Summary

Carolyn goes with a woman named Luisa to the house of her friend V. While Luisa is “calm and reserved” (264), V is excitable and high energy. Men with guns arrive and Carolyn is introduced to them. Luisa says that she is from Miami and that they will be going to Playa El Tunco the next day. That night, Luisa tells Carolyn that she must never tell anyone what she saw that night.

Leonel arrives and announces to Carolyn that he wants to show her “something possible” (266). They drive out of the city, towards the coast. He shows her a unique little village, where the locals have built a road, a playground, school, and clinic. Leonel explains that years ago, some campesinos asked Leonel if they could pay rent in order to farm his land. Leonel agreed, promising to cancel their debt if there...