Summary

Arthur arrives in Mexico City for the literary conference dedicated to Robert Brownburn’s work. Robert himself is not scheduled to be in attendance. Arthur is greeted at the airport by a poet named Arturo, who has been assigned as Arthur’s guide. Arthur notes that they have the same name in two different languages. Arturo’s rather somber, gloomy disposition is quite different from Arthur’s more easygoing comportment. Arthur tells Arturo that he has been scheduled to speak at the conference because of his close relationship with Robert. At the hotel, Arthur meets Harold Van Dervander, the organizer of the convention. Arthur says that he has never been to Mexico before. However, this is a lie. Once, when he was in his mid-twenties, he took a secret romantic trip to Mexico with Robert. This trip took place before Robert had told...