"Two gallons is a great deal of wine, even for two paisanos. Spiritually the jugs may be graduated thus: Just below the shoulder of the first bottle, serious and concentrated conversation. Two inches farther down, sweetly sad memory. Three includes more, thoughts of old and satisfactory loves. An inch, thoughts of bitter loves. Bottom of the first jug, general and undirected sadness. Shoulder of the second jug, black, unholy despondency. Two fingers down a song of death or longing. A thumb, every other song each one knows. The graduations stop here, for the trail splits and there is no certainty. From this point on anything can happen." Chapter 3, pg. 18.

" 'Where did this whiskey come from?'
"'From those soldiers,' said Jesus Maria. 'They had it under a culvert. Arabella knew it was there, and she told me. But those soldiers saw us with the bottle.'
The...