Summary

Chucho and Makina head towards a shack where Makina can change her clothes. As they walk, Makina sees a pregnant woman lying in the shade. She is comforted by the sight until she realizes that the woman is actually “some poor wretch swollen with putrefaction” (44).

Makina remembers one of the first men to return to the Village from the other side, now wealthy. Brandishing two cell phones, the man attempted to demonstrate to Makina that the switchboard will soon be obsolete. The cell phones did not work, and Makina notes that he should have brought cell towers with him too. Seeing how upset the young man was, Makina then comforted him: “Don’t worry, kid, they’ll get here one day” (46).

Upon reaching the shack, Chucho and Makina confront an “anglo” (46) in a truck. The man cradles his...