Summary

Pages 18 – 23. This chapter is written from the points of view of several characters, narration for each character written in separate, parallel columns. All are written in first person except for those of Saturn, which are written in third person.

Saturn - Narration describes the marriage of the sickle-bearing Federico and his long-suffering wife Merced, whose unhappiness with his bed-wetting endured for years, until she finally gave him an ultimatum. Federico goes to get herbal treatment, feeling “the weight of a distant force looking down on him.”

Little Merced (Federico and Merced’s daughter) - First person narration describes how the treatment failed; how Merced left; and how Federico decided to move with Little Merced to Los Angeles.

Santos - Wrestling hero Santos describes meeting Federico and Little Merced as they make their last stop on their way out of...