Part 3, Chapter 31 Summary

Carlos does not understand the full implication of the diagnosis. He keeps hoping he will recover and be able to leave to work in the labor movement again. His condition, however, worsens over the next three months. Macario finds a job in a restaurant and comes home with lunch for Carlos every day. Carlos is too weak to get out of bed by himself. He writes poetry and some of his poems are published.

The editor of the magazine wants to arrange a scholarship for Carlos. He does not tell her of his condition. The editor dies on a trip to South American and Carlos never does meet her. Alice Odell wants to meet him. Carlos staggers to the public library for the meeting and the two sit in the library and write notes back and forth to each other. They...