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The critic of El Heraldo lit a cigarette and tossed the match at the bull； then wrote in his notebook； ¨large and with enough horns to satisfy the cash customers； Campagnero showed a tendency to cut into the terrain of the bullfighters。〃
Manuel stepped out on the hard sand as the bull banged into the fence。 Out of the corner of his eye he saw Zurito sitting the white horse close to the barrera； about a quarter of the way around the ring to the left。 Manuel held the cape close in front of him； a fold in each hand； and shouted at the bull。 ¨Huh！ Huh！〃 the bull turned； seemed to brace against the fence as he charged in a scramble； driving into the cape as Manuel side…stepped； pivoted on his heels with the charge of the bull； and swung the cape just ahead of the horns。 At the end of the cape he was facing the bull again and held the cape in the same position close in front of his body； and pivoted again as the bull recharged。 Each time； as he swung； the crowd shouted。
Four times he swung with the bull； lifting the cape so it billowed full； and each time bringing the bull around to charge again。 Then； at the end of the fifth swing； he held the cape against his hip and pivoted； so the cape swung out like a ballet dancerˇs skirt and wound the bull around himself like a belt； to step clear； leaving the bull facing Zurito on the white horse； come up and planted firm； the horse facing the bull； its ears forward； its lips nervous； Zurito； his hat over his eyes； leaning forward； the long pole sticking out before and behind in a sharp angle under his right arm； held halfway down； the triangular iron point facing the bull。
El Heraldoˇs second…string critic； drawing on his cigarette； his eyes on the bull； wrote： ˉthe veteran Manolo designed a series of acceptable veronicas； ending in a very Belmontistic recorte that earned applause from the regulars； and we entered the tercio of the cavalry。〃
Zurito sat his horse； measuring the distance between the bull and the end of the pic。 As he looked； the bull gathered himself together and charged； his eyes on the horseˇs chest。 As he lowered his head to hook； Zurito sunk the point of the pic in the swelling hump of muscle above the bullˇs shoulder； leaned all his weight on the shaft； and with his left hand pulled the white horse into the air； front hoofs pawing； and swung him to the right as he pushed the bull under and through so that the horns passed safely under the horseˇs belly and the horse came down； quivering； the bullˇs tail brushing his chest as he charged the cape Hernandez offered him。
Hernandez ran sideways； taking the bull out and away with the cape； toward the other picador。 He fixed him with a swing of the cape； squarely facing the horse and rider； and stepped back。 As the bull saw the horse he charged。 The picadorˇs lance slid along his back； and as the shock of the charge lifted the horse； the picador was already half…way out of the saddle； lifting his right leg clear as he missed with the lance and falling to the left side to keep the horse between him and the bull。 The horse； lifted and gored； crashed over with the bull driving into him； the picador gave a shove with his boots against the horse and lay clear； waiting to be lifted and hauled away and put on his feet。
Manuel let the bull drive into the fallen horse； he was in no hurry； the picador was safe； besides； it did a picador like that good to worry。 Heˇd stay on longer next time。 Lousy pics！ He looked across the sand at Zurito a little way out from the barrera； his horse rigid； waiting。
¨Huh！〃 he called to the bull； ¨Tomar！〃 holding the cape in both hands so it would catch his eye。 The bull detached himself from the horse and charged the cape； and Manuel； running sideways and holding the cape spread wide； stopped； swung on his heels； and brought the bull sharply around facing Zurito。
¨Campagnero accepted a pair of varas for the death of one rosinante； with Hernandez and Manolo at the quites；〃 El Heraldoˇs critic wrote。 ¨He pressed on the iron and clearly showed he was no horse…lover。 The veteran Zurito resurrected some of his old stuff with the pike…pole； notably the suerte〃
¨Ol？！ Ol？！〃 the man sitting beside him shouted。 The shout was lost in the roar of the crowd； and he slapped the critic on the back。 The critic looked up to see Zurito； directly below him； leaning far out over his horse； the length of the pic rising in a sharp angle under his armpit； holding the pic almost by the point； bearing down with all his weight； holding the bull off； the bull pushing and driving to get at the horse； and Zurito； far out； on top of him； holding him； holding him； and slowly pivoting the horse against the pressure； so that at last he was clear。 Zurito felt the moment when the horse was clear and the bull could come past； and relaxed the absolute steel lock of his resistance； and the triangular steel point of the pic ripped in the bullˇs hump of shoulder muscle as he tore loose to find Hernandezˇs cape before his muzzle。 He charged blindly into the cape and the boy took him out into the open arena。
Zurito sat patting his horse and looking at the bull charging the cape that Hernandez swung for him out under the bright light while the crowd shouted。
¨You see that one？〃 he said to Manuel。
¨It was a wonder；〃 Manuel said。
¨I got him that time；〃 Zurito said。 ¨Look at him now。〃
At the conclusion of a closely turned pass of the cape the bull slid to his knees。 He was up at once； but far out across the sand Manuel and Zurito saw the shine of the pumping flow of blood； smooth against the black of the bullˇs shoulder。
¨I got him that time；〃 Zurito said。
¨Heˇs a good bull；〃 Manuel said。
¨If they gave me another shot at him； Iˇd kill him；〃 Zurito said。
¨Theyˇll change the thirds on us；〃 Manuel said。
¨Look at him now；〃 Zurito said。
¨I got to go over there；〃 Manuel said； and started on a run for the other side of the ring； where the monos were leading a horse out by the bridle toward the bull； whacking him on the legs with rods and all； in a procession； trying to get him towards the bull； who stood； dropping his head； pawing； unable to make up his mind to charge。
Zurito； sitting his horse； walking him toward the scene； not missing any detail； scowled。
Finally the bull charged； the horse leaders ran for the barrera； the picador hit too far back； and the bull got under the horse； lifted him； threw him onto his back。
Zurito watched。 The monos； in their red shirts； running out to drag the picador clear。 The picador； now on his feet； swearing and flopping his arms。 Manuel and Hernandez standing ready with their capes。 And the bull； the great； black bull； with a horse on his back； hooves dangling； the bridle caught in the horns。 Black bull with a horse on his back； staggering short…legged； then arching his neck and lifting； thrusting； charging to slide the horse off； horse sliding down。 Then the bull into a lunging charge at the cape Manuel spread for him。
The bull was slower now； Manuel felt。 He was bleeding badly。 There was a sheen of blood all down his flank。
Manuel offered him the cape again。 There he came； eyes open； ugly； watching the cape。 Manuel stepped to the side and raised his arms； tightening the cape ahead of the bull for the veronica。
Now he was facing the bull。 Yes； his head was going down a little。 He was carrying it lower。 That was Zurito。
Manuel flopped the cape； there he comes； he side…stepped and swung in another veronica。 Heˇs shooting awfully accurately； he thought。 Heˇs had enough fight； so heˇs watching now。 Heˇs hunting now。 Got his eye on me。 But I always give him the cape。
He shook the cape at the bull； there he comes； he sidestepped。 Awful close that time。 I donˇt want to work that close to him。
The edge of the cape was wet with blood where it had swept along the bullˇs back as he went by。
All right； hereˇs the last one。
Manuel； facing the bull； having turned with him each charge； offered the cape with his two hands。 The bull looked at him。 Eyes watching； horns straight forward； the bull looked at him； watching。
¨Huh！〃 Manuel said； ¨Toro！〃 and leaning back； swung the cape forward。 Here he comes。 He side…stepped； swung the cape in back of him； and pivoted； so the bull followed a swirl of cape and was then left with nothing； fixed by the pass； dominated by the cape。 Manuel swung the cape under his muzzle with one hand； to show the bull was fixed； and walked away。
There was no applause。
Manuel walked across the sand towards the barrera； while Zurito rode out of the ring。 The trumpet had blown to change the act to the planting of the banderillos while Manuel had been working with the bull。 He had not consciously noticed it。 The monos were spreading canvas over the two dead horses and sprinkling sawdust around them。
Manuel came up to the barrera for a drink of water。 Retanaˇs man handed him the heavy porous jug。
Fuentes； the tall gypsy； was standing holding a pair of banderillos； holding them together； slim； red sticks； fishhook points out。 He looked at Manuel。
¨Go on out there；〃 Manuel said。
The gypsy trotted out。 Manuel se