Summary
He was completely integrated now and
he took a good long look at everything.
(See Important Quotations Explained)
From his position on the ground, Robert Jordan watches
the dawn, observes a squirrel, and smells the pine trees. He recognizes
one of the sentries on the bridge from surveying the site earlier.
The bombing—the cue for blowing up the bridge—begins.
Robert Jordan and Anselmo shoot the two sentries on the bridge and affix
the dynamite to the near end of the bridge. As Robert Jordan goes
to attach the dynamite to the far end, Pilar returns with her group.
Eladio has been shot through the head and Fernando mortally wounded.
At Fernando’s request, Primitivo and Rafael leave Fernando with
a rifle near the bridge.
Anselmo feels “one with” the world as he waits for Robert
Jordan to finish the setup on the other side of the bridge. They
detonate the dynamite just as a truck prepares to cross the bridge.
Anselmo is killed by a flying block of steel. In the aftermath of
the explosion, Robert Jordan feels angry, especially at Anselmo’s
death. Speaking to Pilar, he gradually lets go of his anger.
Meanwhile, Maria watches the horses. The animals sense
her nervousness and become nervous themselves. Maria prays for Robert
Jordan’s safe return and is relieved when she hears Pilar shout that
he is safe. Robert Jordan checks in with Agustín, who has been manning
the machine gun. Pablo returns alone and says that his other men
are dead. Agustín accuses Pablo of shooting the other men for their
horses, and Pablo does not deny it.
The men return to Maria and the horses. Robert
Jordan embraces her, realizing that, for the first time in his life,
he has been able to hold onto his feelings for a woman during battle.
They mount the horses, and Pablo prepares to lead them to the Gredos
mountains. Robert Jordan mounts the horse of the cavalryman he killed
the previous day. He rides last in the caravan, directly behind
Maria.
As they cross the main road, a Fascist bullet hits Robert
Jordan’s horse, which tramples on Robert Jordan’s left leg, breaking
it. Realizing that he will have to stay behind, Robert Jordan talks
to Pablo and tells him to use his head. Then Robert Jordan speaks
to Maria, and tells her that although he must stay behind, when
she leaves he will be with her. Agustín offers to shoot him out
of mercy, but Robert Jordan refuses and asks him to take care of
Maria.
