CHAPTER 19

“Whatdoyoudosittingthere?”Mariaaskedhim.Shewasstandingclosebesidehimandheturnedhisheadandsmiledather.

“Nothing,”hesaid.“Ihavebeenthinking.”

“Whatof?Thebridge?”

“No.Thebridgeisterminated.OftheeandofahotelinMadridwhereIknowsomeRussians,andofabookIwillwritesometime.”

“AretheremanyRussiansinMadrid?”

“No.Veryfew.”

“Butinthefascistperiodicalsitsaystherearehundredsofthousands.”

“Thosearelies.Thereareveryfew.”

“DoyouliketheRussians?TheonewhowasherewasaRussian.”

“Didyoulikehim?”

“Yes.IwassickthenbutIthoughthewasverybeautifulandverybrave.”

“Whatnonsense,beautiful,”Pilarsaid.“Hisnosewasflatasmyhandandhehadcheekbonesaswideasasheep’sbuttocks.”

“Hewasagoodfriendandcomradeofmine,”RobertJordansaidtoMaria.“Icaredforhimverymuch.”

“Sure,”Pilarsaid.“Butyoushothim.”

WhenshesaidthisthecardplayerslookedupfromthetableandPablostaredatRobertJordan.Nobodysaidanythingandthenthegypsy,Rafael,asked,“Isittrue,Roberto?”

“Yes,”RobertJordansaid.HewishedPilarhadnotbroughtthisupandhewishedhehadnottolditatElSordo’s.“Athisrequest.Hewasbadlywounded.”

“Quécosamasrara,”thegypsysaid.“Allthetimehewaswithushetalkedofsuchapossibility.Idon’tknowhowmanytimesIhavepromisedhimtoperformsuchanact.Whatararething,”hesaidagainandshookhishead.

“Hewasaveryrareman,”Primitivosaid.“Verysingular.”

“Look,”Andrés,oneofthebrothers,said.“YouwhoareProfessorandall.Doyoubelieveinthepossibilityofamanseeingaheadwhatistohappentohim?”

“Ibelievehecannotseeit,”RobertJordansaid.PablowasstaringathimcuriouslyandPilarwaswatchinghimwithnoexpressiononherface.“InthecaseofthisRussiancomradehewasverynervousfrombeingtoomuchtimeatthefront.HehadfoughtatIrunwhich,youknow,wasbad.Verybad.Hehadfoughtlaterinthenorth.Andsincethefirstgroupswhodidthisworkbehindthelineswereformedhehadworkedhere,inEstremaduraandinAndalucía.Ithinkhewasverytiredandnervousandheimagineduglythings.”

“Hewouldundoubtedlyhaveseenmanyevilthings,”Fernandosaid.

“Likealltheworld,”Andréssaid.“Butlistentome,Inglé.Doyouthinkthereissuchathingasamanknowinginadvancewhatwillbefallhim?”

“No,”RobertJordansaid.“Thatisignoranceandsuperstition.”

“Goon,”Pilarsaid.“Letusheartheviewpointoftheprofessor.”Shespokeasthoughsheweretalkingtoaprecociouschild.

“Ibelievethatfearproducesevilvisions,”RobertJordansaid.“Seeingbadsigns——”

“Suchastheairplanestoday,”Primitivosaid.

“Suchasthyarrival,”PablosaidsoftlyandRobertJordanlookedacrossthetableathim,sawitwasnotaprovocationbutonlyanexpressedthought,thenwenton.“Seeingbadsigns,one,withfear,imaginesanendforhimselfandonethinksthatimaginingcomesbydivination,”RobertJordanconcluded.“Ibelievethereisnothingmoretoitthanthat.Idonotbelieveinogres,norsoothsayers,norinthesupernaturalthings.”

“Butthisonewiththerarenamesawhisfateclearly,”thegypsysaid.“Andthatwashowithappened.”

“Hedidnotseeit,”RobertJordansaid.“Hehadafearofsuchapossibilityanditbecameanobsession.Noonecantellmethathesawanything.”

“NotI?”Pilaraskedhimandpickedsomedustupfromthefireandblewitoffthepalmofherhand.“Icannottelltheeeither?”

“No.Withallwizardry,gypsyandall,thoucanstnottellmeeither.”

“Becausethouartamiracleofdeafness,”Pilarsaid,herbigfaceharshandbroadinthecandlelight.“Itisnotthatthouartstupid.Thouartsimplydeaf.Onewhoisdeafcannothearmusic.Neithercanheheartheradio.Sohemightsay,neverhavingheardthem,thatsuchthingsdonotexist.Quéva,Inglé.Isawthedeathofthatonewiththerarenameinhisfaceasthoughitwereburnedtherewithabrandingiron.”

“Youdidnot,”RobertJordaninsisted.“Yousawfearandapprehension.Thefearwasmadebywhathehadbeenthrough.Theapprehensionwasforthepossibilityofevilheimagined.”

“Quéva,”Pilarsaid.“Isawdeaththereasplainlyasthoughitweresittingonhisshoulder.Andwhatismorehesmeltofdeath.”

“Hesmeltofdeath,”RobertJordanjeered.“Offearmaybe.Thereisasmelltofear.”

“Delamuerte,”Pilarsaid.“Listen.WhenBlanquet,whowasthegreatestpeondebregawhoeverlived,workedundertheordersofGranerohetoldmethatonthedayofManoloGranero’sdeath,whentheystoppedinthechapelonthewaytothering,theodorofdeathwassostrongonManolothatitalmostmadeBlanquetsick.AndhehadbeenwithManolowhenhehadbathedanddressedatthehotelbeforesettingoutforthering.Theodorwasnotpresentinthemotorcarwhentheyhadsatpackedtighttogetherridingtothebullring.NorwasitdistinguishabletoanyoneelsebutJuanLuisdelaRosainthechapel.NeitherMarcialnorChicuelosmelleditneitherthennorwhenthefourofthemlinedupforthepaseo.ButJuanLuiswasdeadwhite,Blanquettoldme,andhe,Blanquet,spoketohimsaying,‘Thoualso?’

“‘SothatIcannotbreathe,’JuanLuissaidtohim.‘Andfromthymatador.’

“‘Puesnada,’Blanquetsaid.‘Thereisnothingtodo.Letushopewearemistaken.’

“‘Andtheothers?’JuanLuisaskedBlanquet.

“‘Nada,’Blanquetsaid.‘Nothing.ButthisonestinksworsethanJoséatTalavera.’

“AnditwasonthatafternoonthatthebullPocapenaoftheranchofVeraguadestroyedManoloGraneroagainsttheplanksofthebarrierinfrontoftendidotwointhePlazadeTorosofMadrid.IwastherewithFinitoandIsawit.Thehornentirelydestroyedthecranium,theheadofManolobeingwedgedundertheestriboatthebaseofthebarrerawherethebullhadtossedhim.”

“Butdidyousmellanything?”Fernandoasked.

“Nay,”Pilarsaid.“Iwastoofaraway.Wewereintheseventhrowofthetendidothree.Itwasthus,beingatanangle,thatIcouldseeallthathappened.ButthatsamenightBlanquetwhohadbeenundertheordersofJoselitowhenhetoowaskilledtoldFinitoaboutitatFornos,andFinitoaskedJuanLuisdelaRosaandhewouldsaynothing.Buthenoddedhisheadthatitwastrue.Iwaspresentwhenthishappened.So,Inglé,itmaybethatthouartdeaftosomethingsasChicueloandMarcialLalandaandalloftheirbanderillerosandpicadorsandallofthegenteofJuanLuisandManoloGraneroweredeaftothisthingonthisday.ButJuanLuisandBlanquetwerenotdeaf.NoramIdeaftosuchthings.”

“Whydoyousaydeafwhenitisathingofthenose?”Fernandoasked.

“Leche!”Pilarsaid.“ThoushouldstbetheprofessorinplaceoftheInglé.ButIcouldtelltheeofotherthings,Inglé,anddonotdoubtwhatthousimplycannotseenorcannothear.Thoucanstnothearwhatadoghears.Norcanstthousmellwhatadogsmells.Butalreadythouhastexperiencedalittleofwhatcanhappentoman.”

MariaputherhandonRobertJordan’sshoulderandletitrestthereandhethoughtsuddenly,letusfinishallthisnonsenseandtakeadvantageofwhattimewehave.Butitistooearlyyet.Wehavetokillthispartoftheevening.SohesaidtoPablo,“Thou,believestthouinthiswizardry?”

“Idonotknow,”Pablosaid.“Iammoreofthyopinion.Nosupernaturalthinghaseverhappenedtome.Butfeaiyescertainly.Plenty.ButIbelievethatthePilarcandivineeventsfromthehand.Ifshedoesnotlieperhapsitistruethatshehassmeltsuchathing.”

“QuévathatIshouldlie,”Pilarsaid.“Thisisnotathingofmyinvention.ThismanBlanquetwasamanofextremeseriousnessandfurthermoreverydevout.HewasnogypsybutabourgeoisfromValencia.Hastthouneverseenhim?”

“Yes,”RobertJordansaid.“Ihaveseenhimmanytimes.Hewassmall,gray-facedandnoonehandledacapebetter.Hewasquickonhisfeetasarabbit.”

“Exactly,”Pilarsaid.“Hehadagrayfacefromhearttroubleandgypsiessaidthathecarrieddeathwithhimbutthathecouldflickitawaywithacapeasyoumightdustatable.Yethe,whowasnogypsy,smelleddeathonJoselitowhenhefoughtatTalavera.AlthoughIdonotseehowhecouldsmellitabovethesmellofmanzanilla.BlanquetspokeofthisafterwardswithmuchdiffidencebutthosetowhomhespokesaidthatitwasafantasyandthatwhathehadsmelledwasthelifethatJoséledatthattimecomingoutinsweatfromhisarmpits.Butthen,later,camethisofManoloGraneroinwhichJuanLuisdelaRosaalsoparticipated.ClearlyJuanLuiswasamanofverylittlehonor,butofmuchsensitivenessinhisworkandhewasalsoagreatlayerofwomen.ButBlanquetwasseriousandveryquietandcompletelyincapableoftellinganuntruth.AndItellyouthatIsmelleddeathonyourcolleaguewhowashere.”

“Idonotbelieveit,”RobertJordansaid.“AlsoyousaidthatBlanquetsmelledthisjustbeforethepaseo.Justbeforethebullfightstarted.NowthiswasasuccessfulactionhereofyouandKashkinandthetrain.Hewasnotkilledinthat.Howcouldyousmellitthen?”

“Thathasnothingtodowithit,”Pilarexplained.“InthelastseasonofIgnacioSanchezMejiashesmelledsostronglyofdeaththatmanyrefusedtositwithhiminthecaféAllgypsiesknewofthis.”

“Afterthedeathsuchthingsareinvented,”RobertJordanargued.“EveryoneknewthatSanchezMejiaswasontheroadtoacornadabecausehehadbeentoolongoutoftraining,becausehisstylewasheavyanddangerous,andbecausehisstrengthandtheagilityinhislegsweregoneandhisreflexesnolongerastheyhadbeen.”

“Certainly,”Pilartoldhim.“Allofthatistrue.ButallthegypsiesknewalsothathesmelledofdeathandwhenhewouldcomeintotheVillaRosayouwouldseesuchpeopleasRicardoandFelipeGonzalezleavingbythesmalldoorbehindthebar.”

“Theyprobablyowedhimmoney,”RobertJordansaid.

“Itispossible,”Pilarsaid.“Verypossible.Buttheyalsosmelledthethingandallknewofit.”

“Whatshesaysistrue,Inglé,”thegypsy,Rafael,said.“Itisawell-knownthingamongus.”

“Ibelievenothingofit,”RobertJordansaid.

“Listen,Inglé,”Anselmobegan.“Iamagainstallsuchwizardry.ButthisPilarhasthefameofbeingveryadvancedinsuchthings.”

“Butwhatdoesitsmelllike?”Fernandoasked.“Whatodorhasit?Iftherebeanodoritmustbeadefiniteodor.”

“Youwanttoknow,Fernandito?”Pilarsmiledathim.“Youthinkthatyoucouldsmellit?”

“IfitactuallyexistswhyshouldInotsmellitaswellasanother?”

“Whynot?”Pilarwasmakingfunofhim,herbighandsfoldedacrossherknees.“Hastthoueverbeenaboardaship,Fernando?”

“Nay.AndIwouldnotwishto.”

“Thenthoumightnotrecognizeit.Forpartofitisthesmellthatcomeswhen,onaship,thereisastormandtheportholesareclosedup.Putyournoseagainstthebrasshandleofascrewed-tightportholeonarollingshipthatisswayingunderyousothatyouarefaintandhollowinthestomachandyouhaveapartofthatsmell.”

“ItwouldbeimpossibleformetorecognizebecauseIwillgoonnoship,”Fernandosaid.

“Ihavebeenonshipsseveraltimes,”Pilarsaid.“BothtogotoMexicoandtoVenezuela.”

“What’stherestofit?”RobertJordanasked.Pilarlookedathimmockingly,rememberingnow,proudly,hervoyages.

“Allright,Inglé.Learn.That’sthething.Learn.Allright.AfterthatoftheshipyoumustgodownthehillinMadridtothePuentedeToledoearlyinthemorningtothemataderoandstandthereonthewetpavingwhenthereisafogfromtheManzanaresandwaitfortheoldwomenwhogobeforedaylighttodrinkthebloodofthebeaststhatareslaughtered.Whensuchanoldwomancomesoutofthematadero,holdinghershawlaroundheiwithherfacegrayandhereyeshollow,andthewhiskersofageonherchin,andonhercheeks,setinthewaxenwhiteofherfaceasthesproutsgrowfromtheseedofthebean,notbristles,butpalesproutsinthedeathofherface;putyourarmstightaroundher,Inglé,andholdhertoyouandkissheronthemouthandyouwillknowthesecondpartthatodorismadeof.”

“Thatonehastakenmyappetite,”thegypsysaid.“Thatofthesproutswastoomuch.”

“Doyouwanttohearsomemore?”PilaraskedRobertJordan.

“Surely,”hesaid.“Ifitisnecessaryforonetolearnletuslearn.”

“Thatofthesproutsinthefaceoftheoldwomensickensme,”thegypsysaid.“Whyshouldthatoccurinoldwomen,Pilar?Withusitisnotso.”

“Nay,”Pilarmockedathim.“Withustheoldwoman,whowassoslenderinheryouth,exceptofcoursefortheperpetualbulgethatisthemarkofherhusband’sfavor,thateverygypsypushesalwaysbeforeher——”

“Donotspeakthus,”Rafaelsaid.“Itisignoble.”

“Sothouarthurt,”Pilarsaid.“HastthoueverseenaGitanawhowasnotabouttohave,orjusttohavehad,achild?”

“Thou.”

“Leaveit,”Pilarsaid.“Thereisnoonewhocannotbehurt.WhatIwassayingisthatagebringsitsownformofuglinesstoall.Thereisnoneedtodetailit.ButiftheInglémustlearnthatodorthathecovetstorecognizehemustgotothemataderoearlyinthemorning.”

“Iwillgo,”RobertJordansaid.“ButIwillgettheodorastheypasswithoutkissingone.Ifearthesprouts,too,asRafaeldoes.”

“Kissone,”Pilarsaid.“Kissone,Inglé,forthyknowledge’ssakeandthen,withthisinthynostrils,walkbackupintothecityandwhenthouseestarefusepailwithdeadflowersinitplungethynosedeepintoitandinhalesothatscentmixeswiththosethouhastalreadyinthynasalpassages.”

“NowhaveIdoneit,”RobertJordansaid.“Whatflowerswerethey?”

“Chrysanthemums.”

“Continue,”RobertJordansaid.“Ismellthem.”

“Then,”Pilarwenton,“itisimportantthatthedaybeinautumnwithrain,oratleastsomefog,orearlywinterevenandnowthoushouldstcontinuetowalkthroughthecityanddowntheCalledeSaludsmellingwhatthouwiltsmellwheretheyaresweepingoutthecasasdeputasandemptyingthesiopjarsintothedrainsand,withthisodoroflove’slaborlostmixedsweetlywithsoapywaterandcigarettebuttsonlyfaintlyreachingthynostrils,thoushouldstgoontotheJardínBotánicowhereatnightthosegirlswhocannolongerworkinthehousesdotheirworkagainsttheirongatesoftheparkandtheironpicketedfencesanduponthesidewalks.Itisthereintheshadowofthetreesagainsttheironrailingsthattheywillperformallthatamanwishes;fromthesimplestrequestsataremunerationoftencentimosuptoapesetaforthatgreatactthatweareborntoandthere,onadeadflowerbedthathasnotyetbeenpluckedoutandreplanted,andsoservestosoftentheearththatissomuchsofterthanthesidewalk,thouwiltfindanabandonedgunnysackwiththeodorofthewetearth,thedeadflowers,andthedoingsofthatnight.Inthissackwillbecontainedtheessenceofitall,boththedeadearthandthedeadstalksoftheflowersandtheirrottedbloomsandthesmellthatisboththedeathandbirthofman.Thouwiltwrapthissackaroundthyheadandtrytobreathethroughit.”

“No.”

“Yes,”Pilarsaid.“Thouwiltwrapthissackaroundthyheadandtrytobreatheandthen,ifthouhastnotlostanyofthepreviousodors,whenthouinhalestdeeply,thouwiltsmelltheodorofdeath-to-comeasweknowit.”

“Allright,”RobertJordansaid.“AndyousayKashkinsmeltlikethatwhenhewashere?”

“Yes.”

“Well,”saidRobertJordangravely.“IfthatistrueitisagoodthingthatIshothim.”

“Olé,”thegypsysaid.Theotherslaughed.

“Verygood,”Primitivoapproved.“Thatshouldholdherforawhile.”

“ButPilar,”Fernandosaid.“SurelyyoucouldnotexpectoneofDonRoberto’seducationtodosuchvilethings.”

“No,”Pilaragreed.

“Allofthatisoftheutmostrepugnance.”

“Yes,”Pilaragreed.

“Youwouldnotexpecthimactuallytoperformthosedegradingacts?”

“No,”Pilarsaid.“Gotobed,willyou?”

“But,Pilar——”Fernandowenton.

“Shutup,willyou?”Pilarsaidtohimsuddenlyandviciously.“DonotmakeafoolofthyselfandIwilltrynottomakeafoolofmyselftalkingwithpeoplewhocannotunderstandwhatonespeaksof.”

“IconfessIdonotunderstand,”Fernandobegan.

“Don’tconfessanddon’ttrytounderstand,”Pilarsaid.“Isitstillsnowingoutside?”

RobertJordanwenttothemouthofthecave,liftedtheblanketandlookedout.Itwasclearandcoldinthenightoutsideandnosnowwasfalling.Helookedthroughthetreetrunkswherethewhitenesslayandupthroughthetreestowheretheskywasnowclear.Theaircameintohislungssharpandcoldashebreathed.

ElSordowillleaveplentyoftracksifhehasstolenhorsestonight,hethought.

Hedroppedtheblanketandcamebackintothesmokycave.“Itisclear,”hesaid.“Thestormisover.”