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Sharpe's Sergeant	By : Sable899 Category: S through Z > The Sharpe Books Views: 1683 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Sharp series of books that this fanfiction is written for, nor do I know Sean Bean. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. This story is fiction.

Chapter List
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Chapter 26 Best Laid Plans

1822, Steinmetz, Bavaria

“Will,” gruffly whispered the burly black-haired Irishman hidden by the side of the graveled road in the thick brush. When no answer came, a bit louder, “Will! Where are you?”

“Right here at your elbow, Patrick,” came Fredrickson’s whispered reply as the big man jumped to hear a voice so close.

“Bloody Christ Almighty, Fredrickson!” cursed Patrick Harper under his breath, “Would ye’ quit with yer sneakin’ up on me? That’s twice today already.”

“Perhaps if you weren’t so fat you could keep up with me,” Captain Fredrickson complained, “and I wouldn’t have to keep coming back for you.”

“Any sign of Ducos up ahead?” inquired Harper, “I know he’s here abouts; I can smell him.”

“Well, it appears he was here,” Fredrickson confirmed, “And so was Colonel Sharpe. His horse, with his rifle, is still down by a cave entrance, along with a score of Rifles impostors, dead maybe a day and a half. How they got that way, though, is a great mystery. No one else is about.”

“So either Ducos is here because of Sharpe or Sharpe is here because of Ducos?” Harper stated more than questioned, as the two men moved out of hiding, “But where in bloody Hell are they now?”

The two old comrades had been on Ducos’ trail for about two weeks, ever since Harper had spotted him in Munich while delivering several very expensive Irish Warmblood horses to the court of King Maximillian. There had been rumors that Ducos was still alive, but until that moment, no concrete proof. He had no idea that Sharpe was already in Bavaria looking for Jamie, who was on the trail of an unknown agent of the traitorous Minister Montgelas. Harper, shocked to find Ducos still alive, had gone straight to the former Captain of the 60th Rifles who had married a wealthy widow and settled in Munich to practice law. It didn’t take a lot of discussion to reach the conclusion that Ducos could only be up to no good and they quickly agreed that they would enjoy ruining his plans. Besides, there was an old score that still needed settling.

“Whatever happened here, it is not natural,” Fredrickson admitted, “I didn’t see a single living soul down there.”

“Jesus, but this place gives me the shivers,” Harper confessed.

“One thing is certain; Ducos will be back,” Fredrickson affirmed, “One of the caves is stuffed full of weapons and ammunition. This has his stench all over it.”

“That’s got to be why Sharpe has been here and is likely still close,” Harper reasoned, “And it just goes to follow that Jamie would be hereabouts as well.”

“We can’t be running all over the countryside looking for them,” Fredrickson countered, “But, as long as those arms are here, they will be back.”

“Aye. Ducos wouldn’t let a store of arms like that lie unattended for long. Whatever his plot is, it will be carried out here.” Harper agreed, “We’ve got several days’ rations left and that abandoned village back up the road there is a good vantage point. Maybe we should just stay around for a wee bit and see if somebody turns up.”

“I agree. I too, believe that the trail will end here,” Fredrickson asserted, “There is a wagon and horses still down there also. We should get those bodies moved away and further downwind before they start to stink. Hopefully, no one will come looking for them.”

1822, Grafewoehr, Bavaria

“Zara is closeted with Oma Geilie, learning the book, Dally and Doggett are getting weapons and ammunition sorted out,” Harry Price reported while Jamie Sharpe and Cade Harper looked over a map of the region, “Pyecroft is assembling charges, and Calvert is organizing horses and a wagon. Now all we have to do is wait until the time is right.”

“But we still don’t know who’s pullin’ the strings,” Jamie confirmed, “What ‘appened at the caves was nothing that any man could make ‘appen. But somebody-eh ‘ad te set up that whole operation. Somebod-eh hired them men and acquired them guns. So even when we get the Colonel back, we’ll still ‘ave a problem.”

“Could be near anybody,” Harry thought out loud, “Grafenwoehr and this whole area sees a lot of people pass through all the time. Lots of rogues and villains. And, your father has made as many enemies as he has friends over the years, so you can add them to the kettle as well.”

“I can’t help but feel like we’re being watched. Somebod-eh is pulling the strings to make us all dance a certain tune,” Jamie admitted, “We’re goin’ ta’ ‘ave te be very watchful of everybod-eh comin’ an’ goin’ through ‘ere. Now, I know most of the bad apples involved wit’ Montgelas and the Prussians, but anybody-eh from ‘is past would be able to slip righ’ by me.”

“Zara said we have till exactly sundown tomorrow before she has to begin the ritual,” Harry briefed what he had been told, “then, it will be the following dawn before the portal will actually open. We have to protect her until then. Any interruption and Richard could be lost forever. So it really doesn’t matter who we find out there, we can’t take any risks. We’ll have time to sort out the dead once he is back with us. Besides, he may know for certain who is behind this.”

“So, you, Harry, or one of the others who know who da’s enemies are will have to take turns to remain on watch around the brewery at all times,” Jamie insisted, “Cade, myself and Septimus will take care of watching over Zara and Oma Geilie. Those not on watch need to get some kip. Tomorrow night is going to be a very long night.”

2007, Grafenwoehr, Germany

“So, explain te’ me, Sargeant Schmidt, jest what is the lass up to?” Sharpe asked as they sat casually after their lunch in the dining room at the Grafenwoehr Officers and NCOs Club, “I be startin’ te’ get a bit out o’ sorts wit’ bein’ left in the dark ‘ere.”

Smitty and Sharpe had spent the morning touring about the sprawling military post, stopping in at the airfield, the artillery park, the armor motor pool, the railhead and Range Control. Even in an officer’s drab flight suit, sunglasses and cap pulled low, Sharpe had still been approached several times by Sean Bean fans asking for autographs and snapshots. Thanks to Smitty’s quick instructions before they had even left Camden’s flat, he had pulled off the masquerade flawlessly, to include smartly-returned salutes. The only noticeable hitches being that instead of signing “Sean Bean’ in Sean’s artistic style, he had signed ‘Sharpe’ in an antique script, steadfastly refused to flash the ‘famous’ Bean smile and looked like a deer in the headlights when two female soldiers wanted hugs and kisses along with their snapshots. But so far, nobody really paid too much attention to those little details, they were just happy to meet him and Sharpe had taken it all in stride.

“I’m not exactly sure what she’s up to, Sir,” Smitty politely admitted. In truth, Smitty was just a bit intimidated by the legendary figure sitting across the table from him. With Sean, Smitty had quickly been accepted as a friend and conspiritor soon after they had met, but Sharpe was very different; always on guard, suspicious, wary of everyone, not just strangers, never resting his eyes, completely aware of his surroundings, although, he had been rather good-natured about everything that had been going on. “If I knew, I’d tell you. I can say that in my experience, when she is close-mouthed about something, that means that she is more than likely up to something that is either against the law or against military regulations and would rather not have anyone get in trouble along with her if she gets caught.”

“Then why would she take him along?” Sharpe argued, “Not li’ he’d be much ‘elp in a fight.”

“I think she has a specific use for Sean,” Smitty suggested, emphasizing Sean. Sharpe had taken pains not to call Sean by his name ever since Camden and Sean had left her flat just ahead of him and Smitty. “and I hardly think that she’s looking for any kind of fight. She has a reason for everything that she does. She’ll tell us all we need to know when the time is right. Can I ask you a question, Sir?”

“Aye, but on-leh if ye’ tell me wha’ this ‘ere drink is. I think I quite fancy it,” Sharpe allowed, and for the first time since the two had been formally introduced, he turned his explosive smile and mischievous green eyes on Smitty.

“That is called “Coca~Cola”, Coke for short. I’m wondering how it is that you have managed to remain calm through this whole ordeal?” Smitty asked frankly, “I’d have been completely…ummm…barmy by now.”

“No use gettin’ all beside yer’sel abaht somethin’ ye’ ‘ave no control o’er, Sergeant,” Sharpe assured him, “Always stand steady and keep a clear ‘ead no matter what ‘appens ‘round ye’. ‘ats the way te’ stay alive.”

“I’ll have to remember that, Sir,” Smitty nodded and smiled back, “Well, if you like Coke, you’re going to love ice cream. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

"Aw'right. But then ye'll be takin' me out to see wha' all this movie business is abaht," Sharpe instructed.

Smitty's jaw dropped the second he realized that Sharpe had disarmed him. As he watched him stride out of the dining room ahead of him, he felt a certain defeat, knowing full well that this was a man who accepted only the answers he was looking for. Sarge will kill me if I take him out there. But Sharpe will kill me if I don't. What was it Harper said? You can help Mister Sharpe or you can get out of his way, but never try to stand in his way. Err...something like that...I think...
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Sharpe's Sergeant