Part 1, Chapters 1-2 (pages 3-29) Summary

Delaney Mossbacher is a left-leaning nature writer who lives a comfortable life in affluent style with his wife Kyra, a hard-working realtor. One day Delaney hits an illegal Mexican immigrant with his car. He never learns the Mexican's name, which is Candidó. The accident occurs when Candidó darts without caution into a busy street. Delaney tries to talk to Candidó, but the pedestrian only speaks Spanish and Delaney does not know Spanish. Delaney gives Candidó a twenty-dollar bill, and the badly injured Mexican hobbles off to his campsite, located off a nearby nature trail. Delaney realizes that Candidó must be living in the Topanga State Park, and he grows angry thinking of the fire hazard this illegal alien poses to the park.

Delaney Mossbacher, a liberal humanist who lives in Arroyo Blanco Estates, hits a...