"But the big estates remain. Also there are taxes on the land," he said.
"But surely the big proprietors and the rich will make a revolution against such taxes.
Such taxes appear to me to be revolutionary.
They will revolt against the government when they see that they are threatened, exactly as the fascists have done here," Primitivo said.
"It is possible."
"Then you will have to fight in your country as we fight here."
"Yes, we will have to fight."
"But are there not many fascists in your country?"
"There are many who do not know they are fascists but will find it out when the time comes."
"But you cannot destroy them until they rebel?"
"No," Robert Jordan said.
"We cannot destroy them.
But we can educate the people so that they will fear fascism and recognize it as it appears and combat it."
"Do you know where there are no fascists?" Andres asked.
"Where?"
"In the town of Pablo," Andres said and grinned.
"You know what was done in that village?" Primitivo asked Robert Jordan.
"Yes.
I have heard the story."
"From Pilar?"
"Yes."
"You could not hear all of it from the woman," Pablo said heavily. "Because she did not see the end of it because she fell from a chair outside of the window."
"You tell him what happened then," Pilar said.
"Since I know not the story, let you tell it."
"Nay," Pablo said.
"I have never told it."
"No," Pilar said.
"And you will not tell it.
And now you wish it had not happened."
"No," Pablo said.
"That is not true.
And if all had killed the fascists as I did we would not have this war.
But I would not have had it happen as it happened."
"Why do you say that?" Primitivo asked him.
"Are you changing your politics?"
"No.
But it was barbarous," Pablo said.
"In those days I was very barbarous."
"And now you are drunk," Pilar said.
"Yes," Pablo said.
"With your permission."
"I liked you better when you were barbarous," the woman said.
"Of all men the drunkard is the foulest.
The thief when he is not stealing is like another.
The extortioner does not practise in the home.
The murderer when he is at home can wash his hands.
But the drunkard stinks and vomits in his own bed and dissolves his organs in alcohol."
"You are a woman and you do not understand," Pablo said equably.
"I am drunk on wine and I would be happy except for those people I have killed.
All of them fill me with sorrow."