Summary

The delegation takes several trains, sleeping in their seats. The size and the sound of Washington is overwhelming to Juggie and Thomas, though Millie and Patrice have prior experience. They go their cheap hotel, where Moses and Thomas share one room, Millie, Patrice, and Juggie the other. They sleep, Juggie in one of Louie’s shirts, Patrice and Millie back-to-back in a single bed. Patrice feels a tearing in her heart and wishes for Wood Mountain, snow melting on her tongue.

The House of Representatives discusses the economy of Mexico as Patrice enters the gallery and notices an elegant woman with falcon eyes. Suddenly, the woman stands and cries “Viva Puerto Rico libre!” (394). She shoots her pistol over the crowd, but someone else shoots downward and Patrice sees men fall and blood. She is afraid and thrilled, wondering what Puerto Rico is. Patrice...