It's not true and you know it.
Look at all the good ones.
Look at all the fine ones.
He could not bear to be unjust.
He hated injustice as he hated cruelty and he lay in his rage that blinded his mind until gradually the anger died down and the red, black, blinding, killing anger was all gone and his mind now as quiet, empty-calm and sharp, cold-seeing as a man is after he has had sexual intercourse with a woman that he does not love.
"And you, you poor rabbit," he leaned over and said to Maria, who smiled in her sleep and moved close against him.
"I would have struck thee there awhile back if thou had spoken.
What an animal a man is in a rage."
He lay close to the girl now with his arms around her and his chin on her shoulder and lying there he figured out exactly what he would have to do and how he would have to do it.
And it isn't so bad, he thought.
It really isn't so bad at all.
I don't know whether any one has ever done it before.
But there will always be people who will do it from now on, given a similar jam.
If we do it and if they hear about it.
If they hear about it, yes.
If they do not just wonder how it was we did it.
We are too short of people but there is no sense to worry about that.
I will do the bridge with what we have.
God, I'm glad I got over being angry.
It was like not being able to breathe in a storm.
That being angry is another damned luxury you can't afford.
"It's all figured out, _guapa_," he said softly against Maria's shoulder.
"You haven't been bothered by any of it.
You have not known about it.
We'll be killed but we'll blow the bridge.
You have not had to worry about it.
That isn't much of a wedding present.
But is not a good night's sleep supposed to be priceless?
You had a good night's sleep.
See if you can wear that like a ring on your finger.
Sleep, _guapa_.
Sleep well, my beloved.
I do not wake thee.
That is all I can do for thee now."
He lay there holding her very lightly, feeling her breathe and feeling her heart beat, and keeping track of the time on his wrist watch.
36
Andres had challenged at the government position.
That is, he had lain down where the ground fell sharply away below the triple belt of wire and shouted up at the rock and earth parapet.
There was no continual defensive line and he could easily have passed this position in the dark and made his way farther into the government territory before running into some one who would challenge him.
But it seemed safer and simpler to get it over here.
"_Salud!_" he had shouted. "_Salud, milicianos!_"
He heard a bolt snick as it was pulled back.
Then, from farther down the parapet, a rifle fired.
There was a crashing crack and a downward stab of yellow in the dark.
Andres had flattened at the click, the top of his head hard against the ground.
"Don't shoot, Comrades," Andres shouted.
"Don't shoot!
I want to come in."
"How many are you?" some one called from behind the parapet.
"One.