Chapter 30

           Laterwewereonaroadthatledtoariver.Therewasalonglineofabandonedtrucksandcartsontheroadleadinguptothebridge.Noonewasinsight.Theriverwashighandthebridgehadbeenblownupinthecentre;thestonearchwasfallenintotheriverandthebrownwaterwasgoingoverit.Wewentonupthebanklookingforaplacetocross.UpaheadIknewtherewasarailwaybridgeandIthoughtwemightbeabletogetacrossthere.Thepathwaswetandmuddy.Wedidnotseeanytroops;onlyabandonedtrucksandstores.Alongtheriverbanktherewasnothingandnoonebutthewetbrushandmuddyground.Wewentuptothebankandfinallywesawtherailwaybridge.

           "Whatabeautifulbridge,"Aymosaid.Itwasalongplainironbridgeacrosswhatwasusuallyadryriver-bed.

           "We’dbetterhurryandgetacrossbeforetheyblowitup,"Isaid.

           "There’snobodytoblowitup,"Pianisaid."They’reallgone."

           "It’sprobablymined,"Bonellosaid."Youcrossfirst,Tenente."

           "Listentotheanarchist,"Aymosaid."Makehimgofirst."

           "I’llgo,"Isaid."Itwon’tbeminedtoblowupwithoneman."

           "Yousee,"Pianisaid."Thatisbrains.Whyhaven’tyoubrains,anarchist?"

           "IfIhadbrainsIwouldn’tbehere,"Bonellosaid.

           "That’sprettygood,Tenente,"Aymosaid.

           "That’sprettygood,"Isaid.Wewereclosetothebridgenow.Theskyhadcloudedoveragainanditwasrainingalittle.Thebridgelookedlongandsolid.Weclimbeduptheembankment.