Chapter 11 Summary

On Sunday, May 19, at seven o'clock, in the evening, Maruja hears the communiqué. Past disappointments still fresh in her mind, she refuses to celebrate with the majordomo and his wife, instead taking a dose of sleeping pills, and she does not wake until the next day. Villamizar, however, though he has every right to, has no such doubts.

Meanwhile, having heard the good news from Father García Herreros, who inexplicably relayed the news seventy-two hours before the Extraditables' first message, Francisco's wife, María Victoria had a picture of herself, Hernando and the children published in El Tiempo. Francisco understands the implicit message therein, and then waits anxiously throughout Saturday and most of Sunday until the news of his impending release is announced on the newscast "Criptón."

Maruja, it is established, will be released in time for the seven o'clock news...