Chapter 11 Summary

Campbell wisely takes his time reaching Lucknow, sparing his Highlanders' lives, but lives only a few days before dying of dysentery. Campbell methodically cleans up rebel resistance along the Ganges and in the Oudh kingdom. Flashy supervises intelligence work and is reprimanded for bringing a whore to a band parade, showing that the true crisis is over. Tantia Tope moves his force south into Gwalior country and reports often mention Lakshmibai as a Jezebel and traitor. Flashy finds this natural, recalling her vow not to give up her Jhansi, but cannot picture her as part of these horrors. He pictures her on her swing and wonders how many lovers she has taken to the pavilion. Longing to see and hear her, he hates feeling like a green kid and knows that a few weeks of sex would cure him.

As the winter wears...