Inferno

Chapter 66

The Citadel, Danish headquarters

The aide bowed and retired. General Peymann held the sealed document he’d just been given as though it might burst into flames. The others in the room sat in tense silence.

The Citadel had guarded the city for centuries. The man now charged with defending it against its greatest threat slit the seal. He read the contents once, then again, before laying it down slowly.

‘Gentlemen. By this the commander of the British expedition against us does call on me to deliver up the city of Copenhagen and all its works, and most particularly its fleet.’ He looked mournfully from one to another. ‘Know that we have done what we can. At the moment we are now completely surrounded by a dozen regiments of redcoats with cavalry and guns. There’s a great fleet anchored off our shores and-’

‘Sir, you cannot-’

‘-and the island of Sj?lland is cut off from the outside world. We may expect no reinforcements or rescue.’

‘Then unhappily, sir, it appears-’

‘Choose what you say carefully, General.’

Generallojtnant Bielefeldt blinked, confused. ‘Sir, your words imply a fatal situation. Should we not consider our position?’

‘Why?’

‘Er, for the sake of our people, sir. A siege long protracted will be-’

‘Sir, I have reminded this meeting only of what faces us. There is no question of capitulation.’

‘If we cannot go on-’

‘Enough!’ Peymann spluttered. ‘My last orders from His Royal Highness are to defend Copenhagen and its people, and that is what we are in duty bound to do, and, by God, we shall, sir.’

‘Then there can be no surrender,’ Bielefeldt hastened to agree.

‘Quite. Therefore I shall reject this note with contempt.’

Krieger looked significantly at Bille, who stood up briskly. ‘Sir. Permission to withdraw – to open hostilities on the enemy!’

‘Do so with all means, Kommandor. Our land forces have had a first brush with the English on a reconnaissance in force and have discovered them a formidable foe. It would be gratifying should the navy take the war to the enemy by any means you see fit, sir.’

As if by unspoken agreement the two officers went to the ramparts, the great earthworks fifty feet thick, laid out in a star shape nearly half a mile across, secure and impregnable. Within them were the parade ground, storehouses and barracks.

It was only when they clambered to the top that the true situation became clear. To the north an uncountable number of enemy ships lay offshore. From them were pouring guns and boots, horses and ammunition, victuals and tents. All with perfect impunity. And from there they would circle inland to strengthen the clamping hold of the siege while this immense sea-facing fortress lay helpless to prevent it.

Krieger studied the scene with a grim smile. ‘We have our mark, then. Stop all that.’

‘If we can.’ Bille snorted. ‘I see a full score sail-of-the-line who won’t take kindly should we press our attentions.’

It was a sight to make the stoutest heart quail – an immensity of ships so dense that no part of the open horizon could be seen through them.

‘I can!’

‘Johannes?’

‘You’ve not seen as much of the damned Engelsk as I have. They’re blue-water seamen – there’s nowhere they go that’s not deep-sea sailing. Those out there,’ he waved dismissively, ‘all of ’em are fine hulls for an Atlantic blow but in waters a touch shoal, they’re like to be a porker tip-toeing through a barnyard.’

‘Then?’

‘We’ve learned a lot in our Swedish wars, especially how to build gunboats as can take Baltic conditions. Flat-bottomed, we can crowd right inshore where their frigates can’t get at us and we’ll outgun any petty craft they send against us. I want to make sally up this corridor and fall on their store-ships and transports. Give me a dozen – a score of these – and we’ll start making ourselves felt.’

‘You’ve got them – all we have.’

‘I want Lynetten as a base, with a second luff to take it in charge.’

‘But-’

‘I’ll be in the boats. If we’re going against this horde I’m not having your common som?nd seeing me sit on my arse while there’s work to be done.’

‘Anything else?’

‘A working party to start this instant on rigging some trots between Lynetten and Quintus Battery. I’m having all the gunboats moored there, not in the harbour. They’ll be safe under the guns of Trekroner and Provesten and perfectly placed for sorties.’

‘It’ll be done, Johannes.’

‘And while we’re getting the boats out I want to choose their captains myself. We’ve a quantity of fine officers at leisure from the fleet. Do send ’em out as who will volunteer, and I’ll give them leave to pick their own crews.’