CHAPTER 41

Pablostoppedanddismountedinthedark.RobertJordanheardthecreakingandtheheavybreathingastheyalldismountedandtheclinkingofabridleasahorsetossedhishead.Hesmelledthehorsesandtheunwashedandsourslept-in-clothingsmellofthenewmenandthewood-smokysleep-stalesmelloftheotherswhohadbeeninthecave.Pablowasstandingclosetohimandhesmelledthebrassy,deadwinesmellthatcamefromhimlikethetasteofacoppercoininyourmouth.Helitacigarette,cuppinghishandtohidethelight,pulleddeeponit,andheardPablosayverysoftly,“Getthegrenadesack,Pilar,whilewehobblethese.”

“Agustín,”RobertJordansaidinawhisper,“youandAnselmocomenowwithmetothebridge.Haveyouthesackofpansforthe?”

“Yes,”Agustínsaid.“Whynot?”

RobertJordanwentovertowherePilarwasunpackingoneofthehorseswiththehelpofPrimitivo.

“Listen,woman,”hesaidsoftly.

“Whatnow?”shewhisperedhuskily,swingingacinchhookclearfromunderthehorse’sbelly.

“Thouunderstandestthatthereistobenoattackonthepostuntilthouhearestthefallingofthebombs?”

“Howmanytimesdostthouhavetotellme?”Pilarsaid.“Youaregettinglikeanoldwoman,Inglés.”

“Onlytocheck,”RobertJordansaid.“Andafterthedestructionofthepostyoufallbackontothebridgeandcovertheroadfromaboveandmyleftflank.”

“ThefirsttimethououtlineditIunderstooditaswellasIwilleverunderstandit,”Pilarwhisperedtohim.“Gettheeaboutthybusiness.”

“Thatnooneshouldmakeamovenorfireashotnorthrowabombuntilthenoiseofthebombardmentcomes,”RobertJordansaidsoftly.

“Donotmolestmemore,”Pilarwhisperedangrily.“IhaveunderstoodthissincewewereatSordo’s.”

RobertJordanwenttowherePablowastyingthehorses.“Ihaveonlyhobbledthosewhichareliabletopanic,”Pablosaid.“Thesearetiedsoapulloftheropewillreleasethem,see?”

“Good.”

“Iwilltellthegirlandthegypsyhowtohandlethem,”Pablosaid.Hisnewmenwerestandinginagroupbythemselvesleaningontheircarbines.

“Dostunderstandall?”RobertJordanasked.

“Whynot?”Pablosaid.“Destroythepost.Cutthewire.Fallbackonthebridge.Coverthebridgeuntilthoublowest.”

“Andnothingtostartuntilthecommencementofthebombardment.”

“Thusitis.”

“Wellthen,muchluck.”

Pablogrunted.Thenhesaid,“Thouwiltcoveruswellwiththemáquinaandwiththysmallmáquinawhenwecomeback,eh,Inglés?”

“Delaprimera,”RobertJordansaid.“Offthetopofthebasket.”

“Then,”Pablosaid.“Nothingmore.Butinthatmomentthoumustbeverycareful,Inglés.Itwillnotbesimpletodothatunlessthouartverycareful.”

“Iwillhandlethemáquinamyself,”RobertJordansaidtohim.

“Hastthoumuchexperience?ForIamofnomindtobeshotbyAgustínwithhisbellyfullofgoodintentions.”

“Ihavemuchexperience.Truly.AndifAgustínuseseithermáquinaIwillseethathekeepsitwayabovethee.Above,aboveandabove.”

“Thennothingmore,”Pablosaid.Thenhesaidsoftlyandconfidentially,“Thereisstillalackofhorses.”

Thesonofabitch,RobertJordanthought.OrdoeshethinkIdidnotunderstandhimthefirsttime.

“Igoonfoot,”hesaid.“Thehorsesarethyaffair.”

“Nay,therewillbeahorseforthee,Inglés,”Pablosaidsoftly.“Therewillbehorsesforallofus.”

“Thatisthyproblem,”RobertJordansaid.“Thoudostnothavetocountme.Hastenoughroundsforthynewmáquina?”

“Yes,”Pablosaid.“Allthatthecavalrymancarried.Ihavefiredonlyfourtotryit.Itriedityesterdayinthehighhills.”

“Wegonow,”RobertJordansaid.“Wemustbethereearlyandwellhidden.”

“Weallgonow,”Pablosaid.“Suerte,Inglés.”

Iwonderwhatthebastardisplanningnow,RobertJordansaid.ButIamprettysureIknow.Well,thatishis,notmine.ThankGodIdonotknowthesenewmen.

Heputhishandoutandsaid,“Suerte,Pablo,”andtheirtwohandsgrippedinthedark.

RobertJordan,whenheputhishandout,expectedthatitwouldbelikegraspingsomethingreptilianortouchingaleper.HedidnotknowwhatPablo’shandwouldfeellike.ButinthedarkPablo’shandgrippedhishardandpresseditfranklyandhereturnedthegrip.PablohadagoodhandinthedarkandfeelingitgaveRobertJordanthestrangestfeelinghehadfeltthatmorning.Wemustbealliesnow,hethought.Therewasalwaysmuchhandshakingwithallies.Nottomentiondecorationsandkissingonbothcheeks,hethought.I’mgladwedonothavetodothat.Isupposeallalliesarelikethis.Theyalwayshateeachotheraufond.ButthisPabloisastrangeman.

“Suerte,Pablo,”hesaidandgrippedthestrange,firm,purposefulhandhard.“Iwillcovertheewell.Donotworry.”

“Iamsorryforhavingtakenthymaterial,”Pablosaid.“Itwasanequivocation.”

“Butthouhasbroughtwhatweneeded.”

“Idonotholdthisofthebridgeagainstthee,Inglés,”Pablosaid.“Iseeasuccessfulterminationforit.”

“Whatareyoutwodoing?Becomingmaricones?”Pilarsaidsuddenlybesidetheminthedark.“Thatisallthouhastlacked,”shesaidtoPablo.“Getalong,Inglés,andcutthygood-bysshortbeforethisonestealstherestofthyexplosive.”

“Thoudostnotunderstandme,woman,”Pablosaid.“TheInglésandIunderstandoneanother.”

“Nobodyunderstandsthee.NeitherGodnorthymother,”Pilarsaid.“NorIeither.Getalong,Inglés.Makethygood-byswiththycroppedheadandgo.Mecagoentupadre,butIbegintothinkthouartafraidtoseethebullcomeout.”

“Thymother,”RobertJordansaid.

“Thouneverhadstone,”Pilarwhisperedcheerfully.“Nowgo,becauseIhaveagreatdesiretostartthisandgetitoverwith.Gowiththypeople,”shesaidtoPablo.“Whoknowshowlongtheirsternresolutionisgoodfor?ThouhastacouplethatIwouldnottradetheefor.Takethemandgo.”

RobertJordanslunghispackonhisbackandwalkedovertothehorsestofindMaria.

“Good-by,guapa,”hesaid.“Iwillseetheesoon.”

Hehadanunrealfeelingaboutallofthisnowasthoughhehadsaiditallbeforeorasthoughitwereatrainthatweregoing,especiallyasthoughitwereatrainandhewasstandingontheplatformofarailwaystation.

“Good-by,Roberto,”shesaid.“Takemuchcare.”

“Ofcourse,”hesaid.Hebenthisheadtokissherandhispackrolledforwardagainstthebackofhisheadsothathisforeheadbumpedhershard.Asthishappenedheknewthishadhappenedbeforetoo.

“Don’tcry,”hesaid,awkwardnotonlyfromtheload.

“Idonot,”shesaid.“Butcomebackquickly.”

“Donotworrywhenyouhearthefiring.Thereisboundtobemuchfiring.”

“Nay.Onlycomebackquickly.”

“Good-by,guapa,”hesaidawkwardly.

“Salud,Roberto.”

RobertJordanhadnotfeltthisyoungsincehehadtakenthetrainatRedLodgetogodowntoBillingstogetthetraintheretogoawaytoschoolforthefirsttime.Hehadbeenafraidtogoandhedidnotwantanyonetoknowitand,atthestation,justbeforetheconductorpickeduptheboxhewouldstepupontoreachthestepsofthedaycoach,hisfatherhadkissedhimgood-byandsaid,“MaytheLordwatchbetweentheeandmewhileweareabsenttheonefromtheother.”Hisfatherhadbeenaveryreligiousmanandhehadsaiditsimplyandsincerely.ButhismoustachehadbeenmoistandhiseyesweredampwithemotionandRobertJordanhadbeensoembarrassedbyallofit,thedampreligioussoundoftheprayer,andbyhisfatherkissinghimgood-by,thathehadfeltsuddenlysomucholderthanhisfatherandsorryforhimthathecouldhardlybearit.

Afterthetrainstartedhehadstoodontherearplatformandwatchedthestationandthewatertowergrowsmallerandsmallerandtherailscrossedbythetiesnarrowedtowardapointwherethestationandthewatertowerstoodnowminuteandtinyinthesteadyclickingthatwastakinghimaway.

Thebrakemansaid,“Dadseemedtotakeyourgoingsortofhard,Bob.”

“Yes,”hehadsaidwatchingthesagebrushthatranfromtheedgeoftheroadbedbetweenthepassingtelegraphpolesacrosstothestreaming-bydustystretchingoftheroad.Hewaslookingforsagehens.

“Youdon’tmindgoingawaytoschool?”

“No,”hehadsaidanditwastrue.

Itwouldnothavebeentruebeforebutitwastruethatminuteanditwasonlynow,atthisparting,thatheeverfeltasyoungagainashehadfeltbeforethattrainleft.Hefeltveryyoungnowandveryawkwardandhewassayinggood-byasawkwardlyasonecanbewhensayinggood-bytoayounggirlwhenyouareaboyinschool,sayinggoodbyatthefrontporch,notknowingwhethertokissthegirlornot.Thenheknewitwasnotthegood-byhewasbeingawkwardabout.Itwasthemeetinghewasgoingto.Thegood-bywasonlyapartoftheawkwardnesshefeltaboutthemeeting.

You’regettingthemagain,hetoldhimself.ButIsupposethereisnoonethatdoesnotfeelthatheistooyoungtodoit.Hewouldnotputanametoit.Comeon,hesaidtohimself.Comeon.Itistooearlyforyoursecondchildhood.

“Good-by,guapa,”hesaid.“Good-by,rabbit.”

“Good-by,myRoberto,”shesaidandhewentovertowhereAnselmoandAgustínwerestandingandsaid,“Vamonos.”

Anselmoswunghisheavypackup.Agustín,fullyloadedsincethecave,wasleaningagainstatree,theautomaticriflejuttingoverthetopofhisload.

“Good,”hesaid,“Vamonos.”

Thethreeofthemstarteddownthehill.

“Buenasuerte,DonRoberto,”Fernandosaidasthethreeofthempassedhimastheymovedinsinglefilebetweenthetrees.Fernandowascrouchedonhishaunchesalittlewayfromwheretheypassedbuthespokewithgreatdignity.

“Buenasuertethyself,Fernando,”RobertJordansaid.

“Ineverythingthoudoest,”Agustínsaid.

“Thankyou,DonRoberto,”Fernandosaid,undisturbedbyAgustín.

“Thatoneisaphenomenon,Inglés,”Agustínwhispered.

“Ibelievethee,”RobertJordansaid.“CanIhelpthee?Thouartloadedlikeahorse.”

“Iamallright,”Agustínsaid.“Man,butIamcontentwearestarted.”

“Speaksoftly,”Anselmosaid.“Fromnowonspeaklittleandsoftly.”

Walkingcarefully,downhill,Anselmointhelead,Agustínnext,RobertJordanplacinghisfeetcarefullysothathewouldnotslip,feelingthedeadpineneedlesunderhisrope-soledshoes,bumpingatreerootwithonefootandputtingahandforwardandfeelingthecoldmetaljutoftheautomaticriflebarrelandthefoldedlegsofthetripod,thenworkingsidewaysdownthehill,hisshoesslidingandgroovingtheforestfloor,puttinghislefthandoutagainandtouchingtheroughbarkofatreetrunk,thenashebracedhimselfhishandfeelingasmoothplace,thebaseofthepalmofhishandcomingawaystickyfromtheresinoussapwhereablazehadbeencut,theydroppeddownthesteepwoodedhillsidetothepointabovethebridgewhereRobertJordanandAnselmohadwatchedthefirstday.

NowAnselmowashaltedbyapinetreeinthedarkandhetookRobertJordan’swristandwhispered,solowJordancouldhardlyhearhim,“Look.Thereisthefireinhisbrazier.”

ItwasapointoflightbelowwhereRobertJordanknewthebridgejoinedtheroad.

“Hereiswherewewatched,”Anselmosaid.HetookRobertJordan’shandandbentitdowntotouchasmallfreshblazelowonatreetrunk.“ThisImarkedwhilethouwatched.Totherightiswherethouwishedtoputthemáquina.”

“Wewillplaceitthere.”

“Good.”

TheyputthepacksdownbehindthebaseofthepinetrunksandthetwoofthemfollowedAnselmoovertothelevelplacewheretherewasaclumpofseedlingpines.

“Itishere,”Anselmosaid.“Justhere.”

“Fromhere,withdaylight,”RobertJordancrouchedbehindthesmalltreeswhisperedtoAgustín,“thouwiltseeasmallstretchofroadandtheentrancetothebridge.Thouwiltseethelengthofthebridgeandasmallstretchofroadattheotherendbeforeitroundsthecurveoftherocks.”

Agustínsaidnothing.

“Herethouwiltliewhilewepreparetheexplodingandfireonanythingthatcomesfromaboveorbelow.”

“Whereisthatlight?”Agustínasked.

“Inthesentryboxatthisend,”RobertJordanwhispered.

“Whodealswiththesentries?”

“TheoldmanandI,asItoldthee.Butifwedonotdealwiththem,thoumustfireintothesentryboxesandatthemifthouseestthem.”

“Yes.Youtoldmethat.”

“AftertheexplosionwhenthepeopleofPablocomearoundthatcorner,thoumustfireovertheirheadsifotherscomeafterthem.Thoumustfirehighabovethemwhentheyappearinanyeventthatothersmustnotcome.Understandestthou?”

“Whynot?Itisasthousaidstlastnight.”

“Hastanyquestions?”

“Nay.Ihavetwosacks.Icanloadthemfromabovewhereitwillnotbeseenandbringthemhere.”

“Butdonodigginghere.Thoumustbeaswellhidaswewereatthetop.”

“Nay.Iwillbringthedirtintheminthedark.Youwillsee.TheywillnotshowasIwillfixthem.”

“Thouareveryclose.Sabes?Inthedaylightthisclumpshowsclearlyfrombelow.”

“Donotworry,Inglés.Wheregoestthou?”

“Igoclosebelowwiththesmallmáquinaofmine.Theoldmanwillcrossthegorgenowtobereadyfortheboxoftheotherend.Itfacesinthatdirection.”

“Thennothingmore,”saidAgustín.“Salud,Inglés.Hastthoutobacco?”

“Thoucanstnotsmoke.Itistooclose.”

“Nay.Justtoholdinthemouth.Tosmokelater.”

RobertJordangavehimhiscigarettecaseandAgustíntookthreecigarettesandputtheminsidethefrontflapofhisherdsman’sflatcap.Hespreadthelegsofhistripodwiththegunmuzzleinthelowpinesandcommencedunpackinghisloadbytouchandlayingthethingswherehewantedthem.

“Nadamas,”hesaid.“Well,nothingmore.”

AnselmoandRobertJordanlefthimthereandwentbacktowherethepackswere.

“Wherehadwebestleavethem?”RobertJordanwhispered.

“Ithinkhere.Butcanstthoubesureofthesentrywiththysmallmáquinafromhere?”

“Isthisexactlywherewewereonthatday?”

“Thesametree,”AnselmosaidsolowJordancouldbarelyhearhimandheknewhewasspeakingwithoutmovinghislipsashehadspokenthatfirstday.“Imarkeditwithmyknife.”

RobertJordanhadthefeelingagainofitallhavinghappenedbefore,butthistimeitcamefromhisownrepetitionofaqueryandAnselmo’sanswer.IthadbeenthesamewithAgustín,whohadaskedaquestionaboutthesentriesalthoughheknewtheanswer.

“Itiscloseenough.Eventooclose,”hewhispered.“Butthelightisbehindus.Weareallrighthere.”

“ThenIwillgonowtocrossthegorgeandbeinpositionattheotherend,”Anselmosaid.Thenhesaid,“Pardonme,Inglés.Sothatthereisnomistake.IncaseIamstupid.”

“What?”hebreathedverysoftly.

“OnlytorepeatitsothatIwilldoitexactly.”

“WhenIfire,thouwiltfire.Whenthymaniseliminated,crossthebridgetome.IwillhavethepacksdownthereandthouwiltdoasItelltheeintheplacingofthecharges.EverythingIwilltellthee.IfaughthappenstomedoitthyselfasIshowedthee.Takethytimeanddoitwell,wedgingallsecurelywiththewoodenwedgesandlashingthegrenadesfirmly.”

“Itisallcleartome,”Anselmosaid.“Irememberitall.NowIgo.Keeptheewellcovered,Inglés,whendaylightcomes.”

“Whenthoufirest,”RobertJordansaid,“takearestandmakeverysure.Donotthinkofitasamanbutasatarget,deacuerdo?Donotshootatthewholemanbutatapoint.Shootfortheexactcenterofthebelly——ifhefacesthee.Atthemiddleoftheback,ifheislookingaway.Listen,oldone.WhenIfireifthemanissittingdownhewillstandupbeforeherunsorcrouches.Shootthen.Ifheisstillsittingdownshoot.Donotwait.Butmakesure.Gettowithinfiftyyards.Thouartahunter.Thouhastnoproblem.”

“Iwilldoasthouorderest,”Anselmosaid.

“Yes.Iorderitthus,”RobertJordansaid.

I’mgladIrememberedtomakeitanorder,hethought.Thathelpshimout.Thattakessomeofthecurseoff.Ihopeitdoes,anyway.Someofit.Ihadforgottenaboutwhathetoldmethatfirstdayaboutthekilling.

“ItisthusIhaveordered,”hesaid.“Nowgo.”

“Mevoy,”saidAnselmo.“Untilsoon,Inglés.”

“Untilsoon,oldone,”RobertJordansaid.

HerememberedhisfatherintherailwaystationandthewetnessofthatfarewellandhedidnotsaySaludnorgood-bynorgoodlucknoranythinglikethat.

“Hastwipedtheoilfromtheboreofthygun,oldone?”hewhispered.“Soitwillnotthrowwild?”

“Inthecave,”Anselmosaid.“Icleanedthemallwiththepullthrough.”

“Thenuntilsoon,”RobertJordansaidandtheoldmanwentoff,noiselessonhisrope-soledshoes,swingingwidethroughthetrees.

RobertJordanlayonthepine-needleflooroftheforestandlistenedtothefirststirringinthebranchesofthepinesofthewindthatwouldcomewithdaylight.Hetooktheclipoutofthesubmachinegunandworkedthelockbackandforth.Thenheturnedthegun,withthelockopenandinthedarkheputthemuzzletohislipsandblewthroughthebarrel,themetaltastinggreasyandoilyashistonguetouchedtheedgeofthebore.Helaidthegunacrosshisforearm,theactionupsothatnopineneedlesorrubbishcouldgetinit,andshuckedallthecartridgesoutoftheclipwithhisthumbandontoahandkerchiefhehadspreadinfrontofhim.Then,feelingeachcartridgeinthedarkandturningitinhisfingers,hepressedandslidthemoneatatimebackintotheclip.Nowtheclipwasheavyagaininhishandandhesliditbackintothesubmachinegunandfeltitclickhome.Helayonhisbellybehindthepinetrunk,thegunacrosshisleftforearmandwatchedthepointoflightbelowhim.Sometimeshecouldnotseeitandthenheknewthatthemaninthesentryboxhadmovedinfrontofthebrazier.RobertJordanlaythereandwaitedfordaylight.