Maria was kneeling by him and saying, „Roberto, what hast thou?“
He said, sweating heavily, „The left leg is broken, _guapa_.“
„We will bind it up,“ Pilar said. „Thou canst ride that.“ She pointed to
one of the horses that was packed. „Cut off the load.“
Robert Jordan saw Pablo shake his head and he nodded at him.
„Get along,“ he said. Then he said, „Listen, Pablo. Come here.“
The sweat-streaked, bristly face bent down by him and Robert Jordan smelt the
full smell of Pablo.
„Let us speak,“ he said to Pilar and Maria. „I have to speak to
Pablo.“
„Does it hurt much?“ Pablo asked. He was bending close over Robert
Jordan.
„No. I think the nerve is crushed. Listen. Get along. I am mucked, see?
I will talk to the girl for a moment. When I say to take her, take her. She
will want to stay. I will only speak to her for a moment.“
„Clearly, there is not much time,“ Pablo said.
„Clearly.“
„I think you would do better in the Republic,“ Robert Jordan said.
„Nay. I am for Gredos.“
„Use thy head.“
„Talk to her now,“ Pablo said. „There is little time. I am sorry thou
hast this, Ingles.“
„Since I have it–“ Robert Jordan said. „Let us not speak of it. But use
thy head. Thou hast much head. Use it.“
„Why would I not?“ said Pablo. „Talk now fast, Ingles. There is no
time.“
Pablo went over to the nearest tree and watched down the slope, across the slope
and up the road across the gorge. Pablo was looking at the gray horse on the
slope with true regret on his face and Pilar and Maria were with Robert Jordan
where he sat against the tree trunk.
„Slit the trouser, will thee?“ he said to Pilar. Maria crouched by him and
did not speak. The sun was on her hair and her face was twisted as a
child's contorts before it cries. But she was not crying.
Pilar took her knife and slit his trouser leg down below the lefthand pocket.
Robert Jordan spread the cloth with his hands and looked at the stretch of his
thigh. Ten inches below the hip joint there was a pointed, purple swelling like
a sharp-peaked little tent and as he touched it with his fingers he could feel
the snapped-off thigh bone tight against the skin. His leg was lying at an odd
angle. He looked up at Pilar. Her face had the same expression as Maria's.
„Anda,“ he said to her. „Go.“
She went away with her head down without saying anything nor looking back and
Robert Jordan could see her shoulders shaking.
„Guapa,“ he said to Maria and took hold of her two hands. „Listen. We will
not be going to Madrid–“
Then she started to cry.
„No, guapa, don't,“ he said. „Listen. We will not go to Madrid now but
I go always with thee wherever thou goest. Understand?“
She said nothing and pushed her head against his cheek with her arms around
him.
„Listen to this well, rabbit,“ he said. He knew there was a great hurry and
he was sweating very much, but this had to be said and understood. „Thou wilt
go now, rabbit. But I go with thee. As long as there is one of us there is both
of us. Do you understand?“
„Nay, I stay with thee.“
"Nay, rabbit. What I do now I do alone. I could not do it well