Young bloods

'Then you'd better join your units, gentlemen. Watch for the rocket. Move off as soon as you see it.'

Napoleon and the others pulled on their coats and hats, still heavy and sodden, and left the building. Outside the rain was falling even harder, rattling off the tiled roofs and hissing into the muddy street. Everywhere Napoleon looked the men were huddling under eaves or in the doorways of houses.

Colonel Victor grasped Napoleon's hand. 'I'll see you in the fort.'

'Yes. Until later then.'

The officers dispersed. Napoleon trudged through the streets to the fish market where the reserve battalions were waiting. He found Lieutenant Junot and the other officers warming themselves over the embers of a fire in a smithy.

'Junot!'

'Yes, sir.'

'You've got better eyes than me. Get over to the church. Climb the tower and keep watch for Lapoye's signal. You let me know the instant you see anything.'

'Yes, sir.' Junot saluted and then ran off down the cobbled street, hurriedly buttoning his coat. Napoleon took his space by the hearth, pulling up a stool, and then settled down to wait. Midnight passed, then another half-hour, and then one o'clock. Still there was no sign of Lapoye's signal and no report from Junot.

Then at half-past one, a staff officer strode into the fish market. He cupped his hands and called out, 'Colonel Buona Parte!'

'Over here!'

Napoleon rose from the stool and advanced to meet the staff officer. 'What's up?'

'General Dugommier's compliments, sir. He wants to see the senior officers, straight away.'

Napoleon nodded and as the staff officer ran off to find the next man on his list Napoleon hurried back through the streets. When he arrived he discovered Brule and Delaborde in earnest discussion with the general. Dugommier waved the new arrival towards the table.

'Any sign of the signal from your position, Buona Parte?'

'No, sir.'

'You see?' Delaborde shook his head. 'No signal. Something must have gone wrong.'

Dugommier stroked his chin. 'Perhaps. It is equally possible that the weather has delayed Lapoye and his men are still getting into position.'

'We don't know that, sir,' Delaborde insisted.'But even if it was true, this rain has made the ground impassable. Worse still, it'll make it impossible to use firearms. Our men will be at a terrible disadvantage.'

'No,' Napoleon responded. 'There is no disadvantage. The same conditions apply to the enemy. At least our ca

Delaborde shook his head at Napoleon and turned back to the general. 'Sir, we must call off the attack. Wait until we have better weather. Otherwise there might be a disaster.'

Napoleon felt a wave of frustration at the man's anxiety. As he wiped his dripping hair to the side of his forehead the door opened and Colonel Victor joined them.

'Ah,' Dugommier smiled. 'Now that you're all here, we must make a decision. There's been no signal from Lapoye. Delaborde and Brule advise me that the attack should be cancelled, and that we wait for better weather.'

'That would make life easier, sir,' Victor nodded. 'But it's no reason to call it off. Not yet at least.' He sat down beside Napoleon. 'And what does Colonel Buona Parte think? After all, it's his plan.'

The general looked at Napoleon and raised an eyebrow.'Well?'

'I say we go now, sir. Don't wait for the signal. The men have had enough standing around waiting. Leave them there much longer and it won't do much for their spirit.We don't know how long this weather will last. Could be hours, days, weeks. Who knows? Besides,' Napoleon looked at his general with a shrewd expression, 'I don't think that Saliceti and Freron, still less the Committee for Public Safety, are going to look on any delay favourably.'

'Civilians!' Brule spat. 'What the hell do they know about military affairs?'

Napoleon shrugged. 'Not much, perhaps, but they know the mood of the mob in Paris, and they know the minds of the men of the Convention. France needs a victory. If we call off the attack then it doesn't take much imagination to work out how our political masters in Paris will react.'

'Hmm.'The general frowned.'Have you considered how much more they will be displeased, should the attack fail and we lose too many men?'

'Yes, sir. But that could happen at any time. I don't see how waiting until the weather has improved is going to better our chances.'

'No. That's true,' General Dugommier reflected, and then slapped a hand down on the table. 'Very well, we'll wait for another hour. But if there's no sign of Lapoye's signal by three o'clock, then I'm calling off the attack.'

Delaborde smiled and nodded his assent. Napoleon felt betrayed. If this was how France waged war then the conflict with the other nations of Europe was as good as lost.

'Back to your units, gentlemen. If there's no signal, I'll send word for you to order your men back to camp.'

As he made his way back to the fish market Napoleon's brow creased into a frown. The campaign to retake Toulon had been dogged by dithering commanders for long enough. If Paris was minded to make an example of those it held responsible for not pursuing the siege with enough vigour, then it was possible that Dugommier's immediate subordinates might be drawn into the net. Napoleon swore under his breath. If only he were in command. Then he'd order the attack at once, come rain, snow and ice. He stopped in his tracks, a sudden thought seizing his mind. It was very simple. The attack would go ahead. He would make it happen. Striding forwards again he hurried back to the fish market, and headed towards the church. Inside he stood at the bottom of the tower and called on Junot to descend and join him. After a quickly glance round to make sure that they would not be overheard Napoleon spoke quietly to his companion.

'Junot, the general intends to call off the attack.'

'Why? What for, sir?'

'The rain. He thinks it will bog our men down, and it means we might not see Lapoye's signal.'

'What if Lapoye has fired it already, and is waiting for our acknowledgement?'

'Yes,' Napoleon mused. 'That might be so. In which case the rain will be the ruin of us all.'

Junot smacked a fist against his thigh. 'Damn this weather! If only it would clear for a moment.'

'Let's assume it won't. Something has to be done, Junot. Someone has to make things happen.'

Juont looked at him cautiously. 'What are you suggesting, sir?'

'I want you to fire a green signal rocket.'

'What?'

'A green rocket. If Lapoye sees it, then the attack continues as pla

'And what if we fail, sir?'

Napoleon shrugged. 'Let's make sure we don't. Now then, Junot, are you with me on this?'

Lieutenant Junot thought for a moment and then nodded once. 'You've not let me down yet, sir. And I won't let you down.'

'Good.' Napoleon smiled, and clasped the other man's arm. 'That's good. If this goes badly for us, then you have my word that I will do everything I can to exculpate you.'

'There's no need for that, sir.'

'Thank you, Junot. Then let's waste no more time. Fire that rocket.'

Junot saluted and hurried from the church. Napoleon let him get a head start and then emerged into the market and trudged casually back towards the blacksmith. He resumed his place in front of the hearth and waited, his heart beating fast with anticipation and excitement over the terrible risk he had just taken. The minutes passed, and the rain continued to lash down. Then Napoleon heard a cry from outside the smithy.

'What's that?' One of the officers around the fire craned his neck to look outside.