"But if they are moving up troops?"
"I will send Anselmo with a report of all movement and concentrations.
He is checking the road."
"You have some one at road?" Sordo asked.
Robert Jordan did not know how much he had heard.
You never know with a deaf man.
"Yes," he said.
"Me, too.
Why not blow bridge now?"
"I have my orders."
"I don't like it," El Sordo said.
"This I do not like."
"Nor I," said Robert Jordan.
El Sordo shook his head and took a sip of the whiskey.
"You want of me?"
"How many men have you?"
"Eight."
"To cut the telephone, attack the post at the house of the roadmenders, take it, and fall back on the bridge."
"It is easy."
"It will all be written out."
"Don't trouble.
And Pablo?"
"Will cut the telephone below, attack the post at the sawmill, take it and fall back on the bridge."
"And afterwards for the retreat?" Pilar asked.
"We are seven men, two women and five horses.
You are," she shouted into Sordo's ear.
"Eight men and four horses. _Faltan caballos_," he said.
"Lacks horses."
"Seventeen people and nine horses," Pilar said.
"Without accounting for transport."
Sordo said nothing.
"There is no way of getting horses?" Robert Jordan said into Sordo's best ear.
"In war a year," Sordo said.
"Have four."
He showed four fingers. "Now you want eight for tomorrow."
"Yes," said Robert Jordan.
"Knowing you are leaving.
Having no need to be careful as you have been in this neighborhood.
Not having to be cautious here now.
You could not cut out and steal eight head of horses?"
"Maybe," Sordo said.
"Maybe none.
Maybe more."
"You have an automatic rifle?" Robert Jordan asked.
Sordo nodded.
"Where?"
"Up the hill."
"What kind?"
"Don't know name.
With pans."