Free Fire and Sword by Simon Scarrow Page A

once they dropped anchor, hauled in their sails and swung head into the wind.
     
    Napoleon gestured to Admiral Magon. ‘Is this the usual practice, anchoring so far from shore?’
     
    Magon nodded swiftly. ‘Of course, sire. Under such conditions the barges’ commanders dare not come any nearer to a lee shore.’
     
    ‘So what happens now?’
     
    ‘The unloading of the troops will begin.’
     
    Berthier raised his telescope and watched as the longboats pitched up and down as they were hauled alongside the barges. He drew a sharp breath. ‘Is it safe?’
     
    Magon swallowed nervously and risked a quick glance at his Emperor before responding. ‘I’m sure it’s safe enough, sir. In any case, the Emperor has ordered it.’
     
    ‘That’s right,’ Napoleon affirmed evenly. ‘And we will proceed with the unloading. The men are more than able to cope in these weather conditions. Isn’t that so, Admiral?’
     
    ‘Yes, sire. My officers are in no doubt about what they must do.’
     
    ‘Good.Then let’s see how they handle it.’
     
    Napoleon and his staff fixed their attention on the nearest vessel as the sailors hauled a launch alongside and held it in position with lines and boathooks as the first of the soldiers clambered down the side of the barge. The launch lurched up and caught three men just as they stepped into it, sending two tumbling into the bottom of the boat while the third fell over the side with a splash. He was seen to struggle for a moment, arms waving desperately, then a wave passed over him, sweeping him away, and he was lost from sight.As more soldiers boarded the launch, another two men were lost, and then, at last, the sailors pushed the boat away from the barge and unshipped their oars. But as the wind carried the launch away it turned side on to an oncoming wave and capsized. The staff officers around Napoleon gasped, but he continued to watch without expression as a handful of survivors clung to the bottom of the boat, which floated low in the water like the back of a whale.
     
    ‘Sweet Jesus,’ Berthier muttered. ‘Those poor bastards.’
     
    ‘Yes,’ Napoleon said tonelessly. ‘Let’s see if we have any better luck with the next boat.’
     
    Fortunately, the soldiers from the barge managed to board without incident and the sailors turned the launch smartly into the shore and rowed for their lives.The third boat was not so lucky, and a chaotic surge of foam along the side of the hull swamped her just as she was cast off, carrying away some of the men aboard before the rest panicked as the boat sank into the sea beneath them.Those who could swim struck out for the side of the barge a short distance away.The rest went down with the launch.
     
    Berthier shook his head in horror. ‘Sire, we must put a stop to this.’
     
    ‘No. They handled it badly. The men in the other ships will learn from their example.’
     
    Berthier rounded on his Emperor. ‘It is not their fault. That sea is wild.Too wild for any man.’
     
    ‘But not them, it seems.’ Napoleon gestured to the tiny distant gleam of the sails of the British frigate keeping watch over the French exercise. ‘If they can cope so far out to sea then surely our men can manage to cover the short distance to the shore?’
     
    ‘But, sire . . .’ Desperately, Berthier looked round the other officers for some support, but most avoided his gaze and those that did not hurriedly glanced away, not daring to defy the Emperor. Berthier turned helplessly towards Napoleon. ‘We are doing murder, sire. Signal the ships to end the exercise. I beg you.’
     
    ‘Berthier!’ Napoleon snapped. ‘You forget yourself. How dare you challenge my authority? You are to return to headquarters at once.’
     
    ‘But sire—’
     
    ‘At once!’ Napoleon balled his hands into fists. ‘At once, do you hear?’
     
    Berthier stared back for a moment and then his gaze wavered. ‘As you wish.’
     
    He turned and strode away