CHAPTER 22

“Cutmepinebranches,”RobertJordansaidtoPrimitivo,“andbringthemquickly.”

“Idonotlikethegunthere,”hesaidtoAgustín.

“Why?”

“Placeitoverthere,”RobertJordanpointed,“andlaterIwilltellthee.”

“Here,thus.Letmehelpthee.Here,”hesaid,thensquatteddown.

Helookedoutacrossthenarrowoblong,notingtheheightoftherocksoneitherside.

“Itmustbefarther,”hesaid,“fartherout.Good.Here.Thatwilldountilitcanbedoneproperly.There.Putthestonesthere.Hereisone.Putanotherthereattheside.Leaveroomforthemuzzletoswing.Thestonemustbefarthertothisside.Anselmo.Gettheedowntothecaveandbringmeanax.Quickly.”

“Haveyouneverhadaproperemplacementforthegun?”hesaidtoAgustín.

“Wealwaysplacedithere.”

“Kashkinneversaidtoputitthere?”

“No.Thegunwasbroughtafterheleft.”

“Didnoonebringitwhoknewhowtouseit?”

“No.Itwasbroughtbyporters.”

“Whatawaytodothings,”RobertJordansaid.“Itwasjustgiventoyouwithoutinstruction?”

“Yes,asagiftmightbegiven.OneforusandoneforElSordo.Fourmenbroughtthem.Anselmoguidedthem.”

“Itwasawondertheydidnotlosethemwithfourmentocrossthelines.”

“Ithoughtso,too,”Agustínsaid.“Ithoughtthosewhosentthemmeantforthemtobelost.ButAnselmobroughtthemwell.”

“Youknowhowtohandleit?”

“Yes.Ihaveexperimented.Iknow.Pabloknows.Primitivoknows.SodoesFernando.Wehavemadeastudyoftakingitapartandputtingittogetheronthetableinthecave.Oncewehaditapartandcouldnotgetittogetherfortwodays.Sincethenwehavenothaditapart.”

“Doesitshootnow?”

“Yes.Butwedonotletthegypsynorothersfrigwithit.”

“Yousee?Fromthereitwasuseless,”hesaid.“Look.Thoserockswhichshouldprotectyourflanksgivecovertothosewhowillattackyou.Withsuchagunyoumustseekaflatnessoverwhichtofire.Alsoyoumusttakethemsideways.See?Looknow.Allthatisdominated.”

“Isee,”saidAgustín.“Butwehaveneverfoughtindefenseexceptwhenourtownwastaken.Atthetrainthereweresoldierswiththemáquina.”

“Thenwewillalllearntogether,”RobertJordansaid.“Thereareafewthingstoobserve.Whereisthegypsywhoshouldbehere?”

“Idonotknow.”

“Whereisitpossibleforhimtobe?”

“Idonotknow.”

Pablohadriddenoutthroughthepassandturnedonceandriddeninacircleacrossthelevelspaceatthetopthatwasthefieldoffirefortheautomaticrifle.NowRobertJordanwatchedhimridingdowntheslopealongsidethetracksthehorsehadleftwhenhewasriddenin.Hedisappearedinthetreesturningtotheleft.

Ihopehedoesn’trunrightintocavalry,RobertJordanthought.I’mafraidwe’dhavehimrighthereinourlaps.

PrimitivobroughtthepinebranchesandRobertJordanstuckthemthroughthesnowintotheunfrozenearth,archingthemoverthegunfromeitherside.

“Bringmore,”hesaid.“Theremustbecoverforthetwomenwhoserveit.Thisisnotgoodbutitwillserveuntiltheaxcomes.Listen,”hesaid,“ifyouhearaplanelieflatwhereverthouartintheshadowsoftherocks.Iamherewiththegun.”

Nowwiththesunupandthewarmwindblowingitwaspleasantonthesideoftherockswherethesunshone.Fourhorses,RobertJordanthought.Thetwowomenandme,Anselmo,Primitivo,Fernando,Agustín,whatthehellisthenameoftheotherbrother?That’seight.Notcountingthegypsy.Makesnine.PlusPablogonewithonehorsemakesten.Andrésishisname.Theotherbrother.Plustheother,Eladio.Makesten.That’snotone-halfahorseapiece.Threemencanholdthisandfourcangetaway.FivewithPablo.That’stwoleftover.ThreewithEladio.Wherethehellishe?

GodknowswhatwillhappentoSordotodayiftheypickedupthetrailofthosehorsesinthesnow.Thatwastough;thesnowstoppingthatway.Butitmeltingtodaywilleventhingsup.ButnotforSordo.I’mafraidit’stoolatetoevenitupforSordo.

Ifwecanlastthroughtodayandnothavetofightwecanswingthewholeshowtomorrowwithwhatwehave.Iknowwecan.Notwell,maybe.Notasitshouldbe,tobefoolproof,notaswewouldhavedone;butusingeverybodywecanswingit.Ifwedon’thavetofighttoday.Godhelpusifwehavetofighttoday.

Idon’tknowanyplacebettertolayupinthemeantimethanthis.Ifwemovenowweonlyleavetracks.Thisisasgoodaplaceasanyandiftheworstgetstobetheworsttherearethreewaysoutofthisplace.Thereisthedarkthentocomeandfromwhereverweareinthesehills,Icanreachanddothebridgeatdaylight.Idon’tknowwhyIworriedaboutitbefore.Itseemseasyenoughnow.Ihopetheygettheplanesupontimeforonce.Icertainlyhopethat.Tomorrowisgoingtobeadaywithdustontheroad.

Well,todaywillbeveryinterestingorverydull.ThankGodwe’vegotthatcavalrymountoutandawayfromhere.Idon’tthinkeveniftheyriderightupheretheywillgointhewaythosetracksarenow.They’llthinkhestoppedandcircledandthey’llpickupPablo’stracks.Iwonderwheretheoldswinewillgo.He’llprobablyleavetrackslikeanoldbullelkspookingoutofthecountryandworkwayupandthenwhenthesnowmeltscirclebackbelow.Thathorsecertainlydidthingsforhim.Ofcoursehemayhavejustmuckedoffwithhimtoo.Well,heshouldbeabletotakecareofhimself.He’sbeendoingthisalongtime.Iwouldn’ttrusthimfartherthanyoucanthrowMountEverest,though.

Isupposeit’ssmartertousetheserocksandbuildagoodblindforthisgunthantomakeaproperemplacementforit.You’dbediggingandgetcaughtwithyourpantsdowniftheycomeoriftheplanescome.Shewillholdthis,thewaysheis,aslongasitisanyusetoholdit,andanywayIcan’tstaytofight.IhavetogetoutofherewiththatstuffandI’mgoingtotakeAnselmowithme.Whowouldstaytocoveruswhilewegotawayifwehavetofighthere?

Justthen,whilehewaswatchingallofthecountrythatwasvisible,hesawthegypsycomingthroughtherockstotheleft.Hewaswalkingwithaloose,high-hipped,sloppyswing,hiscarbinewasslungonhisback,hisbrownfacewasgrinningandhecarriedtwobighares,oneineachhand.Hecarriedthembythelegs,headsswinging.

“Hola,Roberto,”hecalledcheerfully.

RobertJordanputhishandtohismouth,andthegypsylookedstartled.HeslidoverbehindtherockstowhereRobertJordanwascrouchedbesidethebrush-shieldedautomaticrifle.Hecroucheddownandlaidtheharesinthesnow.RobertJordanlookedupathim.

“Youhijodelagranputa!”hesaidsoftly.“Wheretheobscenityhaveyoubeen?”

“Itrackedthem,”thegypsysaid.“Igotthemboth.Theyhadmadeloveinthesnow.”

“Andthypost?”

“Itwasnotforlong,”thegypsywhispered.“Whatpasses?Isthereanalarm?”

“Thereiscavalryout.”

“Rediós!”thegypsysaid.“Hastthouseenthem?”

“Thereisoneatthecampnow,”RobertJordansaid.“Hecameforbreakfast.”

“IthoughtIheardashotorsomethinglikeone,”thegypsysaid.“Iobscenityinthemilk!Didhecomethroughhere?”

“Here.Thypost.”

“Ay,mimadre!”thegypsysaid.“Iamapoor,unluckyman.”

“Ifthouwertnotagypsy,Iwouldshootthee.”

“No,Roberto.Don’tsaythat.Iamsorry.Itwasthehares.BeforedaylightIheardthemalethumpinginthesnow.Youcannotimaginewhatadebauchtheywereengagedin.Iwenttowardthenoisebuttheyweregone.IfollowedthetracksinthesnowandhighupIfoundthemtogetherandslewthemboth.Feelthefatnessofthetwoforthistimeofyear.ThinkwhatthePilarwilldowiththosetwo.Iamsorry,Roberto,assorryasthee.Wasthecavalrymankilled?”

“Yes.”

“Bythee?”

“Yes.”

“Quétío!”thegypsysaidinopenflattery.“Thouartaveritablephenomenon.”

“Thymother!”RobertJordansaid.Hecouldnothelpgrinningatthegypsy.“Takethyharestocampandbringusupsomebreakfast.”

Heputahandoutandfeltoftheharesthatlaylimp,long,heavy,thick-furred,bigfootedandlong-earedinthesnow,theirrounddarkeyesopen.

“Theyarefat,”hesaid.

“Fat!”thegypsysaid.“There’satuboflardontheribsofeachone.InmylifehaveIneverdreamedofsuchhares.”

“Gothen,”RobertJordansaid,“andcomequicklywiththebreakfastandbringtomethedocumentationofthatrequeté.AskPilarforit.”

“Youarenotangrywithme,Roberto?”

“Notangry.Disgustedthatyoushouldleaveyourpost.Supposeithadbeenatroopofcavalry?”

“Rediós,”thegypsysaid.“Howreasonableyouare.”

“Listentome.Youcannotleaveapostagainlikethat.Never.Idonotspeakofshootinglightly.”

“Ofcoursenot.Andanotherthing.Neverwouldsuchanopportunityasthetwoharespresentitselféagain.Notinthelifeofoneman.”

“Anda!”RobertJordansaid.“Andhurryback.”

ThegypsypickedupthetwoharesandslippedbackthroughtherocksandRobertJordanlookedoutacrosstheflatopeningandtheslopesofthehillbelow.Twocrowscircledoverheadandthenlitinapinetreebelow.AnothercrowjoinedthemandRobertJordan,watchingthem,thought:thosearemysentinels.Aslongasthosearequietthereisnoonecomingthroughthetrees.

Thegypsy,hethought.Heistrulyworthless.Hehasnopoliticaldevelopment,noranydiscipline,andyoucouldnotrelyonhimforanything.ButIneedhimfortomorrow.Ihaveauseforhimtomorrow.It’soddtoseeagypsyinawar.Theyshouldbeexemptedlikeconscientiousobjectors.Orasthephysicallyandmentallyunfit.Theyareworthless.Butconscientiousobjectorsweren’texemptedinthiswar.Noonewasexempted.Itcametooneandallalike.Well,ithadcomeherenowtothislazyoutfit.Theyhaditnow.

AgustínandPrimitivocameupwiththebrushandRobertJordanbuiltagoodblindfortheautomaticrifle,ablindthatwouldconcealthegunfromtheairandthatwouldlooknaturalfromtheforest.Heshowedthemwheretoplaceamanhighintherockstotherightwherehecouldseeallthecountrybelowandtotheright,andanotherwherehecouldcommandtheonlystretchwheretheleftwallmightbeclimbed.

“Donotfireifyouseeanyonefromthere,”RobertJordansaid.“Rollarockdownasawarning,asmallrock,andsignaltouswiththyrifle,thus,”heliftedtherifleandhelditoverhisheadasthoughguardingit.“Thusfornumbers,”heliftedtherifleupanddown.“Iftheyaredismountedpointthyriflemuzzleattheground.Thus.Donotfirefromthereuntilthouhearestthemáquinafire.Shootataman’skneeswhenyoushootfromthatheight.Ifyouhearmewhistletwiceonthiswhistlegetdown,keepingbehindcover,andcometotheserockswherethemáquinais.”

Primitivoraisedtherifle.

“Iunderstand,”hesaid.“Itisverysimple.”

“Sendfirstthesmallrockasawarningandindicatethedirectionandthenumber.Seethatyouarenotseen.”

“Yes,”Primitivosaid.“IfIcanthrowagrenade?”

“Notuntilthemáquinahasspoken.Itmaybethatcavalrywillcomesearchingfortheircomradeandstillnottrytoenter.TheymayfollowthetracksofPablo.Wedonotwantcombatifitcanbeavoided.Aboveallthatweshouldavoidit.Nowgetupthere.”

“Mevoy,”Primitivosaid,andclimbedupintothehighrockswithhiscarbine.

“Thou,Agustín,”RobertJordansaid.“Whatdoyouknowofthegun?”

Agustínsquattedthere,tall,black,stubblyjoweled,withhissunkeneyesandthinmouthandhisbigwork-wornhands.

“Pues,toloadit.Toaimit.Toshootit.Nothingmore.”

“Youmustnotfireuntiltheyarewithinfiftymetersandonlywhenyouaresuretheywillbecomingintothepasswhichleadstothecave,”RobertJordansaid.

“Yes.Howfaristhat?”

“Thatrock.”

“Ifthereisanofficershoothimfirst.Thenmovethegunontotheothers.Moveveryslowly.Ittakeslittlemovement.IwillteachFernandototapit.Holdittightsothatitdoesnotjumpandsightcarefullyanddonotfiremorethansixshotsatatimeifyoucanhelpit.Forthefireofthegunjumpsupward.Buteachtimefireatonemanandthenmovefromhimtoanother.Atamanonahorse,shootathisbelly.”

“Yes.”

“Onemanshouldholdthetripodstillsothatthegundoesnotjump.Thus.Hewillloadthegunforthee.”

“Andwherewillyoube?”

“Iwillbehereontheleft.Above,whereIcanseeallandIwillcoverthyleftwiththissmallmáquina.Here.Iftheyshouldcomeitwouldbepossibletomakeamassacre.Butyoumustnotfireuntiltheyarethatclose.”

“Ibelievethatwecouldmakeamassacre.Menudamatanza!”

“ButIhopetheydonotcome.”

“Ifitwerenotforthybridgewecouldmakeamassacrehereandgetout.”

“Itwouldavailnothing.Thatwouldservenopurpose.Thebridgeisapartofaplantowinthewar.Thiswouldbenothing.Thiswouldbeanincident.Anothing.”

“Quéva,nothing.Everyfascistdeadisafascistless.”

“Yes.ButwiththisofthebridgewecantakeSegovia.TheCapitalofaProvince.Thinkofthat.Itwillbethefirstonewewilltake.”

“Thoubelievestinthisseriously?ThatwecantakeSegovia?”

“Yes.Itispossiblewiththebridgeblowncorrectly.”

“Iwouldliketohavethemassacrehereandthebridge,too.”

“Thouhastmuchappetite,”RobertJordantoldhim.

Allthistimehehadbeenwatchingthecrows.Nowhesawonewaswatchingsomething.Thebirdcawedandflewup.Buttheothercrowstillstayedinthetree.RobertJordanlookeduptowardPrimitivo’splacehighintherocks.Hesawhimwatchingoutoverthecountrybelowbuthemadenosignal.RobertJordanleanedforwardandworkedthelockontheautomaticrifle,sawtheroundinthechamberandletthelockdown.Thecrowwasstillthereinthetree.Theothercircledwideoverthesnowandthensettledagain.Inthesunandthewarmwindthesnowwasfallingfromtheladenbranchesofthepines.

“Ihaveamassacrefortheefortomorrowmorning,”RobertJordansaid.“Itisnecessarytoexterminatethepostatthesawmill.”

“Iamready,”Agustínsaid,“Estoylisto.”

“Alsothepostattheroadmender’shutbelowthebridge.”

“Fortheoneorfortheother,”Agustínsaid.“Orforboth.”

“Notforboth.Theywillbedoneatthesametime,”RobertJordansaid.

“Thenforeitherone,”Agustínsaid.“NowforalongtimehaveIwishedforactioninthiswar.Pablohasrottedusherewithinaction.”

Anselmocameupwiththeax.

“Doyouwishmorebranches?”heasked.“Tomeitseemswellhidden.”

“Notbranches,”RobertJordansaid.“Twosmalltreesthatwecanplanthereandtheretomakeitlookmorenatural.Therearenotenoughtreeshereforittobetrulynatural.”

“Iwillbringthem.”

“Cutthemwellback,sothestumpscannotbeseen.”

RobertJordanheardtheaxsoundinginthewoodsbehindhim.HelookedupatPrimitivoaboveintherocksandhelookeddownatthepinesacrosstheclearing.Theonecrowwasstillthere.Thenheheardthefirsthigh,throbbingmurmurofaplanecoming.Helookedupandsawithighandtinyandsilverinthesun,seeminghardlytomoveinthehighsky.

“Theycannotseeus,”hesaidtoAgustín.“Butitiswelltokeepdown.Thatisthesecondobservationplanetoday.”

“Andthoseofyesterday?”Agustínasked.

“Theyarelikeabaddreamnow,”RobertJordansaid.

“TheymustbeatSegovia.Thebaddreamwaitstheretobecomeareality.”

Theplanewasoutofsightnowoverthemountainsbutthesoundofitsmotorsstillpersisted.

AsRobertJordanlooked,hesawthecrowflyup.Heflewstraightawaythroughthetreeswithoutcawing.