The Fountains of Silence: A Novel

Puri is very upset by the discovery of the infant’s body. She has begun to put together all the things she has seen and heard, especially the letters from parents. She makes herself sick trying to fit this information into the world and the faith in which she believes.

She goes to confession and asks the priest if it is better for a child to have no parents at all than the wrong parents. The priest replies that they “owe it to [Spanish] children and [their] future to protect Catholic values and morals” (263). When Puri restates his answer, replying that he “means […] it is better to be raised by the right parents, even if they are not the birth parents” the priest responds that Puri has “answered [her] own question” (263).

Fuga and Rafa prepare for the fight. Fuga is the only one who looks like a real matador, older than the other amateurs who have come to fight, “half a dozen young men who have come to brave the bulls and prove themselves to anyone who may care to notice” (264). All the young men pray to the Virgin Mother before the small altar that Rafa creates.

Fuga stares at himself in a mirror; he is confident he will win because “[i]t is impossible to kill a man who is already dead.” Indeed, Fuga believes his “death came as a child, at the hands of a monster in the boy’s home” (266). He kisses the image of the Virgin Mother that Rafa has set up as a makeshift altar and walks out of the shed to meet his fate.

Fuga’s event is just a capea, or caping, which is markedly less dangerous than an actual bullfight, though there is still some risk to the budding toreros. Rafa worries that Fuga, who has “faced full-grown bulls in the fields” will be disappointed (268). Fuga, however, is clearly the star of the show. He “walks to the ring, radiating reverence and strength. He is not arrogant, but calmly disconnected from all that titters around him” (268).

One by one Fuga takes on each animal, emerging victorious each time. He is rewarded afterward by “walk[ing] the small ring, collecting pesetas, grapes, and most of all, respect” (270). A man approaches Rafa with questions about Fuga and states his interest in sponsoring Fuga. Fuga will train as a novillero, a novice bullfighter, and Rafa is overjoyed.

Daniel drives Rafa and Fuga back home, and the entire community of Vallecas celebrates Fuga’s triumph and his promotion to the rank of novice. Fuga gives the grapes to the children who gather round him, and then goes to Rafa’s home and kneels before Ana, presenting her with his winnings. 

Daniel and Nick stay in Vallecas for the weekly dance. Nick kneels before Ana as Fuga did, and Ana gets angry, telling him that Fuga would be hurt if he saw Nick mocking him. She also tells him she’s “moved on from the Van Dorns” (273), prompting Nick to ask her about her new love. Ana replies that his name is Tom Collins, and Nick doesn’t know who that is, but Daniel does.

At home, Puri finds a letter from her Aunt Belén, who is Rafa, Ana, and Julia’s mother. The letter tells Puri’s mother not to grieve Aunt Belén’s upcoming death because otherwise she will “be marked a sympathizer” (275). She also tells Puri’s mother to consider adopting, noting that Puri’s mother has “long tried for a child of [her] own” but to “please give shelter to any [child] that [she] can” begging her to “[b]uild a family from the broken pieces” (276). Puri wonders if she was adopted. 

The dance in Vallecas is held in the schoolhouse, and everyone enjoys it. Daniel teaches Antonio to take pictures. He mentions that he went to the Inclusa, and Antonio recommends he return and ask if he can take pictures inside, to “show America how wonderful Spanish social programs are” (278).

Daniel is distracted by Ana, however, who dances with a drunken Nick before Daniel cuts in, teaching Ana a Texas two-step. After their dance, Nick tells him they should get back to the hotel, since Daniel will be working with Ben the next day.

Ana’s dance with Daniel disturbs Julia. Antonio tells her not to worry, that Daniel will “go back to Texas soon” (281). Julia, however, believes that Daniel is “just another American who thinks he can take whatever he wants” and that Daniel is “going to break [Ana’s] heart” (281). Antonio disagrees and insists that it is Ana who will break Daniel’s heart.