Summary

Chapter 7, “Jaime and Gullermo Ramírez,” opens in Fresno, California in 2013. Jaime, Guadalupe’s brother, is the manager of Olé Frijole, a local Mexican buffet. Jaime and Ramón explain that they are from the town of Charco de Pantoja in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Jaime relates the legend of a wealthy Spaniard who, in the 17th century, hired a local man from Guanajuato to help him locate land with water. The peasant suggested, without knowing, they look for water in the volcanic region of el Rincon del Parangueo. It turned out that the water was too salty to work as irrigation, and after many delays, the Spaniard finally killed him. The story is offered to demonstrate the importance of water to the community of Charco: “El agua es vida” (51).

Chapter 8, “El País De Las Siete Luminarias,” begins with information about...