Summary

The Englishman is interviewed by a customs officer who seems excited at having the boredom of his regular duties broken by what seems to be the situation of the Englishman and the narrator. When the officer interviews the narrator, he is initially pleasant, but then speaks sharply when she is not clear about how much money she has. They speak Spanish to each other and seem to come to an agreement to proceed respectfully. He keeps her and the Englishman’s passports, and then tells them there will be a delay. He also tells them where they can get some food, but neither of them is hungry.

The narrator and the Englishman are arrested, and their car is impounded. They are taken to a military camp while they are waiting to be officially arrested. They are placed in a small barracks where...