denotes an attempt to enter Portugal, and once they are through this pass then there are a dozen routes they could take. It will take a day for our message to reach Frenada, another day for any troops to be concentrated, and by then their aim might well be accomplished. I do not know what that aim is, sir, but I do know one thing. There is one place where they can be stopped, and this is it. Sharpe's supporters, Gilliland among them, nodded.
Sir Augustus leaned against the ornate stone chimney hood and smoothed a hand over his hair, fiddling with the black bow at the nape of his neck. 'Thank you for the lecture, Major Sharpe. Sir Augustus was feeling more comfortable. The odds described by Sharpe had justified his decision, and he could sense the support of half the officers in the room. 'You wanted that observation recorded. So it shall be, as will mine. This may be the place to stop them, but only with adequate troops. I do not intend to sacrifice a fine Battalion to your ambition in a fruitless attempt to stop an enemy who outnumbers and outguns us. Are you really suggesting we can win?
'No, sir.
'Ah! Sir Augustus feigned surprise.
'I'm suggesting we have to fight.
'Your suggestion is noted, and refused. My decision is made. Tomorrow we leave. That is an order. He looked acidly at Sharpe. 'Do you accept that order, Major?
'Of course, sir, and I apologize for taking up your time. Frederickson looked appalled at Sharpe, Farthingdale looked pleased.
'Thank you, Major. Sir Augustus sighed. 'We were discussing the problem of the women and children. Captain Brooker?
Captain Brooker's contribution was doomed to be unsaid. Sharpe cleared his throat. 'Sir?
'Major Sharpe. Farthingdale was condescending in victory.
'There was one very small matter, sir, which I would be wrong not to bring to your attention.
'I would hate you to be in the wrong, Major. Farthingdale provoked smiles from his men. 'Pray enlighten me.
'It's a story, sir, and please bear with me, but it has some relevance. Sharpe spoke mildly, leaning back on the wall, his right hand across his body to hold the pommel of his sword. 'The odds against us do seem to be overwhelming, sir, extremely so, but I am reminded of a lady I know in Lisbon.
'Really, Sharpe! A lady in Lisbon? You say this has relevance?
'Yes, sir. Sharpe kept his voice humble. He glanced once at Josefina, then back to the slim, elegant man who leaned against the chimney. 'She was called La Lacosta, sir, and she always said the more the merrier.
Frederickson laughed, as did one or two others, and their laughter smothered the gasp from Josefina. Frederickson and the other officers had no idea of whom Sharpe spoke, but Sir Augustus did. He was speechless, shock in his face, and Sharpe bored on. 'Lady Farthingdale will forgive my language, sir, but La Lacosta was a whore. She still is, and her husband, Sir Augustus, is living in Brazil.
'Sharpe!
'You heard me, sir. The more the merrier! Sharpe was standing now, his voice harsh. 'Might I suggest it's time fora meeting of senior officers, sir. Majors and above? To discuss my report that I will have to submit to headquarters?
The joy of an ace falling on green baize, the joy of the moment when the enemy skirmish line turns and runs, the joy of seeing Sir Augustus trumped, beaten, destroyed.
'A meeting?
'In the next room, sir? Sharpe glanced at Josefina and there was shock on her face, disbelief too that Sharpe could have used the knowledge, but Sharpe's debts to La Lacosta were long paid. He walked through the room, ignoring the puzzled looks of the assembled officers, and held the door open for Sir Augustus.
There was a straw torch in the bracket outside the door and Sharpe took it and led the way into the great hall where Pot-au-Feu had reigned in shabby state. The balcony extended to the hall and Sharpe walked onto it and ordered the two soldiers who stood there with lit pipes to make themselves scarce. He lay the torch on the balustrade and turned to look at the white face of the cavalry Colonel. 'I think we understand each other, Sir Augustus. You have committed His Majesty's troops to rescue a Portuguese whore.
'No, Sharpe!
'Then pray tell me what we did do?
The fight was gone from Farthingdale, but he was not surrendering. His hands flapped weakly. 'We came to destroy Pot-au-Feu, to rescue all the hostages!
'A whore, Colonel. A whore I knew three years ago, and I knew her well. How is Duarte, her husband?
'Sharpe!
'Do you want a list of others who've been there, Colonel? In that nice house with the orange trees? Or shall I simply send a letter to one of the English papers? They'd like the story of how we stormed a Convent to rescue the whore Sir Augustus Farthingdale claimed was his wife.
Sir Augustus was trapped, caught fast. He had played with fire and the flames had burned him. Sharpe glanced into the hall to make sure no one was near. 'We have to stop them, here, Sir Augustus, and I don't think you're the man to do it. Have you ever defended against a French attack?
The head shook miserably. 'No.
'The drums never stop, Colonel, at least not until you've beaten the bastards and they take a hell of a lot of beating. I'll tell you now. We can't hold all three buildings, we don't have the men, so I'll give up the Convent first. They'll put guns in there, and once they've taken the watchtower, which they will, they'll put guns up there as well. It's like being in a meat grinder, Colonel. The bastards are turning the handle and all you can do is hope the bloody blades don't touch you. Do you want to conduct this defence?
'Sharpe? It was a plea.
'No. You can leave here with your reputation intact, Colonel, and you can take the whore with you. I'll say nothing. You say that your wound is hurting you, making you faint, and you hand the command to me. Do you understand? Then, at dawn, you'll go. I'll give you four men as an escort, but you go.
'This is blackmail, Sharpe!
'Yes it is. And it's war as well. Now what do you want? Me to say nothing? Or shall I tell your pretty tale all about the army?
Farthingdale accepted, as Sharpe had known he would. There was no pleasure in humiliating the man, and none at all in jeopardizing Josefina's wealth. The thin, handsome face looked pitiably at Sharpe. 'You'll say nothing?
'On my honour.
Clouds had spread far to the south, shrouding the moon, thickening the promise of rain or snow. Sharpe waited as Sir Augustus went back to his room to make his announcement, an announcement that regretted his health, that said he and Lady Farthingdale were moving to the Convent, that Major Sharpe was in command. In command. A month ago he had led twenty-eight men, tonight he had near eight hundred with Gilliland's men. Some men took responsibility whether it was offered or not.
He walked back into the room when Sir Augustus and Josefina had left and he was greeted by a babble of voices. Most of the officers were confused, awed by the turn in their fortunes, fearing that Sharpe had drawn them all a very short straw, and they clamoured for detail, for explanation, and Sharpe cut through the noise.
'Quiet!
He took the papers from the clerk's desk, the orders for withdrawal, and he tossed them onto the fire. They watched, some seeing their hopes burning in the fire.
'Our task, gentlemen, is to hold this pass for at least forty-eight hours. This is how it will be done. He brooked no questions, no discussion, not even when he ordered a bemused Lieutenant Price to have Patrick Harper capture as many live birds as he could.
'Yes, sir. Price shook his head in wonderment. Frederickson grinned, happy at last.
He dealt with questions at the end, dismissed them to their Companies, then pulled the rug off the window so he could stare westward at the darkness over Portugal. Teresa was down there somewhere, riding in the night.
'Sir?
He turned. Frederickson was leaning against the wall by the door.'Yes?
