The Wages of Fear Page #4

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And this is better?

It's easier.

What does that mean?

Who cares!

Here's where

the ride ends.

How do you expect

to manoeuvre here?

You can't fly over it!

Let's go back,

and right now.

Looks better here.

We'll have to go out

to the edge.

The wood's

completely rotten!

It's like sponge.

Are you loony?

The others made it!

Our truck's

twice as heavy.

You're drunk on nitro!

Look at it. It's slippery

as a skating rink.

You'll skid!

There's $2000 waiting.

I'd rather stay alive.

Too late to back out.

When I was scared,

you said...

"Don't worry, kid,

I'm with you."

We're going through.

It's crazy!

It was crazy

ever to accept.

You got me into this.

Get back

and guide me.

Poor sap!

You'll get a medal...

posthumously.

Take it easy!

Okay, hold it.

Hold it.

I said to the edge!

How much have I got?

Jo, answer!

Don't kid around!

What a spot!

You louse!

Don't try to hide.

I saw you.

I saw you.

Come on back!

Wait for me, Mario!

Shut up!

Are you coming in

or not?

You low-down rat!

I know, I know,

you got the jitters.

Big shot's got

the shakes!

The holy terror!

An Al Capone

with cold feet!

You and your malaria!

You're scared stiff!

You're a woman!

If you knew

what I've been through.

Don't hand me that!

Maybe you were a man,

in grandma's time!

All you can do now is

shoot from behind!

You don't like risks.

I know what

they mean.

You just plunge

in recklessly.

You lack imagination.

I see every

pebble and hole.

I've died 50 times

since last night.

I see the explosion. I

see myself blown to bits.

I've got brains

in my head.

If only you

had guts too.

Yours'll be hanging

from a tree.

Like dead leaves!

Want to take a drag?

I'll buy you one

day after tomorrow.

We'll each have one.

Bimba, why are

you so sad?

No more mixing cement.

We'll be rich...

if we're not dead.

If we are,

it'll be over.

But if we're not, it'll

be nice to get away.

Where to?

Anywhere.

To change mosquitoes?

There are enough here.

Those back home

are better!

I'm going back to

Calabra with the dough.

I'll buy a house.

And I'll marry

a pretty girl.

If you're scared,

you can get out.

This truck's

not a rest-home.

I'm staying.

I need the dough.

But I do the work.

I'm not Santa Claus.

I do the work

and you collect.

$2000 and then

you beat it!

It's no go! You've

got to work for it!

No work, no pay!

You know why

you're getting paid?

You're getting paid

to be scared!

It's division of labour.

You drive and I worry!

You're better off!

That's all we needed.

That's the limit!

We're being jinxed!

You lousy stone! How'd

you ever get here?

It came from up there.

It's rotten stone.

What a break.

That finishes us!

Wait.

We'll lift it

with a crowbar!

It weighs at least

Well?

We'll blow it up.

With what?

With what we've

got there!

A whole jerry can?

A jerry can?

Why not a ton?

A litre will be enough.

But how'll you

get it out?

I'll siphon it.

Meanwhile drill

me a hole.

Right in the stone.

About 30 inches deep.

That enough?

Okay. Now get me the

jack and the hammer.

What's going on?

You can see.

He's blowing it up.

You're nuts!

Got to clear the road!

What do you say?

Nothing.

We want everyone's

opinion, even yours.

Who cares!

Don't you think

it's risky?

It may all go up!

We'll back up the truck.

Yours first...

Then ours.

You hear?

Hey, big shot,

you hear?

Okay. Let's back up.

What's going on

with him?

Got the jitters.

If you want him, I'll

give him to you as a gift.

Just look at him.

Get going, you!

Can't you see he's

just a walking corpse?

And aren't we?

Mario, carry the stuff

as far as you can.

Luigi, give me

the thermos.

Is there enough in it?

Maybe even too much.

Pretty slick!

It's easy,

I light the cord...

and when it

reaches here...

the hammer falls

and bingo!

Go get me a branch.

Okay. Now clear out.

Anything else?

First back up the truck.

We mustn't take

any unnecessary risks.

So long.

Your cigar.

Stop!

It's good here.

Sure, it's all good

Come on.

How's it down there?

It's taking awhile

Take cover!

The trucks! What if

rocks fall on them!

Let's back up!

Too late!

I'll put it out!

Come with us!

It's safer!

Get down, idiot!

Is he dead?

He's breathing!

I can smell your feet!

That's a good one!

Are you hurt?

We thought you were dead.

So did I!

He was only knocked

down by the blast.

So was the rock. Look!

Not a bad job at all.

Congratulations.

It's all gone.

Did you see that?

It sure is twisted.

You're twisted!

It worked!

So shut up!

Let's celebrate!

So I'm not invited.

Then I'll celebrate alone!

Careful! Don't shake!

You sure are something!

Mario's got guts.

So have I.

Jo has none at all.

But you take the cake.

Ever worked

in a salt mine?

The Nazis gave me

I was half dead

when I got out.

Compared to that,

this is a joke.

Of course.

But still...

Why shave?

Before being hanged...

my father asked

to take a shower.

It runs in the family.

I like to be clean. If

I've got to be a corpse...

I want to be...

presentable.

You should eat!

I don't have

much appetite!

But I'd like

a cold drink...

in a Paris bistro!

Want a smoke?

Roll me one!

Good old French shag.

Did you ever roll it?

No. But you're off key.

My conscience is clear!

Luigi!

No more Luigi!

When you ask for

trouble, it always comes!

It might have been us.

Poor guy.

Forget it. They took

a chance and lost.

That's all you can say?

No use talking.

I'll smack you!

Don't. Are you crazy?

Stop!

Shut the door!

I'm fed up!

Drop that!

Drop your stone!

You first!

It might not be right.

But I'm the strongest...

so it gives me time.

Get up!

Why are you

so lousy to me?

You don't see why?

Because I need

your help.

You'll stick with me...

to the very end.

Get to the truck.

You're lucky

I'm old.

I'm washed up,

a coward.

Faster.

What an explosion.

Take a look at that!

It's as if they

fell in.

The tracks go right

to the edge.

It's odd.

Like tracks of a plane

that took off.

That's what happened.

They took off.

I wonder

what happened.

How would I know?

We'll never know.

Even they didn't know.

Not even deep!

But it'll rise.

Even the pipe's broken.

It's going to be

a real tank.

We get every possible

lousy break!

Bimba's cigarette-holder.

That's all that's left.

Let's go. Otherwise

we'll need a boat.

Go see what it's like

at the bottom.

I'll be with you

in two minutes.

Who cares if it's two

minutes or a year?

It's slick.

I said it's slick.

If you stop, you'll never

get started again.

We've got to do it.

Don't stop!

It's deep!

Hurry up!

Wait... wait.

Stop!

Get out of the way!

I can't! I'm stuck!

Get away!

My leg!

Why didn't you get out

of the way?

You knew you were

running over me.

But you went

right ahead.

I'm sorry but

I had to do it.

You hurt me!

I told you to get away!

If I hadn't hesitated...

You did?

Sure! If not,

I'd have made it.

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