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.