Napoleon Must Die by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Bill Fawcett Read Free Book Online Page B

kill the animalcules. You will avoid more than flux that way, or the flukes that corrupt the liver. There are many creatures that live in the water.”
    Victoire wrote quickly. “This must be true of the wounded as well,” she said. “They ought to be kept away from Nile water.”
    “More for them than the rest of us. They are already weakened and for that reason the animalcules may well flourish in their blood.” He had set the basin aside. “Many of the wounded suffer from the flux. They must be tended almost constantly, and the work is unpleasant.”
    “I am prepared for that,” said Victoire, doing her best to sound unflustered.
    “This place has much fever as well as flux, and you will have to watch men with open wounds for any sign of fever. In this heat, fever is especially dangerous, and pernicious fevers are more common than in France.”
    “Pernicious fevers,” repeated Victoire, making what she hoped were proper notes. “Flies are not to be tolerated. Nile water is to be treated with iodine. Other than this, I must care for fevers. Is that right thus far?” She held out her notebook.
    “There is the question of serpents,” said Larrey at his most daunting.
    “Asps, I have been told,” said Victoire, maintaining her composure. “They are deadly.”
    “Yes, they are,” said Larrey. “And so are the scorpions. Both the asps and the scorpions like hidden places. You are not to put your hand into any place you cannot see. We had a young corporal killed last week for putting his hand on an asp under his bed. I don’t want anything of that sort from those helping me. Is that clear?”
    “It is clear,” said Victoire. “You can want this no more than I do.”
    Larrey glared. “I suppose it is a beginning.”
    “No doubt you will think of other strictures in time.” Her eyes wrinkled at the comers. “You have only to offer your assignment to me, Larrey, and I’ll undertake to do my poor best on your behalf.”
    “My behalf, it is? It is Napoleon’s behalf, not anyone else’s.” He lifted the flap that opened onto another length of tent. “Do you have any estimates prepared regarding our casualties?” It was a casual challenge, one intended to put her into her place.
    “A few,” said Victoire, “based upon a few of the most recent conflicts. There have been five moderately severely wounded to each one dead or hopeless, but that reckoned without cannon. Therefore it is my assumption that the recent engagement will show an increase of fatalities. Desaix says that a siege would be worse yet.”
    “There’s good sense in what you tell me,” agreed Larrey, his attention arrested at last. “You appreciate the military realities. A remarkable feat, Madame. I offer you my felicitations. Which I will extend to your husband as soon as possible. I wish there was a way to guess how many casualties there will be. We know one thing, the further the battles are from here, the less wounded will make it back.” Victoire couldn’t tell if the surgeon was being scientific, or really didn’t feel the implications of what he was saying. Larrey studied the long rows of cots. “We try to keep these tents on the eastern side of the larger tents, and thereby reduce some of the heat.” There was a helpless tone in the doctor’s voice. The air in the tent was even hotter than the midday heat and there was a distinct smell of putrefaction.
    “A sensible decision,” said Victoire, unaware that she was saying anything offensive.

    * * *

    The Pasha’s visitation to the French camp secured the attention of all the men who were not actively busy elsewhere. Even Victoire decided to devote several pages to it in her usual letter to Vernet.

    This is the Pasha who agreed to surrender. He is a fat man with many chins and he rides in a sort of carriage. He came with an escort of ten Mamelukes. They looked nervous, and most likely fought against us in that battle by the Pyramids. The guards were followed by