CHAPTER24

nowthemorningwaslatemay,theskywashighandclearandthewindblewwarmonrobertjordan’sshoulders.thesnowwasgoingfastandtheywereeatingbreakfast.thereweretwobigsandwichesofmeatandthegoatycheeseapiece,androbertjordanhadcutthickslicesofonionwithhisclaspknifeandputthemoneachsideofthemeatandcheesebetweenthechunksofbread.

“youwillhaveabreaththatwillcarrythroughtheforesttothefascists,”agustinsaid,hisownmouthfull.

“givemethewineskinandiwillrinsethemouth,”robertjordansaid,hismouthfullofmeat,cheese,onionandchewedbread.

hehadneverbeenhungrierandhefilledhismouthwithwine,faintlytarry-tastingfromtheleatherbag,andswallowed.thenhetookanotherbigmouthfulofwine,liftingthebaguptoletthejetofwinespurtintothebackofhismouth,thewineskintouchingtheneedlesoftheblindofpinebranchesthatcoveredtheautomaticrifleasheliftedhishand,hisheadleaningagainstthepinebranchesashebentitbacktoletthewinerundown.

“dostthouwantthisothersandwich?”agustinaskedhim,handingittowardhimacrossthegun.

“no.thankyou.eatit.”“icannot.iamnotaccustomedtoeatinthemorning.”

“youdonotwantit,truly?”

“nay.takeit.”

robertjordantookitandlaiditonhislapwhilehegottheonionoutofhissidejacketpocketwherethegrenadeswereandopenedhisknifetosliceit.hecutoffathinsliverofthesurfacethathaddirtiedinhispocket,thencutathickslice.anoutersegmentfellandhepickeditupandbentthecircletogetherandputitintothesandwich.

“eatestthoualwaysonionsforbreakfast?”agustinasked.

“whenthereareany.”

“doallinthycountrydothis?”

“nay,”robertjordansaid.“itislookedonbadlythere.”

“iamglad,”agustinsaid.“ihadalwaysconsideredamericaacivilizedcountry.”

“whathastthouagainsttheonion?”

“theodor.nothingmore.otherwiseitisliketherose.”

robertjordangrinnedathimwithhismouthfull.

“liketherose,”hesaid.“mightyliketherose.aroseisaroseisanonion.”

“thyonionsareaffectingthybrain,”agustinsaid.“takecare.”

“anonionisanonionisanonion,”robertjordansaidcheerilyand,hethought,astoneisasteinisarockisaboulderisapebble.

“rinsethymouthwithwine,”agustinsaid.“thouartveryrare,inglés.thereisgreatdifferencebetweentheeandthelastdynamiterwhoworkedwithus.”

“thereisonegreatdifference.”

“tellittome.”

“iamaliveandheisdead,”robertjordansaid.then:what’sthematterwithyou?hethought.isthatthewaytotalk?doesfoodmakeyouthatslaphappy?whatareyou,drunkononions?isthatallitmeanstoyou,now?itnevermeantmuch,hetoldhimselftruly.youtriedtomakeitmeansomething,butitneverdid.thereisnoneedtolieinthetimethatisleft.

“no,”hesaid,seriouslynow.“thatonewasamanwhohadsufferedgreatly.”

“andthou?hastthounotsuffered?”

“no,”saidrobertjordan.“iamofthosewhosufferlittle.”

“mealso,”agustintoldhim.“therearethosewhosufferandthosewhodonot.isufferverylittle.”

“lessbad,”robertjordantippedupthewineskinagain.“andwiththis,less.”

“isufferforothers.”

“asallgoodmenshould.”

“butformyselfverylittle.”

“hastthouawife?”

“no.”

“meneither.”

“butnowyouhavethemaria.”

“yes.”

“thereisararething,”agustinsaid.“sinceshecametousatthetrainthepilarhaskeptherawayfromallasfiercelyasthoughshewereinaconventofcarmelites.youcannotimaginewithwhatfiercenesssheguardedher.youcome,andshegiveshertotheeasapresent.howdoesthatseemtothee?”

“itwasnotthus.”

“howwasit,then?”

“shehasputherinmycare.”

“andthycareistojoderwithherallnight?”

“withluck.”

“whatamannertocareforone.”

“youdonotunderstandthatonecantakegoodcareofonethus?”

“yes,butsuchcarecouldhavebeenfurnishedbyanyoneofus.”

“letusnottalkofitanymore,”robertjordansaid.“icareforherseriously.”

“seriously?”

“astherecanbenothingmoreseriousinthisworld.”

“andafterwards?afterthisofthebridge?”