe smiled, a bit wanly. 'You have our thanks, sir.

The German waved away the formality. 'On the contrary. You have ours. A lovely fight!

'Did you lose anyone?

'Lose anyone? They were lancers, Captain! An angry toad would be more dangerous! Now, if they put lances in the front rank, and sabres behind, they might be dangerous. But just lancers? No problem to us!

Sharpe nodded, grateful. 'But thank you.

Lossow took the mug of stew from Harper and put it on Sharpe's lap.

'You got the gold.

'You know about it?

'Why do you think I am here? A patrol to the south, me here, and all for you, Captain. The lord Wellington wants the gold badly!

Kearsey sniffed, said nothing, and Sharpe sipped at the stew. It tasted miraculous after the hard tack of the last week.

'He can have it.

'Yes, but there are problems.

Sharpe put the mug down, willed the pain in his shoulder to go down. 'Problems?

'French patrols. Lossow's hand described an arc to the west. 'Like fleas on a bottom.

Sharpe laughed and the pain came back, but he forced his left hand round to hold the hot mug and it worked. He spooned the tough beef into his mouth.

'We must get to the army.

'I know.

'We must.

He looked to his right and saw one of Lossow's men sharpening his sword, using a stone and oil to smooth down the dent. It was only this morning that he had cut down on the voltigeur and the man — Sharpe remembered yellow teeth — had pushed his musket up and saved his life. 'We must.

'We will try.

Sharpe lifted Lossow's brandy bottle; the Germans were never short of captured brandy, and the spirit flowed like cream into his throat. He coughed.

'The Partisans? Have you seen Partisans?

Lossow turned and spoke to one of his officers, a short exchange, and turned back to Sharpe. 'Two miles away, Captain, keeping in touch with us. They want the gold?

Sharpe nodded. 'And me. He looked at the girl and back to the German.

'Don't worry, Captain.