Lawford was still trying to trickle powder into the muzzle. The Lieutenant was just as proficient at loading a gun as Sharpe, but being an officer he was never required to do it quickly, for that was the one indispensable skill of a private soldier. Lawford only loaded guns while hunting, but in the army he had a servant who loaded his pistols and never in his life had he needed to be quick with a gun and now he demonstrated a lamentable slowness. 'He was a clerk, sir, Sharpe explained to Gudin. He paused to lick the powder residue off his fingers. 'He never needed to fight, like.
The interpreter translated the words for the Tippoo who waited patiently as Lawford finished loading the musket. The Tippoo, like his entourage, was amused at the Englishman's slowness, but Sharpe's explanation that Lawford had been a clerk seemed to convince them. Lawford at last finished and, very self-consciously, stood to attention.
'You can evidentiy load, the Tippoo said to Sharpe, 'but can you shoot?
'Aye, sir, Sharpe answered the interpreter.
The Tippoo pointed over Sharpe's shoulder. 'Then shoot him.
Sharpe and Lawford both turned to see an elderly British officer being escorted through the courtyard's gate. The man was weak and pale, and he stumbled as the bright sunlight struck his eyes. He cuffed with a manacled hand at his face, then looked up and recognized Lawford. For a second an expression of disbelief crossed his face, then he managed to hide whatever emotion he was feeling. The officer was white-haired and dressed in a kilt and red jacket, both garments stained with dust and damp, and Sharpe, horrified to see a British officer so dishevelled and humiliated, presumed this had to be Colonel McCandless.
'You can't shoot. Lawford began.
'Shut up, Bill, Sharpe said and brought the musket up to his shoulder and swung its muzzle to face the horrified Scots officer.
'Wait! Gudin shouted, then spoke urgently to the Tippoo.
The Tippoo laughed away Gudin's protest. Instead he had his interpreter ask Sharpe what he thought about British officers.
'Scum, sir, Sharpe said loudly enough for Colonel McCandless to hear. 'Goddamn bloody scum, sir. Think they're better than us because the bastards can read and were born with a bit of money, but there ain't one I couldn't beat in a fight.
'You are willing to shoot that one? the interpreter asked.
Td pay for the chance, Sharpe said vengefully. Lawford hissed at him, but Sharpe ignored the warning. 'Pay for it, he said again.
'His Majesty would like you to do it very close, the interpreter said. 'He wants you to blow the man's head off.
'It'll be a bloody pleasure, Sharpe said enthusiastically. He cocked the gun as he walked towards the man he presumed he had been sent to save. He stared at McCandless as he approached and there was nothing but brute pleasure on Sharpe's hard face. 'Stuck-up Scotch bastard, Sharpe spat at him. He looked at the two guards who still flanked the Colonel. 'Move out the way, you stupid sods, else you'll be smothered in the bastard's blood. The two men stared blankly at him, but neither moved and Sharpe guessed that neither man spoke any English. Doctor Venkatesh, who had been trying to hide in the gateway's shadows, shook his head in horror at what was about to happen. Sharpe raised the musket so that its muzzle was no more than six inches from McCandless's face. 'Any message for General Harris? he asked softly.
McCandless again hid his reaction, other than sparing one glance at Lawford. Then he looked back to Sharpe and spat at him. 'Attack anywhere but from the west, the Scotsman said quietly, and then, much louder, 'May God forgive you.
'Bugger God, Sharpe said, then pulled the trigger. The flint fell, it snapped its spark on the frizzen and nothing else happened. McCandless's face jerked back as the flint sparked, then an expression of pure relief crossed his face. Sharpe hesitated a second, then drove the gun's muzzle into the Colonel's belly. The blow looked hard, but he checked it at the last moment. McCandless still doubled over, gasping, and Sharpe raised the jewelled butt to bring it hard down on the officer's grey head.
'Stop! Gudin shouted.
Sharpe paused and turned. 'I thought you wanted the bugger dead.
The Tippoo laughed. 'We need him alive for a while. But you passed your test. He turned and spoke to Gudin, and Gudin answered vigorously. It seemed to Sharpe mat they were discussing his fate, and he prayed he would be spared a painful initiation into one of the Tippoo's cushoons. Another Indian officer, a tall man in a silk tunic decorated with the Tippoo's tiger stripes, was talking to Mary while Sharpe still stood above the crouching McCandless.
'Did Harris send you?" McCandless asked softly.
'Yes, Sharpe hissed, not looking at the Colonel. Mary was shaking her head. She glanced at Sharpe, then looked back to the tall Indian.
'Beware the west, McCandless whispered. 'Nothing else. The Scotsman groaned, pretending to be in much more pain than he was. He retched dryly, tried to stand and instead toppled over. 'You're a traitor, he said loudly enough for Gudin to hear him, 'and you'll die a traitor's death.
Sharpe spat on McCandless. 'Come here, Sharpe! Gudin, disapproval plain in his voice, ordered him.
Sharpe marched back to Lawford's side where one of the Tippoo's attendants took back the two muskets. The Tippoo gestured at McCandless's guards, evidently signifying that the Scotsman was to be returned to his cell. The Tippoo then gave Sharpe an approving nod before turning and leading his entourage out of the courtyard. The tall Indian in the silk tiger stripes beckoned to Mary.
Tm to go with him, love, she explained to Sharpe.
'I thought you were staying with me! Sharpe protested.
'I'm to earn my keep, she said. 'I'm to teach his little sons English. And sweep and wash, of course, she added bitterly.
Colonel Gudin intervened. 'She will join you later, he told Sharpe. 'But for now you are both, how do you say it? On test?
'Probation, sir? Lawford offered.
'Exactly, Gudin said. 'And soldiers on probation are not permitted wives. Don't worry, Sharpe. I'm sure your woman will be safe in General Rao's house. Now go, Mademoiselle.
Mary stood on tiptoe and kissed Sharpe's cheek. 'I'll be all right, love, she whispered, 'and so will you.
'Look after yourself, lass, Sharpe said, and watched her follow the tall Indian officer out of the courtyard.
Gudin gestured towards the archway. 'We must let Doctor Venkatesh finish your back, Sharpe, then give you both new uniforms and muskets. Welcome to the Tippoo Sultan's army, gentlemen. You earn a haideri each every day.
'Good money! Sharpe said, impressed. A haideri was worth half a crown, far above the miserable tuppence a day he received in the British army.
'But doubtless in arrears, Lawford said sarcastically. He was still angry at Sharpe for having tried to shoot McCandless, and the musket's misfire had not placated him.
'The pay is always in arrears, Gudin admitted cheerfully, 'but in what army is the pay ever on time? Officially you earn a haideri a day, though you will rarely receive it, but I can promise you other consolations. Now come. He summoned Doctor Venkatesh who retrieved his basket and followed Gudin out of the palace.
Thus Sharpe went to meet his new comrades and readied himself to face a new enemy. His own side.
General David Baird did not feel guilty about Sharpe and Lawford, for they were soldiers and were paid to take risks, but he did feel responsible for them. The fact that neither the British nor Indian cavalry patrols had discovered the two men suggested that they might well have reached Seringapa-tam, but the more Baird thought about their mission the less sanguine he was about its successful completion. It had seemed a good idea when he had first thought of it, but two days' reflection had diluted that initial hope with a score of reservations. He had always suspected that even with the help of Ravi Shekhar their chances of rescuing McCandless were woefully small, but at the very least he had hoped they might learn McCandless's news and succeed in bringing it out of the city, but now he feared that neither man would even survive. At best, he thought, the two men could only hope to escape execution by joining the Tippoo's forces, which would mean that both Sharpe and Lawford would be in enemy uniform when the British assaulted the city. There was litde Baird could do about that, but he could prevent a dreadful miscarriage of justice following the city's fall, and so that night, when the two armies' great encampment was established just a few days' march from their goal, Baird sought out the lines of the 33rd.