The Pearl Audiobook | Chapter 4

Summary

In the small town of La Paz, Kino, a pearl diver, discovers a magnificent pearl that could change his family's life. The town buzzes with the news, and the pearl buyers, known for underpaying fishermen, conspire to undervalue it. Rejecting their offers, Kino decides to sell the pearl in the capital, defying the town's expectations and risking the wrath of the powerful pearl buyers. The story explores themes of greed, community, and the struggle for a better life.

Takeaways

• 🏘️ The story unfolds in a small town where everyone is expected to follow a known pattern, and any deviation causes unease among the townspeople.
• 🌊 The town's economy and social structure revolve around pearl fishing, with the pearl buyers holding significant power and influence.
• 🔮 Kino, a pearl fisherman, finds a large and unique pearl, which he believes will change his family's life, but the town's rigidity poses challenges to his aspirations.
• 🤝 The pearl buyers collude to undervalue Kino's pearl, revealing the town's systemic corruption and the exploitation of the less fortunate.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Kino's determination to sell his pearl at a fair price reflects his desire to provide a better life for his family, despite the town's expectations.
• 💬 The townspeople's reactions to Kino's pearl range from excitement to skepticism, highlighting the diversity of perspectives within a close-knit community.
• 🏛️ The church and its representatives play a role in the town's life, with the altar boys and nuns discussing Kino's pearl, indicating the pervasive nature of the news.
• 🌅 The vivid descriptions of the town's environment, from the hot sun to the shimmering air, contribute to the atmospheric storytelling and the setting's almost mythical quality.
• 🔮 The pearl becomes a symbol of both potential and peril, as its value and the reactions it elicits test the characters' morals and the community's values.
• 🗣️ The narrative explores themes of community, corruption, and the struggle for individual agency within a society that prizes conformity and tradition.

Q & A

What is the significance of Kino's pearl in the town of La Paz?

Kino's pearl is significant because it is a symbol of great wealth and change for the town. Its discovery is known throughout La Paz, affecting the nerves of the townspeople and causing a ripple effect of communication and anticipation.

How do the pearl buyers operate in La Paz, and what has changed in their method?

The pearl buyers in La Paz initially operated as individuals, bidding against each other for the pearls brought in by fishermen. However, this method was deemed wasteful as it often led to overpayment. Now, there is effectively one pearl buyer with many hands, and the men in the offices have a predetermined strategy for pricing and bidding.

What does the pearl represent to Kino and his family?

The pearl represents a chance for a better life for Kino and his family. It is seen as a means to escape poverty, provide for their son Coyotito, and potentially change their social standing.

Why do the townspeople and Kino's neighbors react with such interest to the news of the pearl being sold?

The townspeople and Kino's neighbors are intrigued by the pearl because it is a rare event that disrupts the usual routine of their lives. They speculate on what they would do if they found such a pearl, showing a collective fascination with the potential windfall it represents.

What is the role of Juan Tomás in Kino's life, and what advice does he give Kino regarding the pearl?

Juan Tomás is Kino's brother and acts as a voice of caution and wisdom. He advises Kino to be careful in his dealings with the pearl buyers, warning him of the potential for being cheated and the importance of knowing the true value of the pearl.

How does the community's attitude towards Kino change after he decides to sell the pearl?

Initially, Kino is well-liked, but after he decides to sell the pearl, there is a sense of unease and concern among the community. They worry that the pearl might corrupt him and his family, introducing greed and changing their previously harmonious relationship with him.

What is the significance of the hibiscus flower and the coin in the pearl buyer's office?

The hibiscus flower and the coin are symbols of the pearl buyer's office. The flower may represent a facade of warmth and friendliness, while the coin, which the buyer manipulates with dexterity, symbolizes the deceptive and cunning nature of the trade he is engaged in.

Why does Kino refuse the pearl buyers' offers and decide to go to the capital?

Kino refuses the offers because he believes the pearl is worth much more than what the buyers are willing to pay. He feels cheated and decides to go to the capital to seek a fairer price, showing his determination to not be undervalued.

What does the attack on Kino signify in the narrative?

The attack on Kino signifies the physical manifestation of the evil and danger that the pearl brings. It represents the forces aligned against him and his quest for a better life, as well as the darkness and violence that the pearl's potential wealth can unleash.

How does Juana react to Kino's determination to keep the pearl and fight for its value?

Juana is fearful and suggests destroying the pearl to prevent further harm. However, when Kino insists on fighting for the pearl's value, she falls silent, respecting his decision and his assertion of manhood, despite her own fears.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 The Town's Awareness of Kino's Pearl

In the small town of La Paz, news travels fast. The entire town becomes aware that Kino, a local pearl diver, is planning to sell his large and valuable pearl. This pearl is not just a valuable item but a symbol of change and potential wealth for Kino and his family. The town's various groups, from neighbors to pearl buyers, react differently to the news, with some excited and others cautious. The pearl buyers, in particular, prepare themselves for the negotiation, aware that this could be a significant transaction that might disrupt the usual dynamics of their trade.

05:01

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Kino's Family Prepares for the Sale

Kino and his wife Juana prepare for the significant day ahead, dressing in their finest clothes, symbolizing the importance of the event. Juana even dresses their baby, Coyotito, in his baptismal clothes, indicating the family's hope for a prosperous future. The community joins them, showing support and curiosity about the sale. Kino's brother, Juan Tomás, cautions Kino about the pearl buyers, sharing a local history of deception and the importance of not being cheated. The procession to the city is solemn, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the community's collective anticipation.

10:02

💼 The Pearl Buyers' Strategy

The pearl buyers in La Paz have a strategy to minimize the price they pay for pearls. They operate as a united front, with one buyer representing them all to avoid competition among themselves that could drive up prices. The buyers are excited, not for personal gain but for the thrill of the negotiation and the challenge of driving a hard bargain. The narrative describes one buyer in particular, who uses coin tricks to distract and intimidate Kino when he presents his pearl, attempting to undermine the value of the pearl and thus the price he might offer.

15:03

🔍 The Pearl's Appraisal and Rejection

Kino presents his pearl to the buyers, who inspect it with feigned disinterest. The lead buyer贬低s the pearl, comparing it to fool's gold and suggesting it's too large to have value, offering a mere thousand pesos. Despite Kino's insistence on its worth, the other buyers also dismiss the pearl, refusing to make a fair offer. Frustrated and feeling cheated, Kino decides to keep the pearl and seeks a better deal elsewhere, possibly in the capital, showing his determination not to be undervalued.

20:06

🏙️ Kino's Resolve to Travel to the Capital

After the failed sale, Kino returns home, reflecting on his situation. He feels fear and uncertainty about venturing to the capital, a place unknown and potentially dangerous. Despite this, he is determined to fight for what he believes is rightfully his. His wife, Juana, suggests destroying the pearl, fearing it brings misfortune, but Kino is adamant that it is their ticket to a better life. He decides they will travel to the capital, showing his resolve to overcome the challenges and claim the pearl's true value.

25:06

🌌 The Night's Ominous Events

As night falls, Kino senses a growing threat. He is attacked outside his home, sustaining injuries that leave him dazed and bloodied. Juana, fearing for their safety, again suggests getting rid of the pearl, which she believes is the source of their misfortune. However, Kino is resolute, refusing to give in to fear or relinquish his dream of a better life. He comforts Juana, asserting his determination to protect his family and secure their future, despite the ominous signs and the foreboding atmosphere.

Keywords

💡Pearl

A pearl, in the context of the video, symbolizes both potential wealth and the source of conflict. It is a valuable gem found in the sea, which Kino, the protagonist, discovers and believes will bring prosperity to his family. However, the pearl's value is disputed by the pearl buyers, leading to tension and illustrating the theme of exploitation and the struggle against it.

💡La Paz

La Paz refers to the town where the story is set. It's a small community where everyone knows each other's business, and news travels fast. The town represents a microcosm of society where conformity is expected, and deviation from the norm is quickly noticed and addressed, as seen when the entire town is aware of Kino's intention to sell his pearl.

💡Kino

Kino is the protagonist of the story, a pearl diver who finds a valuable pearl. He represents the everyman who seeks to rise above his circumstances through a stroke of luck. Kino's journey with the pearl embodies the struggle against the established order and the desire for self-determination.

💡Conformity

Conformity in the video is depicted as the expected behavior of the townspeople, where everyone follows known patterns of conduct. Kino's decision to sell his pearl disrupts this conformity, causing unease among the townspeople. It highlights the societal pressure to adhere to the status quo and the resistance to change.

💡Exploitation

Exploitation is a key theme in the video, shown through the pearl buyers' attempts to undervalue Kino's pearl. This reflects the broader issue of how the powerful often take advantage of the less fortunate, trying to cheat Kino out of the pearl's true value.

💡Fear

Fear is a recurring emotion in the video, experienced by Kino as he contemplates leaving his home to sell the pearl in the capital. It represents the anxiety of the unknown and the potential dangers that lie ahead, as well as the fear of losing one's identity and place in the world.

💡Community

The community in the video is portrayed through the interconnectedness of the townspeople. It underscores the importance of social bonds and how news and events can affect the entire group, as seen when the entire town is abuzz with the news of Kino's pearl.

💡Destiny

Destiny is a central concept in the video, as Kino believes the pearl is meant to change his family's fortune. The idea of destiny is contrasted with the harsh realities and obstacles Kino faces, exploring the theme of whether one's fate is predetermined or can be altered.

💡Resistance

Resistance is exemplified by Kino's refusal to accept the pearl buyers' low offers. It symbolizes the fight against oppression and the struggle for justice. Kino's resistance is a testament to the human spirit's ability to challenge the status quo.

💡Greed

Greed is depicted through the pearl buyers' desire to acquire Kino's pearl at a fraction of its worth. It highlights the corrupting influence of greed and how it can lead to the exploitation and suffering of others.

💡Courage

Courage is embodied by Kino's decision to stand up to the pearl buyers and his determination to travel to the capital to sell the pearl. It reflects the bravery required to confront injustice and the willingness to risk everything for a better future.

Highlights

The town of La Paz is depicted as a place where every individual's actions are known and expected, maintaining the town's peace and order.

Kino's decision to sell his pearl disrupts the town's routine, causing a ripple effect of communication among its residents.

The pearl's significance is recognized by various social groups, from neighbors to churchgoers, highlighting its potential impact on the community.

The pearl buyers' offices are described as places of individualistic competition, yet they operate under a unified strategy to suppress prices.

The pearl buyers' excitement is not for profit, but for the thrill of the negotiation and the challenge of driving down prices.

The physical description of the town, with its hot sun and shimmering air, sets a vivid scene for the story's events.

Kino's neighbors speculate on how they would use the wealth from the pearl, reflecting on the transformative power of such a find.

Juana's preparation for the pearl-selling day, dressing in her best and preparing their child, shows the family's anticipation and hope.

The procession to town, with Kino and Juana at the forefront, symbolizes a communal event with the potential to change their lives.

The pearl buyers' initial high valuation of Kino's pearl creates tension and anticipation for the negotiation.

The pearl's rejection by the buyers as a 'curiosity' rather than a valuable gem marks a turning point in the story.

Kino's defiance of the pearl buyers and his decision to seek a fair price elsewhere reflects his determination and courage.

The community's mixed reactions to Kino's decision reveal the complexities of their relationship with wealth and power.

Kino's fear and determination to overcome the perceived 'evil' of the pearl and the pearl buyers underscore the story's themes of struggle and resistance.

Juana's suggestion to destroy the pearl and Kino's refusal highlight the conflict between caution and ambition.

The physical attack on Kino and the mysterious presence of evil forces in the night add a sense of danger and urgency to the narrative.

Kino's final resolve to take the pearl to the capital, despite the risks, signals his commitment to changing his family's fate.

Transcripts

[Music]

the purl chapter for it is wonderful the

way a little town keeps track of itself

and of all its units if every single man

and woman child and baby

acts and conducts itself in a known

pattern and breaks no walls and differs

with no one and experiments in no way

and is not sick and does not endanger

the ease and peace of mind or steady

unbroken flow of the town then that unit

can disappear and never be heard of but

let one man step out of the regular

thought or the known and trusted pattern

and the nerves of the townspeople ring

with nervousness and communication

travels over the nerve lines of the town

then every unit communicates to the

whole thus in La Paz it was known in the

early morning through the whole town

that Kino was going to sell his pearl

that day it was known among the

neighbors in the brush huts among the

Pearl fishermen it was known among the

Chinese grocery store owners it was

known in the church for the altar boys

whispered about it word of it crept in

among the nuns the beggars in front of

the church spoke of it for they would be

there to take the tie the the

firstfruits of the luck the little boys

knew about it with excitement but most

of all the Pearl buyers knew about it

and when the day had come in the offices

of the Pearl buyers each man sat alone

with his little black velvet tray and

each man rolled the pearls about with

his fingertips and considered his part

in the picture it was supposed that the

Pearl buyers were individuals acting

alone bidding against one another for

the pearls the fishermen brought in and

once it had been so but this was a

wasteful method for often in the

excitement of bidding

for a fine pearl too great a price had

been paid to the fishermen this was

extravagant and not to be countenanced

now there was only one pearl buyer with

many hands and the men who sat in their

offices and waited for Kino knew what

price they would offer how high they

would bid and what method each one would

use and although these men would not

profit beyond their salaries there was

excitement among the pearl buyers for

there was excitement in the hunt and if

it be a man's function to break down a

price then he must take joy and

satisfaction in breaking it as far down

as possible for every man in the world

functions to the best of his ability and

none does less than his best no matter

what he may think about it quite apart

from any reward they might get from any

word of praise from any promotion a

pearl buyer was a pearl buyer and the

best and happiest pearl buyer was he who

bought for the lowest prices the Sun was

hot yellow that morning and it drew the

moisture from the estuary and from the

Gulf and hung it in shimmering scarves

in the air so that the air vibrated and

vision was insubstantial a vision hung

in the air to the north of the city the

vision of a mountain that was over 200

miles away and the high slopes of this

mountain were swaddled with pines and a

great stone peak arose above the

Timberline in the morning of this day

the canoes lay lined up on the beach

the fishermen did not go out to dive for

pearls for there would be too much

happening too many things to see when

Kino went to sell the great pearl in the

brush houses by the shore quino's

neighbors sat long over their breakfasts

and they spoke of what they would do if

they had found the pearl and one man

said that he would give it as a present

to the Holy Father in Rome another said

that he would buy masses for the souls

of his family for a thousand years

another thought he might take the money

and distribute it among the poor of La

Paz and a fourth thought of all the good

things

one could do with all the money from the

Pearl of all the charities benefits of

all the rescues one could perform if one

had the money all of the neighbors hoped

that sudden wealth would not turn

quino's head would not make a rich man

of him would not graft on to him the

evil limbs of greed and hatred and

coldness for kina was a well-liked man

and it would be a shame if the Pearl

destroyed him that good wife Juana they

said and the beautiful baby Koyo Tito

and the others to come

what a pity it would be if the Pearl

should destroy them all for Kino and

Juana this was the morning of morning's

of their lives comparable only to the

day when the baby had been born this was

to be the day from which all other days

would take their arrangement thus they

would say it was two years before we

sold the Pearl or it was six weeks after

we sold the Pearl Juana considering the

matter threw caution to the winds and

she dressed Khoya Tito in the clothes

she had prepared for his baptism when

there would be money for his baptism and

Juana combed and braided her hair and

tied the ends with two little bows of

red ribbon and she put on her marriage

skirt and waist

the Sun was quarter high when they were

ready quino's ragged white clothes were

clean at least and this was the last day

of his raggedness for tomorrow or even

this afternoon he would have new clothes

the neighbors watching he knows door

through the crevices in there brush

houses were dressed and ready - there

was no self-consciousness about their

joining Kino and Juana - go pearl

selling it was expected it was an

historic moment they would be crazy if

they didn't go it would be almost the

sign of unfriend ship wanna put on her

head Shah carefully and she'd rate one

long and under her right elbow and

gathered it with her right hand so that

the hammock hung under her arm and then

this little hammock she placed Coyotito

propped up against the head shawl so

that he could see everything and perhaps

remember Kino put on his

large straw hat and felt it with his

hand to see that it was properly placed

not on the back or side of his head like

a rash

unmarried irresponsible man and not flat

as an elder man would wear it but tilted

a little forward to show aggressiveness

and seriousness and vigor there was a

great deal to be seen in the tilt of a

hat on a man

KYNA slipped his feet into his sandals

and pulled the thongs up over his heels

the great pearl was wrapped in an old

soft piece of deerskin and placed in a

little leather bag and the leather bag

was in a pocket in quino's shirt he

folded his blanket carefully and draped

it in a narrow strip over his left

shoulder and now they were ready keno

stepped with dignity out of the house

and Juana followed him carrying Coyotito

and as they marched up the fresh washed

alley toward the town

the neighbors joined them the houses

belched people the doorways spewed out

children but because of the seriousness

of the occasion only one man walked with

keno and that was his brother Juan tomás

one Tomas cautioned his brother you must

be careful to see they do not cheat you

he said and very careful keno agreed we

do not know what prices are paid in

other places said Juan tomás how can we

know what is a fair price if we do not

know what the pearl buyer gets for the

pearl in another place that is true said

keno but how can we know we are here we

are not there as they walked up towards

the city the crowd grew behind them and

Juan tomás and pure nervousness went on

speaking before you were born

keno he said the old ones thought of a

way to get more money for their pearls

they thought it will be better if they

had an agent who took all the pearls to

the capital and sold them there and kept

only his share of the profit keno nodded

his head I know he said it was a good

thought and they got such a man said one

Tomas and they pulled their pearls and

they started him off

and he was never heard of again and the

pearls were lost

then they got another man and they

started him off and he was never heard

of again and so they gave the whole

thing up and went back to the old way I

know said keno I have heard our Father

tell of it it was a good idea but it was

against religion and the father made

that very clear the loss of the pearl

was a punishment visited on those who

tried to leave their station and the

father made it clear that each man and

woman is like a soldier sent by God to

guard some part of the castle of the

universe and some are in the ramparts

and some far deep in the darkness of the

walls but each one must remain faithful

to his post and must not go running

about else the castle is in danger from

the assaults of hell I have heard him

make that sermon said want amaz he makes

it every year the brothers as they

walked along squinted their eyes a

little as they and their grandfathers

and their great-grandfather's had done

for four hundred years

since the first of the strangers came

with argument and authority and

gunpowder to back up both and in the 400

years quino's people had learned only

one defense a slight slitting of the

eyes and a slight tightening of the lips

and a retirement nothing could break

down this wall and they could remain

whole within the wall the gathering

procession was solemn for they sensed

the importance of this day and any

children who showed a tendency to

scuffle to scream to cry out to steal

hats and Rumple hair or hissed to

silence by their elders so important was

this day that an old man came to see

riding on the stalwart shoulders of his

nephew the procession left the brush

huts had entered the stone and plaster

city or the streets were a little wider

and there were narrow pavements beside

the buildings and as before the beggars

joined them as they passed the church

the grocer's looked out at them as they

went by the little saloons lost their

customers and the owners closed up shop

and went along and the Sun beat down on

the

streets of the city and even tiny stones

through shadows on the ground the news

of the approach of the procession ran

ahead of it and in their little dark

offices the pearl buyers stiffened and

grew alert they got out papers so that

they could be at work when keno appeared

and they put their pearls in the desks

for it is not good to let an inferior

pearl be seen beside a beauty and word

of the loveliness of quino's pearl had

come to them the pearl buyers offices

were clustered together in one narrow

street and they were barred at the

windows and wooden slats cut out the

light so that only a soft gloom entered

the offices a stout slow man sat in an

office waiting his face was fatherly and

benign and his eyes twinkled with

friendship he was a caller of good

mornings a ceremonious shaker of hands a

jolly man who knew all jokes and yet

hovered close to sadness for in the

midst of a laugh he could remember the

death of your aunt and his eyes could

become wet with sorrow for your loss

this morning he had placed the flour in

a vaz on his desk a single scarlet

hibiscus and the vase sat beside the

black velvet line pearl tray in front of

him he was shaved close to the blue

roots of his beard and his hands were

clean and his nails polished his door

stood open to the morning and he hummed

under his breath while his right hand

practice legerdemain he rolled a coin

back and forth over his knuckles and

made it appear and disappear made it

spin and sparkle the coin winked into

sight and has quickly slipped out of

sight and the man did not even watch his

own performance the fingers did it all

meticulously precisely

while the man hum to himself and peered

out the door then he heard the of

feet of the approaching crowd and the

fingers of his right hand worked faster

and faster until as the figure of keno

filled the doorways the coin flashed and

disappeared good morning my friend the

stout man said what can I do for you

quino's stared into the dimness of the

little office

for his eyes were squeezed from the

outside glare but the buyers eyes had

become a steadying cruel and unwinking

as a Hawks eyes while the rest of his

face smiled in greeting and secretly

behind his desk his right-hand practice

with the coin I have a pearl said keno

and want o mas stood beside him and

snorted a little at the understatement

the neighbors peered around the doorway

and a line of little boys scrambled on

the window bars and looked through

several little boys on their hands and

knees watched the scene around quino's

legs you have a pearl the dealer said

sometimes a man brings in a dozen will

let us see your pearl we will value it

and give you the best price and his

fingers worked furiously with the coin

now keno instinctively knew his own

dramatic effects slowly he brought out

the leather bag slowly took it from the

soft and dirty piece of deerskin and

then he let the gray pearl roll into the

black velvet tray and instantly his eyes

went to the buyers face but there was no

sign no movement the face did not change

but the secret hand behind the desk

missed in its precision the coin

stumbled over a knuckle and slipped

silently into the dealer's lap and the

fingers behind the desk curled into a

fist when the right hand came out of

hiding the forefinger touched the great

pearl rolled it on to the black velvet

thumb and forefinger picked it up and

brought it near to the dealers eyes and

twirled it in the air keno held his

breath and the neighbors held their

breath and the whispering went back to

the crowd he is inspecting it no price

has been mentioned they have not come to

a price now the dealer's hand had become

a personality the hand tossed the great

pearl back in the tray the forefinger

poked and insulted it and on the

dealer's face there came a sad and

contemptuous smile I am sorry my friend

he said and his shoulders rose a little

to indicate that the misfortune was no

fault of his it is a pearl of great

value

kino said the dealer's fingers spurn the

pearl so that it bounced and rebounded

softly from the side of the velvet tray

you have heard of fool's gold the dealer

said this pearl is like fool's gold it

is too large who would buy it there was

no such market for such things

it is a curiosity only I am sorry you

thought it was a thing of great value

and it is only a curiosity

now quino's face was perplexed and

worried it is the pearl the world he

cried no one has ever seen such a pearl

on the contrary said the dealer it is

large and clumsy as a curiosity it has

interest some Museum might perhaps take

it to a place in a collection of

seashells I can give you say a thousand

pesos quino's face grew dark and

dangerous it is worth fifty thousand he

said you know it you want to cheat me

and the dealer heard a little grumble go

through the crowd as they heard his

price and the dealer felt a little

tremor of fear do not blame me he said

quickly I am only an appraiser ask the

others go to their offices and show your

pearl or better yet let them come here

so that you can see there is no

collusion boy he called and when his

servant looked through the rear door boy

go to such a one and such another one

and such a third one ask them to step in

here and do not tell them why just say

that I will be pleased to see them as

his right hand went behind the desk and

pulled another coin from his pocket and

the coin rolled back and forth over his

knuckles quino's neighbors whispered

together they had been afraid of

something like this the Pearl was large

but it had a strange color they had been

suspicious of it from the first and

after all a thousand pesos was not to be

thrown away

it was a comparative wealth to a man who

was not wealthy and suppose keno took a

thousand pesos only yesterday he had

nothing but keno had grown tight and

hard he felt the creeping of fate the

circling of wools the hover of vultures

he felt the evil coagulating about him

and he was helpless to protect himself

he heard in his ears the evil music and

on the black velvet the

great pearl glistened so that the dealer

could not keep his eyes from it the

crowd in the doorway wavered and broken

let the three pearl dealers through the

crowd was silent now fearing to miss a

word to fail to see a gesture or an

expression keno was silent and watchful

he felt a little tugging at his back and

he turned and looked in Juana's eyes and

when he looked away

he had renewed his strength the dealers

did not glance at one another nor at the

Pearl the man behind the desk said I

have put a value on this pearl the owner

here does not think it fair I will ask

you to examine this this thing and make

an offer notice he said to keno I have

not mentioned what I have offered the

first dealer dry and stingy seen now to

see the pearl for the first time he took

it up rolled it quickly between his

thumb and forefinger and then cast it

contemptuously back into the tray do not

include me in the discussion he said I

will make no offer at all I do not want

it this is not a pearl it is a

monstrosity this thinlits curls now the

second dealer a little man with a shy

soft voice took up the pearl and he

examined it carefully

he took a glass from his pocket and

inspected it under magnification then he

laughed softly better pearls are made of

paste he said I know these things this

is soft and chalky it will lose its

colour and die in a few months

look he offered the glass to keno showed

him how to use it

and Keena who had never seen a pearl

surface magnified was shocked at the

strange-looking surface the third dealer

took the pearl from quino's hands one of

my clients liked such things he said I

will offer 500 pesos and perhaps I can

sell it to my client for 600 keno

reached quickly and snatched the pearl

from his hand he wrapped it in the

deerskin and thrust it inside his shirt

the man behind the desk said I am a fool

I know but my first offer stands I still

offer 1000 what are you doing he asked

as keno thrust the Pearl out of sight

I am cheated keno cried fiercely my

pearls not for sale here I will go

perhaps even to the capital

now the dealers glanced quickly at one

another they knew they had played too

hard they knew they would be disciplined

for their failure and the man of the

desk said quickly

I might offer 1500 but kena was pushing

his way through the crowd the home of

talk came to him dimly his rage blood

pounded in zere's and he burst through

and strode away the home of talk came to

him dimly his rage blood pounded in his

ears and he burst through and strode

away

Oana followed trotting after him when

the evening came the neighbors in the

brush houses sat eating their corn cakes

and beans and they discussed the great

theme of the morning they did not know

it seemed a fine pearl to them but they

had never seen such a pearl before and

surely the dealers knew more about the

value of pearls than they and Mark this

they said those dealers did not discuss

these things

each of the three knew the Pearl was

valueless but suppose they had arranged

it before if that is so that all of us

have been cheated all of our lives

perhaps some argued perhaps it would

have been better if keynote took the

1500 pesos that is a great deal of money

more than he has ever seen maybe keno is

being a pigheaded fool suppose he should

really go to the capital and find no

buyer for his pearl he would never live

that down and now said other fearful

ones now that he had defied them those

buyers would not want to deal with him

at all

maybe keno has cut off his own head and

destroyed himself and others said kena

was a brave man and a fierce man he is

right from his courage we all may profit

these were proud of keno in his house

keno squatted on his sleeping mat

brooding he had buried his pearl under a

stone of the fire hole in his house and

he stared at the woven tools of his

sleeping mat until the cross design

danced in his head he had lost one world

and he had not gained another

and keno was afraid never in his life

had he been far from home he was afraid

of strangers and of strange places he

was terrified of that monster of

strangeness they called the Capitol it

lay over the water and through the

mountains over a thousand miles and

every strange terrible mile was

frightening but keno had lost his old

world and he must clam her on to a new

one for his dream of the future was real

and never to be destroyed and he had

said I will go and that made a real

thing too to determine to go and to say

it was to be halfway there

Oana watched him as he buried the pearl

and she watched him while she cleaned

Coyotito

and nursed him and wanna made the corn

cakes for supper

Juan tomás came in and squatted down

beside keno and remained silent for a

long time until at last eno demanded

what else could I do they are cheats

Juan tomás nodded gravely he was the

elder and keno looked to him for wisdom

we do know that we are cheated from

birth to the overcharge on our coffins

but we survived you have defied not the

Pearl buyers but the whole structure the

whole way of life and I am afraid for

you what have I to fear but starvation

keno asked but Juan tomás shook his head

slowly that we must all fear but suppose

you are correct

suppose your pearl is of great value do

you think then the game is over what do

you mean I don't know said Juan tomás

but I am afraid for you

it is new ground you are walking on you

do not know the way I will go I will go

soon said keno yes Juan tomás agreed

that you must do but I wonder if you

will find it any different in the

capital here you have friends and me

your brother there you will have no one

what can I do

keno cried some deep outrage is here my

son must have a chance that is what they

are striking at my friends will protect

me only so long as they are not in

danger or discomfort from it said Juan

tomás he arose saying go with God

and keno said go with God and did not

even look up for the words had a strange

chill in them long after wand Tomas had

gone keno sat brooding on his sleeping

man a lethargy had settled on him and a

little gray hopelessness every road

seemed blocked against him in his head

he heard only the dark music of the

enemy his senses were burning li alive

but his mind went back to the deep

participation with all things the gift

he had from his people he heard every

little sound of the gathering night the

sleepy complain of settling birds the

love agony of cats

the striking withdrawal of little waves

on the beach and the simple hiss of

distance and he could smell the sharp

odor of the exposed kelp from the

receding tide the little flare of the

twig fire made the design and his

sleeping that jump before his entrance

to eyes Juana watched him with worry but

she knew him and she knew she could help

him best by being silent and by being

near and as though she too could hear

the song of evil she fought it singing

softly the melody of the family of the

safety and warmth and wholeness of the

family she held Coyotito in her arms and

sang the song to him to keep the evil

out and her voice was brave against the

threat of the dark music keno did not

move nor asked for his supper she knew

he would ask when he wanted it his eyes

were entrance and he could sense the

worry watchful evil outside the brush

house he could feel the dark creeping

things waiting for him to go out in the

night it was shadowy and dreadful and it

came to him and threatened him and

challenged him his right hand went into

his shirt and felt his knife his eyes

were wide he stood up and walked to the

doorway Juana willed to stop him she

raised her hand to stop him and her

mouth open with terror for a long moment

keno looked out into the darkness and

then he stepped outside Juana heard the

little rush the grunting struggle the

blow

she froze with terror for a moment and

then her lips drew back from her teeth

like a cat's lips she set coyote toe

down on the grass

she sees the stone from the fireplace

and rushed outside but it was over by

then keno lay on the ground struggling

to rise and there was no one near him

only the shadows and the strike in the

rush of waves and a hiss of distance but

the evil was all about hidden behind the

brush fence crouched beside the house in

the shadow hovering in the air

wanna dropped her stone she put her arms

around keno and helped him to his feet

and supported him into the house blood

ooze down from his scalp and it was a

long deep cut in his cheek from ear to

chin a deep bleeding slash and kena was

only half conscious he shook his head

from side to side his shirt was torn

open and his clothes half pulled off

Juana sat him down on his sleeping mat

and she wiped the thickening blood from

his face with her skirt she brought him

pulque to drink in a little pitcher and

still he shook his head to clear out the

darkness who want to ask I don't know

keno said I didn't see now wanna brought

her clay pot of water and she washed the

cut on his face while he stared dazed

ahead of him keno my husband she cried

and his eyes stared past her keno can

you hear me I hear you he said dully

keno this pearl is evil let us destroy

it before it destroys us let us crush it

between two stones let us throw it back

in the sea where it belongs keno it is

evil it is evil and as she spoke the

light came back into quino's eyes so

that they glowed fiercely and his

muscles hardened and his will hardened

no he said I will fight this thing I

will win over it we will have our chance

his fists pounded on the sleeping mat no

one shall take our good fortune from us

he said his eyes soften then he raised a

gentle hand upon his shoulder believe me

he said I am a man and his face grew

crafty in the morning we will take our

canoe and we will go over the sea and

over the mountains to the capital you

and I we will not be cheated I am a man

keno she said huskily I am afraid a man

can be killed

let us throw the Pearl back into the sea

hush

he said fiercely I am a man hush and she

was silent for his voice was command let

us sleep a little he said in the first

light we will start you are not afraid

to go with me no my husband his eyes

were soft and warm on her then his hand

touched her cheek let us sleep a little

he said