“No. They talk, as always, of troops to be sent to clear out these mountains. There is some talk that they are on the way. That they Rave been sent already from Valladolid. But they always talk in that Way. It is not to give any importance to.”
“And thou,” the woman of Pablo said to Pablo almost viciously. “With thy talk of safety.”
Pablo looked at her reflectively and scratched his chin. “Thou,” he said. “And thy bridges.”
“What bridges?” asked Fernando cheerfully.
“Stupid,” the woman said to him. “Thick head. Tonto. Take another cup of coffee and try to remember more news.”
“Don’t be angry, Pilar,” Fernando said calmly and cheerfully. “Neither should one become alarmed at rumors. I have told thee and this comrade all that I remember.”
“You don’t remember anything more?” Robert Jordan asked.
“No,” Fernando said with dignity. “And I am fortunate to remember this because, since it was but rumors, I paid no attention to any of it.”
“Then there may have been more?”
“Yes. It is possible. But I paid no attention. For a year I have heard nothing but rumors.”
Robert Jordan heard a quick, control-breaking sniff of laughter from the girl, Maria, who was standing behind him.
“Tell us one more rumor, Fernandito,” she said and then her shoulders shook again.
“If I could remember, I would not,” Fernando said. “It is beneath a man’s dignity to listen and give importance to rumors.”
“And with this we will save the Republic,” the woman said.
“No. You will save it by blowing bridges,” Pablo told her.
“Go,” said Robert Jordan to Anselmo and Rafael. “If you have eaten.”
“We go now,” the old man said and the two of them stood up. Robert Jordan felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Maria. “Thou shouldst eat,” she said and let her hand rest there. “Eat well so that thy stomach can support more rumors.”
“The rumors have taken the place of the appetite.”
“No. It should not be so. Eat this now before more rumors come.” She put the bowl before him.
“Do not make a joke of me,” Fernando said to her. “I am thy good friend, Maria.”
“I do not joke at thee, Fernando. I only joke with him and he should eat or he will be hungry.”
“We should all eat,” Fernando said. “Pilar, what passes that we are not served?”
“Nothing, man,” the woman of Pablo said and filled his bowl with the meat stew. “Eat. Yes, that’s what you can do. Eat now.”
“It is very good, Pilar,” Fernando said, all dignity intact.
“Thank you,” said the woman. “Thank you and thank you again.”
“Are you angry at me?” Fernando asked.
“No. Eat. Go ahead and eat.”
“I will,” said Fernando. “Thank you.”
Robert Jordan looked at Maria and her shoulders started shaking again and she looked away. Fernando ate steadily, a proud and dignified expression on his face, the dignity of which could not be affected even by the huge spoon that he was using or the slight dripping of juice from the stew which ran from the corners of his mouth.
“Do you like the food?” the woman of Pablo asked him.
“Yes, Pilar,” he said with his mouth full. “It is the same as usual.”
Robert Jordan felt Maria’s hand on his arm and felt her fingers tighten with delight.
“It is for that that you like it?” the woman asked Fernando.
“Yes,” she said. “I see. The stew; as usual. Como siempre. Things are bad in the north; as usual. An offensive here; as usual. That troops come to hunt us out; as usual. You could serve as a monument to as usual.”
“But the last two are only rumors, Pilar.”
“Spain,” the woman of Pablo said bitterly. Then turned to Robert Jordan. “Do they have people such as this in other countries?”
“There are no other countries like Spain,” Robert Jordan said politely.
“You are right,” Fernando said. “There is no other country in the world like Spain.”
“Hast thou ever seen any other country?” the woman asked him.
“Nay,” said Fernando. “Nor do I wish to.”
“You see?” the woman of Pablo said to Robert Jordan.