he trees that grew precariously on the steep hill that led up to the castle。 Behind Knowles came his pany； carrying two ladders； and they paused with him at the foot of the slope； their excitement suppressed； and peered up at the looming walls。 'Bloody high！' A voice came from the rear rank。
'Quiet！'
The Engineer officer who was guiding the Battalion was nervous and Knowles became annoyed at the man's fidgeting。 'What's the matter？'
'We're too far over。 We must go right。'
They could not go right。 There were too many troops crowding at the hill's base； and it would cause chaos if the battalions tried to re…align themselves in the darkness。 Knowles shook his head irritably。 'We can't。 What's the problem？'
'That。' The Engineer pointed to his left。 A huge shadow sprang from the dark rock； high over them； a shadow with a crenellated outline。 The bastion of San Pedro。 Knowles's Colonel appeared beside him。 'What's the problem？'
Knowles pointed to the bastion； but the Colonel dismissed it。 'We must do what we can。 Are you all right； Robert？'
'Yes； sir。'
The Colonel turned to the Light pany and raised his voice a little above a whisper。 'Enjoy yourselves； lads！'
There was a growling from the ranks。 They had been told that this attack was merely a diversion； not intended to succeed； but then General Picton had damned Wellington's eyes and said that the Third Division did not make fake attacks。 The Third Division would go all the way； or not at all； and the men were determined to prove Picton right。 Knowles； for the first time； felt the seeds of doubt。 They must climb a hundred feet of almost sheer rock； and then put ladders against a wall that looked forty feet high； and all the time under the guns of the defenders。 He thrust the doubts away； trying； as he always did； to emulate Sharpe； but it was difficult； faced with the enormity of the castle； to feel confident。 His worries were interrupted by hurrying footsteps and one of Picton's aides was calling for the Colonel。
'Here！'
'Go； sir！ And the General wishes you God speed。'
'I'd rather he wished me a case of his claret。' The Colonel slapped Knowles's shoulder。 'Off you go。'
Knowles could not draw his sabre。 He needed both hands to cling to the rock hill； to pull himself up while his feet found desperate footholds。 His Captaincy was heavy on his shoulders。 He hurried； wanting to stay ahead of his men because he knew Sharpe would lead； and he imagined； as he climbed； the first heavy musket balls plummeting down to crush in the top of his skull。 His men seemed to be so noisy！ The ladders scraped on rock； on tree…trunks； the musket stocks banged on stone； the feet clattered pebbles loose； but still the castle was silent； the great shadow unrelieved by the gun flames。 Knowles found himself thinking of Teresa； inside the city； and hoping； against all the evidence of the massive walls； that he could reach her first。 He wanted to do something for Sharpe。
'Faster！' The shout was from one of his Sergeants； and Knowles； his thoughts elsewhere； snapped his head back and stared up。 High above him； falling； falling； was the first carcass。 The fire roared in the sky； it tumbled end over end； shedding sparks； and he watched； fascinated； as it plunged into a thorn tree that grew close by。 The tree flared into flame and the first muskets banged from the castle wall。 They seemed far away。
'e on！'
More fireballs and carcasses fell from the ramparts； some lodged in the narrow space by the wall's foot； others fell in streaming shreds of fire down the rock slope and took men with them； screaming as the flames captured them； but Knowles climbed on and his men pressed behind。 'Faster！ Faster！'
A cannon crashed out its load from the San Pedro bastion and canister whipped through the trees and crackled on stone。 There was a cry behind him； a shout of despair； and he knew a man had gone； but there was no time to worry about casualties； just to scramble upwards； the going easier as they neared the top； and Knowles felt the excitement of battle that would carry him past fear and into action。
'Keep going！' The Colonel； surprisingly agile for his years； overtook him and reached the space at the wall's base first。 He leaned down and helped Knowles up。 'Get the ladders！'
The musket balls smacked down； but the shot was an awkward one for the defenders； they had to lean right over the battlements and shoot straight down； almost at random； into the flaring light at the bottom of the wall。 The cannons were far more dangerous； shooting from the San Pedro and from a smaller bastion to Knowles's right； a bastion jutting from the castle wall。 Canister scraped the wall； promising death to men on ladders； but that was a fear that had to be ignored。
'Here！' The first ladder loomed over the rock slope and Knowles ran to it； pulled it towards the wall； and more men were manhandling it； swinging it upwards； until it thumped against the battlements。 The Colonel waved them on。 'Good lads！ The first one over gets the best whore in Badajoz！'
They cheered and the Colonel dropped； felled by a bullet from above； but they hardly noticed。 'Me first！ Me first！' Knowles pushed through； boyish in his excitement。 He knew that Sharpe would lead； and so must he； and he scrambled up the rungs； wondering what a fool he was； but his legs pumped automatically and it occurred to him； with sudden horror； that he had not even drawn his sabre。 He looked up； saw the arms of defenders pushing at the ladder and he began to fall sideways。 He shouted a warning； let go； and thumped down into a press of men。 Miraculously not a single bayonet touched him。 He picked himself up。
'Are you hurt； sir？' A Sergeant looked worriedly at him。
'No！ Get it up！' The ladder was not broken。 Another canister splintered on the wall； the men swung the ladder again and this time Knowles was not near enough to be first and he watched as his men began climbing。 The first was shot from above； thrown clear by the second man； more pushed behind； and then the whole ladder with its human cargo disintegrated in splinters and flesh as a barrel…full of grapeshot； fired from the San Pedro bastion； found a full target。 Stones were being hurled from the castle parapets that crashed into knots of men and bounced down the rock face。 Suddenly Knowles's pany seemed to be halved in strength； he felt the frustrations of defeat and looked frantically for the second ladder。 It had gone； back down the slope； and then there were voices shouting at him。 'Back！ Back！' He recognized his Major's voice； saw the face； and he jumped into the shadows and left behind the broken ladders and bodies of the first attack beneath the triumphant shouts of the enemy。
'Any news from the casde？'
'No； my Lord。' The Generals fidgeted。 In front of them the south…east corner of Badajoz flickered with bright fire。 The two soaring bastions； scarred by the unconquered breaches； framed the flames； fed them； and the smoke boiled scarlet into the night。 To the right； and seemingly far away； more fire glowed above the silhouetted castle and Wellington； cloaked and gloved； tugged nervously at his reins。 'Picton won't do it； y'know。 He won't。 '
An aide…de…camp leaned closer。 'My Lord？' 'Nothing。 Nothing。' He was irritable； helpless。 He knew what was happening in the great pit of fire ahead。 His men were marching into it and could not get out the other side。 He was appalled。 The walls were three times bigger than Ciudad Rodrigo； the fight unimaginably worse； but he had to have the city。 Kemmis； from the Fourth Division； pushed in by his side。
'My Lord？'
'General？'
'Do we reinforce； sir？' Kemmis was hatless； his face smeared with dirt as if he had been firing a musket himself。 'Do we send in more men？〃
Wellington hated sieges。 He could be patient when he had to be； when he was enticing the enemy into a trap； but a siege was not like that。 Inevitably this moment had to e； when the troops had to be ordered into the one； small； deadly point； and there was no escaping it unless the enemy was simply starved into submission and there had been n