CHAPTER FIVE
They couldn't have gone more than a mile from the city when they saw the smoke.
Sharpe wanted to ride on, to get there as fast as possible. Common sense held him back. He couldn't fully control his horse, so riding on alone was likely to have him end up anywhere except where he wanted to be. If he did get there, he would be without back-up facing goodness knows what odds. He needed the hussars for help. But it didn't make having to proceed at the pace Spence decided, despite all Sharpe's attempts to urge him on, any less frustrating.
In truth, they probably could have done little if they had arrived earlier. There was not one person left who was not dead or injured. Some perhaps had fled, taking refuge in the countryside or in neighbouring villages that might escape the wrath of the French. But the town square was full of bodies.
Sharpe dismounted, as did many of the others present. They checked the villagers, many of whom were stirring. The unfamiliar uniforms seemed to alarm them and the British made soothing noises to try and convince them they were on the same side.
Sharpe looked over the group. No sign of Delfina, alive or dead. She might not have been there, of course. She might have been somewhere else. But the sight of a slightly rotund woman with short curly hair seemed to stir some intuition in him, that she might have the information he wanted. "Have you seen a Portuguese woman?"he asked her. "A pretty one?"
The woman looked at him in confusion, seemingly not understanding the words. Miller coughed awkwardly. "May I, sir?" Sharpe nodded and the boy crouched by the woman. "¿Has visto a una linda portuguesa?"he asked.
The woman answered in a stream of Spanish that Sharpe couldn't follow but one word stood out. Delfina. "Yes, Delfina,"he confirmed eagerly. "Where is she?"
The woman gestured to the road out of town. "She go. With francés."
"Her name's Catalina,"Miller interjected. "She says the French took the women they liked with them."
And Sharpe's heart sank.
The dead were laid out in the village church. There was talk of digging a mass grave but there were survivors who might wish to claim the dead and give them a proper burial. The decision would be left to them. The survivors would be taken to the hospital in Salamanca, Spence announced. And then, as if considering the matter closed, he order his patrol to form up and return, with the injured to follow in waggons.
Sharpe was aghast. "What about the women?"he demanded.
Spence looked at him, confused. "The women?"
"The ones the French took."
Spence sighed. "Sharpe, we can't go running after every Spaniard who's got themselves into trouble. We need to get back and report this."
Sharpe stood to attention. "Then I request permission to look for them on my own."
Spence stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "You're not exactly under my command so if that's what you want to do…"
"Request permission to accompany Lieutenant Sharpe,"Lockhart interjected.
"I also request permission,"added Miller.
Spence sighed."Very well. And I suppose I'd better make sure you have some men with you to keep you alive. Higgins, Wells, Millington, go with them."
The French had followed the same set of actions at the next village. A few questions to ascertain the loyalty of the villagers, then, when they had failed to meet Laurent's standards, they had been put to the sword. Only a few young women had been spared, and they had joined Delfina and the others waiting apprehensively in the middle of the village.
Laurent looked them over with a mixture of disdain and anger. "Do you not understand?"he bellowed. "The French rule you now! We will look after you! We will bring to you the benefits of our empire! Why do you not understand this?"
Daborde came to his side. "The men want to know what you intend to do with the prisoners,"he explained quietly.
Laurent looked over at his men, all of whom were eyeing up the women. He knew what they wanted. It was why he had brought the women there after all. His men deserved a reward for their loyal service to the empire.
"I must return to General Dabelle,"he told them. "You will follow when it is time to do so. Until then, these women are yours to do with as you wish."