Section Nine Summary and Analysis

On December 12, the C-47 plane promised by the Uruguayan Air Force finally arrived. It had experienced additional engine problems along the way, which were apparently caused by the combination of severe cold and high altitude. Paez Vilaro and the other parents were anxious to depart. The following morning, some began searching with the C-47. Others, such as Paez, had strategic plans on the ground. Ponce de Leon's radio network was utilized to make necessary arrangements for the parents and the planes. Still others set off to attempt to locate the miner who reported seeing the plane crash. They could not find the miner, but they did speak with his close friends, who passed on the story he had told them. The miner's story confirmed that the plane was near the Tinguiririca volcano. This information was relayed via radio to...