Summary

In Part I, Chapter 1, Marcos prepares for another day at the Krieg Processing Plant. Ever since the Transition they have been “slaughtering humans” for meat (3). The humans “bred as animals for consumption” are called head (3). The industry’s language “cover[s] up the world” Marcos now occupies (3).

Although cannibalism has been normalized by the government and media, Marcos has trouble letting go of the past. He wishes he could “live without feeling” (4). Cannibalism surfaced as a resolution to the deficit in meat after the virus. Fatal to humans, the virus infected animals so they could “no longer be eaten” (4).

Marcos is alone. His wife Cecilia has been staying with her mother. His father Don Armando is sick in a nursing home. Marcos tries to erase his memories, but cannot. He wonders if the virus and Transition are governmental lies “to reduce...