Chapter 2

A tall handsome man was on the farm collecting lettuces and green beans. He wiped the sweat away from his forehead and put the basket down. He looked towards the roof of his house, where a man, big and strong, was mending the roof. "Mahan, how is the roof?" he asked.

"Not bad," Mahan replied. "I'll finish soon."

"Alright," the man on the farm said. He got back to work and picked up more lettuces. He thought, good thing I have Mahan here. One man cannot do all the work.

It was a nice summer day. The sun was blazing down and the heat made him remember some battles he fought before. The war in India was very hot, and he remembered becoming rich there just by killing the fat bugger, Tipu Sultan. He thought of the ruby, but he was interrupted.

"Papa!" a small young child screamed, walking slowly towards the man.

"Patrick? What are you doing out here?" the man asked, while holding his arm up, ready to hold Patrick. Patrick came up to him, and the man picked him up, holding his armpits. He tossed Patrick high in the sky, and Patrick was laughing the whole time. He caught Patrick and brought him back into the house. Patrick was the man's son and he is only 6 years old. He is named after is best friend, Patrick Harper, who is living happily in Donegal.

The house he lived in belonged to his wife, and it was passed down from many generations. It was old, but he made it all better, by fixing the roofs and walls and by making the farm able to produce food. He opened the door, and a woman was right in front, blocking his way into the house.

"Richard, I do not like you tossing Patrick in the air. I am afraid that you might drop him, the woman angrily said.

Richard smiled. "Lucille, calm down. You know I won't drop him, my love. I am still fit for battle and young!"

"Yes, I know," Lucille said, rolling her eyes and giggling. "Now give Patrick to Marie so she can feed him." She walked out and looked towards the roof. "Mahan, come in. It is too hot to work."

"Mahan stopped and looked at the beauty placed upon him. It was an offer he could not refuse. "Thank you, Lucille." Lucille waited for Mahan to enter the house. Mahan walked over to the dining table and sat with Sharpe. Sharpe took out a bag of Francs and gave it to Mahan.

"Here is your monthly pay. Thank you for your work," Sharpe said. Sharpe looked at Mahan for some time now, and Mahan caught him.

"What is wrong?" he asked. " I know you for some time now and I know you are worried."

"Mahan, I have wanted to ask you this some time now," Sharpe painfully replied.

"Well, get on with it."

"If Bonaparte came back, would you go and join the Imperial Guard again"

Mahan hesitated. "Richard, it has been six years. Also, he is exiled on the tiny island, Saint Helena. He could never escape."

"Mahan, I've heard he escaped. I do not know if these are rumors or not. I do not want to lose my friend."

"Ha. That will never happen. They have a battalion of redcoats on the island with the Royal Navy surrounding the island. It can never happen." His thoughts were jumping around though, for he could not decide whether to accept the emperor he so loved or the family he fell in love with during these past years. "Besides, I have learned to love your family and the English culture. But, I still don't know."

Suddenly, someone knocks on the door.

"Marie, would you get that?" Sharpe said. Marie was the only servant in the house and Sharpe and his family treated her as part of the family.

Marie opened the door and she dropped the spoons she was holding. She gasped and two men walked in. They were wearing the French's Old Guard uniform with their fierce bear-skin hats. They held their muskets with bayonets.

Mahan and Sharpe were astonished. One of the soldiers spoke up. "Is Richard Sharpe and Jacques Mahan here?" he asked in French.

"Oui," Sharpe replied. "I am Richard Sharpe." Mahan stood and said, "I am Jacques Mahan.

A third man in the uniform came in and saw Mahan. "Mahan? Is that you?" he asked curiously.

"Bastien? Mahan asked. "Why are you here?" He came up to Bastien and gave him a friendly hug. They were close friends during the war. "You didn't answer me yet, my friend. Why are you here and why are you wearing that uniform?"

"I am here to bring you and Richard Sharpe to Paris," Bastien replied.

"What for?"

Have you not heard?" Bastien said and shook his head. "The emperor has returned."

Sharpe and Mahan looked at each other, knowing that Europe's nightmare has returned.