CHAPTER 17

Theonlynoiseinthecavenowwasthehissingfromthehearthwheresnowwasfallingthroughtheholeintheroofontothecoalsofthefire.

“Pilar,”Fernandosaid.“Istheremoreofthestew?”

“Oh,shutup,”thewomansaid.ButMariatookFernando’sbowlovertothebigpotsetbackfromtheedgeofthefireandladledintoit.ShebroughtitovertothetableandsetitdownandthenpattedFernandoontheshoulderashebenttoeat.Shestoodforamomentbesidehim,herhandonhisshoulder.ButFernandodidnotlookup.Hewasdevotinghimselftothestew.

Agustínstoodbesidethefire.Theotherswereseated.PilarsatatthetableoppositeRobertJordan.

“Now,Inglé,”shesaid,“youhaveseenhowheis.”

“Whatwillhedo?”RobertJordanasked.

“Anything,”thewomanlookeddownatthetable.“Anything.Heiscapableofdoinganything.”

“Whereistheautomaticrifle?”RobertJordanasked.

“Thereinthecornerwrappedintheblanket,”Primitivosaid.“Doyouwantit?”

“Later,”RobertJordansaid.“Iwishedtoknowwhereitis.”

“Itisthere,”Primitivosaid.“IbroughtitinandIhavewrappeditinmyblankettokeeptheactiondry.Thepansareinthatsack.”

“Hewouldnotdothat,”Pilarsaid.“Hewouldnotdoanythingwiththemáquina.”

“Ithoughtyousaidhewoulddoanything.”

“Hemight,”shesaid.“Buthehasnopracticewiththemáquina.Hecouldtossinabomb.Thatismorehisstyle.”

“Itisanidiocyandaweaknessnottohavekilledhim,”thegypsysaid.Hehadtakennopartinanyofthetalkallevening.“LastnightRobertoshouldhavekilledhim.”

“Killhim,”Pilarsaid.Herbigfacewasdarkandtiredlooking.“Iamforitnow.”

“Iwasagainstit,”Agustínsaid.Hestoodinfrontofthefire,hislongarmshangingbyhissides,hischeeks,stubble-shadowedbelowthecheekbones,hollowinthefirelight.“NowIamforit,”hesaid.“Heispoisonousnowandhewouldliketoseeusalldestroyed.”

“Letallspeak,”Pilarsaidandhervoicewastired.“Thou,Andrés?”

“Matarlo,”thebrotherwiththedarkhairgrowingfardowninthepointonhisforeheadsaidandnoddedhishead.

“Eladio?”

“Equally,”theotherbrothersaid.“Tomeheseemstoconstituteagreatdanger.Andheservesfornothing.”

“Primitivo?”

“Equally.”

“Fernando?”

“Couldwenotholdhimasaprisoner?”Fernandoasked.

“Whowouldlookafteraprisoner?”Primitivosaid.“Itwouldtaketwomentolookafteraprisonerandwhatwouldwedowithhimintheend?”

“Wecouldsellhimtothefascists,”thegypsysaid.

“Noneofthat,”Agustínsaid.“Noneofthatfilthiness.”

“Itwasonlyanidea,”Rafael,thegypsy,said.“Itseemstomethatthefacciososwouldbehappytohavehim.”

“Leaveitalone,”Agustínsaid.“Thatisfilthy.”

“NofilthierthanPablo,”thegypsyjustifiedhimself.

“Onefilthinessdoesnotjustifyanother,”Agustínsaid.“Well,thatisall.ExceptfortheoldmanandtheInglé.”

“Theyarenotinit,”Pilarsaid.“Hehasnotbeentheirleader.”

“Onemoment,”Fernandosaid.“Ihavenotfinished.”

“Goahead,”Pilarsaid.“Talkuntilhecomesback.Talkuntilherollsahandgrenadeunderthatblanketandblowsthisallup.Dynamiteandall.”

“Ithinkthatyouexaggerate,Pilar,”Fernandosaid.“Idonotthinkthathehasanysuchconception.”

“Idonotthinksoeither,”Agustínsaid.“Becausethatwouldblowthewineuptooandhewillbebackinalittlewhiletothewine.”

“WhynotturnhimovertoElSordoandletElSordosellhimtothefascists?”Rafaelsuggested.“Youcouldblindhimandhewouldbeeasytohandle.”

“Shutup,”Pilarsaid.“Ifeelsomethingveryjustifiedagainsttheetoowhenthoutalkest.”

“Thefascistswouldpaynothingforhimanyway,”Primitivosaid.“Suchthingshavebeentriedbyothersandtheypaynothing.Theywillshoottheetoo.”

“Ibelievethatblindedhecouldbesoldforsomething,”Rafaelsaid.

“Shutup,”Pilarsaid.“Speakofblindingagainandyoucangowiththeother.”

“But,he,Pablo,blindedtheguardiacivilwhowaswounded,”thegypsyinsisted.“Youhaveforgottenthat?”

“Closethymouth,”Pilarsaidtohim.ShewasembarrassedbeforeRobertJordanbythistalkofblinding.

“Ihavenotbeenallowedtofinish,”Fernandointerrupted.

“Finish,”Pilartoldhim.“Goon.Finish.”

“SinceitisimpracticaltoholdPabloasaprisoner,”Fernandocommenced,“andsinceitisrepugnanttoofferhim—”

“Finish,”Pilarsaid.“FortheloveofGod,finish.”

“—inanyclassofnegotiation,”Fernandoproceededcalmly,“Iamagreedthatitisperhapsbestthatheshouldbeeliminatedinorderthattheoperationsprojectedshouldbeinsuredofthemaximumpossibilityofsuccess.”

Pilarlookedatthelittleman,shookherhead,bitherlipsandsaidnothing.

“Thatismyopinion,”Fernandosaid.“IbelievewearejustifiedinbelievingthatheconstitutesadangertotheRepublic—”

“MotherofGod,”Pilarsaid.“Evenhereonemancanmakeabureaucracywithhismouth.”

“Bothfromhisownwordsandhisrecentactions,”Fernandocontinued.“Andwhileheisdeservingofgratitudeforhisactionsintheearlypartofthemovementandupuntilthemostrecenttime—”

Pilarhadwalkedovertothefire.Nowshecameuptothetable.

“Fernando,”Pilarsaidquietlyandhandedabowltohim.“Takethisstewpleaseinallformalityandfillthymouthwithitandtalknomore.Weareinpossessionofthyopinion.”

“But,howthen—”Primitivoaskedandpausedwithoutcompletingthesentence.

“Estoylisto,”RobertJordansaid.“Iamreadytodoit.SinceyouarealldecidedthatitshouldbedoneitisaservicethatIcando.”

What’sthematter?hethought.FromlisteningtohimIambeginningtotalklikeFernando.Thatlanguagemustbeinfectious.French,thelanguageofdiplomacy.Spanish,thelanguageofbureaucracy.

“No,”Mariasaid.“No.”

“Thisisnoneofthybusiness,”Pilarsaidtothegirl.“Keepthymouthshut.”

“Iwilldoittonight,”RobertJordansaid.

HesawPilarlookingathim,herfingersonherlips.Shewaslookingtowardthedoor.

TheblanketfastenedacrosstheopeningofthecavewasliftedandPabloputhisheadin.Hegrinnedatthemall,pushedundertheblanketandthenturnedandfasteneditagain.Heturnedaroundandstoodthere,thenpulledtheblanketcapeoverhisheadandshookthesnowfromit.

“Youwerespeakingofme?”headdressedthemall.“Iaminterrupting?”

Nooneansweredhimandhehungthecapeonapeginthewallandwalkedovertothetable.

“Quétal?”heaskedandpickeduphiscupwhichhadstoodemptyonthetableanddippeditintothewinebowl.“Thereisnowine,”hesaidtoMaria.“Godrawsomefromtheskin.”

Mariapickedupthebowlandwentovertothedusty,heavilydistended,black-tarredwineskinthathungneckdownfromthewallandunscrewedtheplugfromoneofthelegsenoughsothatthewinesquirtedfromtheedgeoftheplugintothebowl.Pablowatchedherkneeling,holdingthebowlupandwatchedthelightredwinefloodingintothebowlsofastthatitmadeawhirlingmotionasitfilledit.

“Becareful,”hesaidtoher.“Thewine’sbelowthechestnow.”

Noonesaidanything.

“Idrankfromthebelly-buttontothechesttoday,”Pablosaid.“It’saday’swork.What’sthematterwithyouall?Haveyoulostyourtongues?”

Noonesaidanythingatall.

“Screwitup,Maria,”Pablosaid.“Don’tletitspill.”

“There’llbeplentyofwine,”Agustínsaid.“You’llbeabletobedrunk.”

“Onehasencounteredhistongue,”PablosaidandnoddedtoAgustín.“Felicitations.Ithoughtyou’dbeenstruckdumb.”

“Bywhat?”Agustínasked.

“Bymyentry.”

“Thinkestthouthatthyentrycarriesimportance?”

He’sworkinghimselfuptoit,maybe,RobertJordanthought.MaybeAgustínisgoingtodoit.Hecertainlyhateshimenough.Idon’thatehim,hethought.No,Idon’thatehim.HeisdisgustingbutIdonothatehim.Thoughthatblindingbusinessputshiminaspecialclass.Stillthisistheirwar.Butheiscertainlynothingtohavearoundforthenexttwodays.Iamgoingtokeepawayoutofit,hethought.ImadeafoolofmyselfwithhimoncetonightandIamperfectlywillingtoliquidatehim.ButIamnotgoingtofoolwithhimbeforehand.Andtherearenotgoingtobeanyshootingmatchesormonkeybusinessinherewiththatdynamitearoundeither.Pablothoughtofthat,ofcourse.Anddidyouthinkofit,hesaidtohimself?No,youdidnotandneitherdidAgustín.Youdeservewhateverhappenstoyou,hethought.

“Agustín,”hesaid.

“What?”AgustínlookedupsullenlyandturnedhisheadawayfromPablo.

“Iwishtospeaktothee,”RobertJordansaid.

“Later.”

“Now,”RobertJordansaid.“Porfavor.”

RobertJordanhadwalkedtotheopeningofthecaveandPablofollowedhimwithhiseyes.Agustín,tallandsunkencheeked,stoodupandcameovertohim.Hemovedreluctantlyandcontemptuously.

“Thouhastforgottenwhatisinthesacks?”RobertJordansaidtohim,speakingsolowthatitcouldnotbeheard.

“Milk!”Agustínsaid.“Onebecomesaccustomedandoneforgets.”

“I,too,forgot.”

“Milk!”Agustínsaid.“Leche!Whatfoolsweare.”Heswungbackloose-jointedlytothetableandsatdown.“Haveadrink,Pablo,oldboy,”hesaid.“Howwerethehorses?”

“Verygood,”Pablosaid.“Anditissnowingless.”

“Doyouthinkitwillstop?”

“Yes,”Pablosaid.“Itisthinningnowandtherearesmall,hardpellets.Thewindwillblowbutthesnowisgoing.Thewindhaschanged.”

“Doyouthinkitwillcleartomorrow?”RobertJordanaskedhim.

“Yes,”Pablosaid.“Ibelieveitwillbecoldandclear.Thiswindisshifting.”

Lookathim,RobertJordanthought.Nowheisfriendly.Hehasshiftedlikethewind.HehasthefaceandthebodyofapigandIknowheismanytimesamurdererandyethehasthesensitivityofagoodaneroid.Yes,hethought,andthepigisaveryintelligentanimal,too.Pablohashatredforus,orperhapsitisonlyforourprojects,andpusheshishatredwithinsultstothepointwhereyouarereadytodoawaywithhimandwhenheseesthatthispointhasbeenreachedhedropsitandstartsallnewandcleanagain.

“Wewillhavegoodweatherforit,Inglé,”PablosaidtoRobertJordan.

“We,”Pilarsaid.“We?”

“Yes,we,”Pablogrinnedatheranddranksomeofthewine.“Whynot?IthoughtitoverwhileIwasoutside.Whyshouldwenotagree?”

“Inwhat?”thewomanasked.“Inwhatnow?”

“Inall,”Pablosaidtoher.“Inthisofthebridge.Iamwiththeenow.”

“Youarewithusnow?”Agustínsaidtohim.“Afterwhatyouhavesaid?”

“Yes,”Pablotoldhim.“WiththechangeoftheweatherIamwiththee.”

Agustínshookhishead.“Theweather,”hesaidandshookhisheadagain.“Andaftermehittingtheeintheface?”

“Yes,”Pablogrinnedathimandranhisfingersoverhislips.“Afterthattoo.”

RobertJordanwaswatchingPilar.ShewaslookingatPabloasatsomestrangeanimal.Onherfacetherewasstillashadowoftheexpressionthementionoftheblindinghadputthere.Sheshookherheadasthoughtoberidofthat,thentosseditback.“Listen,”shesaidtoPablo.

“Yes,woman.”

“Whatpasseswiththee?”

“Nothing,”Pablosaid.“Ihavechangedmyopinion.Nothingmore.”

“Youwerelisteningatthedoor,”shetoldhim.

“Yes,”hesaid.“ButIcouldhearnothing.”

“Youfearthatwewillkillthee.”

“No,”hetoldherandlookedatheroverthewinecup.“Idonotfearthat.Youknowthat.”

“Well,whatpasseswiththee?”Agustínsaid.“Onemomentyouaredrunkandputtingyourmouthonallofusanddisassociatingyourselffromtheworkinhandandspeakingofourdeathinadirtymannerandinsultingthewomenandopposingthatwhichshouldbedone—”

“Iwasdrunk,”Pablotoldhim.

“Andnow—”

“Iamnotdrunk,”Pablosaid.“AndIhavechangedmymind.”

“Lettheotherstrustthee.Idonot,”Agustínsaid.

“Trustmeornot,”Pablosaid.“ButthereisnoonewhocantaketheetoGredosasIcan.”

“Gredos?”

“Itistheonlyplacetogoafterthisofthebridge.”

RobertJordan,lookingatPilar,raisedhishandonthesideawayfromPabloandtappedhisrightearquestioningly.

Thewomannodded.Thennoddedagain.ShesaidsomethingtoMariaandthegirlcameovertoRobertJordan’sside.

“Shesays,‘Ofcourseheheard,”MariasaidinRobertJordan’sear.

“ThenPablo,”Fernandosaidjudicially.“Thouartwithusnowandinfavorofthisofthebridge?”

“Yes,man,”Pablosaid.HelookedFernandosquarelyintheeyeandnodded.

“Intruth?”Primitivoasked.

“Deveras,”Pablotoldhim.

“Andyouthinkitcanbesuccessful?”Fernandoasked.“Younowhaveconfidence?”

“Whynot?”Pablosaid.“Haven’tyouconfidence?”

“Yes,”Fernandosaid.“ButIalwayshaveconfidence.”

“I’mgoingtogetoutofhere,”Agustínsaid.

“Itiscoldoutside,”Pablotoldhiminafriendlytone.

“Maybe,”Agustínsaid.“ButIcan’tstayanylongerinthismanicomio.”

“Donotcallthiscaveaninsaneasylum,”Fernandosaid.

“Amanicomioforcriminallunatics,”Agustínsaid.“AndI’mgettingoutbeforeI’mcrazy,too.”