CHAPTER 4

Theycamedowntothemouthofthecave,wherealightshoneoutfromtheedgeofablanketthathungovertheopening.ThetwopackswereatthefootofthetreecoveredwithacanvasandRobertJordankneltdownandfeltthecanvaswetandstiffoverthem.Inthedarkhefeltunderthecanvasintheoutsidepocketofoneofthepacksandtookoutaleather-coveredflaskandslippeditinhispocket.Unlockingthelongbarredpadlocksthatpassedthroughthegrommetthatclosedtheopeningofthemouthofthepacks,anduntyingthedrawstringatthetopofeachpack,hefeltinsidethemandverifiedtheircontentswithhishands.Deepinonepackhefeltthebundledblocksinthesacks,thesackswrappedinthesleepingrobe,andtyingthestringsofthatandpushingthelockshutagain,heputhishandsintotheotherandfeltthesharpwoodoutlineoftheboxoftheoldexploder,thecigarboxwiththecaps,eachlittlecylinderwrappedroundandroundwithitstwowires(thelotofthempackedascarefullyashehadpackedhiscollectionofwildbirdeggswhenhewasaboy),thestockofthesubmachinegun,disconnectedfromthebarrelandwrappedinhisleatherjacket,thetwopansandfiveclipsinoneoftheinnerpocketsofthebigpack-sackandthesmallcoilsofcopperwireandthebigcoiloflightinsulatedWineintheother.Inthepocketwiththewirehefelthispliersandthetwowoodenawlsformakingholesintheendoftheblocksandthen,fromthelastinsidepocket,hetookabigboxoftheRussiancigarettesofthelothehadfromGolz’sheadquartersandtyingthemouthofthepackshut,hepushedthelockin,buckledtheflapsdownandagaincoveredbothpackswiththecanvas.Anselmohadgoneonintothecave.

RobertJordanstooduptofollowhim,thenreconsideredand,liftingthecanvasoffthetwopacks,pickedthemup,oneineachhand,andstartedwiththem,justabletocarrythem,forthemouthofthecave.Helaidonepackdownandliftedtheblanketaside,thenwithhisheadstoopedandwithapackineachhand,carryingbytheleathershoulderstraps,hewentintothecave.

Itwaswarmandsmokyinthecave.TherewasatablealongonewallwithatallowcandlestuckinabottleonitandatthetablewereseatedPablo,threemenhedidnotknow,andthegypsy,Rafael.ThecandlemadeshadowsonthewallbehindthemenandAnselmostoodwherehehadcomeintotherightofthetable.ThewifeofPablowasstandingoverthecharcoalfireontheopenfirehearthinthecornerofthecave.Thegirlkneltbyherstirringinanironpot.SheliftedthewoodenspoonoutandlookedatRobertJordanashestoodthereinthedoorwayandhesaw,intheglowfromthefirethewomanwasblowingwithabellows,thegirl’sface,herarmandthedropsrunningdownfromthespoonanddroppingintotheironpot.

“Whatdoyoucarry?”Pablosaid.

“Mythings,”RobertJordansaidandsetthetwopacksdownalittlewayapartwherethecaveopenedoutonthesideawayfromthetable.

“Aretheynotwelloutside?”Pabloasked.

“Someonemighttripovertheminthedark,”RobertJordansaidandwalkedovertothetableandlaidtheboxofcigarettesonit.

“Idonotliketohavedynamitehereinthecave,”Pablosaid.

“Itisfarfromthefire,”RobertJordansaid.“Takesomecigarettes.”HeranhisthumbnailalongthesideofthepaperboxwiththebigcoloredfigureofawarshiponthecoverandpushedtheboxtowardPablo.

Anselmobroughthimarawhide-coveredstoolandhesatdownatthetable.Pablolookedathimasthoughheweregoingtospeakagain,thenreachedforthecigarettes.

RobertJordanpushedthemtowardtheothers.Hewasnotlookingatthemyet.Buthenotedonemantookcigarettesandtwodidnot.AllofhisconcentrationwasonPablo.

“Howgoesit,gypsy?”hesaidtoRafael.

“Good,”thegypsysaid.RobertJordancouldtelltheyhadbeentalkingabouthimwhenhecamein.Eventhegypsywasnotatease.

“Sheisgoingtoletyoueatagain?”RobertJordanaskedthegypsy.

“Yes.Whynot?”thegypsysaid.Itwasalongwayfromthefriendlyjokingtheyhadtogetherintheafternoon.

ThewomanofPablosaidnothingandwentonblowingupthecoalsofthefire.

“OnecalledAgustínsayshediesofboredomabove,”RobertJordansaid.

“Thatdoesn’tkill,”Pablosaid.“Lethimdiealittle.”

“Istherewine?”RobertJordanaskedthetableatlarge,leaningforward,hishandsonthetable.

“Thereislittleleft,”Pablosaidsullenly.RobertJordandecidedhehadbetterlookattheotherthreeandtrytoseewherehestood.

“Inthatcase,letmehaveacupofwater.Thou,”hecalledtothegirl.“Bringmeacupofwater.”

Thegirllookedatthewoman,whosaidnothing,andgavenosignofhavingheard,thenshewenttoakettlecontainingwateranddippedacupfull.Shebroughtittothetableandputitdownbeforehim.RobertJordansmiledather.Atthesametimehesuckedinonhisstomachmusclesandswungalittletotheleftonhisstoolsothathispistolslippedaroundonhisbeltclosertowherehewantedit.HereachedhishanddowntowardhishippocketandPablowatchedhim.Heknewtheyallwerewatchinghim,too,buthewatchedonlyPablo.Hishandcameupfromthehippocketwiththeleather-coveredflaskandheunscrewedthetopandthen,liftingthecup,drankhalfthewaterandpouredverySlowlyfromtheflaskintothecup.

“ItistoostrongfortheeorIwouldgivetheesome,”hesaidtothegirlandsmiledatheragain.“ThereislittleleftorIwouldoffersometothee,”hesaidtoPablo.

“Idonotlikeanis,”Pablosaid.

Theacridsmellhadcarriedacrossthetableandhehadpickedouttheonefamiliarcomponent.

“Good,”saidRobertJordan.“Becausethereisverylittleleft.”

“Whatdrinkisthat?”thegypsyasked.

“Amedicine,”RobertJordansaid.“Doyouwanttotasteit?”

“Whatisitfor?”

“Foreverything,”RobertJordansaid.“Itcureseverything.Ifyouhaveanythingwrongthiswillcureit.”

“Letmetasteit,”thegypsysaid.

RobertJordanpushedthecuptowardhim.Itwasamilkyyellownowwiththewaterandhehopedthegypsywouldnottakemorethanaswallow.Therewasverylittleofitleftandonecupofittooktheplaceoftheeveningpapers,ofalltheoldeveningsincafés,ofallchestnuttreesthatwouldbeinbloomnowinthismonth,ofthegreatslowhorsesoftheouterboulevards,ofbookshops,ofkiosques,andofgalleries,oftheParcMontsouris,oftheStadeBuffalo,andoftheButteChaumont,oftheGuarantyTrustCompanyandtheIledelaCité,ofFoyot’soldhotel,andofbeingabletoreadandrelaxintheevening;ofallthethingshehadenjoyedandforgottenandthatcamebacktohimwhenhetastedthatopaque,bitter,tongue-numbing,brain-warming,stomachwarming,idea-changingliquidalchemy.

Thegypsymadeafaceandhandedthecupback.“Itsmellsofanisbutitisbitterasgall,”hesaid.“Itisbettertobesickthanhavethatmedicine.”

“That’sthewormwood,”RobertJordantoldhim.“Inthis,therealabsinthe,thereiswormwood.It’ssupposedtorotyourbrainoutbutIdon’tbelieveit.Itonlychangestheideas.Youshouldpourwaterintoitveryslowly,afewdropsatatime.ButIpoureditintothewater.”

“Whatareyousaying?”Pablosaidangrily,feelingthemockery.

“Explainingthemedicine,”RobertJordantoldhimandgrinned.“IboughtitinMadrid.Itwasthelastbottleandit’slastedmethreeweeks.”Hetookabigswallowofitandfeltitcoastingoverhistongueindelicateanaesthesia.HelookedatPabloandgrinnedagain.

“How’sbusiness?”heasked.

PablodidnotanswerandRobertJordanlookedcarefullyattheotherthreemenatthetable.Onehadalargeflatface,flatandbrownasaSerranohamwithanoseflattenedandbroken,andthelongthinRussiancigarette,projectingatanangle,madethefacelookevenflatter.Thismanhadshortgrayhairandagraystubbleofbeardandworetheusualblacksmockbuttonedattheneck.HelookeddownatthetablewhenRobertJordanlookedathimbuthiseyesweresteadyandtheydidnotblink.Theothertwowereevidentlybrothers.Theylookedmuchalikeandwerebothshort,heavilybuilt,darkhaired,theirhairgrowinglowontheirforeheads,dark-eyedandbrown.Onehadascaracrosshisforeheadabovehislefteyeandashelookedatthem,theylookedbackathimsteadily.Onelookedtobeabouttwenty-sixor-eight,theotherperhapstwoyearsolder.

“Whatareyoulookingat?”onebrother,theonewiththescar,asked.

“Thee,”RobertJordansaid.

“Doyouseeanythingrare?”

“No,”saidRobertJordan.“Haveacigarette?”

“Whynot?”thebrothersaid.Hehadnottakenanybefore.“Theseareliketheotherhad.Heofthetrain.”

“Wereyouatthetrain?”

“Wewereallatthetrain,”thebrothersaidquietly.“Allexcepttheoldman.”

“Thatiswhatweshoulddonow,”Pablosaid.“Anothertrain.”

“Wecandothat,”RobertJordansaid.“Afterthebridge.”

HecouldseethatthewifeofPablohadturnednowfromthefireandwaslistening.Whenhesaidtheword“bridge”everyonewasquiet.

“Afterthebridge,”hesaidagaindeliberatelyandtookasipoftheabsinthe.Imightaswellbringiton,hethought.It’scominganyWay.

“Idonotgoforthebridge,”Pablosaid,lookingdownatthetable.“Neithermenormypeople.”

RobertJordansaidnothing.HelookedatAnselmoandraisedthecup.“Thenweshalldoitalone,oldone,”hesaidandsmiled.

“Withoutthiscoward,”Anselmosaid.

“Whatdidyousay?”Pablospoketotheoldman.

“Nothingforthee.Ididnotspeaktothee,”Anselmotoldhim.

RobertJordannowlookedpastthetabletowherethewifeofPablowasstandingbythefire.Shehadsaidnothingyet,norgivenanysign.Butnowshesaidsomethinghecouldnotheartothegirlandthegirlrosefromthecookingfire,slippedalongthewall,openedtheblanketthathungoverthemouthofthecaveandwentout.Ithinkitisgoingtocomenow,RobertJordanthought.Ibelievethisisit.Ididnotwantittobethiswaybutthisseemstobethewayitis.

“Thenwewilldothebridgewithoutthyaid,”RobertJordansaidtoPablo.

“No,”Pablosaid,andRobertJordanwatchedhisfacesweat.“Thouwiltblownobridgehere.”

“No?”

“Thouwiltblownobridge,”Pablosaidheavily.

“Andthou?”RobertJordanspoketothewifeofPablowhowasstanding,stillandhuge,bythefire.Sheturnedtowardthemandsaid,“Iamforthebridge.”Herfacewaslitbythefireanditwasflushedanditshonewarmanddarkandhandsomenowinthefirelightasitwasmeanttobe.

“Whatdoyousay?”PablosaidtoherandRobertJordansawthebetrayedlookonhisfaceandthesweatonhisforeheadasheturnedhishead.

“Iamforthebridgeandagainstthee,”thewifeofPablosaid.“Nothingmore.”

“Iamalsoforthebridge,”themanwiththeflatfaceandthebrokennosesaid,crushingtheendofthecigaretteonthetable.

“Tomethebridgemeansnothing,”oneofthebrotherssaid.“IamforthemujerofPablo.”

“Equally,”saidtheotherbrother.

“Equally,”thegypsysaid.

RobertJordanwatchedPabloandashewatched,lettinghisrighthandhanglowerandlower,readyifitshouldbenecessary,halfhopingitwouldbe(feelingperhapsthatwerethesimplestandeasiestyetnotwishingtospoilwhathadgonesowell,knowinghowquicklyallofafamily,allofaclan,allofaband,canturnagainstastrangerinaquarrel,yetthinkingwhatcouldbedonewiththehandwerethesimplestandbestandsurgicallythemostsoundnowthatthishadhappened),sawalsothewifeofPablostandingthereandwatchedherblushproudlyandsoundlyandhealthilyastheallegiancesweregiven.

“IamfortheRepublic,”thewomanofPablosaidhappily.“AndtheRepublicisthebridge.Afterwardswewillhavetimeforotherprojects.”

“Andthou,”Pablosaidbitterly.“Withyourheadofaseedbullandyourheartofawhore.Thouthinkesttherewillbeanafterwardsfromthisbridge?Thouhastanideaofthatwhichwillpass?”

“Thatwhichmustpass,”thewomanofPablosaid.“Thatwhichmustpass,willpass.”

“Anditmeansnothingtotheetobehuntedthenlikeabeastafterthisthingfromwhichwederivenoprofit?Nortodieinit?”

“Nothing,”thewomanofPablosaid.“Anddonottrytofrightenme,coward.”

“Coward,”Pablosaidbitterly.“Youtreatamanascowardbecausehehasatacticalsense.Becausehecanseetheresultsofanidiocyinadvance.Itisnotcowardlytoknowwhatisfoolish.”

“Neitherisitfoolishtoknowwhatiscowardly,”saidAnselmo,unabletoresistmakingthephrase.

“Doyouwanttodie?”PablosaidtohimseriouslyandRobertJordansawhowunrhetoricalwasthequestion.

“No.”

“Thenwatchthymouth.Youtalktoomuchaboutthingsyoudonotunderstand.Don’tyouseethatthisisserious?”hesaidalmostpitifully.“AmItheonlyonewhoseestheseriousnessofthis?”

Ibelieveso,RobertJordanthought.OldPablo,oldboy,Ibelieveso.Exceptme.YoucanseeitandIseeitandthewomanreaditinmyhandbutshedoesn’tseeit,yet.Notyetshedoesn’tseeit.

“AmIaleaderfornothing?”Pabloasked.“IknowwhatIspeakof.Youothersdonotknow.Thisoldmantalksnonsense.Heisanoldmanwhoisnothingbutamessengerandaguideforforeigners.Thisforeignercomesheretodoathingforthegoodoftheforeigners.Forhisgoodwemustbesacrificed.Iamforthegoodandthesafetyofall.”

“Safety,”thewifeofPablosaid.“Thereisnosuchthingassafety.Therearesomanyseekingsafetyherenowthattheymakeagreatdanger.Inseekingsafetynowyouloseall.”

Shestoodnowbythetablewiththebigspooninherhand.

“Thereissafety,”Pablosaid.“Withinthedangerthereisthesafetyofknowingwhatchancestotake.Itislikethebullfighterwhoknowingwhatheisdoing,takesnochancesandissafe.”

“Untilheisgored,”thewomansaidbitterly.“HowmanytimeshaveIheardmatadorstalklikethatbeforetheytookagoring.HowoftenhaveIheardFinitosaythatitisallknowledgeandthatthebullnevergoredtheman;ratherthemangoredhimselfonthehornofthebull.Alwaysdotheytalkthatwayintheirarrogancebeforeagoring.Afterwardswevisitthemintheclinic.”Nowshewasmimickingavisittoabedside,“Hello,oldtimer.Hello,”sheboomed.Then,“Buenas,Compadre.Howgoesit,Pilar?”imitatingtheweakvoiceofthewoundedbullfighter.“Howdidthishappen,Finito,Chico,howdidthisdirtyaccidentoccurtothee?”boomingitoutinherownvoice.Thentalkingweakandsmall,“Itisnothing,woman.Pilar,itisnothing.Itshouldn’thavehappened.Ikilledhimverywell,youunderstand.Nobodycouldhavekilledhimbetter.ThenhavingkilledhimexactlyasIshouldandhimabsolutelydead,swayingonhislegs,andreadytofallofhisownweight,Iwalkedawayfromhimwithacertainamountofarroganceandmuchstyleandfromthebackhethrowsmethishornbetweenthecheeksofmybuttocksanditcomesoutofmyliver.”Shecommencedtolaugh,droppingtheimitationofthealmosteffeminatebullfighter’svoiceandboomingagainnow.“Youandyoursafety!DidIlivenineyearswiththreeoftheworstpaidmatadorsintheworldnottolearnaboutfearandaboutsafety?Speaktomeofanythingbutsafety.Andthee.WhatillusionsIputintheeandhowtheyhaveturnedout!Fromoneyearofwarthouhasbecomelazy,adrunkardandacoward.”

“Inthatwaythouhastnorighttospeak,”Pablosaid.“Andlessevenbeforethepeopleandastranger.”

“InthatwaywillIspeak,”thewifeofPablowenton.“Haveyounotheard?Doyoustillbelievethatyoucommandhere?”

“Yes,”Pablosaid.“HereIcommand.”

“Notinjoke,”thewomansaid.“HereIcommand!Haven’tyouheardlagente?Herenoonecommandsbutme.Youcanstayifyouwishandeatofthefoodanddrinkofthewine,butnottoobloodymuch,andshareintheworkiftheewishes.ButhereIcommand.”

“Ishouldshoottheeandtheforeignerboth,”Pablosaidsullenly.

“Tryit,”thewomansaid.“Andseewhathappens.”

“Acupofwaterforme,”RobertJordansaid,nottakinghiseyesfromthemanwithhissullenheavyheadandthewomanstandingproudlyandconfidentlyholdingthebigspoonasauthoritativelyasthoughitwereabaton.

“Maria,”calledthewomanofPabloandwhenthegirlcameinthedoorshesaid,“Waterforthiscomrade.”

RobertJordanreachedforhisflaskand,bringingtheflaskout,ashebroughtitheloosenedthepistolintheholsterandswungitontopofhisthigh.Hepouredasecondabsintheintohiscupandtookthecupofwaterthegirlbroughthimandcommencedtodripitintothecup,alittleatatime.Thegirlstoodathiselbow,watchinghim.

“Outside,”thewomanofPablosaidtoher,gesturingwiththespoon.

“Itiscoldoutside,”thegirlsaid,hercheekclosetoRobertJordan’s,watchingwhatwashappeninginthecupwheretheliquorwasclouding.

“Maybe,”thewomanofPablosaid.“Butinhereitistoohot.”Thenshesaid,kindly,“Itisnotforlong.”

Thegirlshookherheadandwentout.

Idon’tthinkheisgoingtotakethismuchmore,RobertJordanthoughttohimself.Heheldthecupinonehandandhisotherhandrested,franklynow,onthepistol.Hehadslippedthesafetycatchandhefelttheworncomfortofthecheckedgripchafedalmostsmoothandtouchedtheround,coolcompanionshipofthetriggerguard.Pablonolongerlookedathimbutonlyatthewoman.Shewenton,“Listentome,drunkard.Youunderstandwhocommandshere?”

“Icommand.”

“No.Listen.Takethewaxfromthyhairyears.Listenwell.Icommand.”

Pablolookedatherandyoucouldtellnothingofwhathewasthinkingbyhisface.HelookedatherquitedeliberatelyandthenhelookedacrossthetableatRobertJordan.Helookedathimalongtimecontemplativelyandthenhelookedbackatthewoman,again.

“Allright.Youcommand,”hesaid.“Andifyouwanthecancommandtoo.Andthetwoofyoucangotohell.”Hewaslookingthewomanstraightinthefaceandhewasneitherdominatedbyhernorseemedtobemuchaffectedbyher.“ItispossiblethatIamlazyandthatIdrinktoomuch.Youmayconsidermeacowardbutthereyouaremistaken.ButIamnotstupid.”Hepaused.“Thatyoushouldcommandandthatyoushouldlikeit.Nowifyouareawomanaswellasacommander,thatweshouldhavesomethingtoeat.”

“Maria,”thewomanofPablocalled.

Thegirlputherheadinsidetheblanketacrossthecavemouth.“Enternowandservethesupper.”

Thegirlcameinandwalkedacrosstothelowtablebythehearthandpickeduptheenameled-warebowlsandbroughtthemtothetable.

“Thereiswineenoughforall,”thewomanofPablosaidtoRobertJordan.“Paynoattentiontowhatthatdrunkardsays.Whenthisisfinishedwewillgetmore.Finishthatrarethingthouartdrinkingandtakeacupofwine.”

RobertJordanswalloweddownthelastoftheabsinthe,feelingit,gulpedthatway,makingawarm,small,fume-rising,wet,chemical-change-producingheatinhimandpassedthecupforwine.Thegirldippeditfullforhimandsmiled.

“Well,didyouseethebridge?”thegypsyasked.Theothers,whohadnotopenedtheirmouthsafterthechangeofallegiance,wereallleaningforwardtolistennow.

“Yes,”RobertJordansaid.“Itissomethingeasytodo.Wouldyoulikemetoshowyou?”

“Yes,man.Withmuchinterest.”

RobertJordantookoutthenotebookfromhisshirtpocketandshowedthemthesketches.

“Lookhowitseems,”theflat-facedman,whowasnamedPrimitivo,said.“Itisthebridgeitself.”

RobertJordanwiththepointofthepencilexplainedhowthebridgeshouldbeblownandthereasonfortheplacingofthecharges.

“Whatsimplicity,”thescarred-facedbrother,whowascalledAndrés,said.“Andhowdoyouexplodethem?”

RobertJordanexplainedthattooand,asheshowedthem,hefeltthegirl’sarmrestingonhisshoulderasshelooked.ThewomanofPablowaswatchingtoo.OnlyPablotooknointerest,sittingbyhimselfwithacupofwinethathereplenishedbydippingintothebigbowlMariahadfilledfromthewineskinthathungtotheleftoftheentrancetothecave.

“Hastthoudonemuchofthis?”thegirlaskedRobertJordansoftly.

“Yes.”

“Andcanweseethedoingofit?”

“Yes.Whynot?”

“Youwillseeit,”Pablosaidfromhisendofthetable.“Ibelievethatyouwillseeit.”

“Shutup,”thewomanofPablosaidtohimandsuddenlyrememberingwhatshehadseeninthehandintheafternoonshewaswildly,unreasonablyangry.“Shutup,coward.Shutup,badluckbird.Shutup,murderer.”

“Good,”Pablosaid.“Ishutup.Itisthouwhocommandsnowandyoushouldcontinuetolookattheprettypictures.ButrememberthatIamnotstupid.”

ThewomanofPablocouldfeelherragechangingtosorrowandtoafeelingofthethwartingofallhopeandpromise.Sheknewthisfeelingfromwhenshewasagirlandsheknewthethingsthatcauseditallthroughherlife.Itcamenowsuddenlyandsheputitawayfromherandwouldnotletittouchher,neitherhernortheRepublic,andshesaid,“Nowwewilleat.Servethebowlsfromthepot,Maria.”