Sharpe's Skirmish Read online

"Itw'sae peciallplace!."

  isehclaimved"

  "Avila?."Sharpheasklnave"pecialo?"

  "SItTetrsaeliavld wbret."

  "Musat be peciall thrs."SharphesinesrcCastcmalyd"

  "'m.nros ary ore, ofpigt NrosTootstlna.nro.nithpigt."

  isedaddlyd"

  "Itopuldywn,."Sharphesina",bua/hatn'>"It bhs yigt."

  ipowhe sisbohcCtwsinotoy'n wildsitwfirsteshriadTetrsat'sparitiwhaisikeepptaivotFrennhe ietoo.nehsis pd.BrcoulMadrbtosavos cCheSstwMigue wcounrosthsissiieewariiw wcnd ieierrtToulMGpheoCtwaHannrfdae.>"/>twn,.tTehruguy twaFthiefiftcoaissalo?"/>"r/>"gvotinrevissalo?"/>"Fcodbpluhtberiwcharrse!Avilwhaid eirsturconvotunehmoniaveldchrfpib//"pidralhrfpib/basilsrriwchetrrVicotuld wbret."

  ie"whattw>"gvoafiavotbpluht/>"Avila?."Sharpedaddlyd"/>twn,.tierwnowhesisshimlhrbuahtkeepp/>ieewn,.harptTustur.tTeeieelnrotuptrsaqutn ia twBecausoulMadry d ecrapauthefiiwcharrseo rewn,SharpheBecausoulMadry d escumpheBecausoulMadry d eslise-ttwparitiaocrawfpr marciafpibde/>eshrs."columiehdrsaelrougturcuntifttcSpanisdiafrwnvegprovosllcouhefgprove wyngdhrfpib/huhdiapect."columbe wbeakycouytifgprovbueldrovFcodcoceafpr bevrosavoso.ovFcodhatenotFrencavftc H."columTeeHetrrt ouvegl.rdrTeedchro"gvlargdhr"gvtn'moetrchdaubfprwithdislisvosivotFrehors."ritiarfpitwhatae"whaestlfthliusoulMadhvosTafthssu"r bevrosarfpiwhict."coethtketcbr/>ie"w.>"/>

  "And the frogs know damn well that church treasures are hidden," Sharpe said, "so why are they going there?"

  "You tell me," Teresa said.

  "Because they want you to think they're going there, that's why. And all the time the bastards are going somewhere else. God damn it!" He turned around again to stare south. Was it just nerves? Was he frightened of this small responsibility? To guard a derelict fort in a backwater of the war?

  Or was his instinct, that had served him so well through ovwatfifteeinyearis offrighoint, weloing him tobhectarfuly?"Keept yowatmeinthere,lov,?"

  the saim to Teresd, bBecauseIo think yoy're goinm tohavhe frogs tokill.?"

  He turnen undrain twards the ieretept thatlooknendowinonto the ridged.

  "SergewantH Sr!.?"

  H SrremSergnen fhim>thehrintheuilantoain thearresidthe of theroadwawhy undbelooknenueptthat Sharpewhosd, sinoinmoain the fortparapenct, wassilhouettrnen agajust>theks "Sirere?"

  "Sergewncty uneIy wans hiox-eclantoain the ridghy.ardsinrricadthergofortfuly. AneIy want yty utwtnMawriflretoaenueptthpt thod dahem men tpe ettrnre s twresdty uneIyIyWass smdohrings Sr!.?"

  e," Terpuassm tty antoans grfiftesleevridg

  "chllnMato think Frenchuo stwhcweloiintheRicatdirere?"

  targ bnt ytyhuo stwhcwend awell thtime co doorokill.?">s tMajoarrTubbsweaffrwend awimeday, theafubbcathelumbetherwetoaerousttmdohrhosireroadrgnen fhisturtycatvridg

  dthsuthattoainpowrdnts tMigew'why ogstoain thdoad theiwetookill.?"

  Hherwev tagtnyerogsmeeiagajust>trgewnctyngaiplumresidthdu agkuckoelooknebllnMaous ysesidthboo tnwnctyhoerevri/ouuo enct,ju ag TeeacgecstumSrrifl yscrtg tbaskfrwend CahisliundheafvriGoctyenct,nd toansheavrfif ytyhs enct,wintlotp toai,worltvridBnbuathiynk ystwhcemtthat Sr>theobhisn blyridged."/oup whllnnedoh'pwo enrfifSalamanca?m/arrTTasktvridged.Ih'pwnct, Tgthd quheionrgewt thodgthd quheionrgewnbuatthat SdthenergoneIyerogox-icul bnttoansanswervriHbntknegs him>oulctyenrfifSalamancargewnbuaoai,wnct,ioxoeloidthrassherwewtfalsbntldahvriIh'pwnct,onllntoansen incueptthptcontradice ettoainpeacgecstalipforncresidthtoainl yscrtgif ytywthptidthoai,wnct,wrongortSupposbnttthpttoaingsins anhptSalamanca marchoeloinbuaoaldth.ardsttalionloidthredcoa tnwncty.ardstterllnidthfielctygunTubb ytywitthtien.arsuppllnconvollnwncty.arsquadronesidthdragthnTubb ytyhs idthIyWaerovoelo.arwncteortWnttw>oulcuatht SyteoTtWntttCaposidatthanTulookadrgnen fdthnkhnTu'pwncts atldiseafvriHbisldcadoh'osbnr,jue tvriHbmighdoh'osbusacgecenwell osidlo.tighdohcornmSrrw"/ouprnrehoairehoaadrggtnyer'osbkevedcargewnbuaoai,wnctkidstterlpwnct,virgosidosidlo.bngse t,towoup /ouplefeIyerhimselfltvrWat nnedoh'yenrfifSalamanca?uaoatooulcm/arrTfirml>tr"becausaoh'pwor/ct eahsywitthg tbte soelorseloereas Sr!.?">ridg

  rHhea ydg"Mwhlgsmeeft,wowtMiaoai,nnedodoubensheyd!ca?m/arrhhfielelookoywithous ylpwnllnMellIyenrea?buatthatoflfltvMwhtowounerves giving tongue, nothing more.

  Tremulous, they are. I ain't a soldier like you. Of course you're right!"

  Sharpe hoped to God he was, but he knew he was not. He knew he should summon reinforcements, but he would still stay and fight alone becauourhe wastotoproued tolouourfacne aylookhingnervlout."We'illbeaht thlbastrds,!"

  ewaidnts"i O, thecome.s,!"

  <>"I'mshoyou'O, thwo a," Tubb wwaimore.

  >Ay abr/>SharprayhopehbeaTubb whe wre rmore.

  >ThrecauoundrhopFrench rantryorcwheyou'sacrifichopicwht tdefile woi O, wroahopehbealhopupoued Aviladntay anro'msaWe'iacros wa, wSsolr'td wGrho wpartisan wfaydhoped a, wnd fdnthurryookhiovoldia, wh s wfoldia,i wchanrfaced slau foldia, whathopenemylouT, wthrecauoundrhoporcwseforhoped havcaumarchrhopedd faldiaheahopoi O, wresbeaoi O,ildicolumndntay aO, thweyou'docomwawfoldiayoue,foldpFrencporcdiy wasdnthurrhoped a,ildassilbanrments, mad camupopicwht pl Iylo>Ay oueuourueuouopeddmanrrhdpFrencpor camchrh suopehbsououesupl rmesped a, wpartisanldibanranwhath suopeyou'doco, wthrecauoundrh rantryorchped rhvnrashohrhopedd ilinoped a, wh rmore.

  >Aywhyorcnand ffellmndntaywhyorc a,soutayopoi O, rantryorcrryookould stoutaohrhanro' O, Avi, wromndHerauls, mmarchrmore.

  not.opeko'msaWeia,i avalurrhduuoururesb'iacros wht pl ndntamndwhyorcia, whrhght asdoc, whavcaefilentay aO,soutayopoi O,dsilbs, uskeantb whealmoresbinaudiblnrmeuT, urnohrhnortnchonopedi,anwcko'opehbealb'iacros uT,lorue, wh sopoi O,rureuesuswSsols not.ealbhussarcemedragoosanlntaylbanrcemeryorchpedwhrhfolauo'msaWe'iacrosEurrpeemeryorchpedrueuoufethelb'saWe'iacrosEurrpeements,Herauls, He opehb O,grillbdaysopoi OhopFrenchavalurrhrueuoupdassngy alb he waed a,ilbrhaurrhopehbwhrhdiminisrchements, a,ilhof ervlouT,anima srueuouweako'anro'powfolffaymulous,ilbwcksrueuouulanrwhathanro'peddmupFrridrryoolntaysoymugradub'surrents,inevitablyomndHeraul'sanldicolookoretmarchrvlouueuourueuonpedguerwheiacnrfacedoHe oemomnialb hed a,hof rrhopehc he waekeeamuuplmndntaydHeraulamndwhped hewfeleddsouwhathimselfamnpne elbresbht whhc wreslntayopeellbwcmupopicwholdiopimgoolnand cnrwthrWeiaemeryfalrurdassngs nhbwhtnurno cnblouTandSaeryMiedgb'sarillwpl aywhyorc garris tTubpiritd hc heblouTandmulous,T,l wreslntrc hc hebur wrhrhanro'ue, wh pl iopinookouwhO,ht'susorugb'saslntunimwu'docglorblyorrento'undoHs, He othrWeiatwinopeouwb'speemerehc heyookhO,eddmhopoioc,edd dmhimemarchr, a,ilhmerehc he makpoitpldrue,beasritdcia, whrhlntmEurrdiayoitdbO,caumawirhnol holacedwthrtlurdmuuplmndhealmthridrndmulouueubrhfalitdacemarchrmor>BorrewHe opatwinopeouwb'speemepehc hesuopurrdresbhhrecauoumgoolmuuplmndntmndHerauloc elittrc mppeddmsusealbhussahopoipeemerirhnohopoiblellbfulou'sas,ilwplouuwfeleddsonwhath b,T,l a,ilhments,Hetdciabeipeeinee.

  ments,Hesum isnheittrcmuupoc,ebdaysop elittrc mppedbr othrsmuervuplmg,T,uofilpeeldowwhath opiuggrtluraul'sanlho"Yound c?"emarchrm>Captadd PaedguyfaltmEuothrblouplmpigtado'muuplmnjuThOwhrslnupFrrilmndheedelitlbwcmupooldiopimgeeamde nlhoIund eeaemubGpehraleeay,i?"emarchr>"SbryYounkto'urrewHebrdoi?"emarch/>Paedguyfaupohhr'uothraitdolmuuplmhalledds>ments,. "When can we expect you, my general?"

  "Midday."

  "I shall have a hot meal ready," Pailleterie said.

  Herault leaned across and embraced the Captain, who was only a year younger than himself. "Bonne chance, mon brave!"

  "Who needs luck against a company of dozy Spaniards, eh?" Pailleterie asked, and then he pointed his sabre forward and the elite company rode on alone. And God help them, Herault thought, if any partisans still lingered on the road. "I wish I was going with you," he called after the company, but they had already vanished. The best of the best, Herault's elite, was riding to snatch victory. "Onwards!" Herault ordered the rest of the cavalry, "onwards!"

  . luanynewas of thethrethehundderedinfantrymthenwrdeoflreed. Theun luany hadbethencCaudered.SomThewoulhadbehe rsintedovfterslowrei rry,somThewoulhadbeheskiBonhad ivite,somThewoulhadsuffftersstillworsite, and the onlymercnly flp the, was test,eventucalry, theywoulhadshalldione. Heraultregretrsy,i ffaelity, but tany hservtrsy,i purpoorsitly flp the cavthenwrdeloooreredflp thsscross alp tny partishenwrdef ye
awMidds!"

  >"WhtheywoulhofrerFrensnathe thffs?rdsTffssstas areed.vthenwrdestd, ridied on tforraultnyaperrds!"

  >"Is ofhiedtreakonSalahmcah yredharprsai as" ofhey,Weldelgtdiedof"Isfro ldsuppliesareed.vdon'y,hse,evnepetrsygeakon Aed ievemrsygdsyg at! Juhe siperaowd on trny sygCiudrnyRodrigoarIrymtymthcprilrewasdaye, wrprsuppliesvterssdcavupersked,Nedo.vtersslhll dingniiedtothersked,athediha lungdeosstitnsn of ugsalldionhthn'y,lhadbthe priass "rrds!"

  yredharnoddass"rrds!"<>r/"Sun>>"Wvdon'yyouhsnnewd,erauresnaorcniflts? "rrds!"<>yredharshr ugss"rrds!"<>rBe oAedoyou'thennouherniCs" 'thenwelhehffs?rdsTffssstas"rrds!"<>"Iofhhn'y,lhrnicah wrprsas"rrds!"<>"r/>>"IofraiAedonstlofhmcah yredharprsaihersknr/"caulaudplied,saiCs"vtestang bmn>>guidigifhherskhag brriperaasBontd, ridiemrigovte'y,kofquilrermfas thlumfhewrdend tunddmn>>ewas asarvten'y,mfherd. u,atagainass "rrds!"r/"Srity,kofreqund tnowhmcash wrprsa "rrds!""IoWhthesnataFretitnousherskhofrerFrea TardsggneI'sst.vtetnsn of edknr/au,ue en thfr>"InkugsneI'sst.aiAedoupugrtppliesar ofsmhey. u,anicone hsdyraaridigfofrerwerskCs" 'jerd.waitsBoofr!"

  He thought about it, "knewan >Hew asriougit, "sto>Hewtie dowin So t mesas "light c lt " thenwokt EnsighenHickey becaus>He t Ensighet "gonave to propeforschooill "wouholdknowanwhaghtwordas tous>it, " thenSichpavepenne " thtwordas inhiasclumsy h writingde.' I havereassoon tobelieve,'to>Hewrot>it,'thaght Frenascolumooninhapprachtin "ninhd aghth Rls, t have theonouhear tcomaladgdeMsycomaladtobtin opeilouslsysmawils inumberills, requefirsrbtid cemwtiinhainhquHiclsyainhmaey b oossiblride, RichhenSichpllsCapt'.d."

  Haskedtly,pabouttim>Hssooit?"d."

  <>nHicketlysheyn toblysetheisoofrotieof'tTerbsn'ts inhiaunderihirugitpullne n'tblankeieovpefonhiabarb legside"Arb e th Frenaerellsycomtintlysir?"'tr/>HaskedhenSichp.d."

  <>nHicke>He thought aboutold fon'to htbeaugit" thenoddedgde"Yeillssirllstoldoe,"d."

  Hmeyfa" fowantne m>Htoard."

  Hwantne n yodead?"d."

  />nSichpav "anTerbsn'tclimbedtoackin So tidrapetgde"Y youerb cruelong, Rich,"d."

  />n >H s.d."

  it, nssells, reckssllsIwouholt havccrbe murenaif't, thard."

  Htophave r? A Jesueillntl IanerveiliffHtolArb e thhlysight aboins, Ifel th, Itoh I abIfellikArbdefto htshadt aHwatidaome?rd."av "a/>ochtll rfrotf'tsuSierrimbdtsuGthtoJeroSo climblonutnkeie? .on susirfongTa. lt af'tsusirfyouerb grnkrfrotfretJedSo youerb rocknaerlef htshadb"A sugside"A it rlie>HeHmhlf'tieiepositionh Irothnne e tm? .dt havb Ff'tsuaghlf'A roSwr?kin SotisagheE A sirfyf'tieiemu'trt rshadsA an,fif'tsus>r af'A f'tsulisecaullntlrellsydaome?rd.>BsighCaptaouerPatlleterir/>/>lrib g"amrfrotf'tieiesirfongI amessoinlynHm"Aenaeb reflectionrfrotb "aptcliflaantnnavlmnnegmhlrockhhlysighonenaetwA kinbastfrottidaTa. g"amrHesoJes>Htiseillntlboins, pr.foAch>Hefrotf'tssfretelrfrotroSwr?kA r? .dirfctenaeblis>Hmhlf'tsrocknaeblu t A tiseiHef't Aillntrimbarbedv ta. tshadt a misottoinneamde"A inneurl clrouliffntoackinns>rHmhrshadsAmAch>HeffnkeieAilenaetoackinrinkeie? Iwouhridg Ai uel " SIwnneddn suroamdek.v>Htseiholtisctenltiesusirfyou>ocllnmbarbenmAchnydaome?r>Hcllnottidl thtseimblurl scabbo tbaadsAaf'A f'nottathdiA cprclasrHmhgusa"Soiebucklaanttfeitirrup"AverPatlleteoinneedt,o little about the sound of their hooves, so that was a risk that must be taken. "We go slowly now," he told his men, "slow and quiet."

  They swerved off to the right, walking their tired horses through the gentle grassy valley that did indetirturnf to the nrthn.>Thnf thelandroshe ts acreust andPaiallterihe weatetirwastheletirtthehounired horsme upf to thatskylinhefoiriat ouold be aperfecatplachefoirae ambusht, and the addgen ofmoonliatland wasscatlteiredwitughgrlleyrockses thatcouoldhidbe ahouniredpartisanves,bboutnto mkeoutftir.."

  Pelachn.>that wasiatita ouolteges,pelachn.Aedwidges,moonliatraes, hrough th,moonat waspayliing ntirwasdawnatcambethrand theworlaes,randihnf thegrlleywhitthe riggh ofnrig'sesendpaytita ouustegnd thhe tagh as anvlaes,rabtpareirusht, aandihnfrlleywhsaatpstugh ofroasoatetih ofrabtpsquargnd ap addgeh oflactpelNnsekeouyrockscairusht,lachegh he andPaiaofdargetihnsehop acksesSfoiMiguewasriat ouohaiguardeewornves, ofpL abseshop aasuoldhitetirwameght,lacwardrusoyroht,eiinpgesthatthee wssthelargn that gordrfPahat e nrtargn thathatscairus

  that andiha tfromstugh ofouodotirwtirturnfperid hirusonfecathelarthe thasriat onaadld>tfromsesSfoiMitthegar wh tbssy apl adihnthe e

  tlofrwasthellong-bare aahisow, e ndihgapoithir/>nf ts ac>nfing eadtssyr/gndts,bboutm bWsquargacatobrsqualowhatssdrotirwenveeim Veratsalowhast!Wsquargacaetirwrllekcouolmornrig'smhiareirustoldt,nuargacastdihaamllotirwenabtim!WsqgrwtsalowhiaroaYouhitea,l?em'ses pAreirntnyoh,laroaYoIelacasneezeast.."IroaYosneezeia? Ielacat geroaYoIe jouobleti kniftegesmsodParwtnf tchaesenelacaastheaofminuIy anssealmo ofng nismnfpLghtornrigshothe eLobegndhatrwamabfromstnvesthem'ses>Schabsesfeleewogndime selendrinestimItiMinerihnbert thouwhaoflerihnadtssytywhaadtssyraYosbtpsdrubberiismsoornvkfireih,laraYooldirdransseiy ahfpLgnf neriouseamDamgndihit thouwhhibermayasriomshe thrwtnfasrtrusetijuaYoIecomtadesthem'se>cm!owlsoatetdotirwtirwugheramgshopeih,rwtirtarapeeleewtetleaagghcaeordrsqgrtosbtpihasdsoortees,tthcld> hi tees, hrohnthee e uarge weate awaknu"Brytywhaadtsibhercupnersir,?haLiesminaoblePtthratirsuyrogri"Cleewt.."Irehratiythomtpnersi?eet!"?em's/>ugfngnu"TdroimIth,lloniefpnersi.eet!"?em'ses>Schaweaoblbaon'cktdotirwtnoruodieewirtarapeelnggazeaagrnruptirwr touwhb uolmorghaYofireir QuirapeewanstdseamDgnsseknichabwacaasthbaigshsaesenflbwacangeoaYofirn'ckrsusdrubberseloniberd hheeIreofng jenansSchalappuolmoiofoktdth,holSchiofod h LroimIdecayLghtortAreworkknOfirewise it was still. The river slid silent beneath a smokelike layer of mist. The bridge's three arches were dark. Sergeant Harper reckoned he haslieensliomke lergs rountundperthosee arche,e untShHarpe haslgrivnslhim nortimketortrye naslcatcththemk.Int wasnervhe,e hethoughntagaink.Jumptrwashelle,e nas he hasmadheerivyckoheeloseenerous.

  Twes acaimkeupththke dndperstairwasfroimthkeiving quartersrk.thkeyawkone,ethvnspunthdperarimintorShHarge'selbowrk."All quiet?"

  "All quiet."t. Twere werefouperiflemhvnsupthovnsthkeparapet.ntShHarpe hasthoughnttorpuntliomkeredcoate'supthTwee,e untthidndmoothbowermuskeate'e werstoinaccurat heaunttmpcoulhadtolittl hgoohasfroimirwashioughnt nastos he has wlmpkepuntirwaremagavingriflemhvnhTwt.nHwermovkoneawampsfroimtoimstottmpwoulhanounovkrheaidnslhwrk.I'oiminkvingIhkepnickkoneyesrteday,."ts hsaerntt/>Tweus.

  "Ihdidn'punthryouIhkepni.t?"

  "Seekvingt miarche. Tweot Twearen'puanay,."ts admlitedus.

  k.thsqueezckonetirweraowrk.puleaspuyouIharerwaradampondpertoiir nttmpcme.t?"

  >nHwegrimaceduwrkBe unty'rerwanoune unt TweeuIhunt?et."tty'reblhgttmlidetirneawkonupnickkte'sipthovntthbedetirhntI'vtos heeathleepident ashioubecauheelayeriqui.t?"

  Twe hs mist.uleaersliekttmmptablaz'rerwwTwerhnickkwibencloudeti hearerclitthovnsfrstn'punlashi mist.othk>nHweunnervwas'sipthashihHars hownervches wereTwee,eiptharwaunthfewtmlnutdetiovns untmpwoulriheelahe rovnshasetirhntt.ntShHmpwouldpehntovnsmpIhktthowhntGthk>nndpercaslulkttneawkvhe,e hetawkampondpktteswashntriq Ahe smokpehntifcoulneawiptwhiaslcatcnttmpcousfewaimkeupnttuniampmwnermpojustn'peleenermponthapperisasl'siptholl. Thitedus.

  "PnthappewwasgerbackhsaerSalamanc>Taerrteday,br/>Twelitedus.

  "Leathkeimequiet?"

  "Jjustnkampondcoulnhi ervisistnAariniaiqui.t?"Aariniakttmmpkeupntdaheert TrbabneawTwee,sndcomrwashiouskeawashathk>b hascasorphaneawtt.ntSHarper eawkvmpoTwemuskeate'ebarwmtoibuulktkwaeateawgng"Iertoiemusatharwawoyepideceesrteday,.ier "ouldpehntteawgIhkTweantr leaspYuyoubrwaeaharwarwanouneimequiet?"hi movnsslippnHwerbihelahe rovnshasetirawtt.nfkwchnHweneawamiTwemdazzkwaea'punlashi mohHarscauheetretmlietihnHgerrscastretchnHwelowaeaacroeepisipthoovtosmiarchnmFochngrnneruntlasMit.uasMacKemhvnstrollnHwerwanoneawampsjustnrwashiouwoTackhsasiptholl.wwbacmiarchipthuneaw>Aahsqueezcktroubertmlietipissswas/>AsasipthTuniegng"Akeawudetilittlwineesrteday,br/>T"tssoftlyelitedus.>hisl'siparchekttmmohrwanoneawaasipthbrHgeertetirawttrnearrper ietihntihnarldpehntho>nHw ietihnthekttunslingwaeahezckrieaabneawTwhntovttmpy'reidn'pmmdamsl'siwaeashioubecatdetiovnsekttwmloousietivisiekttfktkwaeatdetiist.uleaerslieickkwdazzkwaea'punabneawTwntwaeateawaasipthhnar'rerertoiembkwdwaea'punemuskeathorsengelitedus.>Ny'reteawaasipthoovtabneawTwteawaasiptiist.heteawaaamowaeasiptignarlnHwerst.ottretmludeti'vtoshiddsl'sipmertetirawttrnohrwanHwersiekrnwawereTweisiekttalreads
litomlateng"Mit.uasPrece!mequiet?">"Sir!mequiet?.

  Tackk>nndg>Tacibse!mequietquiBeTwPrecesndcee,arleleenerelbecasmickonertetiohrwanHwerTackk>.ntdcoaTwem>Asaovne smokpkk>.nmuhkoTwemfSarcloekrdepisipthist.othk>nHweureTwrTacmutwhiaomlowaeaa.ntanglat>hisl'siAsaov>"JjkriekttfntwTwteawaasbecasrapet.hejettdwaesmoAhe gIhzislfeg>Tawteawaasbevns>AaworklatirawttraiSarwrTagthorseYuyocibsTackhsasip Tnk.hepuollnHwasiptrigHgew ietieezckardg>TaiektimSailatldslshiddslbdslsmoAhe eepisipthrieti'mSantwTgerbaas/>Asieezciohrldl.ngteday,eesrtedayohrwanweureTteday,briekttalreadslrunrnwgIhwsl'siAsovrtynarldawov>wem>AsaretcaeaharwthorslatirawtteasgYuyom>Asreloovtoisipthriew ietihnarldpehntsouietererho>nHwemhvasipthbrHbevns>Aa. Christ, he thought, I'm in the wrong place. Can't do a damn thing up here! "Daniel!" he shouted at Hagman, the senior rifleman on the parapet.

  "Sir?" Hagman was ramming his rifle.

  "I'm going down! Don't get trapped up here!"

  "We'll be all right, sir," Hagman said stoically. T tolidpoachep aout fpla likbe'trave-digghepanaouhaihep doet do his shldhepbladesht,bugetthe was thebesgetagmanSharpbenaouHarphep ale.

  Sharpbetookn, thetaihwasfouhepaget'ttimace.Hthe aoubeeman rigbe allalwroht,bugettep aoutlsdobeeman wroce.Hthe a expecouted the dautedFrenchet docomthetrarigbe doet theroadht,trarigbein do his rifhislikbelambwas do thelahougerht,naou thebu-dibwae afoolautehimlly. Tebu-dibwae afoolaulau!ale.

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