Chapter 22

The night after Florence dies, Antonio dreams of the bodies of Narciso, Lupito and Florence, the gang fighting, the priest desecrating the altar, Cico killing the golden carp, and Tenorio killing Ultima. Ultima wakes Antonio, comforts him and gives medicine to help him sleep without dreams. Antonio does not attend Florence's funeral, feeling that "there was nothing the church or I could give him now", and Ultima convinces Antonio's parents to send him to El Puerto to live and work with his uncles there for the summer. Ultima warns Antonio, "Be prepared to see things changed when you return".

While his father drives him to El Puerto, Antonio talks with his father, who is happy that Antonio will spend the summer away from his parents with his uncles, even though they are Lunas. Antonio wonders if he doesn't have to be just Marez or Luna but could be both, and he asks his father if a new religion can be made, and why there is evil in the world. His father responds that most things called evil are things that are not understood, and that "understanding simply means having a synpathy for people", like Ultima who can "touch their souls and cure them".

Antonio enjoys the summer with his uncles. When it is almost time for Antonio to return, his uncle Pedro tells him that they are pleased with him and his work as well. Uncle Juan approaches hurriedly and Antonio overhears that Tenorio's second daughter has just died and he is drinking and threatening vengeance on Ultima. Pedro tells Antonio to go from the fields to his grandfather's house early and pack to leave that evening. As Antonio travels across a narrow bridge, Tenorio tries to run him down with his black horse and kill him, but Antonio narrowly escapes by jumping off and rolling down an embankment. Antonio hears Tenorio vow to kill Ultima's owl and realizes that the owl is "her protective spirit...her soul".

Frightened, Antonio decides to run the ten miles from El Puerto to Guadalupe, so he can reach Ultima in time to warn her. As he runs, he thinks of the time Narciso ran to warn Ultima, of the times her owl had protected them, and of his dreams, wondering "what dream would form to guide my life as a man?" He reaches his parent's house just as Uncle Pedro arrives in his truck. As his mother, father and Ultima emerge, Antonio sees Tenorio in the shadows pointing his rifle at him! After he cries out, Ultima's owl flies to attack Tenorio, who misses Antonio but cries out in victory after he kills the owl. Pedro shoots and kills Tenorio before he can fire at Antonio. The family enters the house only to find Ultima dying. Antonio asks her, "Bless me, Ultima" and she asks him to bury the owl and burn her herbs and medicines. He does, and though there is a memorial service two days later, Antonio's closing words are that "Ultima was really buried here. Tonight."

Discussion Questions
1. Were you surprised by Ultima's death? Why or why not?
2. What vocation and religious faith do you think Antonio will choose as he grows up?