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. 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. 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. Thus Sharpe went to meet his new comrades and readied himself to face a new enemy. 'Very glad for him,' Morris managed to say. 'Found a replacement, have you?' Baird asked. 'Look after yourself, lass,' Sharpe said, and watched her follow the tall Indian officer out of the courtyard. 'It's the end one, sir,' he said nervously. 'I'Il take you to Captain Morris, sir,' Shee said, then clapped on his hat and led the General down the line ofofficers' tents.
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Morris hastily placed his cocked hat over a tin mug that Baird suspected was full of arrack. Do relax, Sergeant.'īaird found a shirt-sleeved Captain Morris frowning at his paperwork in the company of an oddly malevolent-looking sergeant who, at the General's unannounced arrival, sprang to quivering attention. Do you think it still snows anywhere? My God, but it saps a man, this heat. 'I think I've forgotten what cold weather is like. 'Thank you kindly,' Baird said, then he sat, took off his plumed hat and fanned his face with its brim. May I?' Baird gestured at Morris's cot, asking permission to use it as a chair. 'Sit you down, man,' Baird said, trying to put the Captain at his ease. Now come.' He summonedDoctor Venkatesh who retrieved his basket and followed Gudin out of the palace.īaird waved to show that Morris need not worry about donning a coat. '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. 'No, sir.' Morris was too nervous to introduce himself properly. It seemed to Morris, as to every other officer in the battalion, that Lawford had neither distinguished himself nor deserved promotion, but Morris could hardly admit as much to Baird. The excuse had provoked some resentment in the 33rd for Lawford was one of the most junior of the battalion's lieutenants and most men who carried despatches could expect a promotion as a reward for the task which, in turn, was usually only given to men who had distinguished themselves in battle. 'Myself, I'm not so certain that little scrap the other day was worth a despatch, but General Harris insisted and your Colonel chose Lawford.' Baird was using the excuse the army had invented to explain Lawford's disappearance. It's quite an honour for him.' Baird shook his head ruefully. A lucky fellow too, eh? Carrying the despatch to Madras. 'You mean Lieutenant Lawford, sir?The very fellow. That bastard Sharpe had run, taking his bibbi with him, but who else? 'Oh!' Morris said. 'Unbearable, sir,' Morris said nervously. A haideri was worth half a crown, far above the miserable tuppence a day he received in the British army.
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