CHAPTER36

andréshadchallengedatthegovernmentposition.thatis,hehadlaindownwherethegroundfellsharplyawaybelowthetriplebeltofwireandshoutedupattherockandearthparapet.therewasnocontinualdefensivelineandhecouldeasilyhavepassedthispositioninthedarkandmadehiswayfartherintothegovernmentterritorybeforerunningintosomeonewhowouldchallengehim.butitseemedsaferandsimplertogetitoverhere.

“salud!”hehadshouted.“salud,milicianos!”heheardaboltsnickasitwaspulledback.then,fromfartherdowntheparapet,ariflefired.therewasacrashingcrackandadownwardstabofyellowinthedark.andréshadflattenedattheclick,thetopofhisheadhardagainsttheground.

“don’tshoot,comrades,”andrésshouted.“don’tshoot!iwanttocomein.”

“howmanyareyou?”someonecalledfrombehindtheparapet.

“.alone.”

“whoareyou?”

“andréslopezofvillaconejos.fromthebandofpablo.withamessage.”

“haveyouyourrifleandequipment?”

“yes,man.”

“wecantakeinnonewithoutrifleandequipment,”thevoicesaid.“norinlargergroupsthanthree.”

“iamalone,”andrésshouted.“itisimportant.letmecomein.”

hecouldhearthemtalkingbehindtheparapetbutnotwhattheyweresaying.thenthevoiceshoutedagain,“howmanyareyou?”

“.alone.fortheloveofgod.”

theyweretalkingbehindtheparapetagain.thenthevoicecame,“listen,fascist.”

“iamnotafascist,”andrésshouted.“iamaguerrillerofromthebandofpablo.icomewithamessageforthegeneralstaff.”

“he’scrazy,”heheardsomeonesay.“tossabombathim.”

“listen,”andréssaid.“iamalone.iamcompletelybymyself.iobscenityinthemidstoftheholymysteriesthatiamalone.letmecomein.”

“hespeakslikeachristian,”heheardsomeonesayandlaugh.

thensomeoneelsesaid,“thebestthingistotossabombdownonhim.”

“no,”andrésshouted.“thatwouldbeagreatmistake.thisisimportant.letmecomein.”

itwasforthisreasonthathehadneverenjoyedtripsbackandforthbetweenthelines.sometimesitwasbetterthanothers.butitwasnevergood.

“youarealone?”thevoicecalleddownagain.

“mecagoenlaleche,”andrésshouted.“howmanytimesmustitellthee?iamalone.”

“thenifyoushouldbealonestandupandholdthyrifleoverthyhead.”

andrésstoodupandputthecarbineabovehishead,holdingitinbothhands.

“nowcomethroughthewire.wehavetheecoveredwiththemáquina,”thevoicecalled.

andréswasinthefirstzigzagbeltofwire.“ineedmyhandstogetthroughthewire,”heshouted.

“keepthemup,”thevoicecommanded.

“iamheldfastbythewire,”andréscalled.

“itwouldhavebeensimplertohavethrownabombathim,”avoicesaid.

“lethimslinghisrifle,”anothervoicesaid.“hecannotcomethroughtherewithhishandsabovehishead.usealittlereason.”

“allthesefascistsarethesame,”theothervoicesaid.“theydemandoneconditionafteranother.”

“listen,”andrésshouted.“iamnofascistbutaguerrillerofromthebandofpablo.we’vekilledmorefasciststhanthetyphus.”

“ihaveneverheardofthebandofpablo,”themanwhowasevidentlyincommandofthepostsaid.“neitherofpeternorofpaulnorofanyoftheothersaintsnorapostles.noroftheirbands.slingthyrifleoverthyshoulderandusethyhandstocomethroughthewire.”

“beforeweloosethemáquinaonthee,”anothershouted.

“quépocoamablessois!”andréssaid.“you’renotveryamiable.”

hewasworkinghiswaythroughthewire.

“amables,”someoneshoutedathim.“weareinawar,man.”

“itbeginstoappearso,”andréssaid.

“what’shesay?”

andrésheardaboltclickagain.

“nothing,”heshouted.“isaynothing.donotshootuntiligetthroughthisfornicatingwire.”

“don’tspeakbadlyofourwire,”someoneshouted.“orwe’lltossabombonyou.”

“quierodecir,québuenaalambrada,”andrésshouted.“whatbeautifulwire.godinalatrine.whatlovelywire.sooniwillbewiththee,brothers.”

“throwabombathim,”heheardtheonevoicesay.“itellyouthat’sthesoundestwaytodealwiththewholething.”

“brothers,”andréssaid.hewaswetthroughwithsweatandheknewthebombadvocatewasperfectlycapableoftossingagrenadeatanymoment.“ihavenoimportance.”

“ibelieveit,”thebombmansaid.

“youareright,”andréssaid.hewasworkingcarefullythroughthethirdbeltofwireandhewasveryclosetotheparapet.“ihavenoimportanceofanykind.buttheaffairisserious.muy,muyserio.”

“thereisnomoreseriousthingthanliberty,”thebombmanshouted.“thouthinkestthereisanythingmoreseriousthanliberty?”heaskedchallengingly.

“no,man,”andréssaid,relieved.heknewnowhewasupagainstthecrazies;theoneswiththeblack-and-redscarves.“vivalalibertad!”