Summary

Chapter 13. Molina confesses that he only wants to die, and Valentin admonishes him not to think like that. Molina continues the story he began in the last chapter. The woman leaves her controlling husband to find the journalist, who has drunk himself into despair and is physically incapable of work for a while. To support him, she must become a prostitute, and when he discovers that, he runs away. Molina and Valentin discuss Molina’s tendencies to act “like a woman,” making food and doing Valentin favors. Valentin insists that everyone is equal, regardless of their sex, but Molina replies that he does it to make Valentin feel like the “man.” He then expresses a desire to end the conversation.

Chapter 14. The warden has a phone conversation with an unknown authority figure who informs him that Molina can be released and, if necessary, used as...