Chapter 21

As Antonio and his friend Cico wait by the creek for the golden carp to appear, Antonio’s thoughts turn to God. “I wondered if God was alive anymore, or if He had ever been. He had not been able to cure my uncle Lucas or free the Tellez family from their curse, and He had not saved Lupito or Narciso. And yet, He had the right to send you to hell or heaven when you died.”

Antonio asks Cico why they don’t tell everyone about the golden carp. Cico replies that “the god of the church is a jealous god; he cannot live in peace with other gods. He would instruct his priests to kill the golden carp-------“

The golden carp then appears and Antonio is filled with peace; the golden carp swimming by, the beautiful natural surroundings.

They decide to find Florence and share the golden carp with him. “Florence needed at least one god, and I was sure he would believe in the golden carp. I could almost hear him say as he peered into the waters, ‘at last a god who does not punish, a god who can bring beauty into my life.’”

Antonio and Cico go to look for Florence and they come upon a group of Antonio’s friends who have been swimming in a restricted area near the lake. They tell Antonio that Florence dove into the water and has not yet resurfaced. Antonio instructs his friend Able to fetch the lifeguard from the lake. As Abel leaves, Florence’s body floats to the surface. There is a red spot on his head and he is entangled in barb wire. Florence is dead. Antonio feels sick. With tears streaming down his face, he runs away from the gathering crowd.

“The lonely river was a sad place to be when one is a small boy who has just seen a friend die. And it grew sadder when the church bells began to toll, and the afternoon shadows lengthened.”