Disclaimer: These are works of fan-fiction created for entertainment. It is not the intention of the author to infringe on anyone's copyright. No rights infringement intended. Warning: General Audience

The Sharpe Fan Fictions of Paul K.

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Bernard Cornwell’s

SHARPE’S Trek

Richard Sharpe and the
Battle of Saldanha Bay

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
SHARPE’S TREK. Copyright © 2024 by Paul Kaster

Sharpe’s Trek is for
Christian Parkinson, host of the Redcoat Military History podcast and a resident of South Africa
And
Bernard Cornwell who brought Richard Sharpe into our world.

Chapter 8

August 15, 1796
DAY 8

Capetown


Sergeant Bickerstaff sought Sharpe after the morning inspection.

“Weak moment today, Sharpe?”

“Sergeant?”

“Let Hakeswill and section one be first ready. Slipping are you?”

“Giving sergeant Hakeswill a bone after our singing yesterday. If he doesn’t win some, might explode.” Sharpe winks at Bickerstaff.

“Setting the man up for the next fall, you are.”

“Fall, sergeant? Me, sergeant?”

“Yes, you Sharpe. Watch your back. He’ll flay it for you if you aren’t careful.”

“Watching my back sergeant.”

“Oh, and Sharpe, the men thank you for the beef dinners we’ve been having. Didn’t know that you had skills.”

“More to me than you know sergeant.”

“I suppose. Will we have beef tonight?”

“Watch for another house. If we pass one, Captain Lincoln comes when we see houses. Cattle then.”

“Will watch. Time to go.”

They see Hughes give the signal. They will be second company today. As they set out, General Craig and his aides ride to the front to join them.

At noon, the mounted scouts come in. Sharpe watches Craig signal to Mackenzie who then signals to Hughes.

Hughes comes to Sharpe as Lincoln rides up.

“Another day to buy beef, Sharpe. Lincoln and you go ahead of us. General says the Dutch fleet is still in the bay. Likely we camp above the harbor tonight. Fight tomorrow. Let’s have another good meal, eh?”

“Yes, sir.”

Sharpe takes the reins from Lincoln.

“Let’s go buy some beef, Sharpe.”

They find the house after thirty minutes. The negotiation repeats the prior day.

Sharpe and Lincoln return to the force with five steers and gold coins for each again. On the hills that overlook the harbor, they deliver the steers and separate.

While he eats his meal, Sharpe looks at the harbor. He counts thirteen ships at anchor. Boats go back and forth between the ships and shore.

Tom says, “Ships have cannons. Only our cannons can reach them. We have eleven. I count more than thirty on the side of some of those ships.”

“Look outside the harbor.”

Tom looks. He sees the sails of ships moving parallel to the land.

“Our navy. Dutch are trapped here. Navy hits them from the ocean. We hit them from land. Not fun being Dutch tomorrow.”

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