Chapter 12 Summary

As she predicted, Arturo visits Vera in Long Beach. She is all over him, but he avoids her advances, wishing the Jewish girl would slow down. Vera brings him a glass of milk that is warm with scum on the top, and he smells her in it. Arturo talks to Vera about his love for Camilla. Vera finally asks the question Arturo wants her to ask, which is whether Camilla loves him. He replies that she does not and that he doesn't know why. Vera wants to be Camilla for him, and he successfully fantasizes he is making love with Camilla, who is the princess of the desert and mountains and sea, with no California, no dusty streets, no uprooted people. Vera cries, but Arturo will not kiss her. In the heat of passion, Arturo claims his identity as an Italian conqueror and...