Sharpe's Gold

'But, sir' — Lossow broke in, glancing at Sharpe sympathetically — 'Captain Sharpe speaks the truth. We were told that the gold was important. It had to go to the lord Wellington.

Cox took a deep breath, let it out, tapped his toe on the floor. 'God damn it, gentlemen, I am facing a siege which will begin any day now. The enemy's guns are in sight, the placements are being dug, and you bring me this?

Sharpe repeated doggedly, 'We have orders, sir.

'So you say. Cox picked up the paper. 'Is there a junta for Castile?

Kearsey nodded. 'Yes, sir.

'And does Joaquim Jovellanos have authority from it?

Kearsey nodded again.

'And the gold is theirs?

The nod again.

The paper dropped on to the table. 'The General gave me no orders!

Sharpe sighed. An English Brigadier in the Portuguese army faced with a Spanish Colonel, an English Captain, a German cavalryman, Spanish gold, and no orders. He had an idea.

'Sir, is the telegraph working?

Lossow snapped his fingers. Cox frowned at the German. 'Yes, Captain. There's a relay station over the river, towards Pinhel.

'When can the first messages be sent?

Cox shrugged. 'Depends on the weather. Usually an hour after dawn.

Sharpe nodded impatiently. 'Would you, sir, consider a message to the General requesting orders concerning the gold?

Cox looked at him, shrugged again. 'Of course. First thing tomorrow?

'Please, sir.

Cox stood up. 'Good! Problem solved. I'll tell Colonel Jovellanos tomorrow and you can get a night's sleep. I must say you look as if you need it. Good God. He was peering at Sharpe's shoulder. 'You're hurt!

'It will mend, sir. Sharpe finished his wine; damned if politeness would stop him. And damn Wellington, too, who had held the cards too close to his chest so that Cox, a decent man, was put in this position. 'Sir?

Cox turned away from the doorway. 'Sharpe?

'How many men in Colonel Jovellanos's escort?

'Two hundred, Sharpe. God save me, I wouldn't want to meet them in a dark street.

Nor I, thought Sharpe. Nor I. He stood up, waited for the Commander of the garrison to leave. Where was El Catolico he wondered. Upstairs asleep? Or watching from a darkened window?

Lossow, at least, understood. 'My men will guard tonight.

Sharpe smiled his thanks. 'And tomorrow?

The German shrugged, fitted his tall, plumed busby on to his head. 'If we ca

Cox put his head back round the door. 'I forgot! Remiss of me! You'll stay here, gentlemen? My orderlies can find beds.

Kearsey accepted, the two Captains pleaded they would rather be with their men, and Cox wished them a good night at the front door as if he were a host bidding a genial farewell to valued di

Knowles and Harper waited outside and with them two Germans, one of them a barrel of a Sergeant who gri

'A good match!

'I'll bet on the Irish. Sharpe said the words without offence, and Lossow laughed.

'Home. We sleep!

Knowles had done well, unbarring a huge house that stabled the Germans' horses, housed everyone, and on the second floor, behind a huge, polished door, was a bedroom with a feather mattress, a canopied bed, rugs, and the smell of old wood and fresh sheets. Sharpe closed the door, cutting off the sounds of his men who were sharing wine with the Germans, and looked at the girl.

'El Catolico's here.

She nodded. 'What did you expect?

He unbuckled his belt, untied the faded red sash, and knew that his shoulder was too stiff, too painful, for him to undress properly. Teresa saw it, pushed back the sheet, and he saw she was already naked. She crossed the floor, helped him, went back to the huge, soft bed with him. Sharpe lay flat and the girl propped herself beside him.

'What does he want?

'Later, Sharpe said. 'Later. His right arm was still good and he pulled the girl on top of him, felt her hair fall either side of his face, her hands explore the scars on his back. Her mouth was beside his ear.

'Can I keep the rifle?

'It's all yours, he said. 'All yours. And it was.