The Pearl Audiobook | Chapter 4
Summary
TLDRIn 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
🌊 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.
👨👩👦👦 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.
💼 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.
🔍 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.
🏙️ 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.
🌌 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pearl
💡La Paz
💡Kino
💡Conformity
💡Exploitation
💡Fear
💡Community
💡Destiny
💡Resistance
💡Greed
💡Courage
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
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