JК
Sharpes Gold :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 17 из 179He seemed to be relieved,as if a decision had been made. 'The war is not lost, gentlemen, though I know my confidence is not universally shared. He sounded bitter, angry with the defeatists whose letters home were quoted in the newspapers. 'We may bring the French to battle, and if we do we will win. Sharpe never doubted it. Of all Britain's generals this was the only one who knew how to beat the French. 'If we win we will only delay their advance. He opened a map, stared at it blankly, and let it snap shut again into a roll. 'No, gentlemen, our survival depends on something else. Something that you, Captain Sharpe, must bring me. Must, do you hear? Must.
Sharpe had never heard the General so insistent. 'Yes, sir.
Lawford coughed. 'And if he fails, my lord?
The wintry smile again. 'He had better not. He looked at Sharpe. 'You are not the only card in my hand, Mr Sharpe, but you are… important. There are things happening, gentlemen, that this army does not know about. If it did it would be generally more optimistic. He sat down again, leaving them mystified. Sharpe suspected the mystification was on purpose. He was spreading some counter-rumours to the defeatists, and that, too, was part of a general's job. He looked up again. 'You are now under my orders, Captain Sharpe. Your men must be ready to march this night. They must not be encumbered with wives or unnecessary baggage, and they must have full ammunition.
'Yes, sir.
'And you will be back here in one hour. You have two tasks to perform.
Sharpe wondered if he was to be told what they were. 'Sir?
'First, Mr Sharpe, you will receive your orders. Not from me but from an old companion of yours. Wellington saw Sharpe's quizzical look. 'Major Hogan.
Sharpe's face betrayed his pleasure. Hogan, the engineer, the quiet Irishman who was a friend, whose sense Sharpe had leaned on in the difficult days leading to Talavera. Wellington saw the pleasure and tried to puncture it. 'But before that, Mr Sharpe, you will apologize to Lieutenant Ayres. He watched for Sharpe's reaction.
'But of course, sir. I had always planned to. Sharpe looked shocked at the thought that he might ever have contemplated another course of action and, through his innocently wide eyes, wondered if he saw a flicker of amusement behind the General's cold, blue gaze.
Wellington looked away, to Lawford, and with his usual disarming speed suddenly became affable. 'You're well, Colonel?
'Thank you, sir. Yes. Lawford beamed with pleasure. He had served on Wellington's staff, knew the General well.
'Join me for dinner tonight.
Sharpe had never heard the General so insistent. 'Yes, sir.
Lawford coughed. 'And if he fails, my lord?
The wintry smile again. 'He had better not. He looked at Sharpe. 'You are not the only card in my hand, Mr Sharpe, but you are… important. There are things happening, gentlemen, that this army does not know about. If it did it would be generally more optimistic. He sat down again, leaving them mystified. Sharpe suspected the mystification was on purpose. He was spreading some counter-rumours to the defeatists, and that, too, was part of a general's job. He looked up again. 'You are now under my orders, Captain Sharpe. Your men must be ready to march this night. They must not be encumbered with wives or unnecessary baggage, and they must have full ammunition.
'Yes, sir.
'And you will be back here in one hour. You have two tasks to perform.
Sharpe wondered if he was to be told what they were. 'Sir?
'First, Mr Sharpe, you will receive your orders. Not from me but from an old companion of yours. Wellington saw Sharpe's quizzical look. 'Major Hogan.
Sharpe's face betrayed his pleasure. Hogan, the engineer, the quiet Irishman who was a friend, whose sense Sharpe had leaned on in the difficult days leading to Talavera. Wellington saw the pleasure and tried to puncture it. 'But before that, Mr Sharpe, you will apologize to Lieutenant Ayres. He watched for Sharpe's reaction.
'But of course, sir. I had always planned to. Sharpe looked shocked at the thought that he might ever have contemplated another course of action and, through his innocently wide eyes, wondered if he saw a flicker of amusement behind the General's cold, blue gaze.
Wellington looked away, to Lawford, and with his usual disarming speed suddenly became affable. 'You're well, Colonel?
'Thank you, sir. Yes. Lawford beamed with pleasure. He had served on Wellington's staff, knew the General well.
'Join me for dinner tonight.