JК
Sharpes Gold :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 156 из 179'Do we break out, sir? Makea run for it?
Sharpe thought of the granite-faced ditches, the rows of cannon, the bent tunnels in the gateways with their portcullises and grim-faced sentries.
'No, Robert.
Lossow grinned. 'I know. Murder Brigadier Cox.
Sharpe did not smile. 'His second in command would back up his orders.
'Good God! I was joking! Lossow stared at Sharpe, suddenly convinced of the Rifleman's seriousness.
Somewhere a dog barked, perhaps in the French camp, and Sharpe knew that if the British survived this campaign, if he did his duty this night, then it would all have to be done again. Portugal reconquered, the border fortresses retaken, the French beaten not just from Spain but from all Europe. Lossow must have mistaken his expression for despair.
The German spoke softly. 'Have you thought of abandoning the gold?
'No. It was not true. He took a deep breath. 'I can't tell you why, I don't know how, but the difference between victory and failure depends on that gold. We have to take it out. He nodded at Teresa. 'She's right. We are stealing the gold, on Wellington's instructions, and that's why there are no explicit orders. The Spanish' — he shrugged apologetically at the girl — 'God knows they're difficult allies. Think how much worse if they had written proof of this? He leaned back. 'I can only tell you what I was told. The gold is more important than men, horses, regiments, or guns. If we lose it the war is over; we'll all go home, or more likely end up as French prisoners.
'And if you do take it? Teresa was shivering.
'Then the British will stay in Portugal. He shrugged. 'I can't explain that, but it's true. And if we stay in Portugal, then next year we'll be back in Spain. The gold will go with us.
Knowles snapped his fingers. 'Kill El Catolico!
Sharpe nodded. 'We'll probably have to. But Cox's orders are still for the gold to go to the Spanish.
'So… Knowles was about to ask how. He shrugged instead.
Teresa stood up. 'Is your coat upstairs?
Sharpe nodded. 'Cold? She still had only the thin white dress. He stood up as well, thinking of his fear of El Catolico. 'I'll come with you.
Harper and Lossow stood, but Sharpe waved them down. 'We'll be all right, a minute, no more. Think about it, gentlemen.
He led the way up the stairs, peering into the darkness, and Teresa put a hand out to him. 'You think he's here?
'I know he is.
Sharpe thought of the granite-faced ditches, the rows of cannon, the bent tunnels in the gateways with their portcullises and grim-faced sentries.
'No, Robert.
Lossow grinned. 'I know. Murder Brigadier Cox.
Sharpe did not smile. 'His second in command would back up his orders.
'Good God! I was joking! Lossow stared at Sharpe, suddenly convinced of the Rifleman's seriousness.
Somewhere a dog barked, perhaps in the French camp, and Sharpe knew that if the British survived this campaign, if he did his duty this night, then it would all have to be done again. Portugal reconquered, the border fortresses retaken, the French beaten not just from Spain but from all Europe. Lossow must have mistaken his expression for despair.
The German spoke softly. 'Have you thought of abandoning the gold?
'No. It was not true. He took a deep breath. 'I can't tell you why, I don't know how, but the difference between victory and failure depends on that gold. We have to take it out. He nodded at Teresa. 'She's right. We are stealing the gold, on Wellington's instructions, and that's why there are no explicit orders. The Spanish' — he shrugged apologetically at the girl — 'God knows they're difficult allies. Think how much worse if they had written proof of this? He leaned back. 'I can only tell you what I was told. The gold is more important than men, horses, regiments, or guns. If we lose it the war is over; we'll all go home, or more likely end up as French prisoners.
'And if you do take it? Teresa was shivering.
'Then the British will stay in Portugal. He shrugged. 'I can't explain that, but it's true. And if we stay in Portugal, then next year we'll be back in Spain. The gold will go with us.
Knowles snapped his fingers. 'Kill El Catolico!
Sharpe nodded. 'We'll probably have to. But Cox's orders are still for the gold to go to the Spanish.
'So… Knowles was about to ask how. He shrugged instead.
Teresa stood up. 'Is your coat upstairs?
Sharpe nodded. 'Cold? She still had only the thin white dress. He stood up as well, thinking of his fear of El Catolico. 'I'll come with you.
Harper and Lossow stood, but Sharpe waved them down. 'We'll be all right, a minute, no more. Think about it, gentlemen.
He led the way up the stairs, peering into the darkness, and Teresa put a hand out to him. 'You think he's here?
'I know he is.