CHAPTER43

robertjordanlaybehindthetrunkofapinetreeontheslopeofthehillabovetheroadandthebridgeandwatcheditbecomedaylight.helovedthishourofthedayalwaysandnowhewatchedit;feelingitgraywithinhim,asthoughhewereapartoftheslowlighteningthatcomesbeforetherisingofthesun;whensolidthingsdarkenandspacelightensandthelightsthathaveshoneinthenightgoyellowandthenfadeasthedaycomes.thepinetrunksbelowhimwerehardandclearnow,theirtrunkssolidandbrownandtheroadwasshinywithawispofmistoverit.thedewhadwethimandtheforestfloorwassoftandhefeltthegiveofthebrown,droppedpineneedlesunderhiselbows.belowhesaw,throughthelightmistthatrosefromthestreambed,thesteelofthebridge,straightandrigidacrossthegap,withthewoodensentryboxesateachend.butashelookedthestructureofthebridgewasstillspideryandfineinthemistthathungoverthestream.

hesawthesentrynowinhisboxashestood,hisbackwiththehangingblanketcoattoppedbythesteelcasqueonhisheadshowingasheleanedforwardoverthehole-punchedpetroltinofthebrazier,warminghishands.robertjordanheardthestream,fardownintherocks,andhesawafaint,thinsmokethatrosefromthesentrybox.

helookedathiswatchandthought,iwonderifandrésgotthroughtogolz?ifwearegoingtoblowitiwouldliketobreatheveryslowlyandslowupthetimeagainandfeelit.doyouthinkhemadeit?andrés?andifhedidwouldtheycallitoff?iftheyhadtimetocallitoff?quéva.donotworry.theywillortheywon’t.therearenomoredecisionsandinalittlewhileyouwillknow.supposetheattackisessful.golzsaiditcouldbe.thattherewasapossibility.withourtankscomingdownthatroad,thepeoplecomingthroughfromtherightanddownandpastlagranjaandthewholeleftofthemountainsturned.whydon’tyoueverthinkofhowitistowin?you’vebeenonthedefensiveforsolongthatyoucan’tthinkofthat.sure.butthatwasbeforeallthatstuffwentupthisroad.thatwasbeforealltheplanescame.don’tbesonaive.butrememberthisthataslongaswecanholdthemherewekeepthefasciststiedup.theycan’tattackanyothercountryuntiltheyfinishwithusandtheycanneverfinishwithus.ifthefrenchhelpatall,ifonlytheyleavethefrontieropenandifwegetplanesfromamericatheycanneverfinishwithus.never,ifwegetanythingatall.thesepeoplewillfightforeverifthey’rewellarmed.

noyoumustnotexpectvictoryhere,notforseveralyearsmaybe.thisisjustaholdingattack.youmustnotgetillusionsaboutitnow.supposewegotabreak-throughtoday?thisisourfirstbigattack.keepyoursenseofproportion.butwhatifweshouldhaveit?don’tgetexcited,hetoldhimself.rememberwhatwentuptheroad.you’vedonewhatyoucouldaboutthat.weshouldhaveportableshort-wavesets,though.wewill,intime.butwehaven’tyet.youjustwatchnowanddowhatyoushould.

todayisonlyonedayinallthedaysthatwilleverbe.butwhatwillhappeninalltheotherdaysthatevercomecandependonwhatyoudotoday.it’sbeenthatwayallthisyear.it’sbeenthatwaysomanytimes.allofthiswaristhatway.youaregettingverypompousintheearlymorning,hetoldhimself.looktherewhat’scomingnow.

hesawthetwomeninblanketcapesandsteelhelmetscomearoundthecorneroftheroadwalkingtowardthebridge,theirriflesslungovertheirshoulders.onestoppedatthefarendofthebridgeandwasoutofsightinthesentrybox.theothercameonacrossthebridge,walkingslowlyandheavily.hestoppedonthebridgeandspatintothegorge,thencameonslowlytothenearendofthebridgewheretheothersentryspoketohimandthenstartedoffbackoverthebridge.thesentrywhowasrelievedwalkedfasterthantheotherhaddone(becausehe’sgoingtocoffee,robertjordanthought)buthetoospatdownintothegorge.

iwonderifthatissuperstition?robertjordanthought.i’llhavetotakemeaspitinthatgorgetoo.ificanspitbythen.no.itcan’tbeverypowerfulmedicine.itcan’twork.i’llhavetoproveitdoesn’tworkbeforeiamoutthere.

thenewsentryhadgoneinsidetheboxandsatdown.hisriflewiththebayonetfixedwasleaningagainstthewall.robertjordantookhisglassesfromhisshirtpocketandturnedtheeyepiecesuntiltheendofthebridgeshowedsharpandgray-paintedmetalclear.thenhemovedthemontothesentrybox.

thesentrysatleaningagainstthewall.hishelmethungonapegandhisfaceshowedclearly.robertjordansawhewasthesamemanwhohadbeenthereonguardtwodaysbeforeintheafternoonwatch.hewaswearingthesameknittedstockingcap.andhehadnotshaved.hischeeksweresunkenandhischeekbonesprominent.hehadbushyeyebrowsthatgrewtogetherinthecenter.helookedsleepyandasrobertjordanwatchedhimheyawned.thenhetookoutaopouchandapacketofpapersandrolledhimselfacigarette.hetriedtomakealighterworkandfinallyputitinhispocketandwentovertothebrazier,leanedover,reachedinside,broughtupapieceofcharcoal,leditinonehandwhileheblewonit,thenlitthecigaretteandtossedthelumpofcharcoalbackintothebrazier.

robertjordan,lookingthroughthezeiss8-powerglasses,watchedhisfaceasheleanedagainstthewallofthesentryboxdrawingonthecigarette.thenhetooktheglassesdown,foldedthemtogetherandputtheminhispocket.

iwon’tlookathimagain,hetoldhimself.

helaythereandwatchedtheroadandtriednottothinkatall.asquirrelchitteredfromapinetreebelowhimandrobertjordanwatchedthesquirrelcomedownthetreetrunk,stoppingonhiswaydowntoturnhisheadandlooktowardwherethemanwaswatching.hesawthesquirrel’seyes,smallandbright,andwatchedhistailjerkinexcitement.thenthesquirrelcrossedtoanothertree,movingonthegroundinlong,small-pawed,tail-eratedbounds.onthetreetrunkhelookedbackatrobertjordan,thenpulledhimselfaroundthetrunkandoutofsight.thenrobertjordanheardthesquirrelchitterfromahighbranchofthepinetreeandhewatchedhimthere,spreadflatalongthebranch,histailjerking.

robertjordanlookeddownthroughthepinestothesentryboxagain.hewouldliketohavehadthesquirrelwithhiminhispocket.hewouldliketohavehadanythingthathecouldtouch.herubbedhiselbowsagainstthepineneedlesbutitwasnotthesame.nobodyknowshowlonelyyoucanbewhenyoudothis.me,though,iknow.ihopethatrabbitwillgetoutofthisallright.stopthatnow.yes,sure.buticanhopethatandido.thatiblowitwellandthatshegetsoutallright.good.sure.justthat.thatisalliwantnow.

helaytherenowandlookedawayfromtheroadandthesentryboxandacrosstothefarmountain.justdonotthinkatall,hetoldhimself.helaytherequietlyandwatchedthemorningcome.itwasafineearlysummermorninganditcameveryfastnowintheendofmay.onceamotorcyclistinaleathercoatandall-leatherhelmetwithanautomaticrifleinaholsterbyhisleftlegcameacrossthebridgeandwentonuptheroad.onceanambulancecrossedthebridge,passedbelowhim,andwentuptheroad.butthatwasall.hesmelledthepinesandheheardthestreamandthebridgeshowedclearnowandbeautifulinthemorninglight.helaytherebehindthepinetree,withthesubmachinegunacrosshisleftforearm,andheneverlookedatthesentryboxagainuntil,longafteritseemedthatitwasnevercoming,thatnothingcouldhappenonsuchalovelylatemaymorning,heheardthesudden,clustered,thuddingofthebombs.

asheheardthebombs,thefirstthumpingnoiseofthem,beforetheechoofthemcamebackinthunderfromthemountain,robertjordandrewinalongbreathandliftedthesubmachinegunfromwhereitlay.hisarmfeltstifffromitsweightandhisfingerswereheavywithreluctance.

themaninthesentryboxstoodupwhenheheardthebombs.robertjordansawhimreachforhisrifleandstepforwardoutoftheboxlistening.hestoodintheroadwiththesunshiningonhim.theknittedcapwasonthesideofhisheadandthesunwasonhisunshavedfaceashelookedupintotheskytowardwheretheplaneswerebombing.

therewasnomistontheroadnowandrobertjordansawtheman,clearlyandsharply,standingthereontheroadlookingupatthesky.thesunshonebrightonhimthroughthetrees.

robertjordanfelthisownbreathtightnowasthoughastrandofwireboundhischestand,steadyinghiselbows,feelingthecorrugationsoftheforwardgripagainsthisfingers,heputtheoblongoftheforesight,settlednowinthenotchoftherear,ontothecenteroftheman’schestandsqueezedtheergently.

hefeltthequick,liquid,spasticlurchingofthegunagainsthisshoulderandontheroadtheman,lookingsurprisedandhurt,slidforwardonhiskneesandhisforeheaddoubledtotheroad.hisriflefellbyhimandlaytherewithoneoftheman’sfingerstwistedthroughtheerguard,hiswristbentforward.theriflelay,bayonetforwardontheroad.robertjordanlookedawayfromthemanlyingwithhisheaddoubledunderontheroadtothebridge,andthesentryboxattheotherend.hecouldnotseetheothersentryandhelookeddowntheslopetotherightwhereheknewagustinwashidden.thenheheardanselmoshoot,theshotsmashinganechobackfromthegorge.thenheheardhimshootagain.

withthatsecondshotcamethecrackingboomofgrenadesfromaroundthecornerbelowthebridge.thentherewasthenoiseofgrenadesfromwelluptheroadtotheleft.thenheheardrifle-firinguptheroadandfrombelowcamethenoiseofpablo’scavalryautomaticriflespat-spat-spat-spattingintothenoiseofgrenades.hesawanselmoscramblingdownthesteepcuttothefarendofthebridgeandheslungthesubmachinegunoverhisshoulderandpickedupthetwoheavypacksfrombehindthepinetrunksandwithoneineachhand,thepackspullinghisarmssothathefeltthetendonswouldpulloutofhisshoulders,heranlurchingdownthesteepslopetotheroad.

asheranheheardagustinshouting,“buenacaza,inglés.buenacaza!”andhethought,“nicehunting,likehell,nicehunting,”andjustthenheheardanselmoshootatthefarendofthebridge,thenoiseoftheshotclanginginthesteelgirders.hepassedthesentrywherehelayandranontothebridge,thepacksswinging.

theoldmancamerunningtowardhim,holdinghiscarbineinonehand.“sinnovedad,”heshouted.“there’snothingwrong.tuvequerematarlo.ihadtofinishhim.”robertjordan,kneeling,openingthepacksinthecenterofthebridgetakingouthismaterial,sawthattearswererunningdownanselmo’scheeksthroughthegraybeardstubble.

“yamatéunotambien,”hesaidtoanselmo.“ikilledonetoo,”andjerkedhisheadtowardwherethesentrylayhunchedoverintheroadattheendofthebridge.

“yes,man,yes,”anselmosaid.“wehavetokillthemandwekillthem.”

robertjordanwasclimbingdownintotheframeworkofthebridge.thegirderswerecoldandwetwithdewunderhishandsandheclimbedcarefully,feelingthesunonhisback,bracinghimselfinabridgetruss,hearingthenoiseofthetumblingwaterbelowhim,hearingfiring,toomuchfiring,uptheroadattheupperpost.hewassweatingheavilynowanditwascoolunderthebridge.hehadacoilofwirearoundonearmandapairofpliershungbyathongfromhiswrist.

“handmethatdownapackageatatime,viejo,”hecalleduptoanselmo.theoldmanleanedfarovertheedgehandingdowntheoblongblocksofexplosiveandrobertjordanreachedupforthem,shovedtheminwherehewantedthem,packedthemclose,bracedthem,“wedges,viejo!givemewedges!”smellingthefreshshinglesmellofthenewwhittledwedgesashetappedthemintighttoholdthechargebetweenthegirders.

nowasheworked,placing,bracing,wedging,lashingtightwithwire,thinkingonlyofdemolition,workingfastandskillfullyasasurgeonworks,heheardarattleoffiringfrombelowontheroad.thentherewasthenoiseofagrenade.thenanother,boomingthroughtherushingnoisethewatermade.thenitwasquietfromthatdirection.

“damn,”hethought.“iwonderwhathitthemthen?”

therewasstillfiringuptheroadattheupperpost.toodamnedmuchfiring,andhewaslashingtwogrenadessidebysideontopofthebracedblocksofexplosive,windingwireovertheircorrugationssotheywouldholdtightandfirmandlashingittight;twistingitwiththepliers.hefeltofthewholethingandthen,tomakeitmoresolid,tappedinawedgeabovethegrenadesthatblockedthewholechargefirmlyinagainstthesteel.

“theothersidenow,viejo,”heshouteduptoanselmoandclimbedacrossthroughthetrestling,likeabloodytarzaninarolledsteelforest,hethought,andthencomingoutfromunderthedark,thestreamtumblingbelowhim,helookedupandsawanselmo’sfaceashereachedthepackagesofexplosivedowntohim.goddamngoodface,hethought.notcryingnow.that’salltothegood.andonesidedone.thissidenowandwe’redone.thiswilldropitlikewhatall.comeon.don’tgetexcited.doit.cleanandfastasthelastone.don’tfumblewithit.takeyourtime.don’ttrytodoitfasterthanyoucan.youcan’tlosenow.nobodycankeepyoufromblowingonesidenow.you’redoingitjustthewayyoushould.thisisacoolplace.christ,itfeelscoolasawinecellarandthere’snocrap.usuallyworkingunderastonebridgeit’sfullofcrap.thisisadreambridge.abloodydreambridge.it’stheoldmanontopwho’sinabadspot.don’ttrytodoitfasterthanyoucan.iwishthatshootingwouldbeoverupabove.“givemesomewedges,viejo.”idon’tlikethatshootingstill.pilarhasgotintroublethere.someofthepostmusthavebeenout.outback;orbehindthemill.they’restillshooting.thatmeansthere’ssomebodystillatthemill.andallthatdamnedsawdust.thosebigpilesofsawdust.sawdust,whenit’soldandpacked,isgoodstufftofightbehind.theremustbeseveralofthemstill.it’squietbelowwithpablo.iwonderwhatthatsecondflare-upwas.itmusthavebeenacaroramotorcyclist.ihopetogodtheydon’thaveanyarmoredcarscomeuporanytanks.goon.putitinjustasfastasyoucanandwedgeittightandlashitfast.you’reshaking,likeagoddamnwoman.whatthehellisthematterwithyou?you’retryingtodoittoofast.i’llbetthatgoddamnwomanupaboveisn’tshaking.thatpilar.maybesheistoo.shesoundsasthoughshewereinplentytrouble.she’llshakeifshegetsinenough.likeeverybodybloodyelse.

heleanedoutandupintothesunlightandashereachedhishanduptotakewhatanselmohandedhim,hisheadnowabovethenoiseofthefallingwater,thefiringincreasedsharplyuptheroadandthenthenoiseofgrenadesagain.thenmoregrenades.

“theyrushedthesawmillthen.”

it’sluckyi’vegotthisstuffinblocks,hethought.insteadofsticks.whatthehell.it’sjustneater.althoughalousycanvassackfullofjellywouldbequicker.twosacks.no.oneofthatwoulddo.andifwejusthaddetonatorsandtheoldexploder.thatsonofabitchthrewmyexploderintheriver.thatoldboxandtheplacesthatit’sbeen.inthisriverhethrewit.thatbastardpablo.hegavethemhelltherebelowjustnow.“givemesomemoreofthat,viejo.”

theoldman’sdoingverywell.he’sinquiteaplaceupthere.hehatedtoshootthatsentry.sodidibutididn’tthinkaboutit.nordoithinkaboutitnow.youhavetodothat.butthenanselmogotacripple.iknowaboutcripples.ithinkthatkillingamanwithanautomaticweaponmakesiteasier.imeanontheonedoingit.itisdifferent.afterthefirsttouchitisitthatdoesit.notyou.savethattogointosomeothertime.youandyourhead.youhaveanicethinkingheadoldjordan.rolljordan,roll!theyusedtoyellthatatfootballwhenyouedtheball.doyouknowthedamnedjordanisreallynotmucherthanthatcreekdowntherebelow.atthesource,youmean.soisanythingelseatthesource.thisisaplacehereunderthisbridge.ahomeawayfromhome.comeonjordan,pullyourselftogether.thisisseriousjordan.don’tyouunderstand?serious.it’slesssoallthetime.lookatthatotherside.paraqué?i’mallrightnowhowevershegoes.asmainegoes,sogoesthenation.asjordangoessogothebloodyisraelites.thebridge,imean.asjordangoes,sogoesthebloodybridge,otherwayaround,really.

“givemesomemoreofthat,anselmooldboy,”hesaid.theoldmannodded.“almostthrough,”robertjordansaid.theoldmannoddedagain.

finishingwiringthegrenadesdown,henolongerheardthefiringfromuptheroad.suddenlyhewasworkingonlywiththenoiseofthestream.helookeddownandsawitboilingupwhitebelowhimthroughthebouldersandthendroppingdowntoaclearpebbledpoolwhereoneofthewedgeshehaddroppedswungaroundinthecurrent.ashelookedatroutroseforsomeinsectandmadeacircleonthesurfaceclosetowherethechipwasturning.ashetwistedthewiretightwiththepliersthatheldthesetwogrenadesinplace,hesaw,throughthemetalofthebridge,thesunlightonthegreenslopeofthemountain.itwasbrownthreedaysago,hethought.

outfromthecooldarkunderthebridgeheleanedintothebrightsunandshoutedtoanselmo’sbendingface,“givemethebigcoilofwire.”

theoldmanhandeditdown.

forgod’ssakedon’tloosenthemanyyet.thiswillpullthem.iwishyoucouldstringthemthrough.butwiththelengthofwireyouareusingit’so.k.,robertjordanthoughtashefeltthecotterpinsthatheldtheringsthatwouldreleasetheleversonthehandgrenades.hecheckedthatthegrenades,lashedontheirsides,hadroomfortheleverstospringwhenthepinswerepulled(thewirethatlashedthemranthroughunderthelevers),thenheattachedalengthofwiretoonering,wireditontothemainwirethatrantotheringoftheoutsidegrenade,paidoffsomeslackfromthecoilandpasseditaroundasteelbraceandthenhandedthecoiluptoanselmo.“holditcarefully,”hesaid.

heclimbedupontothebridge,tookthecoilfromtheoldmanandwalkedbackasfastashecouldpayoutwiretowardwherethesentrywasslumpedintheroad,leaningoverthesideofthebridgeandpayingoutwirefromthecoilashewalked.

“bringthesacks,”heshoutedtoanselmoashewalkedbackwards.ashepassedhestoopeddownandpickedupthesubmachinegunandslungitoverhisshoulderagain.

itwasthen,lookingupfrompayingoutwire,thathesaw,welluptheroad,thosewhowerecomingbackfromtheupperpost.

therewerefourofthem,hesaw,andthenhehadtowatchhiswiresoitwouldbeclearandnotfoulagainstanyoftheouterworkofthebridge.eladiowasnotwiththem.

robertjordancarriedthewireclearpasttheendofthebridge,tookaiooparoundthelaststanchionandthenranalongtheroaduntilhestoppedbesideastonemarker.hecutthewireandhandedittoanselmo.

“holdthis,viejo,”hesaid.“nowwalkbackwithmetothebridge.takeuponitasyouwalk.no.iwill.”

atthebridgehepulledthewirebackoutthroughthehitchsoitnowranclearandunfouledtothegrenaderingsandhandedit,stretchingalongsidethebridgebutrunningquiteclear,toanselmo.

“takethisbacktothathighstone,”hesaid.“holditeasilybutfirmly.donotputanyforceonit.whenthoupullesthard,hard,thebridgewillblow.comprendes?”

“yes.”

“treatitsoftlybutdonotletitsagsoitwillfoul.keepitlightlyfirmbutnotpullinguntilthoupullest.comprendes?”

“yes.”