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Warning: Mature Adults only |
Epilogue
August 17, 1796 DAY 10
Saldanha Bay
With the start of the new day, the Dutch Admiral surrendered. The British take custody of eight warships, five transports and all their contents.
Captain Hughes addresses the Light Company.
“Well lads, see those ships there. That is money. The Navy will take them as prizes. If I am correct, each of you should, some day, get three pounds each as your share.”
He waits to hear the men ask questions. When no one speaks, he says.
“Not bad, eh? That’s sixty days pay for marching nine days. And we didn’t have to fight the Dutch. We marched the furthest any British soldiers have marched here in Africa. General Craig says ‘Well done.’”
“I commend you too.”
At this, the men start to chatter. Before Sergeant Hakeswill can stop them, Hughes says,
“Sergeant Hakeswill, double ration of rum for the lads today. They earned it.”
Hakeswill’s face twitches and he flicks his eyes to one side. “Double rum ration, sir?”
“Yes, sergeant, double rum.”
Hakeswill twitches. “Double rum ration, aye, sir.”
Sharpe and Garrard watch Hakeswill squirm.
“Two months pay as a prize, someday. Double rum ration today. Fresh beef dinners. It’s like Christmas in August Tom.”
“Christmas?”
“Best present is watching Hakeswill squirm.” Sharpe smiles.
“Quite a present for just a walk in the wilderness.”
Tom says, “Heard a local Dutchie say that when they moved out of Cape Town, they called it a trek.”
“So we get three presents for making a trek. I suppose, we’ll have to do it again to back to the regiment. The transports are waiting for us there.”
Tom smiles before saying, “but today we get rum and watch Hakeswill squirm.”
“And, some day, three pounds each.” Sharpe hasn’t told Tom about the six gold coins he collected when buying the beef.
“Aye, worth a trek in both directions.”
Sharpe looks towards Hakeswill and smiles.
It was Sharpe's trek.
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