Sharpes Siege   ::   Корнуэлл Бернард

“Your dissent is already noted,” Wigram said dismissively.

“Reports!” Elphinstone sneered the word. “Children’s tales, rumours, balderdash!”

Sharpe, uncomfortably trapped between the two men, kept his voice very mild. “Reports, sir?”

Captain Bampfylde, evidently Wigram’s ally in the disagreement, chose to reply. “We hear, Sharpe, that the city of Bordeaux is ready to rebel against the Emperor. If it’s true, and we profoundly hope that it is, then we believe the city might rise in spontaneous revolt when they hear that His Majesty’s forces are merely a day’s march away.“

“And if they do rise,” Colonel Wigram took up the thread, “then we shall ship troops north to Arcachon and invade the city, thus cutting France in two.”

“You note, Sharpe,” Elphinstone was relishing this chance to stir more trouble, “that you, a mere major, are chosen to make the reconnaissance. Thus, if anything goes wrong, you will carry the blame.”

“Major Sharpe will make his own decisions,” Wigram said blandly, “after interrogating his prisoners.”

“Meaning you won’t go to Bordeaux,” Elphinstone said confidingly to Sharpe.

“But you have been chosen, Major,” Wigram’s pale eyei looked at Sharpe, “not because of your lowly rank, as Colonel Elphinstone believes, but because you are known as a gallant officer unafraid of bold decisions.”

“In short,” Elphinstone continued the war across the table, “because you will make an ideal scapegoat.”

The naval officers seemed embarrassed by the contretemps, all but for Bampfylde who had evidently relished the clash of colonels. Now the naval captain smiled. “You merely have to understand, Major, that your first task is to escalade the fortress. Perhaps, before we explore the subsequent operations, Colonel Wigram might care to tell us about the Teste de Buch’s defences?”

Wigram turned pages in his notebook. “Our latest intelligence demonstrates that the garrison can scarcely man four guns. The rest of its men have been marched north to bolster the Emperor’s Army. I doubt whether Major Sharpe will be much troubled by such a flimsy force.”

“But four fortress guns,” Elphinstone said harshly, “could slice a Battalion to mincemeat. I’ve seen it!” Implying, evidently truthfully, that Wigram had not.

“If we imagine disaster,” Bampfylde said smoothly, “then we shall allow timidity to convince us into inaction.” The comment implied cowardice to Elphinstone, but Bampfylde seemed oblivious of the offence he had given. Instead he unrolled a chart on to the table.