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b'The story details a chance encounter between a young soldier and an old Spaniard at a pontoon bridge. The old man\'s hometown of San Carlos is being evacuated because of artillery fire, and he sits at the roadside before the bridge crossing, too tired to walk. The soldier, while anticipating contact with the enemy, expresses concern about the man\'s safety and encourages him to continue moving. The old man, on the other hand, is not concerned about himself but worries about the animals he left behind. The old man\'s view of himself as a guardian of animals contrasts ironically with the soldier\'s identity as a killer of people.\\n\\nThe old man tells the soldier that he was forced to leave behind two goats, one cat, and four pairs of doves. The old man admits that "there is no need to be unquiet" about the welfare of a clever cat, and also confirms that he left the dove cage unlocked\\u2014the birds will certainly fly to safety. It is the fate of "the others"\\u2014the two goats\\u2014that he laments. The old man is very much like the goats he left in harm\'s way, since they have nowhere to go and cannot take care of themselves. Unlike the goats, however, this man is completely alone. Ultimately, both the goats and the old man are left to their fates because the soldier admits that "there was nothing to do" but leave the old man behind.\\n\\nFinally, and almost parenthetically, the young soldier mentions that this encounter took place on Easter Sunday. The image of the risen Christ is not unlike the image of the old man\'s doves being released from their cage\\u2014both are symbols of hope and peace. The soldier, however, is not hopeful about the old man\'s fate\\u2014he bitterly remarks that "all the good luck that old man would ever have" was the fact that artillery planes were not flying that day and "the fact that cats know how to look after themselves." In this tale of contrasts, Hemingway portrays the natural world as morally and spiritually superior to the manufactured world of human beings because it does not destroy itself in war. As a keeper of animals, the old man, though he has no family and no political affiliations, is also morally and spiritually superior to the young soldier who leaves him behind.\\n\\n--- \\n\\nSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hmphaudiobooks/support'