Summary

Chapter 32 is titled “Frothing like Foam.” As China and the others leave, the grass on the pampas moves with the wind like waves, “frothing like foam” (141) as they pass. Humans and animals, including Estreya and Rosa’s cattle, all feel waves of happiness as they move further and further away from the Fort. Rosa, riding a beautiful horse given to him by the Colonel, is back in his gaucho uniform and makes pointed comments about how awful the Colonel was even as he also points out some beautiful birds. For her part, China feels torn between relief at being away from the Fort and acknowledgement of how generous the Colonel had been with gifts like horses and food when they left. She keeps looking at Liz, thinking how much more beautiful the diamond makes her. “It was as if,” she...